ICS Merrill a division of Examination Management Services, Inc. ,EMSI, ICS Merrill cheats it’s customers and employees alike Jacksinville, Florida Nationwide
I fully agree with what was said in the posting at: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ICS-MERRILL/internet/ICS-MERRILL-Liears-and-Rip-off-Artist-Internet-877198 and want to add to it.
1. I am working for ICS and can not stand to watch how ICS is swindling its clients (insurance companies) by charging them billable hours for work that is not being done. What I mean by it is, ICS wants to pay its investigators as little money as possible and to accomplish that ICS designed a web based The Smart Partner Compass Case Management System https://www.tmgecase.com. In order to avoid paying investigators for writing required case updates and case reports, ICS trains investigators to do those tasks while working surveillance at locations. Basically an investigator sitting in a car on a surveillance case is required to write his/her reports and updates instead of doing the surveillance. There are several issues with that:
(a) the client is paying for those surveillance hours at a full rate; instead the ICS Merrill uses that time for report and update writing.
(b) At the same time an investigator can not look into a computer screen typing, and at a claimant who is the subject of the surveillance.
(c) Clients are not aware that investigators instead of doing surveillance spend a significant time and efforts typing updates and reports, because if they don't ICS Merrill would only pay them half (1/2) of their hourly rate for the time spent doing reports and updates after the surveillance efforts are completed. Basically ICS Merrill gets a free ride at their customer's expense.
2. ICS Merrill takes advantage of its investigators in many ways:
(a) In the Smart Partner Compass Case Management System cases are scheduled seven days a week without any time to rest. It is common for ICS employees to work 14 or 21 days in a row without a single day off. Investigators are extremely tiered, not accurate or focused, and they burn out quickly.
(b) The cases are scheduled back-to-back in blocks of 4, 6 or 8 hours without a single break. No lunch break for you the ICS investigator. When two 4-hour cases are scheduled back-to-back only a minimum time to commute from one case to another is allowed. Regardless if it is 4, 6, 8, or 12 hours work day no meal periods are given. Employees are not allowed to even go to a bathroom. Employees work out of their cars and they are told to urinate into “pee-bottles” that they carry in their vehicles.
(c) ICS employs full time hourly employees are paid a variable hourly pay rate based on different tasks performed:
i. Full Hourly Rate for fieldwork.
ii. Half (1/2) Hourly Rate for drafting updates.
iii. FREE. Zero, no compensation for writing reports.
iv. When traveling to and from cases, employees are only paid half of the regular hourly rate after one hour of free travel. In another words, because that work is not billable to ICS clients, when traveling to and from cases ICS does not pay any compensation to it’s employees ($0.00) for the first hour of travel, and every following hour (after the 1st HR) is paid at half of employee’s hourly rate.
v. The ICS system is cleverly designed to take advantage of every little thing. For example, investigators are required to submit time traveled so they could get compensated for the time after the 1st FREE HR and to do that ICS uses a decimal point calculation system instead of Hours/Minutes/Seconds. Employees often do not spend time calculating the decimal equivalent. If an investigator traveled 1 hour and 15 minutes, he/she often enters into ICS system 1.15 but that is less, because 1 hr and 15 min is 1.25 (15 min is a quarter of an hour). This is is not explained to investigators and most of them do not even know what they are doing. But there are approximately 400 investigators at ICS Merrill and if ICS gets a little time off each investigator 24/7/365 it adds to big money to ICS.
3. ICS Merrill cheats the unsuspected insurance claimants out of benefits they receive or should be awarded by spying on people and instructing all investigators to always use certain words like:
(a) "During the surveillance effort, the claimant was observed as he worked on his vehicle in front of the residence. When observed, the claimant was not observed wearing any visible braces or orthopedic support devices." or
(b) "Additional surveillance is recommended to further document the claimant’s activities and abilities. Surveillance to include a weekend would provide an opportunity to observe the claimant as he appears to be active during this time frame." --- they always want to squeeze clients for more money.
(c) it does not matter that claimants may have injuries. If they are not extremely careful, they will have in their reports surveillance info that may deprive them of the benefits.
ICS represents that it cares about ethics, etc. But it's all just a BS, when you go deeper you will find an organization where people do NOT matter. The investigators do NOT matter. They are all disposable. That is why ICS is a revolving door employer; investigators come because they are sold on company’s song and dance. They get the ICS treatment, and after they can no longer stand it, they leave or are fired to make a room for a new bunch.
I still work here, because in my market there are no other employers, but as soon as I am able, I will be out of here.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
VA PI
Lynchburg,Virginia,
Contact your local Dept of Labor
#5Consumer Suggestion
Fri, February 27, 2015
I am a private investigator in Virginia with 15+ years of experience. I have worked for companies that fail to pay investigators for hours worked on the job. In Virginia, hourly employees are to be paid for all hours of work including but not limited to driving, breaking off and returning, reports, telephone calls, updates and etc. I personally had an argument with an employer about breaking off and returning when I was two hours away from my residence because I would not be paid the two hours. In Virginia, if an employer requests you to "hang around" for any amount of time, you are considered still working. Driving to the subject's residence is considered part of the job therefore be paid accordingly. This means your base salary. The companies have the priviledge of having a base in the state in which the investigator resides and are required to follow state employment laws. In Virginia, hourly employees can not sign contracts. If they do, it will be voided by the Virginia Department of Labor.
