My fiance started working for the combined group in Oct 08. He had to go through the 3 weeks training hooplah, was away in Albany for 3 weeks. I was at home taking care of our5 month old daughter, and working, but we thought this was the chance of a lifetime.
His first 2 weeks in the field were with a manager for more training he had to split her comission 50/50. And that amounted to about $35 a week for those first 2 weeks. Off to a great start!
When he got out there on his own he was given enough work for a day but was told to make it last the entire week. They wanted him out in his own personal veh, on his own dime for 8 hours 5 days a week. ( We spent 3-400$ a week in gas ).
When it got to be too much they were following him around calling his cell, all day, calling our home waking the baby trying to see why he wasnt out all day long like he was told. His thoughts were when you pay me salary, and give me benefits, I'll work when you say.
Not only do these bastards not have to pay you, but you have to up your own car insurance, they expected you to work on holidays, like Christmas. They said that old people wouldnt have any family to visit so they would be home...nice huh?
And the guarantee paper he signed stating that if he was not to make a certain amount of money in his first 13 weeks he would be re-imbursed the remainder, they said he didnt follow through with his end of the deal, but never elaborated on that, never gave him a reason, nothing.
When it came time to renew his liscense, he decided that he had enough and he was not going to do it. He was done with all the crap, not being able to pay our bills, sleeping in the car a few nights so the baby would stay warm, when the heat was shut off. It was enough. His liscense expired on a thurs ( his b-day), and he had only worked M,T,W that week because that was all the work they had for him. So he never worked when his 'licsense was expired.
He noticed that he hadnt been paid for the last 2 weeks he worked. The deposits were made every thurs, into his acct. And the last 2 were not there. He called his manager, and he danced around it, saying oh I'll call you later, I'll call you tomorrow. I had enough so I talked to the manager, and told hie we WERE NOT waiting for an explanation, he would either tell me now what was going on, or I was contacting my attorney, and the labor board. He told me that because his lics ran out in the middle of the week, they were legally able to hold his pay, even though he never worked when it was expired. And I guess that was his punishment for thinking about leaving the company?
Any way the mananger told me to go ahead and get a lawyer, it wouldnt do any good, well I don't respon well to threats, and I got my attorney, and we are fighting it to this day. It may be a waste of time, but it's the priciple, they don't even PAY their employees, they get rich off someone elses work, and they don't even give them the comission they are promised.
I'm not saying all comission jobs are bad, I don't now that, but Combined will bury you to get their money, don't give them the chance.
Cassie
perry, New York
U.S.A.