Vivid Seats Ltd. Vivid Seats Potential Job Scam?? Chicago, Illinois
I have never purchased tickets through VividSeats. However, I was "hired" by the company to act as "Customer Service Representative." I worked one day at the job, and was praised repeatedly for my enthusiasm and progress.
I was asked to return the next day with my bank account information and social security card (for direct deposit setup and identification, respectively). I provided this information during my second day on the job, during which I once again received confirmation of a "job well done."
That evening, I received a phone call from the manager who had been training me. Jeff Barrios informed me that I could no longer continue employment with the company, because allegedly "business had been bad, and they thought they could afford to hire another customer service rep, but would have to cut the position."
I was discouraged, but I understood that these things happen. However, upon resumption of my job search, I noticed a posting by VividSeats for the very same position that I had been "let go" from. The post had minor wording tweaks, so I know it was not just a repeat posting.
It has now been months, and there are consistently new posts from week to week for the very same position. These are similar but not identical posts, and it is clear that they are being adjusted and reworded.
I think back to my strange departure from the company, and how conveniently I had just given them some very personal information. I have not noticed any unauthorized activity from my bank account, but perhaps I have not examined it closely enough, and one does wonder what this whole situation could mean.
Overall, this experience has been unsettling and worrisome. Proceed with caution with these people, no matter what you are looking for.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
vividseats
chicago,Illinois,
United States of America
Vivid Seats: Honest and Reputable Employer
#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, August 24, 2011
Vivid Seats is saddened to hear of Ms. Ford's experience via her posting on ripoffreport.com. However, clarifications must be added to Ms. Ford's review in the interest of correcting false statements and implications, as well as to defend Vivid Seats' sterling reputation as an honest employer.
To begin, Ms. Ford asserts that her employment at Vivid Seats was terminated despite positive commendations from supervisors, and therefore implies an unwarranted dismissal. As Ms. Ford would later assert, however, the dismissal was not actually based on performance at all, but rather as a result of the uncertain future of the re-sale market due to the newly announced NFL lockout. With the lockout becoming a reality, a reevaluation of the viability of company recruitment was conducted, resulting in an indefinite hiatus of hiring process in every facet. Ms. Ford's dismissal was a necessity; not a punitive measure.
Furthermore, Vivid Seats must clarify that illegal hiring practices are not, and have never been, utilized to any degree. Ms. Ford mentions that she provided Vivid Seats with "some very personal information" and was now weary of that choice, but hadn't "noticed any unauthorized activity from my bank account." To clarify, Ms. Ford did, in fact, provide Vivid Seats with copies of her social security card and a government issued ID, as well as other information relating to her worker eligibility. However, all the information that Ms. Ford provided Vivid Seats was requested solely in the interest of complying with federal and state laws regarding lawful hiring practices. Ms. Ford was asked to fill out an I-9 form to verify employment eligibility (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf). Ms. Ford was also asked to complete federal (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf) and state (http://tax.illinois.gov/taxforms/withholding/IL-W-4.pdf) W-4 forms in an effort to accurately withhold the correct amount of federal and state income taxes from her wage. Failure to complete the aforementioned employment documents would have resulted in Vivid Seats engaging in illegal hiring practices. Therefore, to remain in federal and state compliance of legal hiring practices, Ms. Ford was asked to provide sensitive information.
Vivid Seats in no way utilized Ms. Ford's private information for any use outside federal and state employment obligations, and any implication otherwise is patently false and libelous. The implication that Vivid Seats may have used private information intended for employment verification only is a serious accusation that is not taken lightly. Vivid Seats is an honest and reputable employer that holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org/chicago/business-reviews/ticket-sales-events/vivid-seats-ltd-in-chicago-il-36000326), and as such, must immediately act to correct blatant falsehoods mentioned in Ms. Ford's posting. Although it is unfortunate that Ms. Ford and Vivid Seats could not continue a mutually beneficial work relationship, the dissolution of that relationship should not be used as a catalyst to defame and slander said company's reputation. Vivid Seats merely hopes to educate the public about the truth behind Ms. Ford's libelous claims, and hopes that no further damage is inflicted to Vivid Seats' reputation as an honest and fair employer.