Complaint Review: HealthMarkets.com - San Diego California

re healthmarkets.com & affordableservices.org - went to a 'group presentation aka group interview' on this stuff Tues. 10/20 here in the San Diego, CA. area.

Yes, I got a similar email about my customer service/sales experience, and I went to the 'interview'. I was advised via phone that the 'group interviews' are done on a weekly basis.  We are also talking about training classes (2 full days at an out of town location, cost $80 and then other subsequent classes after that, total to equal 52 hours); a background check/credit check ($169) and Calif. state insurance agent license ($185).  Total of about $440 - all to be paid up front, maybe reimburseable somewhere down the line (or not), after you've taken the test, passed the test & background checks & got the papers signed/dotted to send to the Calif. State Insurance Commission for your license.

I was the lone female with a group of 6 guys. One guy was not professionally dressed (pendleton shirt, brown cord pants, ugly brown work boots), one came in a suit jacket, shirt, pants and white tennis shoes.  The others were in a suit jacket, shirt, tie & well dressed.

The presenter was a female (late 30s or so) who claimed to be w/the co for almost 10 yrs and moved up to be district sales mgr.  She stated that the president of the company was called out on a family emergency, so she was going to talk to the group about the company.   Once the presentation was completed (she had problems with the laptop & PowerPoint software program), this female called me into a private office for a 5 minute 'chat' about my resume.  I told her that while the 'opportunity' sounded interesting, I would not be able to give an answer until Thurs. 10/22.  She'll be calling on my cell phone.  It gave me enough time to research the information on line, spoke to my financial advisor about these folks on the stock market (supposedly publicly traded) etc.  He immediately saw red flags, sent me some additional web links with letters, etc. about HealthMarkets & Alliance for Affordable Services.

It seems that these folks use Monster and/or CareerBuilder to send their 'form letters' for 'sales agent' or 'sales representative' for the insurance and other industries. I have come to the conclusion that only the sleazy companies (including those from a foreign country who want 'account reps') will use Monster/Career Builder to entice unsuspecting persons of a potentially legitimate opportunity.  The legitimate companies may bypass one of both job search engines.  I'll be posting my resume on Linked In early next week.

I will be pulling my resume from both search engines shortly - it seems that when you update your resume & repost it, that's where the trouble starts/begins with these 'sales agents', 'financial advisors' or similar titles keep popping up on your inbox emails. Also beware that crooks from Malaysia are using the Nigerian scam stuff to email people with million dollar accounts from deceased relative- again, also thru Monster or Career Builder.

Do your research on line about the companies - they may have been in business 10-25 years, but that doesn't mean they are reputable, don't have a bad track record, have paid massive fines & still do the same old stuff, just repackaged to deceive you.

There's also the items of 'contests', 'promotions', 'competitions' among the 'agents' to see who can sell the most in a week, 2 weeks, etc.  There are these 'vacations' (Hawaii, Puerto Rico from what I heard), bonuses, winning of lap tops for getting residuals etc. 

I'll be declining the 'offer' to be a 'sales agent'.. obviously the fines and scams don't seem to bother these folks. It does to my husband and myself.  These places may want highly ethical 'agents' to work for them, but you can't do it if the company (national & local) are not ethical themselves.

In closing - if you get an email through Monster or Career Builder re sales agent, sales rep, financial advisor or other multi level marketing, delete it, don't answer it, send it as spam abuse to your local email service etc.

Attached please find the description of the 'sales representative' and 'sales leader' from HealthMarkets that I received.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE / SALES LEADER DESCRIPTION:

Immediate Weekly Income Potential > > -Call on prospects that have requested to see you > > -Multi Media Leads Provided > > Professional and ongoing Training > > -Prestigious Products and Services > > -Personal Sales and Leadership Development > > -Advancement Opportunities > > -Company Sponsored Stock Ownership Program > > -Bonus Programs and Trips > > -Annual first year potential is between $75,000 - $100,000.