Family Dollar Stores Family Dollars Managers Set Me Up Everett Massachusetts
November 1, 2007
My name is "Screwed by FD#5274", you can reach me by Email; fd5274setmeup@yahoo.com
A web site will be created, the web address will be;
www.familydollar5274managerstolemoneyandsetmeup.com
To all Corporate Family Dollar Executives, Administrators, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice-Presidents, District Managers and Loss Prevention Senior and Regional Vice- Presidents. To all Family Dollar Stores.
THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT TO ALL FAMILY DOLLAR STORES AND ALL INTERNET WEB SITES. A WEBSITE WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THIS SOLE EVENT THAT HAPPEND TO ME.
THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT TO ALL INTERNET, LOCAL AND NATIONIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
I WILL EXPOSE THE COMPANY AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIER WRONGFUL ALLEGATIONS IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED IN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME.
This letter is to inform you that I was a manager trainee and was made set up to look like a thief from other members of management within that store.
I hope this note finds you well. Please pass this onto the appropriate people. I found out today that there has been issues during my three weeks of training in the Everett Massachusetts store #5274.
I didn't know this until today, November 1, 2007!! Jim Francouer had assigned me to the Chelsea store, I started working in there on Wednesday October 31, 2007. Jim had asked me if I had made a deposit. I said yes, he said the bank never received it. I thought maybe it would take a few days. Sometimes the bank would lose deposits and find them relatively soon when I worked at another retail outlet. It was never a problem.
Thursday November 2, 2007 a loss prevention agent came to Chelsea, Chris Pomerleau I think his name is. He informed me that there has been a lot going on there since I started my training including cash shortages and merchandise missing from the store. And that on this past Sunday night the bank deposit I prepared and counted with the store manger present was never dropped in the safe. I think it contained over $3400.00!! He also said a lot of merchandise has been taken out of the store as well. He was telling me that it is against company policy to borrow money from petty cash for gas and lunch and asked me if I were told this. I said no, it wasn't but it would only be common sense not to do that.
This gentleman accused me on voice recorded tape of the following. He stated his investigation concludes that I took the bagged money, that I never put it in the safe. And that I was taking lunch and gas money.
Until today, I was under the impression the money went to the bank and the bank could't find it!!!
After leaving the store and discussing this serious issue with my wife, she questioned me about procedures and normal store routines.
We figured out what most likely took place.
The person (s) who did this comitted a "crime of opportunity". I have family members that are in the loss prevention field.
Why would I count over thirty four hundred dollars with the store manager as my witness, document it in the deposit log book with my signature, walk out of the office with the manager with me. And pretend to put the money in the bottom of the safe. Two days before getting my very own store!!??
Then showing up for work Monday morning on time, unloading the truck and having a good time at work looking forward starting at my own store!!??
I was the one who counted petty cash and found the shortages. Small, $15 and $20. Sometimes the next day when I counted it again it somehow became normal. I actually began thinking I must have been counting wrong.
One morning I came in and Carol the assistant manager was counting petty cash and said it was $50 short! I counted it as being normal the previous night, then I counted it again, in front of her, and it was $8 dollars short, not fifty. This happend three, four or maybe five times while I was there. That it would be short. I noticed that a new girl was short a few times when I wasn't even working, Carol had written her up for it. A few times other cashiers were short as well. Another thing, when I was in training I always, or at least most of the time made the bank deposits. I never had the combination to the safe, Niki the store manager would have me make the deposits at the bank and get change. Never came back short.
Its ironic this past Monday Carol shows up for work at noon time, and I assume opened the safe to make a deposit, low and behold the money wasn't there, so she claims. She immediately calls LP, never asks me if I made the deposit. Never said a word to me. In the three weeks I was there, I don't remember Carol making bank deposits, maybe early on in my training. I find it odd that Carol would come in at noon looking to make a deposit, when it most likely would have already been done. The store manager always had me do it in the morning.
I find the timing of this event interesting, this happens Monday, I was not scheduled to close, just to do the truck and leave at 4pm, so I wouldn't be putting money in the bottom of the safe. This happens the very last day I'm in Everett. After all, the thieves wouldn't have to face me when they blamed me!!
Okay, does this make sense?
I count all the funds the store makes on Sunday, document it in the book and sign my name on the bag, oh and by the way, I asked if Niki wanted to sign as well, she said no because she was there and counted it with me. Then walk out with the bag and pretend to put it in the safe??
Money missing from petty cash!! Not me "borrowing" from it, other managers must have been. Why would I say there is a shortage?? I would be the one most likely counting it the next day, so if I borrowed from it like I was accused, wouldn't I just say it was normal??!! And then just replace it??
