- Report: #964999
Complaint Review: Atlantic Coast Consulting - Richmond Virginia
Reported By:
edot -
richmond, Virginia, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Atlantic Coast Consulting
4461 Cox rd, Richmond, 23230 Virginia, United States of America
Phone:
804-270-4173
Web:
www.atlcoast.net
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Atlantic Coast Consulting pyramid scheme Richmond, Virginia
Allow me to preface this by saying, every one is entitled to form their own opinions. Perhaps like my interviewer said, "this job isn't for everyone." However, I'll give you the facts, the rest is up to you.
First of all, this place smelled like a pyramid scheme so I asked a lot of questions. In the initial interview, I was told that I would get paid 30-35/year plus commission. At the second interview, I was told 21k/year plus 20% commission. There were also about 5 other people in the office waiting for interviews who appeared to be fresh out of high school.
At the second interview, which I attended because I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, I went on a ride-along.
The interviewer drove her car from Richmond to Fredericksburg VA. I asked if she got gas reimbursement- she said no, it's written off on taxes. She asked me a lot of typical questions like why I wanted the job- at this point I had already decided that I did not want this job because I did not want to put my car through that amount of stress- plus I'm pretty sure using your car as a work vehicle like that affects your insurance rates, but I had nothing else better to do and I wanted to keep my unemployment so from this point on I attempted to be the most unsavory candidate possible.
I told her that I was desperate for a job and I actually hated doing sales even though I have done them in the past. I also texted on my phone a lot while she was talking. I learned that she had only been with the company since the summer ( a few months). I told her this company sounded like a pyramid scheme and she said that that's what she thought at first, but she was wrong. Well, she's also only been there a few months and is about 22 years old. She could also be lying because maybe she gets some sort of bonus for training/interviewing me.
So we met with our first client. This meeting took almost 3 hours total with the interviewer calling Cox cable and then calling Verizon (what she was selling) , doing credit checks, etc.By the time we were done, she only had 1 bar of battery left on her cell phone. I asked if she got reimbursed for cell phone usage- no. I also might add that I even left for a minute to go smoke a cigarette from a pack which I had very obviously bought while we were at 7-11.
Our next stop was at a Pub which wasn't busy yet, so we sat at the bar, which allowed me the opportunity to buy a few shots of tequila- now allow me to add this- I waited until the owner of the bar had very vehemently denied using Verizon again for their service- I didn't want the job, but of course I did not want to mess up this girl's sales either.
So let's recap- I texted while the interviewer was talking, I smoked cigarettes while we were meeting with a client and I took shots of tequila while we were meeting with another client.
We then went to lunch. At this point, the interviewer hands me a sheet breaking down how to advance in the company. She still wants to hire me.
Here's how it breaks down:
Client Manager: 2-5 week training period; base salary/commission 5-600/week (however, she told me that 100% commission is recommended, because in order to get base pay, one must sell 5 internets per week)
1. Learn foundation of campaign
2. executive in retaining and acquiring client base
3. manage self
Client executive: 6-18 months; base salary/commission/bonus $600-800/ week
1. Develop recruiting skills
2. Train individuals on a campaign
3. Manage a team
Manager: 4-6 months; base salary/commission/bonus- $1300-1700/week
1. Learn administrative tasks within office
2. Master recruiting and developmental strategies
3. Travel to and network with other markets
Executive: Limitless time and opportunity building an organization
1. Work directly with client
2. Develop individuals into management roles in order to expand
3. Oversee office operations
So in other words, it appears and though one can advance through this company to the very last tier within 6 months to one year. In conclusion, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
First of all, this place smelled like a pyramid scheme so I asked a lot of questions. In the initial interview, I was told that I would get paid 30-35/year plus commission. At the second interview, I was told 21k/year plus 20% commission. There were also about 5 other people in the office waiting for interviews who appeared to be fresh out of high school.
At the second interview, which I attended because I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, I went on a ride-along.
