Complaint Review: Tucker Communications - Thomaston Georgia

I was hired on to this company as a cable installer as an employee, not a 1099 contractor about a month and a half ago.  The company requires a 4 week training process of two weeks in the field with a trainer, and two weeks in the classroom with their corporate trainer.  Since they didn't have any class training scheduled for my first week, they started me in the field under another installer, who only had only been on his own a little over two months.  On my first day and on my first job, I was helping the tech find signal to the living room outlet. 

I went up in the attic to tone out the lines when my footing slipped and I stepped through the ceiling.  The damaged area was about 2ft X 2ft.  The tech training me immediately called our supervisor and was instructed to take pics of the damage and send it to him.  Nothing else was said about it till I decided to take a position with another company.  When I went to turn in my tools and equipment, I was informed that I would be responsible for the damage claims deductible of $500.00, and that they would be taking out of my last two checks.  I disagreed with what they intended to do, and told them that if they proceeded, I would take them to court.  At no time was I ever told of this policy, nor did I sign any paperwork agreeing to this when I signed all the other new hire paperwork. 

Today, I met with the supervisor to collect the third of the four checks owed to me.  I was informed that they decided since they messed up on informing me of this deduction, and that they shouldn't have let my up there during training, that they would split the cost with me.  I again said I didn't agree with that.  I was then told that if I didn't sign the paper saying I agreed to the deduction, I wouldn't receive any of the money owed to me.  And they wanted me to sign this weeks check back over to them, and they would give me my final check next Friday.  I said no, I wouldn't sign if I didn't receive payment today, so he handed that check over, and said I would not see any other checks from the company.  

I would highly encourage anyone who is thinking of working for Tucker Communications, to think twice.  They tell you they will provide you with everything you need to do the job, but the reality is, they charge you for the tools at a rate of $25 per week till it's paid off.  The price for the tools is either at retail cost or higher, but you aren't receiving anything new.  It's all old tools.  They also assign you a training manual at a cost of $40.00 new, or $20.00 used.  All it is is a binder of copies from Charter that have been handed over to several techs over the years.  When you leave the company, you can either pay you tool balance in full and keep the tools, or you can turn them in with no monetary reimbursement, and no ability to keep the dollar amount spent on any of the tools to keep them.  They are running a racket on their employees, but passing as much of the cost of business on to them.  Please stay away from this company.  There are much better options than these guys.