Should I change agencies?

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Specializes in ER.

I am on my first assignment with Travel Nurse Across America.

My qualms with them: I did not sign up for tax advantage because I was only 10mi from my home. But they signed me up anyway (by accident), and after 3 paychecks I mentioned to my recruiter that I was getting much more than she had originally quoted me ($500 biweekly more). She discovered that payroll had not been taxing my income, and now I have to pay back $1250 dollars.

On top of it, I paid $240 for a VA license. The assingment I wanted there did not work out (understandable), but she said now that I am not going there within the next 6 months (although I do plan on going within the next year) I will no get reimbursed for buying the license. If I complete an assignment there (especially within the year), I feel as though I should still be reimbursed. Is that so out of the question?

Mostly I think I am upset because my recruiter told me when she discovered what was wrong with the untaxed money I was getting "this is a good thing! we caught this early!" she did not apologize she did not show any remorse. I felt terrible. I am so overwhelmed. She made it seem like I was silly to even be upset. On top of it, now I am another $240 in the hole. To that she said not to worry about it, and if she were me she woulnd't worry about getting reimbursed.

I just don't feel like she cares about the things I care about, and I don't like that in a recruiter. She makes me feel silly for caring about losing my money. Maybe I should just get another recruiter? Is that even possible? I don't want to offend her by asking, but I'd prefer someone different. I have also spoken with someone from Supplemental Staffing who is offering about $500 more bi weekly for a Corpus Christi assignment when I compared it with TNAA's.

It just seems like such a hassle to switch agencies though. Can I bring up Supplementals offer and haggle with TNAA?

I am on my first ever assignment currently with TNAA. They have a great reputation, so I don't want to fall victim to "the grass is always greener on the other side".

I'd appreciate anyones help!!!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'm not certain how you feel you 'lost money'? You were inadvertently overpaid, and now they wan it back. It was never yours to begin with. Right? Did you spend it?

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If you feel the communication is lacking with your recruiter, you absolutely should switch recruiters. Some agencies pay more than others and you will find that if it is a large difference, you are not going to get a match. Switch to get the difference. The agency is not getting your tax money, the government is and it is a good thing it was caught early otherwise you would be paying even more back. If you work in VA then you will get your licensed reimbursed. Then, not now.

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Sounds like you already know the answer. Go with you gut. You should probably already working with a few companies. If not then this a good time to start.

Roost

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Specializes in ER.

I lost money by spending $240 on a license that I may never be reimbursed for, even though I still plan on using it. I just might not be able to use it within the next 6 months

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Specializes in ER.

Thank you so much for your response. I know that it's the governments money. But my point is that I am frustrated because I caught the problem. If I didn't say anything, then it wouldn't have been caught for a long time. So yes, it is a good thing that I caught the problem. But as far as I am concerned, it is THEIR responsibility to not give me tax advantage--- because i did not sign up for it! I knew i wasn't supposed to because I am still living in my apt 10mi away from the hospital. They did anyway.

I'm not sure what you are saying about VA license? I know I will not get reimbursed until the end of my assignment there, should I go there. What I did not know is that if they send my application to a hospital there (VA) and the position is already full, now I will not get reimbursed even if I go there within 6-12 months.

Actually, I just realized that I submitted everything for VA license except the nurse verification form (my state PA does not participate in nursys). Should I hang on to that part of the license submission until I am actually ready to apply to a job there this time?

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So your agency made a withholding mistake. Now it is fixed. You sound like they owe you. They don't.

Same with the VA license. If you really don't want it, don't send the license verification. That will save you a little bit of money, but you won't have the VA license. Licensure expenses are tax deductible by the way if that helps any. Cost of doing business. You have the right to gripe about the cost of licenses, but it is part of nursing and especially travel. You will "lose" money on all of them. Some agencies will reimburse you for them, but it is still coming out of your pay in reality.

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Specializes in Hospice.

It isn't your employers responsibility to monitor how much money is being taken out of your check. It's yours. That's why you get a check stub.

When I was young and clueless, I didn't really do that-imagine my surprise at tax time when I discovered that no state income tax had been taken out for an entire year. THAT was a hard check to write, believe me.

When I contacted HR, they were nice enough to send a letter to the IRS explaining that, due to an oversight, no tax had been taken out. I still had to give the money back. Did I blame my employer? No. But, believe me, I learned to check EVERY pay stub from then on. As a matter of fact, I just caught that my employer hadn't started taking out my insurance premium. I had to pay two premiums out of the next check to catch up, but since I owed the money, it was only right.

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Specializes in ER.

Thanks for your response. I am a first time traveler and have been at my first job 2.5 years, so I suppose it's a young person's mistake to be disillusioned into thinking that payroll should be astute at their job. Learning a lot in my twenties. thanks again

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Specializes in ER.

Thank you for your response. Do you happen to know if there is a time frame between when you begin a state's application for licensure and when you complete sending everything in? I am considering holding the license verification portion until I am ready to apply for a job in VA again. What do you think?

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It is likely 6 months or a year before you would have to reapply. The BON site should provide guidance. But it probably won't affect your expiration date.

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Specializes in Hospice.
Thanks for your response. I am a first time traveler and have been at my first job 2.5 years, so I suppose it's a young person's mistake to be disillusioned into thinking that payroll should be astute at their job. Learning a lot in my twenties. thanks again

Yeah, I was in my twenties when the tax wasn't taken out for the entire year. Thank Jebus it was State tax, not Federal!! Hubby still trots it out on occasion, thirty years later, as an example of how I'm not always the most observant person. *sigh*

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