I cannot find a way to contact or locate Group One.
Since I have left a bad job where the supervisors and nurse managers pretty much did what they wanted to you without any kind of controls (yikes!), I have some realistic concerns about what may have been reported about me.
I googled. I searched here.
I did find one post from to day that mentioned Group One, and I emailed that member.
But if someone out there knows how to find out "what they're sayin' about ya," I'd sure like to know about it. It probably ought to be included in a link someplace on this board.
The trick is that because they hide as a 'consumer credit reporting agency', they fall under the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act).
And there are means under that act to harrass THEM back.
If you drown THEM in paperwork, they legally CANNOT ignore you and must answer and investigate EACH AND EVERY request made by you. It's the law.
If you are persistent, you can bug the heck out of that supervisor that made the comment - to the point to get them to forget or change the comment. See, if you contest the comments, the LAW says they have to inquire about its accuracy. If that inquiry is either unsubstantiated or goes unvalidated for 30 days, the LAW says they must remove that info from your file.
A. So, you send in a request to investigate. They send a letter to your former employer. That employer has to deal with it. Your former employer spends their time and energy on the matter. Group One send you a letter back saying it's investigated and substantiated.
B. You send them another letter requesting an investigation.
C. The LAW says they have to REPEAT A. - Again. And Again. And Again. As long as and as many times as you make a legally allowed inquiry, they are legally required, under the FCRA, to investigate.
Personally, I would request my Group One report, and send a letter asking for the investigation of the complaint itself. The next day, I'd send a letter asking them to investigate and change my license number (whether correct or not), The next day, I'd send them a letter asking them to investigate the incorrect spelling of my name (whether they spelled it right or not). The next day, I'd ask them to investigate that they are confusing me with someone else. The next day, I'd ask them to investigate blah blah blah.
I'd send a formal letter, under the rules of the FCRA, asking them to investigate a unique and different aspect of my file EVERY DAY. What's a 40 cent stamp and 5 minutes of my time/day (form letter on computer, change a detail, print and mail) when my dander is worked up?
If you have a little time and money, after a few weeks, a letter on a lawyer's stationary asking them to verify their investigation processes to your 'attorney' could make them stick to the CFRA and play the long and drawn out game with you fairly, by the long and complicated Federal rules. Surely you could find a lawyer that would lend you the credibility of a formal legal inquiry at a reasonable price.
(This is the SAME process, btw, that some companies use to claim that they can improve your credit rating. And, in point of fact, you can do the SAME thing with the big three real credit agencies, sometimes with dramatic results in your credit rating, but, I digress.)
How about a "RateMyHospitalandNursingUnit.Com" for nurses who are thinking about applying for a position? Toxic units and facilities wouldn't get applicants.
Wouldn't it be cool to also list pay, benefits, etc. at different hospitals in local areas so people could compare? We're actually doing this as project for our graduating class and will be posting it on a website so everybody can check it out instead of relying upon word of mouth.
Who knows ... it might even prompt the lower paying hospitals to do better.
Wouldn't it be cool to also list pay, benefits, etc. at different hospitals in local areas so people could compare? We're actually doing this as project for our graduating class and will be posting on a website so everybody can check it out instead of relying upon word of mouth.
Who knows ... it might even prompt the lower paying hospitals to do better.
Wow! I just found this thread and am sitting here shaking my head, finding it hard to believe that such an organization exists.
Its absurd that there are actually enough mean-spirited, anal, nasty, uglypeople who would find something like this necessary and then feed their toxic crap into it just to make life hard for another nurse.
What kind of sicko people are in this 'angel-of-mercy' profession?
What is wrong with Texas that they allow this? Does anyone know if this Group One exists in other states as well?
Chris, would like to hear how you are doing with all this? Hope you find the information you need, and would love to know how we (nurses) could get together and take action against a group like this.
This is just too much for my poor, naive soul to handle. I'm gonna go take a nap.:angryfire
Since I've been unable to find a job locally (I'm now a traveler) I called Group1 and was told by them there was no file on me. I had to give them my ss#.
Wow! I just found this thread and am sitting here shaking my head, finding it hard to believe that such an organization exists.
Its absurd that there are actually enough mean-spirited, anal, nasty, uglypeople who would find something like this necessary and then feed their toxic crap into it just to make life hard for another nurse.
What kind of sicko people are in this 'angel-of-mercy' profession?
What is wrong with Texas that they allow this? Does anyone know if this Group One exists in other states as well?
Chris, would like to hear how you are doing with all this? Hope you find the information you need, and would love to know how we (nurses) could get together and take action against a group like this.
