> The worst was the agency that lined me up for a contract role, got me to fill out all the paperwork only for the job to fall through because the client apparently never got budget signed off for the position.

I could be wrong, but I think that might have been a lie.

I've heard it before, too, and I've come to doubt it; I think it too unlikely to be heard with such frequency as I do hear it.

I've also had on three occasions agents call up after a day or two and tell "something about the budget, so the rate is now less than expected".

In two cases I came to know the agency was simply lying, and was keeping the difference for itself, and I expect it to be true also in the third.