Declining a contract offer after signing

[billybiro]

Doesn't work like that I'm afraid.

Whilst we all know you're right, exactly why doesn't it work like that? If you bail on a signed contract before the gig starts, it's a breach, but it's clearly also a breach if the agency pulls the same stunt, no?

I suspect that the reason "it doesn't work like that" is that, collectively, as contractors' we allow ourselves to be walked all over far more than any agency ever would. Perhaps if we actually started to stand up for ourselves in such situations, we wouldn't be treated as expendable peons.

[victorvn15]

Thanks all for the advise.
I did inform them and they were kind enough to understand my situation and let me off.
A good lesson learnt to always have a notice both ways.

[SueEllen]

Whilst we all know you're right, exactly why doesn't it work like that? If you bail on a signed contract before the gig starts, it's a breach, but it's clearly also a breach if the agency pulls the same stunt, no?

I suspect that the reason "it doesn't work like that" is that, collectively, as contractors' we allow ourselves to be walked all over far more than any agency ever would. Perhaps if we actually started to stand up for ourselves in such situations, we wouldn't be treated as expendable peons.

To get it to work like that you need to pay to have your contract reviewed by someone with contract law expertise. Most contractors won't pay for it so agencies will write what they like in contracts.