Question About Agent Ethics

[Tamera]

I know some agents charge office expenses specified in advance. Is $125.00 in advance a unusally large fee for office expenses. An agent has requested my entire manuscript and has stated that if he represents me, he will charge this fee. He also says that he loves to represent new authors and has 17 clients but considers it unethical to divulge their names. He states that he doesn't charge reading fees. I see nothing and P&E about him. It is Westphal Agency. Should this raise red flags, or am I being too cautious.

[DrRita]

There should be NO advance fees, no charges. Run, Tamera, RUN!!!

[Gravity]

Yarp. What the Doc said. An agent that's going to charge for office expenses (and not all of them do) should take them out on the back end, when a deal is signed. Anything else is...problematical.

And the fact he won't name who he's repping is a big red flag as well. For instance, my agent, Chip MacGregor, has the names of those who signed with him right on his website. I think you're better off walking away from this one.

Mi dos centavos, of course.

[michaelsnyder]

I think I have to concur with Doc and Gravity on this one. When you talk to agents and industry insiders, one of the first questions they suggest you pose to any prospective agent is 'who else are you representing?' So unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!) there are at least two red flags here. I've had two agents already. Neither asked for any kind of fees up front. And frankly, I find his/her comment about divulging names 'unethical' as especially problematic. His client base should be his calling card.

I think I'd walk away from this deal if I were you. Sorry...

[Tamera]

Thank you. Those two red flags caused me to pause also. I'll trust my better judgement and run away. Run away.

[DrRita]

Run Forest! Run

http://bestsmileys.com/scared/8.gif

[Lookin^Up]

ROFL, Rita! Love that little mouse. :D