Are Some Travel Agencies Running a Scam?

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Hello everyone out there in allnurses.com land.

I was just wanting to ask of you all's experience with travel nurse agencies. Have they been good?

The reason i ask this is because a while back, i started putting in with some travel nurse agencies. I am wanting to relocate away from here and I felt that traveling to my place of destination would be a good way to get my foot in the door. So, I started going on some of these travel agency websites. They advertised job assignments in some of the areas I was interested in. Anyways, I went on and registered with some sites for a recruiter to contact me. To sum it all up, they "exaggerate" with some of their advertisements. They will advertise positions in a particular city, but when you talk with them, they say they don't have anything in that city.

So, after coming to the conclusion that I felt that these agencies are not exactly telling the whole truth about everything, I quit dealing with them. Well, lately, I have been receiving tons of spam e-mails from numerous travel agencies. Also, forget telemarketers, these so-called "recruiters" have been blowing up my phone. They call two or three times a day. They use a different name each time, even though it's obvious it's the same person. I have travel agencies calling me that I didn't even sign up with. It's getting hectic.

So, I would like for someone who has extensively dealt with travel agencies to tell me: are most of them running a scam? I mean, I really feel that reputable agencies wouldn't act in such a way. And how do I know a reputable agency from a not so good one?

Please, do tell. I would like to travel, but I don't feel that I can trust most of the agencies I've dealt with. I would appreciate any input you all could give.

Thanks so much. Have a blessed day.:balloons:

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Specializes in OB.

Agencies can be good as long as you remember that you are dealing with someone who's job is to sell you a product (the contract). You are responsible for protecting your own interests. Make sure to ask lots of questions. I would only deal with agencies that I have contacted for information, not with those who cold call me.

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Agencies can be good as long as you remember that you are dealing with someone who's job is to sell you a product (the contract). You are responsible for protecting your own interests. Make sure to ask lots of questions. I would only deal with agencies that I have contacted for information, not with those who cold call me.

Oh, okay. I thank you for explaining that the way you did. I can see it from that point of view. So, it almost is like they are telemarketers in a way. Like you said, they are trying to get you to take the contract. But for those that do cold call, how did they get my information? Do travel agencies sell one another people's info?

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how did they get my information? Do travel agencies sell one another people's info?

It's possible a company may sell your info, but more likely they got it from somewhere else. Are you sure you didn't post a resume online somewhere? Your information can also be obtained from a state board where you are licensed.

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It's possible a company may sell your info, but more likely they got it from somewhere else. Are you sure you didn't post a resume online somewhere? Your information can also be obtained from a state board where you are licensed.

Thanks for your response. I haven't posted my resume online or anything like that. I just filled out the sections for them to contact me on a couple of agency sites. I never thought about that they could be getting info for the board of nursing. Good point. I may need to check that out. Thank you so much for your input.;)

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Agencies can be good as long as you remember that you are dealing with someone who's job is to sell you a product (the contract). You are responsible for protecting your own interests. Make sure to ask lots of questions. I would only deal with agencies that I have contacted for information, not with those who cold call me.

I kind of agree with this that the agency is there to sell you a product (the contract).

Some think my attitude is right, some think it is wrong...But the way I approach it is this...they call themselves the "employer" but they can call themselves anything they want to...I consider myself self employed and I am the boss! I view what ever agency I choose to accept an assignment with as little more than a personal assistant taking care of writing the checks and keeping up with the paperwork. I pay their bills and make them lots of money...and myself too. But I am the "goods" and it is me doing the back breaking work. My current recruiter and I have this complete understanding and he knows I will drop him in 2 seconds flat and have him replaced in 2 seconds more if he gives me any crap. I am a good nurse, hard worker, don't call off sick, work lots of overtime, don't get complaints from the hospitals I work at, and always get good exit reviews, and I have 22 years of nursing experience, which is many more years of experience than any of his other nurses he represents.

If you have a good track record and some years of experience and some good assignments under your belt you too are the one that should be in charge. I have agencies calling and emailing me 2-3 times per week begging to represent me. My attitude is that I am self employed and I must do what is right for me and my business...I must take care of me! No one esle will do it for me...and when your self employed YOU get to be your own boss! That is the approach I take and it works for me...and I ususually don't have to be an ass about it...these agencies know who the bread and butter is and that they can be replaced on a drop of a dime.:lol2:

Hope that helps you and others.

P.S. Being "self employed" I carry my own health insurance plan so I can switch agencies if ever I feel the need to do so. This way I never have a lapse in coverage and it makes it easier to drop an agency if I feel it is necessary. When an agency offers you $33.00/hr for a contract tell them you will take $36.00 and pay your own insurance. They will usually bite on that in a hot second. A couple of extra dollars an hour will pay your premiums each month with a little left over, and it is of benefit to the agency to not carry you on their plan as well.

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Most agencies are part of very large corporations that make a gazillion dollars a year. We are just cogs in their wheels. They need so many RNs/CRNAs to staff their whatever and their goal is to fill that any way they can. It is rare to find people at the big companies that really care about your well-being. The only person that does is you.

