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[worried]

I did all my campus visits more than a month ago. Even after one month, two schools have not reimbursed me on the visit yet. One school withdrew the position, and the other school offered me the job but I turned it down. Now what shall I do to get the money back from them? Thanks!

[Tremont]

First, don't worry. If they said they'd reimburse you, they will. The wheels of finance move terribly slow at my university, but they move nonetheless. Chances are payment requires the approval of several different people, including the dean, chief accountant, tax officer, etc., and any request takes time to make the rounds. Then, the university may only write checks once a month. I'd simply write to the contact person at each school and ask when you can expect reimbursement.

[me]

Had the same thing happen. I was told I would have a check in five to ten business days. It's been over a month. I called the contact person. She said there was a hold on my reimbursement and could I send her the original receipts. I told her I gave them to her already, and she said the HR office didn't have them. Then, she changed her story and said she did send them, she was sure. She then asked for the originals. Finally, I said to her - hey, I don't mean to be rude here, but did you send the originals or not because you're giving me two different stories. I have decided I don't want the job anyway, and at this point, I just want my money, which I desperately need. So, she said she'd call whoever and get back to me. She never did. I called again, about an hour later, saying I had to leave (not true) and did she get an answer. She said she did, but of course she never called me. She said they would take at least a week to process it - suddenly, they had my receipts?! Then, I told her in no uncertain terms that I was promised the reimbursement by a certain time, and I was really in need of that money. She was so damn flaky! Finally, I asked if I could speak to whoever she was trying to contact. She hesitantly gave me the person's number and name. I called that person and left a message. The original chick suddenly called me and said the check was being cut today and would be in the mail tomorrow, and could i please not call that person because she wasn't supposed to give out her name or number. I told her I already did, sorry, and she sounded upset. What's going on here? I better get this check - I've never been treated so poorly or been given the run-around. They give me no choice on when to interview - I have to fly across the country at a moment's notice - I had to pay so much for cab fare on top of everything because they couldn't even pick me up - it was a terrible experience, and now I have to wait this long for my check?! If you don't care at all about the job, I'd get on the phone with them immediately, and don't let them give you the runaround. I think that's so disrespectful - wow, I'm getting angry just writing this! Hope you get your money soon!

[anon]

the machinery of the U.S. state university moves achingly slow. i once gave an invited lecture (not job talk) in which my meals and cab fare were to be reimbursed. it took them three MONTHS to process everything and cut me a check for about a hundred bucks (it was the U. of Maryland).

by comparison, i've found that Canadian universities have been rather quick at issuing reimbursement checks to me (and I'm not even a Canadian citizen).

[Seeker]

The chair of the department or the department secretary should have told you how long it will take to get your reimbursement. If it's been a month already, I would go ahead and ask--that way at least you can rule out that something is awry. I had two departments that didn't pay my expenses from the outset (i.e., where I had to submit reimbursements). In one case, I received a check within two weeks; in the other, it took over six weeks. I always find it annoying when it takes longer than a month because they don't reimburse our credit card interest, but a month or more is typical (I can't believe the poster who had a hissy fit after a week!).

[Snappy Moniker]

I once flew out to an R1 in the midwest to give an invited seminar.  I got such grief from them over my airline ticket because it was an e-ticket and, therefore, I didn't have a "proper receipt."  I don't remember how long it took to straighten out, but it was a pain in the ***.  On the other hand, I once flew out to Germany for a job interview, and mere minutes after I arrived at the school was handed an evelope full of DM to cover my airfare, trainfare, and meals that I wasn't being treated to.  Fantastisch!  (Of course, once I was there I had to deal with all their annoying paperwork, auf Deutsch natürlich.)

[%sig%]

[b]

did u ever fill out any forms for the procurement office? It took one school more than a month just to send me the form and then they sent me the check a week later. The other school sent me the form about a week after my visit, and I got the check about a month 1/2 after the visit.
A month is normal, I say contact them if u haven;t filled out anything yet. If u have, then wait another week or two, and then contact them. Good luck1