Another crime of opportunity!!
I always for the most part put the petty cash draw on the floor when taking money out of it, because one time I opened the draw and it fell everywhere, but it wasn't short that day I bet!! Plus, for security reasons it shouldn't be placed on the counter during the day for many people to see. From what I understand that draw should be used for cash pick up drops and not petty cash. So because certain people studied the camera and saw I placed the draw on the floor, I guess out of "camera view" took advantage of the "opportunity"to take money somehow and say Don did it, because he was the only person who did it safely.
Merchandise missing from the store. I have no clue, although I did always see Carol going outside in the back of the building thirty or forty times while I trained there "claiming to smoke", but always smoked out front as well. On two or three occassions there would be tide and paper towels outside the back door when I put trash out. Never asked, just kept my mouth shut.
I NEVER once stole anything from family dollar, let alone $3400.00!! It is SO clear I was set up. It doesn't make any sense!!
The loss prevention person made some pretty hefty accusations
today that I have on voice tape.
Carol or Niki or both of them together set me up? I don't know why. I would be willing to bet my eye sight that it was Carol. They know the camera angles better than god. One of them took it. Carol didn't like me for some reason. She always looked like she was up to no good when I was there. She set me up.
Your LP department claims they have evidence that I did all this on covert camera, and other means of proof. They have not one shred of evidence because I did none of what I have been accused of?
I have every intention of making a federal case out of this if immediate action isn't taken against the thieves who did this crime of opportunity!! I don't want my job back, that isn't what this is about. I want compensation for this!!
I have been accused of things that I never in 43 years have been accused of. I turned down two other jobs to work for family dollar!! I wanted that job!! I loved it!! And it has been taken away from me because of them. Why?? What did I do to them?
I want immediate action taken against those individuals.
I know you won't be able to prove they took it. They know the angles of the cameras. They have worked for the company for years, right? Who's word are you going to take? Theirs!! Not a new manager trainee.
Does it make any sense to anyone, that me being the responsable party making that drop would walk off with it knowing I would be the obvious suspect, when my intentions were to have a future with family dollar?
They are going to get away with it follks, watch them. Research, certain people were having car troubles and other financial problems. Carol and Niki are very very close.
Carol or Niki stole that money..they stole it, someone with the combination to the safe stole it. This is not going away. I will stand on the sidewalk in front of the Everett Family Dollar with huge signs telling everyone what they have accused me of.
At least I have all these accusations on tape.
Donald
Beverly, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Family Dollar Store
11 Updates & Rebuttals
Eleanor
tryon,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Set Up was only part of my ordeal
#12
Tue, August 18, 2009
I read your report with much empathy for what you went through and still are enduring; for incidents of this nature take a long time to over come.
I was an employee of Family Dollar Stores for twenty-two years, with the last five of those years being spent in management. When the time presented itself for me to become manager of the store I was working in is the time when my problems arose. From your report it says that you were in the process of receiving your own store, and it seems to me as if being put in a management postion is what someone did not want for you.
There is another scenario that you need to look at, before you make accusations against former co-workers, and that is could the set-up not have been orchestrated by persons in a higher position than the manager; for instance the district manager, and regional manager?
I was set-up, falsely accused of not making bank depostis, of padding inventory, along with a long list of other things, but they came from the middle management persons in the company.
Each time these accusations were made against me, they were proven to be wrong, however the stress at times was unbearable.
One of the things that sticks in my mind the most is what the loss prevention man said at our 101 trainiing meetings. He siad "I can get in any of the company stores at any time day or night." With the opportunity and means to enter the store at his or her discretion, loss prevention, not the managers could have been the culprits in my case and possibly yours.
To read the full details of what I suffered as an employee of this company read my book " Covered by the Leaves", written by Rev. Eleanor D. Miller It can be purchase online at iuniverse.com. The ISBN number is 0-595-43352-9
Eleanor
tryon,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Set Up was only part of my ordeal
#12
Tue, August 18, 2009
I read your report with much empathy for what you went through and still are enduring; for incidents of this nature take a long time to over come.
I was an employee of Family Dollar Stores for twenty-two years, with the last five of those years being spent in management. When the time presented itself for me to become manager of the store I was working in is the time when my problems arose. From your report it says that you were in the process of receiving your own store, and it seems to me as if being put in a management postion is what someone did not want for you.
There is another scenario that you need to look at, before you make accusations against former co-workers, and that is could the set-up not have been orchestrated by persons in a higher position than the manager; for instance the district manager, and regional manager?
I was set-up, falsely accused of not making bank depostis, of padding inventory, along with a long list of other things, but they came from the middle management persons in the company.