The interviewer drove her car from Richmond to Fredericksburg VA. I asked if she got gas reimbursement- she said no, it's written off on taxes. She asked me a lot of typical questions like why I wanted the job- at this point I had already decided that I did not want this job because I did not want to put my car through that amount of stress- plus I'm pretty sure using your car as a work vehicle like that affects your insurance rates, but I had nothing else better to do and I wanted to keep my unemployment so from this point on I attempted to be the most unsavory candidate possible.
I told her that I was desperate for a job and I actually hated doing sales even though I have done them in the past. I also texted on my phone a lot while she was talking. I learned that she had only been with the company since the summer ( a few months). I told her this company sounded like a pyramid scheme and she said that that's what she thought at first, but she was wrong. Well, she's also only been there a few months and is about 22 years old. She could also be lying because maybe she gets some sort of bonus for training/interviewing me.
So we met with our first client. This meeting took almost 3 hours total with the interviewer calling Cox cable and then calling Verizon (what she was selling) , doing credit checks, etc.By the time we were done, she only had 1 bar of battery left on her cell phone. I asked if she got reimbursed for cell phone usage- no. I also might add that I even left for a minute to go smoke a cigarette from a pack which I had very obviously bought while we were at 7-11.
Our next stop was at a Pub which wasn't busy yet, so we sat at the bar, which allowed me the opportunity to buy a few shots of tequila- now allow me to add this- I waited until the owner of the bar had very vehemently denied using Verizon again for their service- I didn't want the job, but of course I did not want to mess up this girl's sales either.
So let's recap- I texted while the interviewer was talking, I smoked cigarettes while we were meeting with a client and I took shots of tequila while we were meeting with another client.
We then went to lunch. At this point, the interviewer hands me a sheet breaking down how to advance in the company. She still wants to hire me.
Here's how it breaks down:
Client Manager: 2-5 week training period; base salary/commission 5-600/week (however, she told me that 100% commission is recommended, because in order to get base pay, one must sell 5 internets per week)
1. Learn foundation of campaign
2. executive in retaining and acquiring client base
3. manage self
Client executive: 6-18 months; base salary/commission/bonus $600-800/ week
1. Develop recruiting skills
2. Train individuals on a campaign
3. Manage a team
Manager: 4-6 months; base salary/commission/bonus- $1300-1700/week
1. Learn administrative tasks within office
2. Master recruiting and developmental strategies
3. Travel to and network with other markets
Executive: Limitless time and opportunity building an organization
1. Work directly with client
2. Develop individuals into management roles in order to expand
3. Oversee office operations
So in other words, it appears and though one can advance through this company to the very last tier within 6 months to one year. In conclusion, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Chantillian
Chantilly,Virginia,
Different Day, Different Color, Same Story
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, May 28, 2013
Me again (sorry about the duplicate posts).
Fast-forward about 10 weeks and today Courtney Brown drops by with a partner - both completely unaware of PAG's previous visit - not to mention the visits before that from Intuitive Group. They're wearing matching yellow shirts these days. Gone are the all-too-obvious Verizon accessories (lanyards, etc).
When they came in, I asked if they're from Potomac Advisory Group. Courtney sorta shoke her head in the affirmative but answered, simply, "Verizon". Hmm. They don't want to say "Potomac Advisory Group" unless pressed. Wondering what Michelle Shreve's (Chief Admin at PAG) friends back at St. Timothy's would think?
Chantillian
Chantilly,Virginia,
U.S.A.
A little more data
#3Consumer Comment
Mon, March 04, 2013
A representative of Potomac Advisory Group - parent company is Atlantic Coast Consulting - dropped into our office asking about our Verizon bills. (Well, I think maybe this "representative" might have been PAG's CEO and Registered Agent, Megan Abbott. Not sure.) I replied that our bills don't come to this location and asked if she can make a note of it so that PAG reps don't need to spend time visiting us in the future. Apparently, there's no means to do this. So the unwitting reps are stuck with crap leads like us.