This is just too much for my poor, naive soul to handle. I'm gonna go take a nap.:angryfire
I am sure it exists in other areas and other states. I just don't think they are as open about it. Most nurses in the DFW area do not know it exists. All they know is that they were asked to sign for a "consumer" report when they submitted an employment application. Unless you have something reported on you and have been denied a job, you likely would not have any knowledge of this organization. I know of indiviuals who have had information placed in their Group One (one had been fired by the facility and the other called in sick for the last week of her shifts after she turned in her 2 week notice.) Some negative group one information is deserved, however, all of us have worked on units where good nurses were ruined by toxic managers and petty staff. It is those nurses that who have had their job prospects diminished because they were unfortunate enough to take a job on a poorly managed unit and had their nursing reputation ruined. My advice, if you live in the DFW area and you think you could be fired -- Quit first. It's not worth holding on to.
Did someone put up a big fence along the Texas border? Why would anyone with the right to leave such a place put up with this indignity? I'll take the earthquakes, wild fires and general wackiness of California any day before I put up with this crap going on in Texas.
It happens lots of other places besides Texas - we just happen to be aware of it here. GroupOne encompasses a much larger area than Dallas and Fort Worth.
In addition - there are plenty of other shady little credit reporting agencies who do essentially the same thing. Don't kid yourself.
I am sure it exists in other areas and other states. I just don't think they are as open about it. Most nurses in the DFW area do not know it exists. All they know is that they were asked to sign for a "consumer" report when they submitted an employment application. Unless you have something reported on you and have been denied a job, you likely would not have any knowledge of this organization. I know of indiviuals who have had information placed in their Group One (one had been fired by the facility and the other called in sick for the last week of her shifts after she turned in her 2 week notice.) Some negative group one information is deserved, however, all of us have worked on units where good nurses were ruined by toxic managers and petty staff. It is those nurses that who have had their job prospects diminished because they were unfortunate enough to take a job on a poorly managed unit and had their nursing reputation ruined. My advice, if you live in the DFW area and you think you could be fired -- Quit first. It's not worth holding on to.
My advice to anyone who works in these areas, if asked to sign this "consumer" report, just refuse. No one has the right to force this indignity on you. Put an ad in the paper to educate the public about this. When enough individuals refuse to play this game, it wil finally end.
Or better yet, insist on getting a copy of this and bring it to a lawyer. Tell them that you won't sign it until you have an attorneylook it over.
My advice to anyone who works in these areas, if asked to sign this "consumer" report, just refuse. No one has the right to force this indignity on you. Put an ad in the paper to educate the public about this. When enough individuals refuse to play this game, it wil finally end.
Or better yet, insist on getting a copy of this and bring it to a lawyer. Tell them that you won't sign it until you have an attorneylook it over.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington
It's part of the application. If you don't complete the application, you will not be considered for any job, any where.
If you make a fuss BEFORE you even submit an application, what are the odds that your app will be considered?
Last year I was offered a position working in a clinic in a very distinct area in which I had absolutely no experience. Had also applied for other jobs at the same time. Went through several interviews in which the fact I had no relevant experience seemed to make no difference. Was supposed to be notified but wasn't. In the meantime, I'd been thinking if I really wanted to work such early hours and deal with a disease with such a poor prognosis and so much suffering on a daily basis. Afraid of burn out after a short time.
So, the day after I was supposed to hear from them and didn't, another job offer came in, and I accepted it. Ya know, a bird in the hand.........besides, both hours and pay were better.
Then the new job was not up to my expectations at all, and after several months, I quit and again applied to the first group. (Over 100 doctors involved). Suddenly there was silence. So I'd see an position I knew I was experienced and qualified for so I applied but never heard a word about an interview.
Finally, in a very nice, polite way I e-mailed the recruiter asking if they had a policy of not hiring someone who'd turned down a position with them, as I had applied again and again and heard nothing. And these were for positions I was far more qualified than the original job offered to me.
H.R. e-mailed me back, with no mention of any policy, just a reminder that just because you apply doesn't mean you will be interviewed, let alone hired.
I understand that, but considering the number of advertised positions that show up on their web site for months, that I have applied for and am totally qualified for, and yet I never hear a word - contrary to their behavior when I first applied and was inundated with offers, just has to make me think.....
Do y'all think this is a case of discrimination because I turned down a job offer or do you actually really believe I am suddenly not adequate for the positions listed?
And how the heck would I know? For all I know I could be on a list of 'do not hires', and have not a clue these kind of organizations exist, let alone what to do about finding out and how to stop this ridiculousness?
Any comments, suggestions, or advice? Should I just move to Katmandu and forget it? It really pisses me off that these kind of organizations exist against us, usually without our knowing it, but the kind of organization nurses need - to know what places to avoid like the plague don't exist.And if I did start a list, no doubt an attorney would be calling me at 7 am tomorrow morning to cry 'foul'.
Ya know, just when you think you've heard it all, something like this comes along and makes you shake your head at humanity. Dear God, is this what we've been reduced to???:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire
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pickledpepperRN
4,491 Posts
This is so good.
Thank you on behalf of nurses done wrong.