- Report: #99592
Complaint Review: Combined Insurance Company Of America - Chicago Illinois
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Combined Insurance Company Of America
123 N. Wacker Blvd Chicago, 60606 Illinois, U.S.A.
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Combined Insurance Company Of America Largest District Manager EVER in the company fired, then sued by the company, then had arrested for standard company practices. Chicago Illinois
*Author of original report: Communication is important.
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Misleading info by complainant
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Misleading info by complainant
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Misleading info by complainant
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Misleading info by complainant
*UPDATE EX-employee responds: RODE THE WAVE
Starting with Combined Insurance Co. in 1975, I soon became the most successful and the largest (both with manpower and premiums) ever in the company, which I personally funded with no help from the cheap company (except for the last 2 years, and then very minimal help).
In 1998, I refused to fire a Sales Manager who had been with the company since 1985 because she had accused Richard Ravin's "boy," Fred Prudhomme, of sexual discrimination based on sexual harassment (how many other women has Fred done this with?). I was no then no longer one of Richards "boys" and so left the company to go with Family Heritage Life Insurance Co. This infuriated Richard Ravin, so he sued me and my managers and tried to accuse of stealing money. This was in Federal Court in Columbus & we won by a jury vote - UNANIMOUSLY!
He then contacted the IRS, who contacted the FBI and had us investigated for conspiracies to commit mail fraud, government fraud and conspiracy to launder money (some on multiple counts). We lost and are in the process of appealing. We had many CICA employees testify in our behalf, with Richard Ravin acting as if he didn't even know us and Wick Thurber being very forgetful. Don't be fooled into thinking any of these executives care about you when you don't help them.
Read very carefully all of you managers and R.S.A's.
Conspiracy to Defraud the Government: This simply means putting people on report who did not earn money for that week, or what they call "Ghost Agents." This involves the IRS simply because the Ghost Agent shows as earning more money, while the person putting the income on report shows as earning less!
Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud: This is simply the mailing of those packages with the "ghost agents" reports included.
Conspiracy to Launder Money: Cashing the checks of those "Ghost Agents."
Anybody who has knowledge of (even though you may not actually participate in the so-called "scheme") is considered guilty of conspiracy.
Now, I realize that Combined Insurance Company has been actively soliciting such behavior; but, don't be fooled into thinking that because the company wants it that it is legal. We found out the hard way!
Even though we gave our heart and soul to that company, when they were done with us (because we wouldn't cave in to their demands), we were sold out. We did not even realize that what the company expected and required of us was illegal. I am sure that you are not aware of that either. Hopefully, you read this and spare you family and friends the embarassment and heartbreak that we have endured. It takes alot of money to fight Combined Insurance Company and Richard Ravin and alot more to fight the Federal Government. It's not worth it; find a reputable company.
If you have any questions, there are people within the company that can help you and explain fully that this is true and you need to study up on the company practices or check the judicial system in Columbus, Ohio.
Good luck and don't be brainwashed like we were.
Peter
Coshocton, Ohio
U.S.A.
In 1998, I refused to fire a Sales Manager who had been with the company since 1985 because she had accused Richard Ravin's "boy," Fred Prudhomme, of sexual discrimination based on sexual harassment (how many other women has Fred done this with?). I was no then no longer one of Richards "boys" and so left the company to go with Family Heritage Life Insurance Co. This infuriated Richard Ravin, so he sued me and my managers and tried to accuse of stealing money. This was in Federal Court in Columbus & we won by a jury vote - UNANIMOUSLY!
He then contacted the IRS, who contacted the FBI and had us investigated for conspiracies to commit mail fraud, government fraud and conspiracy to launder money (some on multiple counts). We lost and are in the process of appealing. We had many CICA employees testify in our behalf, with Richard Ravin acting as if he didn't even know us and Wick Thurber being very forgetful. Don't be fooled into thinking any of these executives care about you when you don't help them.
Read very carefully all of you managers and R.S.A's.
Conspiracy to Defraud the Government: This simply means putting people on report who did not earn money for that week, or what they call "Ghost Agents." This involves the IRS simply because the Ghost Agent shows as earning more money, while the person putting the income on report shows as earning less!
Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud: This is simply the mailing of those packages with the "ghost agents" reports included.
Conspiracy to Launder Money: Cashing the checks of those "Ghost Agents."
Anybody who has knowledge of (even though you may not actually participate in the so-called "scheme") is considered guilty of conspiracy.
Now, I realize that Combined Insurance Company has been actively soliciting such behavior; but, don't be fooled into thinking that because the company wants it that it is legal. We found out the hard way!
Even though we gave our heart and soul to that company, when they were done with us (because we wouldn't cave in to their demands), we were sold out. We did not even realize that what the company expected and required of us was illegal. I am sure that you are not aware of that either. Hopefully, you read this and spare you family and friends the embarassment and heartbreak that we have endured. It takes alot of money to fight Combined Insurance Company and Richard Ravin and alot more to fight the Federal Government. It's not worth it; find a reputable company.
If you have any questions, there are people within the company that can help you and explain fully that this is true and you need to study up on the company practices or check the judicial system in Columbus, Ohio.
Good luck and don't be brainwashed like we were.
Peter
Coshocton, Ohio
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Dablues
Alamo,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
RODE THE WAVE
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, May 16, 2008
Peter you rode the wave as long is as it was going your way and GEORGE KOVAL was singing your praises. I never saw you return a BONUS check during all those "golden boy" years.
Anonymous
Union,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Misleading info by complainant
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, December 21, 2007
Some of the points made may be valid, but the other managers within combined do not send their agents out with photocopied reciepts to give policy holders so the real stubs could be torn at the dm's leisure. Most people would also know that intimidating witnesses, and secluding of witnesses who still worked for you during the civil case, would have an impact on the outcome. (yes slashing tires of investigators and reps of the company would be considered intimidation). And lastly, none of what you did was for the agents benefit. It was for your own ego. The move to Family Heritage was made to ensure your complete control over the group. The 50 agents that followed you from combined had been whittled down to a dozen within 18 months. So who was all of this really done for?
Anonymous
Union,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Misleading info by complainant
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, December 21, 2007
Some of the points made may be valid, but the other managers within combined do not send their agents out with photocopied reciepts to give policy holders so the real stubs could be torn at the dm's leisure. Most people would also know that intimidating witnesses, and secluding of witnesses who still worked for you during the civil case, would have an impact on the outcome. (yes slashing tires of investigators and reps of the company would be considered intimidation). And lastly, none of what you did was for the agents benefit. It was for your own ego. The move to Family Heritage was made to ensure your complete control over the group. The 50 agents that followed you from combined had been whittled down to a dozen within 18 months. So who was all of this really done for?
Anonymous
Union,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Misleading info by complainant
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, December 21, 2007
Some of the points made may be valid, but the other managers within combined do not send their agents out with photocopied reciepts to give policy holders so the real stubs could be torn at the dm's leisure. Most people would also know that intimidating witnesses, and secluding of witnesses who still worked for you during the civil case, would have an impact on the outcome. (yes slashing tires of investigators and reps of the company would be considered intimidation). And lastly, none of what you did was for the agents benefit. It was for your own ego. The move to Family Heritage was made to ensure your complete control over the group. The 50 agents that followed you from combined had been whittled down to a dozen within 18 months. So who was all of this really done for?
Anonymous
Union,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Misleading info by complainant
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, December 21, 2007
Some of the points made may be valid, but the other managers within combined do not send their agents out with photocopied reciepts to give policy holders so the real stubs could be torn at the dm's leisure. Most people would also know that intimidating witnesses, and secluding of witnesses who still worked for you during the civil case, would have an impact on the outcome. (yes slashing tires of investigators and reps of the company would be considered intimidation). And lastly, none of what you did was for the agents benefit. It was for your own ego. The move to Family Heritage was made to ensure your complete control over the group. The 50 agents that followed you from combined had been whittled down to a dozen within 18 months. So who was all of this really done for?
Peter
Coshocton,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Communication is important.
#7Author of original report
Tue, July 20, 2004
Please do not hesitate to contact your local FBI or IRS Office to prevent yourself from getting into trouble; otherwise, they will not care that you were unaware of breaking any law and that you had no intention of doing so.