Each time these accusations were made against me, they were proven to be wrong, however the stress at times was unbearable.
One of the things that sticks in my mind the most is what the loss prevention man said at our 101 trainiing meetings. He siad "I can get in any of the company stores at any time day or night."
To read the full details of what I suffered as an employee of this company read my book " Covered by the Leaves", written by Rev. Eleanor D. Miller It can be purchase online at iuniverse.com. The ISBN number is 0-595-43352-9
Michelle
Bimble,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
been there too
#12UPDATE Employee
Fri, January 04, 2008
Just wanted to throw in there that I have also been a manager myself.
Golddustwoman
Lake City,Florida,
U.S.A.
Response to kentucky
#12UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, November 20, 2007
I am glad you dont have to be cursed at in conference calls, what DM's need to know, like the one here, (he doesnt know yet)those calls can be watched over, or "supervised" not by Family Dollar, but by LEGAL Associates..You must live in a "nice" district.If you worked in our district, you would of course report it in, and that is good, do you know who the complaints actually go to?Regional"s. Guess what, they give the name and what they said about the District Manager, guess what, District Manager goes to Manager and can fire them, Guess what, it has happened, i have seen it happen to four managers in three months.
I had to learn the hard way, the job I have now, is with a life I can have, and even more money.I do know,there are people that go to these companies and work, and monitor what goes on in these companies, (I know)I have complained to Corp. and so have half of the district, remember i take it you may be a manager, why do you keep your store well presented? Why do you keep it in stock, and clean and neat? Why, do you greet, assist, and thank your customers? Not, only it is the right thing to do, and it is your job, and make money ,sales, but it Represents YOU, who and what kind of person you are, remember, customers dont care what goes on like our rules and policies, they go there to shop,and it makes you feel good, that they can go out with a smile and give you a nice compliment, it makes you feel hey i have accomplish something, if you have a bad attitude, hateful, selfish, greedy manager, but her store may be in good shape, inventory good etc.. is she/he representing them or the company in a good way?
Same with a district manager, and i hope you dont go thru that, i really feel for some of my honest hard workign managers i worked with at family dollar, they are getting it rough, they have been with that company over 10 years and they are looking elsewhere, YES they have went to the divisional about this, and as far as the alert line, well legally they can get into a lot of trouble if they give the name, but it happens, alert line is used for not only employees but as customers, and if stealing, intergity issues etc.. you can call it,it is a direct line, instead of corp number, I have worked with loss prevention at wal-mart, Dollar General, and alot of big corp.
I have learned the hard way, so I know what I am saying on this, just remember, go up and thankyou your DM for being nice to you, I had a great DM at Dollar general, I hated to leave that company, and him and our district, he always greeted us at meetings, that he had the best managers in Dollar General, you wanted to work hard, not only for him, company, customers, but for YOU.
So, I am not lashing out at you, I hope you never go thru what we have, I forwarded this to the other 23 managers in this disrict, they would be disappointed in the comment(s), but, you live and learn, again take care.
Golddustwoman
Lake City,Florida,
U.S.A.
Response to kentucky
#12UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, November 20, 2007
I am glad you dont have to be cursed at in conference calls, what DM's need to know, like the one here, (he doesnt know yet)those calls can be watched over, or "supervised" not by Family Dollar, but by LEGAL Associates..You must live in a "nice" district.If you worked in our district, you would of course report it in, and that is good, do you know who the complaints actually go to?Regional"s. Guess what, they give the name and what they said about the District Manager, guess what, District Manager goes to Manager and can fire them, Guess what, it has happened, i have seen it happen to four managers in three months.
I had to learn the hard way, the job I have now, is with a life I can have, and even more money.I do know,there are people that go to these companies and work, and monitor what goes on in these companies, (I know)I have complained to Corp. and so have half of the district, remember i take it you may be a manager, why do you keep your store well presented? Why do you keep it in stock, and clean and neat? Why, do you greet, assist, and thank your customers? Not, only it is the right thing to do, and it is your job, and make money ,sales, but it Represents YOU, who and what kind of person you are, remember, customers dont care what goes on like our rules and policies, they go there to shop,and it makes you feel good, that they can go out with a smile and give you a nice compliment, it makes you feel hey i have accomplish something, if you have a bad attitude, hateful, selfish, greedy manager, but her store may be in good shape, inventory good etc.. is she/he representing them or the company in a good way?
