Complaint Review: TALLEN INCORPORATED

This is information that I feel that you should know about this company and its owner. This is NOT to harm Holly Turner or Tallen Incorporated(s) reputation in any shape or form. This is knowledgeable information that applicants need to be informed of.

Tallen Incorporated is an outsource marketing firm for Innovative Merchant Solutions, an Intuit Company, they are the makers of Quickbooks, Quicken, and TurboTax. It is a management training program for individuals who are career or goal oriented, self motivative, and strive for professionalism. Applicants who are great in sales, competitively driven, and strives for advancement, Tallen Inc. may be for you, but there are a few things you should know before hitting the "submit" button for your resume.

First the interview process. Once an applicants resume has been reviewed he/she is called in by the admin. They are immediately scheduled for a brief interview. When I say brief, I mean approximately 5-8 minutes. As you arrive at the office, an application is required, and waiting time is minimal. Either Manager (Holly Turner), Assistant Manager, or the Admin, introduces themselves and briefly explains the business and asks a few questions pertaining management skills. They DO NOT go into further detail about what the job entails and speak so fast that you DO NOT clearly understand them. If you are considered for a position you will be contacted for a 2nd interview the following day. The second interview or "day of observation" is an 8 hour process. Applicants arrive early that morning and are asked to wait in the lobby until called upon. While waiting applicants usually hear a lot of chaotic noise of clapping and cheering, sometimes even running in the meeting room. Once the meeting is released, the applicant is called upon and is introduced to a field representative that they will be spending the day with. SOMETIMES there will be 2, one of which is in training, who did their "day of o" the previous day. Applicants still have not the slightest clue to what is going on, I thought I would be spending a day AT THE OFFICE, not out of it. They explain to you that you will be observing to get a better aspect of the business by meeting with "customers and clients" and at lunch will be given a "breakdown of the business." when the applicant returns that afternoon, a brief questionnaire is required.

The applicant leaves the office and literally gets in the car with someone they just met to travel to their "territory" where they will be spending the rest of the day with. The field rep asks several questions regarding you and your aspects and opinions. When I asked a question from the get go relating to salary or what they actually do while driving to their territory, I was told "I will explain all that to you over lunch" basically the car ride is a casual conversation, so no need to be nervous.

MY EXPERIENCE:
Once we arrived at her territory, we pulled into the business, she pulled out a notebook, and started to write the business name down. Once we walked into the business, I thought to myself "is this like soliciting?" and that is exactly what it was basically. We went around all day discussing with business owners their credit card processing and how they can save money with Innovative Merchant Solutions. At lunch time we sat down and discussed the opportunity of operating my own business. They were explained in a 4 phase program. Entry Level, Leadership, Assistant Manager, and Management. Building and maintaining my own team, consistency in the field, and following the system, will better my chances at owning my own business within a years time. Financial security, unlimited income, and early retirement, is what got me interested.

OK NOW THE MONEY PART
The biggest question is of course money. Unless the pay has changed in the past year, the salary is performance based, 100% commission. The young lady I was with didn't "show me the money" that day, but of course she explained that like any other job you will have your bad days and good days. Understandable.

Compensation anywhere between $100-$300 a day. 100% COMMISSION BASED, NO BASE PAY INCLUDED!!!


On the way back to the office, she did NOT speak to me at all. I thought "geez what the hell did I do?" I couldn't help but doze off a few times because it was an hour drive back to the office. When we finally arrived, I went upstairs, filled out the questionnaire, and was offered the position. It's all scripted to happen that way!

