I worked for a temp agency I'm DC years ago. I was hired out for a week to cover phones at an apt rental agency while they were in court being sued (talk about a red flag). Since no one ever called, I read a book. This made them mad, even though there were no other jobs they would let me do, so they refused to pay the temp agency.

Thankfully, the temp agency took my side. An assignment or 2 later, I worked somewhere long enough to get hired.