Same with a district manager, and i hope you dont go thru that, i really feel for some of my honest hard workign managers i worked with at family dollar, they are getting it rough, they have been with that company over 10 years and they are looking elsewhere, YES they have went to the divisional about this, and as far as the alert line, well legally they can get into a lot of trouble if they give the name, but it happens, alert line is used for not only employees but as customers, and if stealing, intergity issues etc.. you can call it,it is a direct line, instead of corp number, I have worked with loss prevention at wal-mart, Dollar General, and alot of big corp.
I have learned the hard way, so I know what I am saying on this, just remember, go up and thankyou your DM for being nice to you, I had a great DM at Dollar general, I hated to leave that company, and him and our district, he always greeted us at meetings, that he had the best managers in Dollar General, you wanted to work hard, not only for him, company, customers, but for YOU.
So, I am not lashing out at you, I hope you never go thru what we have, I forwarded this to the other 23 managers in this disrict, they would be disappointed in the comment(s), but, you live and learn, again take care.
Michelle
Bimble,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
NEVER happens in my district
#12UPDATE Employee
Sun, November 18, 2007
I am only responding to the part about being cursed at during conference calls and the mistreatment by dm's. I have been on many conference calls and have not EVER been cussed at. If this is happening, then it is a problem with your DM and not Family Dollar. I am not saying that FD is perfect, by no means am I saying that. I am only saying that they can't control everything that goes on and if you are having this problem, YOU should report it. And, I can also tell you that although you don't have to give your name on the alertline, they have ways of finding out who called. I have seen this happen twice. There are other ways of reporting things besides the AL. And if something is truly happening, why would you want to use the alertline anyway?
And to the person who states that he was set up and that someone else took the deposit. Was your name signed in the logbook as depositing it? And also, I don't know about your particular bank, but most of ours down here have cameras directed at the drop boxes. As that been checked into?
Golddustwoman
Lake City,Florida,
U.S.A.
again
#12UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, November 09, 2007
Update for your last response to Mr. Ed,if you have a lawyer like you said then that is good, I know In FL , if you quit under working in hostile work enviroment, etc.. you can draw unemployment, and I have known people to win it.
Also I would request any info or paperwork they have while you were in that meeting as well, You or your lawyer can request this, (they will say they can't, but they can)If you have your handbook to have will be helpful, they may say you refuse a investigation, but stick to your grounds and i would use the tape for your final ace in the pocket.
Also, remember the alert line number, if you have enough people to call it remember, asset's are in stake at that store , in our opinion, you are concerned, remember you dont have to give your name, there is law suits for wrongful termination, but the draw back, is alot of employees wont go thru it, and it may take time to go and get the case thru, but, if you do be patient.
Family Dollar, actually right now is hurting as wel as dollar general, and i have talked to other managers in my old district what is really bad, they are pushing them so hard here lately, when you have DM breathing down your neck, guess what, his job is on the line, and my old boss Zack, is trying to get rid of a manager that is 5 months pregant(what i have heard)x-mas arounf the corner, she had three ppl. quit, and she had to unload a truck by herself.
the truck driver called in at corp, he was so mad about it, i really didnt care for her, b/c she was a smart mouth, but she and no one else deserves that, and in conference calls you get curesed out, your here the MF word, F*** word, threats nothing but threats, and that is abuse, this company, really is cold as ice, and sad part the cionsumers are linded by this, hope the best for you
Everett ma
danvers,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Hey Mr. ED! The whole story was told!!
#12Author of original report
Tue, November 06, 2007
Mr. Ed,
I told the whole story and left not one thing out!! What makes you think I didnt get a lawyer. How do you know if I have or have not filed for unemployment and what does that have to do with the scheme of things.
I am accusing those two managers because they have the combination to the safe. And one of them or both did steal the money.
pay attention: I counted the money in front of the manager, she was present throughout the whole process that night. She counted the money with me, she was present while the money was put in the sealed bank deposit bag. She witnessed me sign the deposit book, she walked out on the floor with me and knew very well I Dropped the money in the safe. I was a manager in training, I came in from another retail outlet, she was always with me when it came to the money and documentation, she had to be because I was not ready or knew how to do it on my own yet.
I planned on having a long lasting future with Family Dollar. My experience was good with them in the three weeks I was there. I started at my store on Wednesday, very happy and excited.
I was honestly clueless as to why Loss Prevention was talking to me. The more he ran his mouth during the interogation the more I started understanding that he was accusing me of stealing the money.
I was not terminated or suspended, once he said he had evidence that I stole the bank deposit, borrowed from petty cash for gas money and lunch money, and being accused of stealing merchandise is when I ended the interogation and handed him my keys and said goodbye.
Sorry Family Dollar, but I am not even near desperate enough to "borrow" lunch and gas money from petty cash!! What merchandise did I ever steal, not one thing, I have reciepts and on camera for all purchases I ever made there, which were very few and far between.
