In 2009 when IRG (aka NVS) had their contract cut by Lowe's Home Improvement, many people were just laid off completely. I was a Sevice Manager with 5 Lowe's stores I visited per week to keep electrical in tip top shape. After the massive layoff the rest of us had any store we serviced that was more than a 60 mile round trip taken from us so they did not have to pay mileage and dropped my status to parttime to take any holiday or vacation pay I may have had coming. I went from 5 stores per week to 1 store every other week. I was told by my Area Manager that I could file unemployment based on reduced hours. I even tried to locate an area that I could work enough to at least eat. At that time I was working for my 4th manager in little more than a year. I had an ok from my boss to go to Miami and take a job there. When I arrived in Florida I was told I might get 3 hours a week for about 6 weeks then the work would more than likely slow down. Slow down from 3 hours a week??? I had been drawing unemployment at that time in the amount of $214.00 per week minus any hours I actually worked.By this time I had received a letter to return to school to be retrained into another profession and I jumped at the chance. All was well, I had apparently been oked for the benefits by HR. When my benefits ran out I was in my 3rd semester of school. That was March.in July I received a letter saying my unemployment had been denied and I had filed fraudulently. The form IRG payroll had sent to Kentucky was nowhere near the original form. It was totally a huge lie, and I had the right to file an appeal, which I did with all my documents and emails I always kept just in case.in December I received a bill for 25,500 to repay immediately or risk 10 years in prison. I don't have $20.00 to send back. I never even got a hearing. They changed their story and I have to repay. I had documents proving their lies and my story never changed like theirs did, but I am guilty of fraud? 2201 West Royal Lane
Suite 230
Irving, TX 75063
0 comments