Rates from an agency, opinions please

[Steve_P]

I was contacted by an agency on Friday last week, there's a council/housing association who's currently refurbishing some houses and need a spark until September (ish), the work is in the south west so the rates have been adjusted to allow for no one wanting to pay more than a couple of turnips and a pasty or two for any work. I've got my ideas on these rates but would really welcome your views too.

 

[MDJ]

the problem begins if you are sent to a house to change 1 socket, 4.20 is ridiculous, however if you had 20 to change then the rate would be fine, I would recommend you ask them how many jobs in a day they would give you and how much travel is required before attempting to get involved.

 

[Steve_P]

Thought of that mate. It's a 20 mile each way journey and they're currently re-furbing bathrooms and kitchens. I'm reckoning on it being a lot of waiting then trying to fight round the other trades. Dunno.

 

[MDJ]

sounds like it will be a bit of a shop fitting job haha, you will struggle to do the job right due to the other trades crashing it in to make money and the standard of their work will be appalling I suspect.

 

[RWJ]

New CU for £84 with FULL test. If the test only takes you two hours at £30 ph that leaves £24 for the CU!!

 

[Richard Burns]

The only one I would think reasonable is completion of minor works certificate for £7.
It looks like you are aiming for a rate of about £6.50 per hour less travel.
If they are paying for all parts, including screws, sleeving, etc. and they are paying a reasonable amount for travel, then it may be worthwhile.
The work could well be obstructed by other trades if they are house refurbishments, but if they are then the likelihood is that you may need to do everything on the list for one house, probably in three hours!
Still money is money, should be less hassle than managing it yourself, but it certainly looks like you are being employed on an independent basis and they expect to give no input at all.

 

[Steve_P]

I haven't had it confirmed but I'm guessing that these prices are exclusive of materials.

 

[Steve_P]

Oh, this is on a self employed basis, they are assuming scam membership and don't appear to pay traveling but again I'm getting that confirmed. Sooooo, out of all of this, if I took it, I'd still need to find enough money to fund self employment for about the equivalent of just under minimum wage.

 

[thekingiam]

too cheap,i thought my prices where a joke.
i will expect you will be called out to replace 1 light.
i would put a minimum call out charge to stop that.

 

[Octopus]

Connect cooker and test £3.50

No way! No wonder standards are slipping, agencies like this SHOULD be investigated by the "trade bodies" as they are forcing people to cut corners.

 

[Steve_P]

Thanks guys, that's exactly what I was thinking. There's no way anyone with a conscience could agree to this.

 

[Octopus]

Thanks guys, that's exactly what I was thinking. There's no way anyone with a conscience could agree to this.

Some mug will and then, quite quicky they will find out that they will be a POOR busy fool.

 

[Steve_P]

I just had a reply from the agency in response to me telling them the rates were way off and they actually admit that this is the general consensus but have the rates given to them. Now, bearing in mind that it is LABC that are dealing with notification and forcing the rates down, what hope do we really have as a trade?

 

[thekingiam]

go tell them to do it themselves, or get a production worker to do it.<br>god only knows what price they would give for a full rewire!&nbsp;<br><br>so the agency is not taking any cut of the work then?<br>my opinion is the agency is takin the mickey and trying to get some fool to sign up at ridiculous prices.<br>tell them that you where that appaled at the labc trying to get someone to work for less than minimum wages you have sent a letter to your local mp.<br><br>

 

[RWJ]

go tell them to do it themselves, or get a production worker to do it.<br>god only knows what price they would give for a full rewire!*<br><br>so the agency is not taking any cut of the work then?<br>my opinion is the agency is takin the mickey and trying to get some fool to sign up at ridiculous prices.<br>tell them that you where that appaled at the labc trying to get someone to work for less than minimum wages you have sent a letter to your local mp.<br><br>

Like it!

 

[Octopus]

I just had a reply from the agency in response to me telling them the rates were way off and they actually admit that this is the general consensus but have the rates given to them. Now, bearing in mind that it is LABC that are dealing with notification and forcing the rates down, what hope do we really have as a trade?

How are LABC forcing rates down. All they are doing is dealing with notification. The client is responsible for setting the rates IMHO

 

[thekingiam]

Which? Local - Electricians: how much should you pay? in Electricians advice
send them that link and say if regular work you will only charge the lower amount.

 

[thekingiam]

getting anoyed now!! tell them that you need to go to each property before work can begin do a full risk assesment and a eicr before work can begin, set up mobile scaffolding where needed, method statements for each job that should be signed by local authority representitive. discuss fire procedures with relevant personel etc etc etc!!

 

[Plonker 3]

What happens when you turn at a property and there are faults that need rectifying before you can carry out any works that you have been asked to do?

 

[Octopus]

Wonder how much of a cut the agency is taking?

 

[robsparky1975]

Bleedin agencies,what they have probably not said is they will have to pay you via a payroll company and take £ off after your CIS deductions leaving you with next to nowt.Prices on the list are nothing short of an insult imho.