Keep reading a lot about how bad they mostly are. But because of my need for part-time work that I can only plan one week in advance, they are the solution for me.
So how about a thread for recommended agencies? They can’t all be bad
This will maybe the shortest T.net thread…ever. 
GOOD agencies… a classic example of a contradiction in terms. 
robroy:
This will maybe the shortest T.net thread…ever.
GOOD agencies… a classic example of a contradiction in terms.
Well I’d rate mine better than most of the employers I’ve worked for over the years. I’ve been with mine seven years and two guys I work with where I’m at have been with it longer than I have. There’s well over a dozen agency who’ve been with my agency half a decade or so. It did used to be more but the company took several on a few months ago. When the company made redundancies last year the drivers who’d gone temp to perm from my agency several years before went back to my agency. People stay because the woman who runs the driving division of the agency doesn’t sugar coat anything and she’ll often just phone for a chat for 10, 20 minutes just to see how you are. I’ve been on sick for a fortnight and she phones up a couple of times a week just to check in on me.
When I was off sick after my back op in 2019 and put in a sick note for 12 weeks the guy in payroll actually rang me up and said that because it was for 12 weeks I’d earn another weeks holiday so he would pay me it at the beginning of my sick leave so that I ended up with more money because if I’d have taken it after it would’ve been much lower because of the 12 week averaging rule for calculating it.
When they did Ltd drivers (everyone is now on PAYE) they would pay 130% of the PAYE rate for Ltd, none of that extra £1/hr rubbish. Upside of that was when IR35 came in for them it made no difference whatsoever and they didn’t have to cut the rates because Ltd had been costing them the same as PAYE all along and I’m only aware of just one driver who left when IR35 came in, the rest went on PAYE…
If you are looking for full time work - then get a full time job.
People expect the wrong things from the wrong places.
I wouldn’t go into a full time job, and start asking for Monday-Friday off on a regular basis…
If you are looking for longer shifts, and less of them as I am and do - then Agencies will likely work out better for you, assuming you can avoid the usual pitfalls of “too low pecking order”, “Umbrella” or other unsavoury practices, that are actually starting to die out now…
There are loads of agency ads for insincere job openings that keep getting re-posted week after week, and at ever-higher rates.
Indeed, I can see a few of the less reputable agencies - going under before long.
If this entire lockdown has taught the British Working Public anything at all - it is that “you no longer need to put up with the old system that amounted to one’s lot”…
TO reccommend an agency:
Look for one that owns entire buildings, rather than a single office on a single floor of some cheaper-end-of-business estate place, that is small enough for them to move out of tomorrow, and disappear…
Mine I just packed up we’re fine , never had any issues at all , gave me the 3 days I asked for and any extra time I requested was given off no problem , told me the pay rate , and that’s what I got , wages were always correct & in bank .
If and when I go back I wouldn’t have a 2 nd thought about working for them again
, which is what they said , when you feel upto it gives a bell
I was always very anti agency , but I’ve found there a lot more flexible on holidays / time off for hospital / doctors appointments so it fits in much better for me than employed
Staffline
Conor:
robroy:
This will maybe the shortest T.net thread…ever.
GOOD agencies… a classic example of a contradiction in terms.Well I’d rate mine better than most of the employers I’ve worked for over the years. I’ve been with mine seven years and two guys I work with where I’m at have been with it longer than I have. There’s well over a dozen agency who’ve been with my agency half a decade or so. It did used to be more but the company took several on a few months ago. When the company made redundancies last year the drivers who’d gone temp to perm from my agency several years before went back to my agency. People stay because the woman who runs the driving division of the agency doesn’t sugar coat anything and she’ll often just phone for a chat for 10, 20 minutes just to see how you are. I’ve been on sick for a fortnight and she phones up a couple of times a week just to check in on me.
When I was off sick after my back op in 2019 and put in a sick note for 12 weeks the guy in payroll actually rang me up and said that because it was for 12 weeks I’d earn another weeks holiday so he would pay me it at the beginning of my sick leave so that I ended up with more money because if I’d have taken it after it would’ve been much lower because of the 12 week averaging rule for calculating it.
