Complaint Review: Readers Across America - Maria A. Blacke - Elizabeth Colorado

hello i was a former employee for the company and i want to say that it was fun and lots of positive things i learned how to be a team player and a team leader as i remember they never thought us any negative things or to do anything negative at all shr would treat us as if we where just family .we where always paid on time and if we needed extra she would give her helping hand .the company always told us treat the custumers as if they where friends never force them to buy or lie to them always be striaght forward with them .

my name is tony and i would love to be part of the company again they where the only poeple who caired and treated me like i was there son and family .so if anyone knows how to contect the company i would love the info cause am ready to get back on the road again with my team and rock and roll u can email me at (((REDACTED))) with the info thanks alot .

readers accross america will always be a great team and company to work for.thanks alot .

tony 

newyork lower east side

While the employees of this "company" have so vehemently rebutted the claim of drugs and illegal activities by other employees...what do they say about the claim that they do not provide the magazine they said they would? No answer...

This is all bullshit I have worked for Mary and as a matter of fact I worked for her when Chantelle was there and that was bullshit! Chantelle was 1 of the few whom didn't do drugs! So the accusations are dumb, on second hand nobody can accuse her of doing anything when Mary smoked more pot than the crew and 3rd off I was out on T with her a lot and I know she was 1 of the few who dodn't lie also so I think RAA can shove it! Mary is a b***h! If you don't make quota she yells at you and belittles you in front of the rest of the crew and she allows people on her crew to be hungry while she eats gourmet food and gambels her money away But she thinks it's ok because she gave them 5 bucks so they will live I remember giving a lot of people food and buying the things because they didn't have the money to eat! Oh and yes she did almost strand James and Chantelle at the bus station with no ticket or money! This is crazy I can't believe RAA would even try to say half of this stuff about anybody well actually part of this is Mary's daughter that is saying this.! Bullshit, nobody ever buy magazines from her company it's FAKE Don't do it!!!!

I recommend you be careful what you put in print. The comments you made about this person are now all over the Internet. If you allege misconduct to whoever contacts you and give out the name of previous sales repts as you indicated you were going to do with Shantel and the allegations are proven false, you have damaged the sales repts reputation. There could be monetary consequences for your company. Obviously there is something going on with this company or there would not be so many complaints. It is easy to make allegations against someone, but proving is another matter and you have proved nothing. If Marica states charges are pending against Rich, then it's possible they are and you aren't aware. I recommend contacting the police department to find out if this is correct. If as you suggest Shantel was terminated for the reasons you specified, you had better be able to prove that. Dummied up documents by an employer are not suffient. I believe I read in a previous complaint against you that you are related to the owner. I have read a lot of complaints against this company. This is not the only website and there are hundreds of allegations that mirror the ones by Marica. I'm doing research and it's not looking good for your company. The kind of responses you are giving lead me to believe the allegations are true. You need to address complaints more professionally and make sure your comments are factual.

I am a customer service representative for Readers Across America. If a sales agent is caught lying or practicing deceptive sales they are TERMINATED. We will not guarantee return transportation to any sales agent who has stolen receipts, lied to customers, or engage in any deceptive sales practices. In addition, if they are caught with drugs they are TERMINATED as Independant Contractors IMMEDIATELY. It is unfortuanate that so many of these young people come from broken homes with dysfunctional families and parents who have not taught them morals. Marcia appears to be the parent of a girl who has engaged in illegal activities and who is incredibly disgruntled because her daughter was terminated for theft, deceptive sales practices, and drug use. There were no charges made against Richard as Marica fictitiously claims and ALL HER CLAIMS ARE FALSE. If anyone has been "stranded" it is because we are not responisible for their way home if they have engaged in any ILLEGAL ACTIVITIY. PERIOD!! All persons are over the age of 18 and are made aware of this fact upon hire. It is a shame that anyone can write or say anything whether it is true or not on this website. We have no further comments...

