Verbal Contract

[cincin1222]

hello all,

I just need some advice to this mess.

I am going to leave some of other unfortunate details so that I can really get to the point.

I was offered a position by one of a subsidy from this big company, a verbal acceptance was made.

Then couple of days later the Main company also contacted offering to send me to the same hospital but the pay was higher.

I informed them that I was already submitted by one of their subs,will it be an issue to be submitted twice she responded yes.

now after reading the written contract everything that I was offered verbally was not on the written contract. so I contacted my recruiter and told her the pay was low and it was not going to work out and some of the stuff promise was not on the written contract.

MIND YOU I HAVE NOT SIGN NOR DID ANY DRUG SCREENING,

SHE TOLD ME SINCE I GAVE THEM A VERBAL I WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE ARRANGEMENTS THEY MADE FOR HOUSING AND SO ON.

CAN THEY POSSIBLY DO THAT SINCE I HAVE NOT SEEN AND OR AGREED TO HOUSING NOR SIGN ANYTHING?

[HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

No. It's a scare tactic. Drop them and move on to another company.

[Crazynut]

I would kick them to the curb. It's industry standard that verbal acceptance is pending contract negotiation. Some companies expect you to say that when you accept. I dont accept over the phone. I email my recruiter and I state in the email that I "accept pending contract negotiation". These companies try to be slick. They use the good ol bait and switch. You just have to know how to beat them in their own game!

[NedRN]

This is tongue in cheek but inform them that since they broke the contract in regards to compensation, you will be billing them for lost hours and profit. No, I don't think you want to continue with them. Intimidation is not a tactic you want to reward or live with. I do think you should send them an email stating that they broke the verbal contract with a written contract that didn't follow the agreed terms. And that you will be referring the case to your lawyer if they try to bill you for anything or make a report to a credit bureau.

In the future, never agree to an assignment until you have reviewed the written contract. Say instead that you will take it if the contract is OK. Consider joining PanTravelers. Paid members have access to legal advice and a lawyer response to disputes if needed.

[cincin1222]

Thanks guys,

But @Crazynut. Since I didn't tell her that pending a copy of the contract when I verbally accepted it how can I go about canceling it without having to this back and forth? I just don't agree with couple of things but I am not saying they're the worse agency.

[cincin1222]

Thanks, Ned

I am going to do that now

[cincin1222]

Ok this is crazy

now she is saying that there's a cancellation fee plus the fact they had to obtain housing it will be sent to collections. How can they charge for housing that I have not even set a foot in?

[idialyze, BSN, RN]

This very thing happened to me while traveling. I had been working for 1 company for some time, another company

asked me about taking an assignment with them. It was an assignment that I had worked

before. I said I would think about it and let

them know. I ended up taking an assignment with my same company, the rep informed me I needed to pay for the appt, and wouldn't take no for an answer.

She harrassed me for a few weeks until I told her I would run it by my lawyer. Never heard from her again!

[Crazynut]

I would block their phone number and block them from your email. You dont have to talk to them. Thats really low them threatening collections. I wouldnt sweat it. It's usually just talk. But if they do I would get a lawyer. What company is it? A little neg publicity goes a long way!

[Thought, BSN, RN]

I just talked to a good friend of mine, a retired travel nurse who had the same problem many years ago. She says it's a bluff to pull you in. A verbal contract is only that, but a written and signed contract is another story. This does not sound like a good company to work for if they're trying to threaten you. It's not worth the trouble.

[NedRN]

It is certainly bluster, but they could indeed send it out for collections or simply send a bill and then report it on your credit record. I've seen cases, sometimes mass cases, where they do just that. This may not rise to criminal behavior, but is certainly irresponsible and malicious. It is best to cut it short with a sternly worded letter (email) threatening a legal response rather than taking a chance of having to correct it later via litigation. It can be very difficult to remove an erroneous item from your credit report. It would be great to have a class action suit against agencies that do this, but getting it going requires a good reward for lawyers. I'm not sure there is one here.

Best is to name the agency or agencies involved, that will cost them more business than such shady tactics are worth. Their actions are hurting their relationship with their travelers, and it is up to us to shame them into better business practices.

BTW, if they were dumb enough to actually enter into a signed contract for housing before having secured a signed contract with you, that is their liability, not yours. Frankly, I doubt they have paid for housing for you already. If you end up in court, it would be interesting to see their presented documentation.

[cincin1222]

I was already a little skeptical about travelling but now I have lost all the trust now for any agencies,

and it was Medical Express, of course part of AMN mind you American Mobile called me about the same position prior to this mess but offer me more money.