How to convenience agent -- please help friends

[suni]

I came to know my agents percentage of commision through my agent, so after being working with the contracting agent for the last 2years, in the last 2 years i never thought of asking to increase the rate. Now the contract is due to renewal, and contract got renewed, so i asked my agent to reduce there commision and increase my rate as i was working from last 2years and i have given good business. Agent said he will talk to the business and come back, so he spoke to the business and came back saying that £25 can be increased per day and he asked i am happy , i said present market has increased and i am getting more calls and i expected atleast £65 increase.He said i can try going up to £35 to £45. Now after one day agent came back saying that he spoke to his business and can't increase more than £25. Here business means consultancy, no client is involved.
My question is how should i convey and make the agent to increase £35 to £45 which he told earlier but now he says can't go more than £25. Please help at the earliest.
Thanks

[cojak]

You can't make the agent do anything. They hired you orignally because you were cheap. If you push too hard And stop being cheap they will will simply find another contractor. If you get any increase that is better than nothing.

[Wanderer]

On the other hand, if you leave then they may not place a contractor with the client to replace you so the agency will end up with nothing. And it's not always that easy to get a new contractor on board and up to speed.

It all depends on what % of the client's fees they are taking. After 2 years, I'd say it should be around 10-15%, less if they are a preferred supplier.

[northernladuk]

Wanderer is right but knowing the industry strategy at the moment and the obvious situation of the OP I would go with Cojaks take on this particular situation.

You were the right person at the right rate for the role. If you cease to be that right rate you cease to become the right person and as I am sure we are all aware there is no shortage at the moment sorry.

I am not sure if it is very PC to mention either but if you got a better grip of the language of the land you may appear to be a better resource to both the client and the agent and therefore command a slightly better rate. I maybe wrong but that's my opinion.

[rsingh]

if you got a better grip of the language of the land you may appear to be a better resource to both the client and the agent and therefore command a slightly better rate.

His English is fine considering it is not his primary language. He is hired as a techie not a linguist.

The biggest barrier to him getting a rise is his own naiivety and inexperience of the way contracting works.

Alternatively he may be a sockie...:S

To the OP:

What percentage of the rate does your agent keep? You mentioned that you had found out.

[northernladuk]

His English is fine considering it is not his primary language. He is hired as a techie not a linguist.

The biggest barrier to him getting a rise is his own naiivety and inexperience of the way contracting works.

When you try and secure a rate rise any amount of positive criteria would work well in his favour to prove his worth to the company. Yes his English is fine but its not good enough to warrent extra brownie points towards him being such an excellent resource he is worth the extra. He might be a techie but he still has to communicate with colleagues who do have English as his primary language which include his agent, most proboably the client and certain levels of management.

[Sausage Surprise]

This guy is on a wind up. It's not his first attempt either.