Declining a job offer is acceptable as long as it is done properly. Backing out of a job after the candidate and employer (and staffing firm) have agreed upon a start date, especially at the last minute, is not.
I've had candidates set to start a job the following Monday who called at the end of the day Friday to say they have accepted a counteroffer (a topic for another day) and have decided to stay put. I've woken up to email, text or voicemail on the actual start date saying that the candidate suddenly changed their mind. The third scenario is where the candidate calls a day or two before the start date declaring a family emergency with a promise of daily updates as to when they can begin only to vanish forever!
The obvious ramifications are that the client has developed a sudden hole in their organization and the staffing firm has taken a potential serious hit to their reputation. The less obvious side effect is that this candidate has now tarnished their record permanently. Think twice about the impact a sudden decision to not start a job can have on everyone.
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