Complaint Review: Bentz Agency/Dale Bentz

This agency is an unprofessional mess and run by one family that discriminates against women agents (you're supposed to be an office slave if you're female). They recruit agents with promises that they have no intention of keeping, and neglect to tell you about all of the fees and charges that you will incur. I worked with them for 2 months, right after moving to a new location, and wrote about 10 policies in 8 weeks part time. My intention was to use the leads they sell ($36 each - not $34 as told)to get my business ramped up in this new area without a huge upfront outlay of capital.

Instead of decent leads to start building a pipeline with, I am sent to every trailer park within a 150 mile radius. They prey on the ignorant and ill-informed - including new agents. At the company meeting in Sacramento, an agent had questions about his paycheck and was told by Mr. Bentz "Dont ever look at your paycheck, I dont know why you would do that. Ive been working here for 20 years and have never looked at one yet". Verbatim. If you dare ask questions, you are met with aggressive questioning and belligerence- these people have a lot to hide and it makes them very defensive and nasty.

Although you pay for the leads, you have no say in the area that they will come from - unlike every other agency that asks you for a zip code list. Before signing, I was told that all leads would be "fresh" - within a couple of weeks - and within a 50 mile radius of my office. When I was asked if I would take leads that were 65-70 miles away, I agreed, and then was sent a package for a completely different area over 100 miles away.

This agency is set up to scam agents out of their commissions, but keep you captive because you will owe them so much money for leads and "admin" charges of $55/month - even though they are taking 10-20% of your commissions. Example: out of "$425 due agent" (per carrier website) I received $156. You will starve or wind up out of business with this company, becuase if you dont pay, they will report you as owing them all kinds of money to Vector and no one else will hire you with an outstanding balance. It's a trap from hell - RUN, dont walk, AWAY. 

I have reported this agency to the proper authorities and, hopefully, they will soon be out of business. If you're an independent agent looking for a home please feel free to contact me. There are a lot of great agencies out there that operate legally and ethically. 866-599-8480.