Cost and fees
What is a rebate period in recruitment?
A rebate period is the window after a candidate starts during which you get some of the fee back if they leave. It is usually 4 to 12 weeks and usually tapers — 100% in the first fortnight, falling to nothing by the end. It is not the same thing as a refund if the role is never filled, and the two get confused constantly: a rebate protects you against a hire who leaves, not against a search that produces nobody.
Two different protections, often confused
| Risk | What protects you |
|---|---|
| The role is never filled | A refund term, a re-run of the search, or contingency (where you never pay) |
| Someone starts and then leaves | A rebate period, or a replacement search |
They cover completely different failures, and a provider can offer one without the other. Ask about both separately.
What a typical rebate looks like
A taper is standard: full fee back if they leave in the first week or two, then declining — say 75% to week four, 50% to week eight, nothing after twelve. Some agencies offer a replacement search at no further fee instead of money, which is worth more if the role is still live and less if you have changed your mind about it.
The conditions that usually apply
Rebates are commonly void if the candidate is made redundant, if the role changes materially, or if you have not paid the original invoice on time. None of that is unreasonable — but it is worth reading, because a rebate you cannot claim is not a protection.
Where we sit, plainly
Premium Hire has no refund and no rebate. We would rather say that plainly than let a word do work it has not earned. Here is what it has instead, on each side of the table above:
- The search itself. The fixed fee covers a five-point review of the role, a dedicated recruiter, advertising plus headhunting and a screened shortlist. A consultant takes you through exactly how it works on a quick call, and the terms come in writing with your proposal.
- If someone starts and then leaves. Replacement Cover is an optional add-on, bought before your hire's start date. If the person leaves for any reason within 12 months of starting, we run one replacement search for the same role at no further fee. It is not a cash rebate, and without it a replacement search is a new piece of paid work.
If a cash rebate or a refund matters more to you, that is a legitimate reason to choose someone else, and worth asking every provider you speak to.
Want the fixed price for your role?
Advertise it yourself from £399 +VAT, or hand the whole search to a dedicated recruiter — a flat fee by salary band, starting with a five-point review of your role.
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