Complaint Review:
Old American Insurance
Old American Insurance Regionl Director! Kansas City, Missouri
-
PO Box 218573
Kansas City, Missouri
United States of America
-
Web:
-
I met a young man by the name of JJ Kramer who came down here to Miami, Fl from Kansas City, Mo which is Old American headquarters. We had a chance to have a meet and greet session in the hotel he was staying at while he was down here on March 29, 2011. Let me tell you who JJ Kramer is.
He is suppose to be the go to guy I would assume who makes things right that are wrong within the Old American organization. His title is Regional Director for Florida and several other states. What JJ and I discussed while he was here in Florida.
I thought everything was behind us pertaining to Old American Insurance and the diffences I had. JJ mentioned to me about taking down a blog that I put up pertaining to Old American and the manager who is in charge of Florida Mr. Brent Atkinson. I told JJ I had no problem with taking the blog down, but just as Old American want me to do something, I in turned wanted something as well!
According to JJ he was looking for a new manager to either replace Brent Atkinson or cut the state into 3 for other managers to take hold of. The area of concentration that I was interested in was the South East region of Florida. Now I say this, not because I was
not chosen for the manager role down here in Miami I realized that I would have had to either cut the other Final Expense companies I represent or not do business with them. So therefore I am expressing my opinion here to say the regional managers has changed but the same attitude still exist within the Old American family of management.
The reason I say this is after meeting with JJ on March 29, 2011 he claimed he was traveling back to Kansas, KO well I called him to make sure he not only had a safe flight but to show him that I can put my negative opinion aside of what I thought of the Management team of Old American. I proceeded to call JJ on several occasions on the 29th of March at 7:28 pm , 8:39 pm, and even the following day at March 30, 2011 at 12:19pm all to his cell phone. Not knowing what to think, I proceeded to call his office since he was not picking up the cell phone. On March 30, 2011at 12:19pm I called JJ office phone and did not receive a return call.
I left the issue alone since I am appointed with several other Insurance companies and have an agency of my own down here in Miami.
During the talk with JJ I informed him that if offered the job as a manager down here I would take it, but was not to willing to give up the other companies I was appointed with along with other business ventures I am in. Once we talked about that he proceeded to tell me that he have a person in mind who will be moving to Florida from either the mid west or the Northern states. I was happy for him. But I did explain that down here in the South Florida area we write more African American Final Expense insurance then any other culture.
I explain the difference as I took JJ on a tour of this magical city and showed him what Old American was missing, by not having a major presence down here. I also informed him that the manager that is currently over the state of Florida Brent Atkinson could have just met his numbers from the Miami Dade area alone. I took him on a 35 mile stretch of just the urban area all the way down to the University of Miami and showed him from afar, just the area of potential they could seize on.
JJ and I had a chance to break bread at a Cuban Restaurant in the Kendall area, where we had a chance to talk more about the potential for Old American down here and what its going to take to be successful. As a former agent for Old American I knew it was
going to take some getting use too for someone else who was unfamiliar with the area, but I on the other hand had no problem with working with whom ever came into this territory as a manager as long as it was not Brent Atkinson as I told him, I would not have been supportive at all. From the vibes I got, I thought we hit it off. We both talked about the Real Estate market since both are investors and we shared a few laughs. Talked about my family and his family! We even talked about different insurance policies we have on each other. I having a 10 pay whole life, he having a 10 pay UL. I just thought every thing was on the up and up.
But doing the conversation JJ mentioned to me about taking the blog down pertaining to his manager on the west coast of Florida,
I told him I would be more then willing too. Hey after the met and greet we had why shouldnt I. But I wanted something to and that was to be reinstated to sell Old American products. Now, you ask why?
Old American is not the cheapest when it comes to final expense, but they were able to insure anybody who I may have come across to sell insurance too and they were also good with issuing those policies in a timely manner. I have on several occasions was skeptical of a clients health and Old American insured them. That is what allowed me to stick with Old American Insurance Company.
But, the time I was there I had the pleasure of chatting with several former and current agents who are of African American culture. The chatter I got was not at all appeasing to hear when it came to the opportunities that we are giving even though we are
just as well qualified just as the other agent managers no offense to them. I am not one to judge so quickly. I came out made the sells that was necessary for me and my family and along the way, I met some extraordinary people who are just as nice.
I mentioned to JJ while here in the Miami area why is it that when your company hired all these managers last year June 2010, that there was not one person of color in your monthly magazine. Till this day he never did give me a direct answer. We are just as well qualified as some of those managers and some of us even have a Masters Degree or working towards it.
Meaning we are just as qualified as the next man. But hey it does not stop there. In your corporate office not a person of African heritage is in a managerial position from what Ive been told, and some of those young ladies and men if you have them working there which I seriously dought have Associates, Bachelors, and even Masters! Tell me what wrong with this picture here. Is it unjust or maybe Old American could not find the right African American for the position because he or she did not bow down to what you want
to hear or do. We have a African American President Barack Obama, we had a African American Secretary of State Colin Powell, we have African American CEOs of Corporate 500 companies, but we cant get an African American to work in your corporate office in a managerial position or a Sells manager. What is wrong with this picture?
On to the present day April 21, 2011. I had the pleasure of speaking to JJ Kramer after 7from a month of our meet and greet in Miami.
I called JJ from my home phone and he picked up right away. After identifying my self! I asked what happened? I did not get a chance to bring up the Miami trip since this was the first time I had the chance to speak with him after he left the area. He in turned stated you did not take down the blog of Old American Insurance. Me being the cool calm and calculating person I said this is why you did not
answer the phone when I called he said yes. Then proceeded to say we have nothing in common pertaining to Old American. I said cool and hung up. Then I proceeded to send him a text message and told him that I will put a blog of him on Rip Off Report as well.
PS. To the new agents out there Old American is a great company minus some management that they have if you just go out and make sells you will get all the riches you work for. But it also shows that if you are of color you may have a hard time getting into
management. Either as an agent or in there corporate office. Hopefully this blog can change the way they make there selection when it comes to either hiring people of color in the corporate office or as manager in the field. Hope they change before its to late or the federal government decides to take a look at why there is less African American representation working for or within the company. My name is Christopher and this is my opinion of Old American. I dont have all the Intel but I am sure if the Federal Government was to look into there hiring practice I am sure they will find a lot more then what I know.
If you want to reach me you can at (((ROR redacted)). This blog is to shed light on the wrong doing of some not all, but just a few. I stand by these words I wrote as well as the history from calls made. If management want to reach me my cell phone is the only thing that has not changed everything else has home address and home phone number. If you want to talk just ask JJ how to reach me? He did and you can do the same.
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.