I am writing this report as an educational tool for those considering job with encore payment systems. I now wish someone would have had the time and resources to inform me about the company and about thier experiences. I was contacted by this company after posting my resume on monster.com. I told them the offer sounded decent and I would consider it. I had almost forgotten about them when two months later they contacted me again. At that point I had just completed the successful sale of my business and I decided to give them a shot. After traveling to st. Louis for training ($423-plane ticket - short notice -as they only book appointments for the next week none further). I then stayed at the hampton inn for two days where they have their trainings and recieve their "corporate rate" -only 10%-=$292.34 (and you have to argue with the front desk about recieving the discount) I went through through the training with three other individuals (The trainer told us they expected 8). While I was there the training was somewhat informative and encouraging. I felt they left alot of things out but how much can you squeeze in during a couple days? One of the many things that raised a flag was the fact that our trainer would let us know any info about himself. His back ground what he did before this - he seemed really phony. He flat out told us that lunch was on the house but that he could'nt spend more than ten dollars a head.
Anyway I wish to this day thatI would have exchanged numbers with the three that were there with me. After my expierences with the company and getting to know each of them, I am sure they are no longer with encore as well. Once I got up and running I realized the pre-set appointments were a sham. All the telemarketers were doing was telling business owners that I was stopping by to drop off some company information (encore does not give you info pamplets to drop off) Further they have an absolutely unprefessional and degrating polocy that if a merchant isn't interested you have to call your team leader, wait 5-15 minutes on hold until they answer tell your team leader the merchant isnt interested then you have to actually hand your cell phone to the business owner so encore can verify your there and "thank the merchant for their time" as encore puts it. Hahahahahah.
This is the most unprofessional ridiculous policy I have ever heard of. If your an ecore rep, whats wrong with you thanking the merchant for your time. This is micromanagement at its finest. Unproffessional. When I would tell a merchant that I had to call encore so that my team leader could "thank him/her for their time - I got some of the most unbelievable looks I have ever seen in a persons eyes in my ten years in business. Its a joke. Now lets dicect the money. The commission structure they tell you about is not true and is misleading. Here it is as presented in the training manual
A"level one" encore rep sells 15 accounts and 4systems per month =$5,275 per month or 63,300per year
A "level two" encore rep sells 22 accounts and 8 systems per month = $9,400 per month or 112,800 per year
A "level three" encore rep sells 30 accounts and 12 systems per month =$13,700 per month or $164,400 per year
The fools joke is that people actually belive it. The truth is the base these numbers off of full price. This is assuming that each new account will accept their expensive corporate rate of 1.89% and 25 cents per transaction. THIS NEVER HAPPENS!!! This industry is so competitive that all merchants have better rates than this and as the rate gets cut so the the commissions on new accounts. MERCHANTS SHOP - YOU WILL NOT EARN ANY WHERE NEAR THESE COMMISSIONS ENCORE PROMISES YOU IN TRAINING ON REPROGRAMS!!!
Second I will address the leases or "systems" as referred to above. These are 48 month non cancelable lease through a company called lsi. These things are a harmful to business owners. They are no joke and can result in jugdements, leans and could force a cash straped business to close its doors. I can sum it up in a sentence for the layman.—It is a contract that the business owner must pay 5 times the real value of a machine which is broken into payments and after the payments are done the business owner still does'nt own the machine.
These are machines you can buy online for $200 up to $1000. Encore in their commission presentation (level 1/2/3) are assuming you are selling these machines at full lease price.
An encore 9000 starts at $97.50 full price all the way down to the low 60'S. And do you honestly believe that a business owner would be stupid enough to sign a 48 month lease a $97.50 a month for a machine thats worth at the most $900? Your right! Business owners are pretty intelligant people. But encores riduculous "possible comission" training manual assumes the business owners to be retarded.— And Ill be honest with you, an old college buddy of mine that I recently got in touch with started an independent sales office (or iso) for a company called bank card processing international. He flat out told me about the money the processor makes and how the sales reps are looking at making $1000-$2000 a month tops. The money they promise simply does not happen. I was wondering why our trainer was so shady in giving me answers as to how long hes been with the company. Its simple its part of encores business plan. Once in I wondered why i heard diferent voices on our conference calls every week. They turn you over. After three months your supposedly eligible for their insurance but non of the team leaders seem to know what isurance company ecore's with. The other scam is on the taxes. They assume you want to be 10-99 and they dont with hold taxes from your check. Most people who this company solites as employees dont realize the reason their doing this is becaus the save money by not matching employees social security. As a responsible business owner if you pay and an employee and withhold his taxes you — BY IRS LAW THE BUSINESS MUST MATCH THE SS WITHHOLDINGS—
ENCORE IS DEFRAUDING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY FORCING 10-99's on their employess.
In summary I hope this message finds those that wish for a better life well and I hope I have helped you avoid a potential waste of time.
I will reveal honestly that in less than three months I in total I have spent -$423 plane ticket/292.34 hotel / add $60 per week in gas=$720/business cards 500=$72.23/miles on truck =7,527/ and the biggest and most lied about from management&cell phone bill—I added 1000 minutes for a total of 2000 anytime minutes. With overage chargtes I averaged 2,800 minutes for an average monthly bill of $290 per month.
I averaged in the last 2 months (the first month they give you bonuses on sales to compensate for your hotel and travel—hahah i dont think i got that money back-ahahhah so i didnt count it) 14.73 reprograms and 3.59 new equipment sales.
In total with encore I made 2,834.28 in three months.
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