It's interesing that Cristin says Shantel used deceptive practices when she was trained by Readers Across America and there are so many complaints against Readers Across America. In addition, ALL the money taken in is given to the crew leaders who dole it out in small amounts to the sales persons. It's also interesting that Cristin is answering this since she is one of those accused so many times of deceptive practices. It's also interesting that she says Shantel was fired. If she was fired, it was probably because she didn't lie good enough. However, the bottom line is Maria Black got the money, not Shantel. You need to get your facts straight. Again, my name is MARCIA, so stop blaming Shantel. Get your facts straight.

It's interesing that Cristin says Shantel used deceptive practices when she was trained by Readers Across America and there are so many complaints against Readers Across America. In addition, ALL the money taken in is given to the crew leaders who dole it out in small amounts to the sales persons. It's also interesting that Cristin is answering this since she is one of those accused so many times of deceptive practices. It's also interesting that she says Shantel was fired. If she was fired, it was probably because she didn't lie good enough. However, the bottom line is Maria Black got the money, not Shantel. You need to get your facts straight. Again, my name is MARCIA, so stop blaming Shantel. Get your facts straight.

It's interesing that Cristin says Shantel used deceptive practices when she was trained by Readers Across America and there are so many complaints against Readers Across America. In addition, ALL the money taken in is given to the crew leaders who dole it out in small amounts to the sales persons. It's also interesting that Cristin is answering this since she is one of those accused so many times of deceptive practices. It's also interesting that she says Shantel was fired. If she was fired, it was probably because she didn't lie good enough. However, the bottom line is Maria Black got the money, not Shantel. You need to get your facts straight. Again, my name is MARCIA, so stop blaming Shantel. Get your facts straight.

It's interesing that Cristin says Shantel used deceptive practices when she was trained by Readers Across America and there are so many complaints against Readers Across America. In addition, ALL the money taken in is given to the crew leaders who dole it out in small amounts to the sales persons. It's also interesting that Cristin is answering this since she is one of those accused so many times of deceptive practices. It's also interesting that she says Shantel was fired. If she was fired, it was probably because she didn't lie good enough. However, the bottom line is Maria Black got the money, not Shantel. You need to get your facts straight. Again, my name is MARCIA, so stop blaming Shantel. Get your facts straight.

This is Marcia and my name is Marcia and this goes to show how bad this company really is. You didn't even spell Shantel's name right. I know what I'm talking about because I talked to Maria Black when she stranded Shantell in Denver. Shantel never stole anything from the company. She came home with barely the clothes she had and no money. In regards to the charges against James Hunter, Maria Black sent her son, Rich and 3 other guys to beat him and another person up. Charges of assault were made against Maria's son Rich, and 2 others. Warrants are in the process of being issued for them. Get your facts straight. Maria Black did steal Shantels' clothes and money. She told me she was going to send them back and she didn't. In additional, restraining orders were taken out against Maria Black, her son Rich and 2 others for threatening Shantel in front of Shantel's lawyer.

This is a response to the comments posted by "Marcia" who's real name is Shantel Gassidy. Obviously "Marcia" did not get off UNSCATHED as she stole company supplies and receipts. Her current boyfriend James Hunter who also was a previous independant contractor is now sitting in the El Cajon County Jail.He is awaiting sentencing for Felony charges of vandalism, theft, and attempted assault. He and another ex-independant contractor by the name of Anthony Nadeu attempted to assault Maria A. Blacke and other Independant Contractors working for Readers Across America. "Marcia" and James Hunter where disgruntled as they had been terminated for drug use, deceptive sales practices, and theft. In the future any Readers Across America customers who call in to Readers Across America who have been swindled by "Marcia aka:Shantel" will be advised to press charges against her or James Hunter with their local police department.

