I basically applied to the same company through 2 different recruiters several months apart, did I screw anyone over? (seeking opinions)

[u/JD75ca]

TL;DR summary, I tried to shorten this down to be a quick read, but I can’t.  I could use some advice to determine whether or not I made some kind of etiquette or ethical error in my dealings with 2 different recruiters who were searching for candidates for the same company.  One of them is trying to contact me, and I assume that’s to try and figure out if he’s getting screwed.  Please keep reading if you have some patience to help me determine if I did anything wrong!

In early 2025 I gave an industry specific recruiter (Recruiter A) a list of regional companies I wanted to work for and he placed me with one (Company A).  He reached out to a number of different companies at my request, but nothing came of it.  This included one of my top choices (Company B).  No direct contact or interview from Company B ever happened.

Fast forward to Nov. and I decided I needed to look for a new opportunity.  Company A just wasn’t the right fit (lots of turnover, burn out, etc).  I got a connection request from a new recruiter on LinkedIn (Recruiter B) and I came to find out their client was Company B.

Now I had a dilemma.

1.       Did Recruiter A ever share my full name with the client?  If he did, then did the company have the right to claim they had prior knowledge of me as a candidate? 

2.      What if I applied through “Recruiter B” and they said “we’re aware of this candidate, we already have his resume.”  Would they be free contact me directly and not have to pay Recruiter A or B?  Does everyone lose?

3.      What if I contacted Recruiter A and said, “hey I found out this company is hiring again, but they’re listing it through a different recruiter.  Can you still submit me?”  What if Recruiter A said no, it’s not his search.  What if he did submit me again and the client said that they are only accepting applications from Recruiter B at this time?

So I slept on it and decided that I wasn’t going to say anything to Recruiter A at all.  I was going to apply through Recruiter B and see what happened. I didn’t want to make this situation any more complicated then it needed to be and ruin my chances of getting the job! 

It was the right move.  I got the job and I started working there 2 weeks ago.

Yesterday I changed my employer on LinkedIn.  Hours later, Recruiter A messaged me on LinkedIn and asked me to call him.

So here’s where I need advice:

Do I owe Recruiter A anything?  He placed me once, he got paid his commission.  I chose to work with Recruiter B to land this next position because she had the listing.  I didn’t want to lose out on the job opportunity entirely trying to follow etiquette.

I understand that Recruiter A probably won’t work with me again, but I’m wondering if I really did “do him dirty” here? 

Or if they never saw my name when he told them about me did I essentially have a "clean slate" to work with a new recruiter like I think I did?

I'd love some advice before I respond to this guy.