NotaPushyMum.Com

Hello .. It's really not working out the relationship with our DD agent and not getting value for money. My hubby signed up with the agency and we renewed in September for a year, but did not receive any paperwork/contracts either time. Now not sure if we are locked into a sole agency contract and the agent have never explained what their role is until I make a mistake when I completed DD license paperwork .. she's on me like a ton of bricks. Do I need to have specific grounds to end the relationship/contract .. ? She's coming across in her snippy emails as not a nice person and trying to paint me as the bad guy.. I'm very sad Also as well as paying the yearly membership, the agent is taking a 20% off DD earnings too .. I thought it was one or the other ???? ( Still sad )

I'm in a similar situation with agent not working out. I'm not certain but if you haven't actually signed anything I'm not sure whether your DD's agent could refuse to let you leave, I would certainly try and get another agent if you can. Again not sure about whether it's one or the other but I've seen different agencies have different fees, all will take commission but I guess some have a one off sign up, some may have a yearly fee for maintaining your DD's profile on their site or it could be the spotlight fee? Some have no fees, some have no fee but suggest spotlight which is £90 a year, so I guess it varies alot.

You can give an agent notice by formal letter. Just say that you are giving the required notice and expect them to work in the same capacity to find and secure work. They'l respond and may even release your child without notice. Good luck in finding a new agent, just do your research

I'm not a lawyer so all I can do s share how I would see it.

If you 'renewed' it's likely that your contract would be deemed to be on the same terms that you signed in the first place. So step 1 is to read the contract your DH signed and see if it gives a termination clause.

If it does, just enact the clause.

If it says the contract is for a fixed term, you may not have means to terminate early. However, as you haven't been sent a new contract you'll need to look at the exchange of correspondence through which the contract may have been renewed. If it is scant, then you could write to them to say that as you haven't received a new contract you're assuming that they are no longer representing your DD. although you may be on tricky ground if, in the interim, you have behaved as though they are.

But - almost any contract can be varied by negotiation and mutual agreement. So even if it looks as though you are locked in, you could just say to them, with great candour, that the arrangement isn't working out and maybe you should part amicably.

Or you can bide your time and look for another agent who you believe can represent your DD better and be easier to get along with, then work out what to do next when she is accepted onto their books. Obviously you won't want two exclusive agents simultaneously, but you don't need to terminate agent one until you have a Plan B. Meanwhile you could work on pointing out the times when the agent is rude to you, which might just help them to behave a bit better and remove the need to change altogether

Hope this helps - if not, feel free to ignore me.

Deb x