When they did Ltd drivers (everyone is now on PAYE) they would pay 130% of the PAYE rate for Ltd, none of that extra £1/hr rubbish. Upside of that was when IR35 came in for them it made no difference whatsoever and they didn’t have to cut the rates because Ltd had been costing them the same as PAYE all along and I’m only aware of just one driver who left when IR35 came in, the rest went on PAYE…
You’ve said everything except who they are?
None are any good to be honest.
Due to WTR I can only do a Saturday night 11 hr shift.
Been fobbed off with no we dont want to use you fot x1 shift a week.
BUT with the silly money being offered I’m tempted to quit my easy job in a warehouse doing very little for £18k
But would prefer nights as less cyclists & other waiting to meet their 72 virgins.
I’ve not had a problem with my agency in years, the work had always been there, and I’m working on the days/times I want.
Tbh IMO it’s more about the driver gaining themselves a reliable reputation with a particular agency than it is about the reliable reputation of the agency.
They’ll always try to mess around with you to try and get a feel for what you will and won’t do. My contract manager left a couple of weeks ago and a new guy stepped in her place, and immediately he tried to get me to accept a later start time that the one I have been doing for the past couple of years, so a quick phone call and I told him what I was prepared to do and not do, this was also against the wishes of the client who is planning the shifts through till Christmas
dozy:
Mine I just packed up we’re fine , never had any issues at all , gave me the 3 days I asked for and any extra time I requested was given off no problem , told me the pay rate , and that’s what I got , wages were always correct & in bank .
If and when I go back I wouldn’t have a 2 nd thought about working for them again
, which is what they said , when you feel up to it give us a bell
I was always very anti agency , but I’ve found there a lot more flexible on holidays / time off for hospital / doctors appointments so it fits in much better for me than employed
Staffline
Your forgetting about the letters from the taxman demanding payment for the money LP took but didn’t pay the taxman
peirre:
I’ve not had a problem with my agency in years, the work had always been there, and I’m working on the days/times I want.
Tbh IMO it’s more about the driver gaining themselves a reliable reputation with a particular agency than it is about the reliable reputation of the agency.
They’ll always try to mess around with you to try and get a feel for what you will and won’t do. My contract manager left a couple of weeks ago and a new guy stepped in her place, and immediately he tried to get me to accept a later start time that the one I have been doing for the past couple of years, so a quick phone call and I told him what I was prepared to do and not do, this was also against the wishes of the client who is planning the shifts through till Christmasdozy:
Mine I just packed up we’re fine , never had any issues at all , gave me the 3 days I asked for and any extra time I requested was given off no problem , told me the pay rate , and that’s what I got , wages were always correct & in bank .
If and when I go back I wouldn’t have a 2 nd thought about working for them again
, which is what they said , when you feel up to it give us a bell
I was always very anti agency , but I’ve found there a lot more flexible on holidays / time off for hospital / doctors appointments so it fits in much better for me than employed
StafflineYour forgetting about the letters from the taxman demanding payment for the money LP took but didn’t pay the taxman
? I think that was the tax mans fault as he said I owed them money ( new tax code after tax code ) then After 2 years apx gave me a tax rebate of £40 apx
^^^^ convenient memory loss.
Trying to find a ‘good agency’ is like trying to find your future wife at adultwork.com
peirre:
Tbh IMO it’s more about the driver gaining themselves a reliable reputation with a particular agency than it is about the reliable reputation of the agency.
Except for the fact that agency staff themselves are going to leave every few months so you’ll be dealing with new people all the time.
the maoster:
I’ve no memory loss at all , I received various letters over the 2 years from the tax man telling me I owed them money , my tax code was changing to x,y,z which I said many times on here , I rang the tax man on various occasions about this to be told don’t worry you don’t have to do anything ,which is why I rang them as the tax code was not changing , I received letters telling me I owed them apx £130 & £60 , then after 2 years I received a letter saying I was due a tax rebate £40 apx
It’s all recorded on here
So go on tell me how lp were taking money off me ? According to the tax man for 2 years they weren’t taking enough !! , then the tax man decides he’s taking too much
And while your about it explain to me what lp have got to do with staffline which is the job above ( staffline at the bottom might be a clue )
peirre:
I’ve not had a problem with my agency in years, the work had always been there, and I’m working on the days/times I want.
