Alright, so I'm just going to be completely honest with you guys about how this company works! Take it from me, I use to WORK for them! So here is my story:
I see the job opening on Craigslist, so I decided to check it out and go in for an interview. So, I go in for the interview and it's a group interview. There's about 12-15 people there, and all you're asked to do is say your name and something about yourself, and perhaps your past work experience. So, we all do, and now I'm thinking they are going to seperate us, or at least get to know more about each individual, but much to my surprise, EVERYONE one gets the job. Now, I try not judge people, but I thought that was extremely strange, especially because of some of the people that showed up. But as a broke college student, I decide that maybe I'm overreacting, and it is a call center that needs alot of people, so I decide to give a try and go in for training.
The next day, I attend training, which last for about 6 hours, and the trainer doesn't give much about the company, but after filling out a phone book worth of paper work, she does start to give us a script to read while on the phone, and a list of REBUTTALS. Okay, so that's over, and I come back the next day to start.
The manager, nice person, but doesn't look like he/she (don't wanna give anyone away!) hardley graduated high school, much less have a degree in finance, is giving us advice to use while talking to customers on the phone.
While talking to these customer, we aare to inform them that we are able to lower their intrest rates on their exsisting credit cards as long as they qualify-meaning they have to have at least $3,000 in debt and pay over 9.9% interest. We are to go on asking a few more questions, eventually asking them to VERIFY their credit card information. Now this is the important part! They ask you to VERIFY-the customer mostly likely assuming that the person on the other end has you information already... in REALITY, the majority of the people DO NOT have computers, and are just writing down what you tell them... Yes, pen and paper, YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION, and in MANY, MANY cases, carrying your information right out of the door once their shift ends. The paper says that you are terminated if you leave with the information, but I PROMISE YOU that NOBODY is checking to make sure all the papers are accounted for, and I can name PLENTY of people that walked out with a whole LIST of people's credit card info.
So, I'm on the phones, and all I can hear is pressure to 'make a deal', 'make a deal'... Which ultimatley means getting a customer to close. Now, take in mind guys, I am a college student, but I'm not majoring in anything close to finance, accounting, or economics, and I don't own any credit cards, so this is all completley new to me.
Now, the SECOND day, I go in, and there's a meeting before the shift. And the manager says the STRANGEST THING! And I'm pretty sure no one else caught it, but I did. One of the employees ask the manager a question about what was the best response to a particular question a customer may ask. Now, the manager says something... But what I distinctly remember is he/she telling the guy that he needed to hurry up, because by that time, a customer may be trying to look us up on the internet! What? Hold on a minute! Now most companies will ENCOURAGE customers to look them up on the internet, but I thought that was MIGHTY strange. So I finish the day out and go home.
I do begin to think though... One-I'm not even 100% sure, not even 50% sure what these people are fully agreeing to once they are transfered to these "financial specialist" (which mind you, have NO DEGREE or QUALIFICATIONS at all), the people there are LOUD, GHETTO, and UNPROFESSIONAL! Not to say they aren't nice people, just not people that I would want handling any of my personal information, and finally, I DON'T EVEN THINK ANYONE HAS TOLD ME THE NAME OF THIS COMPANY!
So, before I go in for my third day, I do some research maybe about thirty minutes before I'm suppose to be in... And the only website that comes up is usacomplaints.com and I read report after report after report on how they've been scammed from this company!
Now I'm a strong believer in accountability. If you are not aware of what you're doing or what's going on, then I can understand, but once you are fully aware of how something is, you are COMPLETLEY responsible. Alot of the employees brag about getting $1000-$1800 paychecks every week, but AT WHAT COST! I wouldn't want to make $18 THOUSAND dollars a week if I knew it was at the expense of hurting and scamming other people. Needless to say, I didn't come in for that shift or any other shift after that. I'm amazed at how they even sleep at night.
Beware though! They pray on the elderly and sick, and they're are living darn well on your heartache! From the reports I've read, they charge you $1100 and don't lower your credit card interest rates!
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