I recently answered an ad I found on CareerBuilder.com that stated the following:
CALL NOW
START NOW
$1000.00 SIGN ON
BONUS
Local company has several positions. No experience needed.
We train. $2150/month
We offer:
*Rapid promotions
*Training
*Weekly pay
*Vacation incentives
Call 317-286-3197
Having lost my previous job over a month prior to finding this ad, I called to see about setting up an interview. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a gentleman by the name of Todd, the recruiter for the company the interview was with (Dunson Industries, an independent dealer for Kirby Vacuums). The interview was surprisingly brief, with him practically repeating the ad verbatim and asking me if that sounded like something I'd be interested in doing. I said yes, and he told me that he'd call me back between 15 and 30 minutes from the conclusion of the interview to let me know his decision.
He called me back after roughly twenty minutes and wanted to know if I could show up for orientation later that day; I, of course, agreed. I returned to the office for the orientation, and after a few more potential employees showed up, it began. He went over the company's history, what we'd be doing for them, nd all the fabulous prizes you could win if you sold enough vacuums (these ranged from pins to Rolex watches, all expense paid vacations, and eventually earning the right to own your own franchise). During the orientation, he made mention of the fact that the $2150 a month was guaranteed, and that it didn't matter how well you performed. After a couple hours of this, the first stage of orientation was complete.
I was called back the following day to see if I could come in for some more official training; I agreed, and training went off without any major hang ups. Once again, the base pay was brought up as a guaranteed monthly payment. After the day of training ended, the recruiter informed me that he had decided to hire me on, and that I could come in on Monday to begin work.
I went into work at 10:00am on Monday, and met the owner of the dealer I was working for; Fred Dunson. He took myself and a few of his other salesmen out to a neighborhood to go door to door asking people if they would like a demonstration of the vacuum we would be selling. The workday did not end until roughly 9:00pm that night. The next few days continued along the same pattern; go to the office in the morning, pick a neighborhood to solicit in, and attempt to sell vacuums. It should be noted that we were not given a chance to take any breaks during the 10 hour days we were working, and Fred would get annoyed if we suggested taking one.
After a couple weeks of this, the time came to collect my paycheck; Fred then informed me that the ad the recruiter had placed on CareerBuilder.com was not accurate, nor was the presentation given during the first day of orientation. He proceeded to inform me that the pay was actually performance based, and that I would be getting less than 1/3rd of what I should have gotten. Had he given e my paycheck, even for the amount that I "actually" made, and not what he had promised both in the ad and all throughout my time with his company, I would likely not be writing this; but the story does not end there.
Although I am no longer with Dunson Industries he has still refused to give me the money that I earned during my time with his company, and he has also refused to give me copies of any paperwork I had signed during my time there even though he is required by law to provide those should I request them. I put roughly 100 hours in during my week-and-a-half with his company, and all I have to show for it is a brochure on Dust Mites.
All is hopefully not lost however, as I will be filing suit against him fairly soon in order to finally receive my pay.
I hope that all of you who have read this will take these words to heart - "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is." Please, learn from my mistakes, and I pray that you never have the same thing happen to you.
0 comments