To begin, there are a great many reports on this site about combined—and I can confirm through a horrible four month experience that they are all true! I had left a good job at another insurance company for this one hoping for better hours and better pay— all things that were excitedly promised.
What a joke
They found my resume on monster.com (I suggest if you ever get a call from these people to hang up immediately!) The territory manager tallked about a position where I would be on a fast track to become a manager, make my own hours, and earn over $50,000 a year. Benefits started after six months, you were paid weekly and there were all sorts of bonuses and incentives one could look forward to.
Sounded awesome.
So upon leaving my other job they sent me to Albany (several hours away) for three weeks of unpaid training, oh and by the way, you also have to pay your own licensing fees, gas to get there whatever the case may be.
Fantastic, but still optimistic.
After I returned to Buffalo as only one of 4 that passed said licensing test (the whole class started at 25 people at least!) I was put into the field with my training manager. You have to split all commission 50/50 for the first two weeks. Alright sure. After that there are 11 more weeks of training where you meet with your area sales agents every morning, you ride with your manager for two days in each week until training is complete.
I was on my own after day four. I made $100.00 a week the rest of the three months I worked for the company until I was so broke I had to leave and get a quickie retail job just to pay my bills! They use intimidation and scare tactics to get into peoples homes to sell the product (though don't get me wrong there are some wonderful agents out there, but know that the company in sales school and branch managers preach this!) Your job is to push your way into a prospects home and not leave until they have purchased a policy or have kicked your rear out of their homes onto the street.
Archaic, unfriendly, horrible!
Everything is pen and paper with a huge sales binder you have to carry around, there is not a computer to be found and your lead cards come in once a month in huge reem filled boxes.
Wow
I held out for at least 13 weeks because the company offers you a guarantee after 13wks of working that if you don't earn a certain amount by 13 weeks you are compensated by a set dollar amount
I never saw that money
I worked near 60 hours a week, endured door to door sales, unpaid meetings, conferences, tele-conferences, managers that call you every two hours to hound you, 50.00 in gas a week not to mention mileage (you drive your own car EVERYWHERE)
Only to make 100.00 a week.
To top if off I quit the company and not only did I receive a phone call EVERY DAY for the next two weeks from different managers trying to convince me to stay, after that I was threatened, until I finally lost it with one of them on the phone.in the weeks following other divisions of combined (there are separate ones for life and health/accident) tried to get me to come work with them instead.
I have had enough
I hope this is warning enough for anyone even looking at the company. Stay far far away if you want to walk away with any savings in tact.
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