And the money that was dropped in the safe.
It was dropped...Guaranteed 100% sure. Not even a question in my mind that it got lost on the way from the back office to the front of the store where the safe is. With the manager present. She claims she doesnt remember seeing me drop it.
Total SET UP.
So, Mr. Ed, if you have any other questions or you think I left anything else out, you just let us know and I will be happy to answer.
Donald
Edward
Vine Grove,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
does not seem like a complete story here
#12Consumer Comment
Mon, November 05, 2007
When are you going to retain a lawyer and take them to court for wrongful termination and false accusation? You have laid out a he-said, she-said story. You have told how you are sending letters to all corporate stores and web sites. You have even told how you will picket the store you were fired from. You claim that they have made a completely false accusation of theft on your part yet you have no problem of making a blanket accusation of two employees without any proof. Looks like you are doing the very thing that you are accusing the company of doing.
If what you claim is true, why haven't you retained a lawyer and file suit? If your evidence is solid that you did not do anything wrong, a lawyer would have no problem in taking this case. It would not be that you would have to prove who took the money, it would not be that you would have to prove that you did not take the money. The lawyer would have them in court where they could not prove you took any money. Maybe not all but many businesses would have the police file charges and have the employee arrested for theft. Has any of this happened? If not, then it would seem that you have a stronger case.
There is most likely more to this story than you are posting. Then company would need strong evidence to protect themselves from a lawsuit from you.
How long did you work for the company and what was your position within the store? Are you going to file for unemployment benefits? I ask that because the company would have to give a reason why they want the benefits denied.
Everett Ma
Danvers,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
No confession whatsoever!!
#12Author of original report
Mon, November 05, 2007
There was nothing to confess to. I did sign a statement agreeing to the interview and I had my own tape recording device with me that I always carry for notes.
I had no idea why LP wanted to even talk to me!! My DM called and asked if I had made a bank deposit I said yes, he said they have not got it yet, and I said I'm sure its easy enough to find. I know he tellers, as I saw them everyday. I figured it would turn up and they were late recording it.
But LP told me it never got to the bank, because it wasn't in the safe to go to the bank.
Honestly, I was clueless and didn't even comprehend what he was saying at first.
No, I never confessed because I have no clue, but every accusation he made is on tape.
He said they had covert cameras and everything. 100 percent not true, they have nothing because I did not participate. The store manager Nicole or assistant manager Carol or both together stole it.
I have no idea why they would set me up.
I have worked for one large retail outlet before family dollar.And I have to tell you, the LP investigator Chris Pomerleau has got to be a complete moron to even believe the story they told him, and if he really does, there is something really wrong with him.
Either way, he accused me of it, and I have his very own voice stating it.
The two managers at that store#5274 stole it.
Family Dollar
Broadway
Everett Ma
617-389-1550
Golddustwoman
Lake City,Florida,
U.S.A.
that is bad
#12UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, November 05, 2007
Hey, I just read this and i am appalled on this, It look like a inside job, from those two keyholders,I don't know how they can come out and say you did it unless you MAKE A STATEMENT THAT YOU CONFESSED TO DOING IT. and this LP beinging a tape recorder, my understanding they have to ask your permission to record,(may be different in some states)they think they are hawaiin five o, and be like a policeman, i understand there job to a degree, but I have seen a LP guy at dollar general, yelling at a 8 month pregant manager that he was accusing her of stealing merchandise, she loaded up a warehouse truck by herself, and stoled it, he was pounding his fist on the desk, screaming at her to confess, lets say in GA, you dont do that, so managers bust the door down and grabbed him and thru him out, the younglady went to police station, filed a report agst him, she went into labor early and was in the hospital b/c she was under so much stress, her husband sued LP, which we all witnessed it, i gladly walked up to Randy, and said, oh by the way the asst, manager fessed up to the stealing, and you better watch out, the manager you accused, her husband is looking for you... LP only comes around , because even in my case, when i was accused of paying people out of the registers, i told him, well if you already know all of this and you have these statements from the employees, and you have all of this on viedo tape, why are you asking me if i done, it, well we are not that dumb, they do that b/c they know they dont have the proof, and want to bully you and wont let you out of the room until you confess and write out a statement that you did, which you cannot hold someone in a room against their will, unless you are at a police station, I had a GA forysth DA tellme LP, think they are the law, and they break so many state and federal laws it is very scary.. if you need any help on this, i have worked with this company for two years, i could quote every rule etc.. for them, i hope this company get a undercover person go in there, and report them andbust them, hey what about reporting to CNN, Hey it's worth the try!