Maria Black does know what's going on. She does smoke dope. She has stranded employees herself. I know because she did this to me when I wanted to leave. She even sent several of her team members to beat me up when I moved to San Diego. She told my friend's clothes. Don't make excuses for her, she is down right evil. She knows what's going on, she's the one who keeps the stashes of pot and drugs. Just because some of the employees got off unscathed, doesn't mean all of them did.

you can absolutely not blame any mishappens on former managers of the crew.....i worked with mary and without mary and both ways were just the same. ever know the biggest drug addict of them all...lets just call him nick.....no matter how cracked out he was...he sold a lot therefore kept his spot on crew. you had to have been there for years to see what really goes on. not just a month or two. i know all there is to know inside and out and have been to over 30 states on this crew....everything is a lie. mary is banned from the mag business...ask her whos name its under...ever notice the reciepts....totally not legit...first of all by law you are required to give each customer 2 copies....and ever wonder why you dont have a soliciting permit....because it takes 2 weeks in each town, costs money, and requires a backround check which most people going by fake names or have warrants cant aquire...get over this, its all a big fat joke!!!!!!!!!!!!

To the initial letter: Yes there are many things that are true (sorry JJ), but you are pointing the finger at the wrong people. I was personally trained by Mary and was taught not to lie about being a college student, but a contestant only. However the managers in charge, when Mary was not around, encouraged lieing, drug use, drinking, and sometimes would have us work until 10PM if quotas were not met. Even in the snow! Due to my niativy Mary and I ended on a bad note, however I am glad that I chose to work for her. Dispite the hardships lots of people in rooms, lots of sex and alcohol. All of these of my own choosing. I am glad because the job gave me wake up call of the way the world is and made me grow up-FAST. And it tought me not to take crap from anyone! There are alot of people who didnt get their magazines but I think that happened because due to the job there were a few criminals that would take the cash and run. That is a risk employers have to make. AND I did get a ticket back home! Sarah in NorCal Employee 2000-2001

I had stupidly subscribed to a magazine through these people and waited and waited to receive the first issue. Unlike many people, I actually got a magazine... but it was 3 issues of the wrong magazine. I did what everyone else did when they had problems... I called their number printed on the receipt and of course, I got that really annoying message machine. I left messages left and right but with no response. I finally called the magazine and they referred me to a company called Publisher's Consulting Agency. This company processes all magazine orders for RAA. The lady on the other end was nice enough to give me an e-mail address([email protected]). Surprisingly, I got a response to the e-mail saying exactly when somebody would be there to pick up the phone and talk to me. And shockingly enough, when I called, someone actually picked up. Apparently I was subscribed to a magazine they no longer carried so they sent me something else. Because of this mix up, I got to pick a new magazine and get a free subscription to another. I'm upset but I guess I'm one of the few lucky ones that got it fixed. I have definitely learned a lesson here... If you want a subscription to a magazine, buy an issue from the store and send in a subscription card.

I have personally received messages from this "Sales Manager" J.J. They have always been insulting and abusive. He only returned calls after receiving MULTIPLE messages from me to the point I was really annoying. Most of the time the answering machine was full.I filed a complaint with the BBB in Denver to which he never repied and subsequently received a negative rating, you can call the Denver BBB and verify this and other complaints against this company. The complaints to the Denver BBB speak for themselves. Don't believe a word this person says.

My name is J.J. and I am the Customer Service manager for Readers Across America. I am responding to the 2 latest ficticious entries that were submitted by a former independent contractor. We are sure that it is obvious to most of the readers that these allegations have no basis of fact, and are merely an attempt to defame the company and its proprietor. Secondly, the contact information for the owner is incorrect. A few of our independent contractors are aspiring students, current students, or young adults wanting an opportunity to earn money and better their lives in the process. As a company we have a limited amount of control over what our independent contractor may say to a potential customer, however when it is discovered that this is going on the independent contractor is terminated. In addition, during off working hours we do not monitor these young adults. There have been a few occasions over the many years the company has conducted business where the contractor has engaged in illegal activities with the same result of termination being the remedy. An additional post is to follow by myself on behalf of Readers Across America that not only will solve most, if not all the disputes contained on this site. We look forward to assisting everyone with any concerns they may have.