Tbh IMO it’s more about the driver gaining themselves a reliable reputation with a particular agency than it is about the reliable reputation of the agency.
They’ll always try to mess around with you to try and get a feel for what you will and won’t do. My contract manager left a couple of weeks ago and a new guy stepped in her place, and immediately he tried to get me to accept a later start time that the one I have been doing for the past couple of years, so a quick phone call and I told him what I was prepared to do and not do, this was also against the wishes of the client who is planning the shifts through till Christmasdozy:
Mine I just packed up we’re fine , never had any issues at all , gave me the 3 days I asked for and any extra time I requested was given off no problem , told me the pay rate , and that’s what I got , wages were always correct & in bank .
If and when I go back I wouldn’t have a 2 nd thought about working for them again
, which is what they said , when you feel up to it give us a bell
I was always very anti agency , but I’ve found there a lot more flexible on holidays / time off for hospital / doctors appointments so it fits in much better for me than employed
Staffline,
Your forgetting about the letters from the taxman demanding payment for the money LP took but didn’t pay the taxman
You say it’s about building a reputation , on agency over the last 3 years I’ve worked mon -thurs lp , no weekends , b/h , extra shifts , running in etc , mon- wed staffline , again won’t work fri , extra shifts , often off with hosp / doctors apps , now jacked in & ive never been stood down , even said bell me when you feel better , so I’m not convinced building a reputation makes a jot of difference
Most agencies are certainly full of something, but not necessarily work… 
Once in a blue moon, you will encounter an individual consultant that is half decent, but they truly are a rarity…
stu675:
You’ve said everything except who they are?
Prestige Recruitment Hull. Also worked for Jark, Driver Hire, Securicor, Stafforce over the years and hadn’t any problems with any of them.
ETS:
Except for the fact that agency staff themselves are going to leave every few months so you’ll be dealing with new people all the time.
Where I am now there’s been one change in 7 years.
Happy with Driver Require.
ETS:
Trying to find a ‘good agency’ is like trying to find your future wife at adultwork.compeirre:
Tbh IMO it’s more about the driver gaining themselves a reliable reputation with a particular agency than it is about the reliable reputation of the agency.Except for the fact that agency staff themselves are going to leave every few months so you’ll be dealing with new people all the time.
Maybe you’re a guy who likes to get his flick camera out, and do some filming… “Greedy Girl Nights” fodder - are actually quite common if you actually go out and ask for such ladies… Likewise, you’ll find that if you ask for “Odd shifts, nights, weekends, bank holidays” rather than “Full week, Monday-Friday 9-5 shifts” - you’ll find most agencies rather more obliging than not.
“Pecking Order” - only applies if there isn’t actually that much work trickling down to that agency, so If I had to “Blanket Dis-recommend” any agencies - it would be all those that SUB as their main course work detail…
Eg. Going into Royal Mail via say, Berry Recruitment, Extrastaff, or Driver Hire rather than their regular providers Manpower and Pertemps…
Another vote for Driver Require here. They listened to what I wanted, gave me the days I asked for, and paid what they said they would. Have been offered a ‘permanent’ role now, but wouldn’t hesitate to go back to them.
A good agency? It’s a bit like asking where there’s “a good casino”, they’ll both take your money and leave you sad and depressed
Zac_A:
A good agency? It’s a bit like asking where there’s “a good casino”, they’ll both take your money and leave you sad and depressed
How are agencies taking your money? If it’s because they pay you less than they charge do you say the same about your employer who charges your labour out at more than they pay you? What is your belief of why a business exist, how businesses work and how they meet their running costs and make a profit?