OnForce ripoff Shady Unqualified Techs Internet
When Onforce first started they were known as Computer Repair.com there MOTTO then was "connecting Service providers with end users." "It later turned out to filter the end users thru multiple third parties under the guise of warranty work" If you needed your computer fixed you went to their site filled out a form offering a price for service and a tech would either accept it or tell you what they would do it for. You can see this thru the webarchive.org search for computerrepair.com looking at 1-28-2003.
It has been my experiance that OnForce will use you for a year, let the corporations rip you off on several wo's then when the wheel squeeks enough it gets replaced..
They have since turned into a turnstile of uncertified techs accepting calls at a lowrate, gripe or moan when you get bit by the camouflaged work orders with hidden payscales ro multiple sites and cancel them you get banned. It's really useless to even sign up anymore due to the low payrates, I used to get $125 for a mb swap and they have dropped to $45 for the exact same work.
The companies using the platform take advantage of the techs by hidding specifics in the WO's and by basically sending out work they wouldn't have their worst techs do. Sure there are a few good companies that use Onforce I can think of 2 out of how many???? No-one knows really, their "neutral platform" is not really so neutral once you blow the smoke off the mirrors.
Onforce claims to be a neutral platform yet, the business's can see a techs resume, a techs closed calls, how many techs in an area etc. but the vice versa doesn't exist. you can't see how many companies are sending out work or look thru a list of companies etc. That is until you get bitten by them or ripped off by accepting what appeared to be a $200 wo an hour away only to find it is a 4 day job or requires you to pick up parts from several locations.
Another point is the companies that are sending out the WO's want you to lie and say you work for them and not the truth that you are actually a sub-contractor. I think this is illegal but am not sure, I am a Computer Tech and not a Lawyer.
I am sure there will be techs that rebutte what I am saying, but they are probably the techs that are running the same work orders I used to get $100 or more running the same calls years ago, and when someone else takes away their $45 work orders and does them for $25 they will see the light.
A good point is.... When the neighbors kid comes around to mow your grass for $5.00 don't expect much, if you want it done right the first time, hire a local company in your area that specializes in what you are needing done.
Case in Point..... Ever heard of the Computer Geeks? Maybe you have hired them, chances are if you called them for service you got a tech from Onforce and they told you they worked for Computer Geeks... CG was later banned from Onforce for ripping off techs and the funny thing is days after they announced CG was banned from their service another company with the same WO's and very similiar name joined even the contracts read the EXACT same. the only difference was the new computer geeks website was anonymously link to so you couldn;t tell who they really were. Onforce stated in their forums it wasn;t the same company, but if it looks like the duck and quacks like the duck.....
Anyways just wanted to add to the growing list of providers ripped off by the companies that use their platform and the platform itself.
OD
Somewhere in, Missouri
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Geek Expert
Triangle,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Geeks on Call is using Onforce techs now too
#4Consumer Suggestion
Thu, July 23, 2009
After putting many of their largest owners out of business in places like Portland; Phoenix, Kansas City, Chicago, NY, Boston and Washington DC Geeks on Call has replaced these dedicated owners and quality w2 techs with Onforce's "so-called" techs as well. Ofcourse Geeks on Call attempted to use their own proven system but could not show a profit either and fired all company techs because the model was too expensive to operate.
In discussions with regional managers at COMPUSA many of them blamed their use of Onforce for their initial closings saying those level of techs would not only miss appointments but when they got there could not do what they were hired to do so many computers and parts were returned to the store.
Geeks on Call's new more profitable 3rd party tech model using Onforce allows them to still charge the same rates for what used to be certified techs with background checks driving company cars for Onforce techs who will work for peanuts, drive their personal vehicles while competing with them for their customers.
I wonder if the thousands of Geeks on Calls customers across the country know their trusted, high quality neighborhood experts have been replaced with teenagers working from their parent's home with no experience or work ethic.
Sounds like bait and switch to me.
Retrogeek42
Pampa,Texas,
U.S.A.
Not My Experience At All
#4UPDATE Employee
Fri, January 16, 2009
To the rebuttal above: Yes, they take 10%, that's upfront. But several of your other points don't mirror my experience at all.
I have about a 60% acceptance rate on my conditional offers. If I don't get what a job is worth, I let it go. Yes, some jobs go to the lowest bidder, but if someone else wants to drive 100 miles for a $60 ticket, that's their business, not mine. There will always be people unwilling to pay your price, it's best to let those people go.
I have several buyers that route tickets to me right away, because they know I show up, ontime, and do the job. In a year and a half on OnForce, with over 35 jobs done for them, I have only had to block one buyer. I'd consider that a pretty good rate.
I consider the 10% a bargain, as they route the tickets, take care of the billing, and process payments. On average, it takes me between 3-5 business days after a job is complete to get paid for a ticket and to have the money transferred to my bank account.
Davioh
Akron,Ohio,
U.S.A.
onforce doesn't treat people very fairly
#4UPDATE Employee
Wed, September 12, 2007
Hi, I have to unfortunately mirror the first complaint.
POINTS:
#1. They don't pay you a lot for the work orders (if you ask for more they just go get another worker). It is truely the low bidder here.
#2. Also, if they ever cancel you only get $30. What if you drove an hour to the job and its cancelled? You only get $27 to cover your costs (they always take 10% off of everything).
#3. the companies who use you sometimes are difficult to respond. A job could take 3 hours more than expected. You can call the company and be put on hold for 45minutes-1hour. You can email the company. Days go by and finally they give you $18 bucks more. Then you have to wait around for them to approve the payment. Then you wait for them to transfer it to your bank. An awful lot of trouble just to get paid what is earned.
#4. If you complain too much about anything, call them too much, or email them to much they ban you as "unprofessional" anywhere from 1 week to 1 month.
#5. In my case they told me something about setting up a bank account which was incorrect. All my funds are "in limbo" in their system with no way for me to get paid. Their general attitude is indifferent, after all they have a solid paycheck every week , why should they care?
#6. Less of a new point than a restatement for emphasis, they take out 10% for absolutely everything you do. All labor, parts, even misc. expenses such as tolls and parking!!! And for this they set up a website and an 800# they won't even let you call.