Choice of direct or through agent - is direct always best?

[PurpleGorilla]

Seen a role that is both via an agent or you can apply direct off the company recruitment site. This is a contractor role, long term (12months+)

My immediate reaction was to apply direct, but wonder now if via an agent might be a better option?

All things being equal (same rate/conditions) would you choose direct or agent?

Thanks :-)

[LondonManc]

Direct is definitely on the PSL, so take the risk out of it.

[VectraMan]

How confident are you they're going to pay you promptly? Because that's really the only benefit to having an agent.

I'm about to be a direct contractor. The others tell me the client always pays promptly at the end of every month, so hopefully there'll be no issues. Last time I was direct I had to involve solicitors.

[PurpleGorilla]

Direct is definitely on the PSL, so take the risk out of it.

Thanks - you mean get on the registered suppliers list (ltd co)?

I'll look into it - thanks

[PurpleGorilla]

How confident are you they're going to pay you promptly? Because that's really the only benefit to having an agent.

I'm about to be a direct contractor. The others tell me the client always pays promptly at the end of every month, so hopefully there'll be no issues. Last time I was direct I had to involve solicitors.

Pretty confident they are solid.

[MrMarkyMark]

Went back to somewhere direct, took 3.5 months to pay 1st invoice.

[PurpleGorilla]

Went back to somewhere direct, took 3.5 months to pay 1st invoice.

Holy tulip!

[LondonManc]

Thanks - you mean get on the registered suppliers list (ltd co)?

I'll look into it - thanks

I mean, do you know if the agency is on ClientCo's psl? If you go direct, you avoid that risk but as Mark said, you may end up with adverse payment terms.

[MrMarkyMark]

Holy tulip!

Yup.

I finally blew my top when all things had been set up correctly, then they loftily announced "we'll put it on next weeks payment run".

I said, no you won't, you will arrange a bank transfer to hit my bank TODAY!!!

[DaveB]

Thats the risk with going direct. You need to get payment terms nailed down tight at the start and make sure to stay on top of them to get paid.

You are essentially at the mercy of their accounts department and if they've been told to delay payments to manage their cash flow you will suffer.

I worked with a client a few years a go that basically decided they were not going to pay any of their suppliers for three months because they needed to pad out their bottom line at year end.