Get everything in writing before you even think about driving to the airport. Negotiate as well, everything is up for negotiation. If they want you bad enough, they will give you the extra $$ or benefit or whatever.

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Specializes in postpartum,well baby nursery, L and D.

NASKIPPY- what do u mean by get your own insurance? wouldnt that come out much more expensive? can you give me more info on this and also tell me what insurance plans are good? thanks!

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Specializes in Informatics.

I'm still in my first few assignments but I have learned one thing I think is important. Get an agency that has recruiters that represent either you or the hospital, but not both.

Some agencies have their recruiters represent both and the nurse looses. Quite simply the hospitals are the ones with the money.

The agency I'm with seperates them and I think I do have someone arguing for me in any dispute.

Naskippy, I find what you say about insurance interesting. My company wanted to supply the insurance. But I've been thinking of getting my own so that I can change agencies easier.

BTW the reason I would consider changing is that on my first assignment someone made a mistake and sent to me the contract between the agency and hospital. I know for a fact that the agency is only giving me 40% of what they collect for me (but I still make a lot more than I did perm).

Doug

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I kind of agree with this that the agency is there to sell you a product (the contract).

Some think my attitude is right, some think it is wrong...But the way I approach it is this...they call themselves the "employer" but they can call themselves anything they want to...I consider myself self employed and I am the boss! I view what ever agency I choose to accept an assignment with as little more than a personal assistant taking care of writing the checks and keeping up with the paperwork. I pay their bills and make them lots of money...and myself too. But I am the "goods" and it is me doing the back breaking work. My current recruiter and I have this complete understanding and he knows I will drop him in 2 seconds flat and have him replaced in 2 seconds more if he gives me any crap. I am a good nurse, hard worker, don't call off sick, work lots of overtime, don't get complaints from the hospitals I work at, and always get good exit reviews, and I have 22 years of nursing experience, which is many more years of experience than any of his other nurses he represents.

If you have a good track record and some years of experience and some good assignments under your belt you too are the one that should be in charge. I have agencies calling and emailing me 2-3 times per week begging to represent me. My attitude is that I am self employed and I must do what is right for me and my business...I must take care of me! No one esle will do it for me...and when your self employed YOU get to be your own boss! That is the approach I take and it works for me...and I ususually don't have to be an ass about it...these agencies know who the bread and butter is and that they can be replaced on a drop of a dime.:lol2:

Hope that helps you and others.

P.S. Being "self employed" I carry my own health insurance plan so I can switch agencies if ever I feel the need to do so. This way I never have a lapse in coverage and it makes it easier to drop an agency if I feel it is necessary. When an agency offers you $33.00/hr for a contract tell them you will take $36.00 and pay your own insurance. They will usually bite on that in a hot second. A couple of extra dollars an hour will pay your premiums each month with a little left over, and it is of benefit to the agency to not carry you on their plan as well.

Whew!!! I heard that. LOL!;)

But really, thank you so much for that advice. I wish I had the backbone and confidence you have. Well, I actually do, but I think sometimes I wonder, "why bother" when it comes to getting my point across. But, I will take that advice to heart. Like you said, they need you more than you probably need them because you can always go to another agency.

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Most agencies are part of very large corporations that make a gazillion dollars a year. We are just cogs in their wheels. They need so many RNs/CRNAs to staff their whatever and their goal is to fill that any way they can. It is rare to find people at the big companies that really care about your well-being. The only person that does is you.

Get everything in writing before you even think about driving to the airport. Negotiate as well, everything is up for negotiation. If they want you bad enough, they will give you the extra $$ or benefit or whatever.

Thank you for responding. Yeah, I kind of figured they were parts of corporations because so many call within close proximity of one another. It seems like they take turns calling to see who can get you first. I think because I'm not actually doing a face-to-face/sit down with these recruiters, that it's hard for me to trust them. That may be why it's been so hard to get started traveling. But, I definitely will negotiate as well as I can.

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Specializes in OB.
I'm still in my first few assignments but I have learned one thing I think is important. Get an agency that has recruiters that represent either you or the hospital, but not both.

Some agencies have their recruiters represent both and the nurse looses. Quite simply the hospitals are the ones with the money.

The agency I'm with seperates them and I think I do have someone arguing for me in any dispute.

Naskippy, I find what you say about insurance interesting. My company wanted to supply the insurance. But I've been thinking of getting my own so that I can change agencies easier.

BTW the reason I would consider changing is that on my first assignment someone made a mistake and sent to me the contract between the agency and hospital. I know for a fact that the agency is only giving me 40% of what they collect for me (but I still make a lot more than I did perm).

Doug

Doug - When you look at the figures and say that your agency "is only giving me 40% of what they collect for me", be sure you are considering the whole picture: Does that "40%" include the cost of your housing, insurance, benefits, travel reimbursement, etc? Now consider that out of the "bill rate" they are also paying all the salaries of the support people - recruiters, housing coordinators, etc. who make things work for you. Then there is the cost of maintaining the offices in which they operate. All that, and there must be some room for profit - these agencies are not charity organizations! I base my decisions on the rate paid to me and the quality of the benefits. If the agency can get a lot more for my services, then that gives them all the more incentive to keep me happily employed!

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