Can self-employed agree their rates?

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Supersonos
Supersonos Posts: 1,080 Forumite
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I've tried Googling but no luck. Can self-employed people discuss their rates with each other and then agree to all charge the same?

On the one hand, I was thinking not, as this would be price fixing and not in the interests of competition.

But equally, isn't that what unions do? Agree rates and, when that rate isn't paid, make all their members strike to bully people into paying what they want.

What am I missing here?!
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  • Comms69
    Comms69 Posts: 14,229 Forumite
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    I suspect you aren't self employed...
  • Supersonos
    Supersonos Posts: 1,080 Forumite
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    Comms69 wrote: »
    I suspect you aren't self employed...

    Your suspicions are incorrect. Are you able/willing to help with my question?
  • custardy
    custardy Posts: 38,365 Forumite
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    Supersonos wrote: »
    Your suspicions are incorrect.

    Self employed,no boss,so who is stopping you?
  • Supersonos
    Supersonos Posts: 1,080 Forumite
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    custardy wrote: »
    Self employed,no boss,so who is stopping you?

    That's what I'm asking... The law? The government? The EU?
  • Undervalued
    Undervalued Posts: 8,853 Forumite
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    Supersonos wrote: »
    I've tried Googling but no luck. Can self-employed people discuss their rates with each other and then agree to all charge the same?

    On the one hand, I was thinking not, as this would be price fixing and not in the interests of competition.

    But equally, isn't that what unions do? Agree rates and, when that rate isn't paid, make all their members strike to bully people into paying what they want.

    What am I missing here?!

    And you would be right.

    However, in the real world, it is bound to happen to some extent.

    Price of course shouldn't be the only factor. Many people will happily pay a little extra for somebody who does a better job.
  • Comms69
    Comms69 Posts: 14,229 Forumite
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    Supersonos wrote: »
    Your suspicions are incorrect. Are you able/willing to help with my question?



    So how do you intend to contact 'all' self employed people to agree a rate?
  • Supersonos
    Supersonos Posts: 1,080 Forumite
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    Comms69 wrote: »
    So how do you intend to contact 'all' self employed people to agree a rate?

    Odd part of my question to focus on. Although nice to see you now believe that I am self-employed.

    Obviously, it would be impossible for me to contact all self employed people, but it wouldn't be impossible for me and my colleagues to all agree to charge the same.
  • custardy
    custardy Posts: 38,365 Forumite
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    Supersonos wrote: »
    Odd part of my question to focus on.

    Obviously, it would be impossible for me to contact all self employed people, but it wouldn't be impossible for me and my colleagues to all agree to charge the same.

    Don't you mean competitors?
  • Supersonos
    Supersonos Posts: 1,080 Forumite
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    Undervalued wrote: »
    And you would be right.

    Could you point me to more info? I can't find anything online regardless of what I search for.
  • Supersonos
    Supersonos Posts: 1,080 Forumite
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    custardy wrote: »
    Don't you mean competitors?

    Wow - people here really like to go off on random tangents. I guess you could call them competitors, but I'd call them colleagues as we often work together on the same jobs.

    Does that change the answer to my question?
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