Bill Walsh Automotive Group Bill Walsh Auto Mall, Bill Walsh Coronet, Bill Walsh Sierra Auto Mall SCAM IN HIRING, TAKES YOUR MONEY FOR TRAINING, THEN FIRES YOU Ottawa, Illinois
This company posted a WANTED ad in Craigslist asking for salespersons, clerks, auto techs etc. There was a 1-855 # in the ad. When you call, someone answers and all they say is that they are setting up interviews. You are given the name of the person to see, the date of your interview. You go to the interview and are 'hired" but first you have to come back and take their 'training class' whihc costs $630. Must be CASH! they will not accept money orders or checks. OK this is a large dealership with several locations in the area, so everyone thinks ok great! training is 2 days, you get some softback pamplet for training and then they have managers from the dealers come to one dealer "to pick " who they want..the guy that gave the training is long gone, never gave any of the people a receipt for the $$. Oh and the $630 also included a life time job help line, if you were ever without a job, call them and they would locate another job for you ( Yeah right) well 7 people got "hired" some had the money and paid it, some had 1/2 , some didnt have it but were hired and were to pay when they got paid. Salary was $350 per week and commission. 4 people were sent to interview at one dealer, never got hired, one other one got hired and fired within a week due to " failing the drug test". He went and obtained his drug test and retook another one and both PASSED, one other person was hired, went to work for 16 days. was never allowed to even sell a car or talk to customers. Was told to not come in for 2 days due to the sales manager taking the days off and "there is no one here to train you" ( the days got taken off the salaried employee check !!! On the 17th day this one was called on the phone by this sales manager and fired. When he questioned why?? the response was "i cant tell you" when asked , well I want my $630 back, this is a scam, the manager hung up on him. one other person was "hired" and as far as I know is still working, but having difficulty, sold a car the first few days and has yet to be paid commission for it. These people all started working on April 1st, 2013. Now all except that last one listed have long since been fired or not even hired in the first place..This last week, the same auto dealership has a new HELP WANTED ad in another classified paperm but this time its to send your resume to an anonymous POBOX..i tracked it down and sure enough it is the3 same dealership.. I have tried calling the *855 # which belongs to the company that did the training and supposedly was to find ppl jobs, well, my first call, the guy was shocked that this had happened to everyone in the class!!! Of course he was going to look into finding me another job ASAP. He would call me the next day. No call back received, I have since called him 3 times and left voice messages and of course, no call back..Very hard in todays tough economy to pull this scam, take peoples $$ for training and a guaranteed job , then you fire them all !!!!!!
4 Updates & Rebuttals
James D.
Bureau,Illinois,
I work for Bill Walsh and went through the program.
#5UPDATE Employee
Sat, September 14, 2013
I went through this program for the Bill Walsh Automotive group and I had no problems what so ever. I have now been employed by Bill Walsh for over a year now without one issue or problem. It is truly a great program and I am truly blessed to be part of the Bill Walsh Group. Bill Walsh Sr. and Bill Walsh Jr. treat there employees with kindness and respect. Thank you for the program and for the employment.
bishop2k12
peru il,Illinois,
she is telling the truth
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, May 16, 2013
I was also one of the individuals in this class. Upon completion of this class we were all interviewed by 3 different gms from theee different outlets. Then were told 4 other gm's couldn't make it. So then 3 others (inckuding myself) were to go interview at these locations on our own time. None of the 3 were hired and they kept all there money too. Later I spoke to someone who works in the ottawa office and was told there gm didnt attend there interview session cause there stores were just to slow and couldn't hire if they wanted to.
So they knowlingly sent 3 people out to other stores (costing them time and further money in fuel) knowing they could not be hired. Of course though they kept there money as well. I have tried getting reciepts for this and no one will give me anything. What this lady writes isn't false and of course this company doesn't want to address these issues here, much easier to slander people over the phone (where there is no recorded proof). Its also quite funny that the owner states they have a policy to not rebut publically yet is here doing that very same thing, but oh you can call me from here. Like I said easier to slander over the phone.
The simple truth is that: This company is a giant in this area. I have spoke to 2 news papers in the area and both have stated that unless a lawsuit is filed it would not be in there interest to report on it as a major ammount of money they get comes from bill walsh in advertisement and pays a lot of there salary. This company knows they can't be fought (not by anyone in this area). But thats ok in the last two weeks I have went as far as going door to door hitting every house giving out flyers to hundreds of homes letting everyone and there brother know of there policies.
I may not ever get what this conpany took from me moneywise but i will not give up on letting everyone in my community know where NOT TO GO to buy there vehicles. Oh and one last comment. If i was making 600 as a company per every person i hired, I would probably deem it pretty successfull too. Now they are about to open a new shop in ottawa illinois. So if you see there adverisement looking for salesmen just know what you are in for and beware..
L
boonies,Illinois,
Alot of blah but no actual explanations to this situation
#5Author of original report
Fri, May 10, 2013
With all due respect, the above is FACTS, the person with the "positive" drug test was able to obtain his results and his results were NEGATIVE ..he voluntarily took another one and came back NEGATIVE also.
I understand the need for "privacy". Can you explain how none of these ppl that paid $630 CASH were never given a receipt? Why have they all been fired within less than a month???
Maybe you are not aware of what your managers are doing at all your locations ? But as stated, these are facts.
Bill Walsh Jr
Ottawa,Illinois,
Sales Training Response
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, May 10, 2013
It is our policy based on our safe harbor privacy guidelines and the GLB Privacy Act to not address individual employment details in a public forum. There are some large disparities between what is being reported here, in this nameless forum whose writer's identiy and intentions are suspect, and how the sales training and hiring program works in reality. The specific events referred to are easily clarified by addressing the actual facts as they occurred not by addressing speculation without specifics and personal opinion. The hiring program and subsequent training has been very successful for both the company and those hired for a number of years and several sales people hired and trained by the company are still gainfully employed and are enjoying successful careers with our company in each of our dealerships. In fact two of the people hired through this exact same process are consistently among our Top 10 sales people each month. Many of the details shared are either inaccurate, not reflective of the actual process or are simply wrong and misrepresentations of the facts.
I am happy to address the facts with the writer and will explain the actual details behind each of his/her misunderstandings of the sales interview, hiring and training program that has been successful for many people over the years.
The real course of events and results of the mentioned drug test results alone will be more than enough to allow even an uninterested party to understand the capacity and intention of the writer.
I will not respond with multiple volleies back and forth, however, welcome the writer to call me at 815-431-3509 and I will further welcome the opportunity to discuss the full details of their situation.
Bill Walsh Jr
Bill Walsh Automotive Group
Ottawa - Peru - Streator, IL