Am I being ripped off by my agent?
 

Hi everyone,

I have been looking on here over the last few days at how much people seem to be paying for their agent fees and am now really concerned that I have been quoted a ridiculous amount of money and am being taken advantage of.

I am a single person looking to move to Oz under a 190 visa. The agent I am working with has quoted me £6000-£8000 in fees to support my move and job search and that doesn't even include the VETASSESS fee or the visa application.

I have already paid almost £2000 and have not even completed my VETASSESS forms yet.

Every time I have a 10 minute call or get a short email (Last one was 72 words long) it costs me another £120.

Please help! I have also seen on here that the agent has previously had a number of financial issues. I can't afford to lose £8k if they have trouble again so am now thinking I should start looking at closing my file and getting a new agent.
Sarah:unsure:

Re: Am I being ripped off by my agent?
 

Wow. We personally never used an agent and found the process very straight forward. Is your agent MARA registered? That sounds very expensive to me, especially if it doesn't include the assessment or visa!

Re: Am I being ripped off by my agent?
 

HOW MUCH?? :eek::eek:

Re: Am I being ripped off by my agent?
 

You are right to be concerned, yes that is totally out of the ball park for agent fees alone. It would be just about in the range (but at high end) even if it included the skills assessment and visa fees.

What occupation is it? Are there any particular complicated circumstances to your case? Is your agent MARA registered.

My concern is your use of the phrase "and job search". I would not touch an agent that offers to help with a job search with a 20 foot barge pole.

Migration agents are for visas. Recruitment agents are for job searches. The ones that combine are usually "selling dreams".

Re: Am I being ripped off by my agent?
 

Hi
Thanks for replying everyone.

The prices I have been quoted are for the permanent residence application, skills assessment and obtaining state sponsorship. There is a fee range for each of those three milestones, and the support with the job search is additional chargeable work. The agent is MARA registered although she doesn't appear to spend any time on the file, only a migration consultant seems to do that.

I don't think my case is terribly complicated; it's just such a confusing process I thought I would be better getting some proper advice. I have quite a specialist job but the skills are quite general and are on the consolidated skills list rather than a more easily identifiable occupation, like nursing etc.

The occupation the suggested I go for is subclass 1399 - other specialist managers. There are no dependents or partners to think about, and I have no known health issues or criminal convictions, so it should be quite simple, right?

I think I might make a few discreet enquiries with a couple of other agents to see if they can help but with more reasonable charges.

So glad I came to look here before I get any further down the line.
Thanks, Sarah

Re: Am I being ripped off by my agent?
 

Yes that is mega expensive, especially the email and phone call part.

Try George Lombard or go Matilda.

Re: Am I being ripped off by my agent?
 

I don't think any application under "other specialist managers" is going to be simple to be honest, because that is fairly obscure and the skills assessment and certainly work experience will have to be pitched just right.

So, no I don't think you are a completely straight forward case but still those costs look too high.

Make sure you know exactly what the strategy is, if you. Are going for this occupation cose you will almost certainly need a sponsor, so who does your agent have in mind?