WORKING AT TALLEN
My first day was kinda weird, they played games, clapped, listened to loud music during training pitches. The meeting was really motivational to get everyone hyped up for the day. Training days are approximately 3 days, after that I was on my own. After the day is done, everyone comes back to the office to do the same thing that morning, play games and ring bells. The ringing of the bells is to congratulate those on a job well done that day. A typical day while at entry level, is from 8-6, must go no later than 6. Long day isn't? Seen nearly 50-60 businesses, 10 in which were business owners, and maybe pulling 1-3 statements a day was typical. In about 1.5 weeks, I made it to Leadership. This is where my opportunity really began. I was in the position to build my own team, teach and train others, and take on more office responsibilities. My hours changed as well, now I had to be in by 7:30 (preferably 7:15 or earlier) to 6, sometimes until 7 p.m. Then drive an hour back home. Speaking of driving, I had to pay for my own gas, drive practically out of state to my territory, then back to the office, then home. So yeah my day was about 13.5 hour days, 5 days a week. Now with leadership comes a lot more invasive, basically I had to take my work home with me. Short term and long term goals had to be written out, high roller speeches, and daily impacts all due the following day. (Goals due on Monday morning) not to mention goals for your team as well. We had weekly meetings on Monday nights and team night once a week. More time away from home and family, without compensation. Business trips a week at a time, not required but suggested. As though it doesn't seem that way now, I was really open and understanding to the opportunity. I grew professionally, became more positive, and carried a lot that I learned from the business with me today. If you are not careful though, it can get to you as it did me. I got into a slump and couldn't pull my way out, I was rolling (not ringing the bell) 2-3 times a week, felt like I was stuck! A one point I rolled all week, meaning I didn't get a paycheck, so basically I was working for nothing. I became unhappy, literally dreaded coming to work, and at that point thats when I knew I had to move on, even others in the office were feeling the same. When I took out interviews, I so badly wanted to tell them exactly how it is, but felt that I would be taking away their opportunity, just because I wasn't succeeding, doesn't mean that they will do the same. I felt that I was a failure because I was letting down the office. At one point I felt alienated and ignored. A tactic that is used to push myself harder. If you roll (don't make a sale) 2 days in a row you have to arrive at work on time but sit in the lobby while the leaders meeting is in session and wait with the trainees.

Once a week there is an opportunity meetings explaining the different campaigns, organizations, money, and clients of the Cydcor family. Turn over rate with companies like these are not unusual, there are several out there just like this one, maybe different campaign, but the same in every other aspect. Now I am not discouraging anyone in applying, I just feel that applicants need to know EXACTLY what they are getting into and the price that you have to pay.

PRODUCT
The product or campaign is very legit. Business owners are hounded day to day with reps promising to save them money especially with this kind of business. Credit card processing is a very competitive market. There are some businesses that can't be helped and YES THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES that are cheaper than Innovative Merchant Solutions. (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH INNOVATIVE MERCHANT SERVICES) Although other credit card processing companies my not have the same incentives offered by IMS. Even if it was 2 bucks savings, we made it a huge deal that they HAD to switch to IMS. We were instructed to not inform business owners of anything regarding termination fees UNLESS asked, so we didn't enclose all information before signing. So when owners wanted to cancel their membership, they were outraged of the $295 cancellation fee. Does that define integrity?

TRICKS I LEARNED
Once in leadership, I learned that the whole process is an illusion. From the phone call for an interview to the hiring is ALL scripted and repetitive. The truth is that they NEED people in order to grow, but yet want to "fear of loss" people making them feel as if they are not needed, but reeling them in at the same time. I have seen things and heard things that turned out to be untrue, Holly Turner is a dishonest person and is the type to step on those just to get ahead herself. She belittles those who are not succeeding, because they are not making HER money. Sound like a pyramid? YES! She still acts as if she is in high school. Be cautious when working for her, she may turn on you at any given moment. I am not out to get her in any way, but people out there deserve to hear the truth, hopefully if she reads this she will get a better look at herself and the person she has become.

Do your research! CYDCOR, Innovative Merchant Solutions, Ken Lear, Brandi Rucks, Sarah Spears, Credit Card processing

I wish you and anyone else working for this company and others like it all the luck, I hope everyone else has a better outcome from this than I have. Thank you for reading!

Anonymous
Spring Hill, Tennessee
U.S.A.