Poor Agency Rates! (Name & Shame Section!)

Why be discreet about rates? As Subhuman already mentioned, rates and agencies are the top two topics of conversation amongst contractors offshore.

Never heard of anyone being run off a job for discussing rates, there must be more to that story.

I worked for Tyco a few years back, rates were all over the place. It was a case of what you negotiated. Guys talk and moaned which created a headache for the agency involved. I was called at home and told not to discuss my rate. At the end of the day if you're not happy either renegotiate or move on.

Now days it is no good accepting a contract then finding out you've been duped when you get offshore. Decide what you want before you accept the contract. Understand that agencies will try and rip you off. They will succeed. Just that you won't know. At least if you are happy with your rate then it is bearable. If the agency won't meet your requirement then don't take the job although it is surprising, after refusing a job due to unacceptable rates, how many calls I get to say 'we managed to persuade the client to meet your request', gee, how nice but I see through the lie and read 'oh shit, we've been rumbled, we'd better hand over the full rate and not try to rip this guy off'.

Trust no one.