I reported the company I worked for because I was written up for insubordination because I would not work for free. They also deducted two hours for drive times and paid half time driving to and from the subject's residence. I quit and reported the company to the Virginia Department of Labor and they had to reimburse me for all hours worked at my base pay. This included video review times, report times, updates, telephone calls, "hang around" times and drive times.
I suggest keeping records of all times worked for any company that you work and not paid. Check with your state's Department of Labor and if the company is not abiding with your state employment laws, file a complaint for reimbursement. I also contacted the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services/Private Security section on the NEW illegal practices of employers in Virginia. Good Luck to everyone and may GOD be with you.
ICS Employee
Alabama,ICS Merrill is NOT a good place
#5Author of original report
Sat, September 20, 2014
ICS Merrill is a terrible company to work for. I have been working here for few months and regret every day of it. ICS Merrill has recruiters that search the Internet and find suckers like myself, I mean investigators that are not yet familiar with the company. Those recruiters have their dance and song down to the level that I was impressed enough to move from a small local detective agency to this national ICS Merrill Company. It does not take long to see that all that was initially presented in the sales pitch was BS.
In my case the charm lasted only about two weeks. What you get to see first is how the company wants to screw you in every possible way. ICS Merrill has been doing it for a while and they have a system down to the science. The take advantage of its investigators every step of the way, and they push it, and they push it, and they push it, until people burn out and can not take any more the abuse. If you are considering working for ICS Merrill do not make the mistake of joining and alert others not to make that mistake.
I can not take it any more and I feel that I am on my way out. ICS Merrill has no integrity. They cheat the investigators on time, pay, and benefits. ICS Merrill also cheats its customers, the big insurance companies. ICS Merrill offers a Flat Fee investigation of workers compensation cases. Flat Fee compensation is a very difficult concept when applied to investigation, because there are many unknowns. Through the investigation process an investigator attempts to convert all the unknowns, into known and verified information. Add to that video taping of claimant’s activities, preliminary investigation, updates, reports, traveling. It simply does not work. But ICS Merrill makes it work by forcing a concept of investigator’s efficiency. If you are less that 85% efficient you are no good and out. If you want to stay in and have the efficiency factor of 85% or higher, you must work for free. Too bad you have to type your report for few hours. It’s your problem! ICS Merrill tells investigators to type the reports and updates in their cars while working the surveillance cases. That’s how ICS cheats its clients. Insurance companies pay ICS Merrill for surveillance, but the investigators instead of watching claimants are typing and looking into a computer all at the insurance companies expense, so ICS Merrill could be profitable and it does not have to pay its investigators.
This is only one example. After few months working for the ICS Merrill I feel that I could write a book. But who would read it? You… don’t be a sucker. ICS Merrill is NOT a good place. Keep on looking and worn others.
Here are few more links about ICS Merrill that other people posted:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ics-merrill-emsi-management-services/newark-new-jersey-/ics-merrill-emsi-management-services-emsi-ics-merrill-is-the-worst-company-ever-newar-598384
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ICS-Merrill-EMSI-Management-Services/internet/ICS-Merrill-EMSI-Management-Services-EMSI-Bad-for-Investigators-and-clients-Internet-618101
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ics-merrill-emsi-management-services/great-neck-new-york-/ics-merrill-emsi-management-services-do-not-work-for-these-people-great-neck-new-yo-531060
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ics-merrill-emsi-management-services/jacksonville-florida-/ics-merrill-emsi-management-services-beware-of-icsmerrill-jacksonville-florida-518917
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ICS-Merrill-EMSI-Management-Services/Jacksonville-Florida-32225/ICS-Merrill-EMSI-Management-Services-EMSI-Management-Services-DOES-NOT-PAY-WAGES-OWED-B-509437
ICS Employee
Alabama,Be Aware of ICS Merrill
#5Author of original report
Mon, September 08, 2014
See ther postings about ICS Merrill:
1, Report #598384
Author: , New JerseyEmployees: ICS Merrill - EMSI Management ServicesNewark, New Jersey
ICS Merrill - EMSI Management Services EMSI ICS Merrill is the worst company EVER!!! Newark, New Jersey
Author: , TexasLiars: ICS Merrill - EMSI Management ServicesInternet
ICS Merrill - EMSI Management Services EMSI Bad for Investigators and clients , Internet
Author: New York, New YorkPrivate Investigators: ICS Merrill - EMSI Management ServicesGreat Neck, New York
ICS Merrill - EMSI Management Services Do Not Work For These People!!! Great Neck, New York
Author: , ArizonaWork Place Bullies: ICS Merrill - EMSI Management ServicesJacksonville, Florida
ICS Merrill - EMSI Management Services Beware of IcsMerrill Jacksonville, Florida
Author: Richmond, Virginia
ICS Merrill - EMSI Management Services EMSI Management Services DOES NOT PAY WAGES OWED, BEWARE, BEWARE INVESTIGATORS, IT IS A SCAM, I GOT OUT WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THEY LIED ABOUT HOURLY SALARY AND ON TOP OF THAT, WON'T PAY WHAT THEY OWE Jacksonville, Florida
ICS Employee
Alabama,ICS Merrill
#5Author of original report
Sat, September 06, 2014
Also see: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/ICS-Merrill/nationwide/ICS-Merrill-a-division-of-Examination-Management-Services-Inc-EMSI-ICS-Merrill-cheats-1174784