Agency + legal rights

jazzieb

Around 5 years ago I was thinking of leaving my then job and applied to some agencies .. one of the agencies sent my CV to company X and arranged an interview .. however, due to the location of company X, I cancelled the interview at the last minute and did no more at that stage. 6 months later I was made redundant and sent my CV out again .. at this stage, a different agency sent me for a position in company X which I got and I worked there for a year or so. At that time, agency 1 found out that I was working there and tried to sue me and company X for their fee .. the company's lawyers took it over and I heard no more. Fast forward to today and I'm working somewhere else entirely .. I'm not at work today but I got a phone call from a colleague to say that a very irate chief exec of agency 1 had rang my work and spoken to my boss and wanted me to contact them immediately as it was now a legal matter. I'm off on my holidays to Spain tomorrow and now I'm stressed to high-do worrying about this .. as far as I can see, they've nothing to get "legal" about with me .. has anyone any experience with this kind of thing?

Jaz

BC

Assuming you didn't sign anything with agency 1, I don't think there is anything you can do. You are free to come and go with agencies as you please.

penexpers

I believe that when you agree to let an agency represent you to a certain company, it's an exclusive representation. Once you have applied through one agency, unless you have the agreement of this agency you can't be represented to the same company by a different agency.

I'm not sure of the exact law as it applies to this, so best check with a solicitor.

homeOwner

penexpers wrote:

I believe that when you agree to let an agency represent you to a certain company, it's an exclusive representation. Once you have applied through one agency, unless you have the agreement of this agency you can't be represented to the same company by a different agency.

There is no contract either verbal or written between you and an agency that says you will exclusively let them represent you to company X, at the initial interviewing stage. If you get en a job through an agency then you usually sign something to say you wont deal with company X except through them for a period of time after your employment ends, usually 1 year.

jazzieb did not go to the initial interview - does that mean forever more he cannot deal with company X except through the original agency - if that is their argument it is absurd. I dont see how the original agency has a case at all unless there is more to this than he has admitted.

jazzieb - What is the basis for their grievance? What did the company you worked for do on your behalf when this first came up? Did you sign anything with the agency?

jazzieb

Well, it turns out I've nothing to worry about .. Agency 1 had a contract with Company X and it's them they're pursuing .. they just want me to back them up .. I never signed anything with the agency but apparently they had a deal with the company that even though an employee comes through agency 2, they still pay the fee to agency 1 .. not my problem anymore thankfully.

J

AARRRGH

What an unprofessional agency. It's shocking their behaviour sometimes. Gives everyone in the recruitment industry a bad name.

Always remember recruitment agencies are just a bunch of sales people in a room...nothing more.