Potomac Advisory Group appears to have been launched in Alexandria by Atlantic Coast Consulting very recently - Nov 2012. They've taken over many areas previously serviced by Intuitive Group. PAG's phone number, as listed on a job-search web site, is 703-333-6178. ACC's head guy is Gary Lawrence II, according to public records.
Report Attachments
Chantillian
Chantilly,Virginia,
U.S.A.
A little more data
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, March 04, 2013
A representative of Potomac Advisory Group - parent company is Atlantic Coast Consulting - dropped into our office asking about our Verizon bills. (Well, I think maybe this "representative" might have been PAG's CEO and Registered Agent, Megan Abbott. Not sure.) I replied that our bills don't come to this location and asked if she can make a note of it so that PAG reps don't need to spend time visiting us in the future. Apparently, there's no means to do this. So the unwitting reps are stuck with crap leads like us.
Potomac Advisory Group appears to have been launched in Alexandria by Atlantic Coast Consulting very recently - Nov 2012. They've taken over many areas previously serviced by Intuitive Group. PAG's phone number, as listed on a job-search web site, is 703-333-6178. ACC's head guy is Gary Lawrence II, according to public records.
Report Attachments
Gary Cooper
Richmond,Virginia,
United States of America
Very Accurate, More Information Here
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, December 24, 2012
The original poster is right on. I'll provide a little more information since I used to work at this company, they sell Verizon Business products to small to medium sized businesses. It is all door to door cold calling, 100 percent commission (I will elaborate on this). I feel the nature of this company can be concisely and accurately described by explaining the compensation structure, which I will address here:
At the initial interview, interviews are told that the compensation is salary plus commission. Generally it will be listed on a printed-out outline of the entry level position, as 21k + commission. Now, here's the problem with the compensation as promised: An employee will only qualify for the base salary if they sell 5 internets a week. Now the commission for one internet is $120, whether DSL or basic FiOS. Therefore, selling ONLY 5 internets a week (which is much harder than it sounds) will bring in $600 dollars of commission. But, by choosing the salary plus commission option, as everyone is promised, you will receive a $400 dollar a week base salary, plus only 20 percent of your commissions. 20 percent of 600 dollars is 120 dollars, which when added to the 400 base, will be $520, still $80 below the 600 pure commission route. Mathematically, the figure of base salary plus commission will never approach the pure commission figure, and a knowledge of simple algebra will prove that indeed, the figures will always diverge from that closest point.
If an employee does not reach the sales quota, and has theoretically chosen the salary + commission option, they forfeit their salary and default to the pure commission structure. Therefore, it is logical to see that the an employee will NEVER receive a base salary. EVER. It is important to recognize what this means.
An employer which goes out of their way to take advantage and mislead their employees in this way is clearly an employer with something to hide. Think about this. Do you want to work for a company which is built on a cornerstone of lying to its own employees? I worked for 6 months at this company, and left once my conscience simply overwhelmed my "fear of loss" as they would call it.
Meach741
United States of AmericaThe Company Has Grown or Changed Names
#6General Comment
Thu, December 13, 2012
I work for an institution of higher education. A company called, Potomac Advisory Group advertised for client managers through a career services office. A student contacted this Potomac Advisory Group and had a forced telephone interview. The interviewer told the student that the interview had to be conducted immediately and not at the student's convenience. Fortunately, the student was able to ask a couple of questions during the phone interview. The phone interview sounds like what this person and others have posted about Atlantic Coast Consulting, Inc. The interviewer mentioned that Potomac Advisory Group had broken from the parent corporation. The student asked who the parent corporation was. The interviewer said the parent corporation was Atlantic Coast Consulting, Inc. While on the phone with the interviewer, the student Googled ACC, Inc., and found this and the other reports. Just a fair warning to any who read this, Potomac Advisory Group, of their own admission, stated they were, at one time, a subsidiary of Atlantic Coast Consulting, Inc.
