Complaint Review: Unique Worldwide Services Inc. - Montgomery Alabama

I worked for UWSI in 2001 and 2002. I, unlike alot of UWSI employees was an actual employee of the company getting paid by the hour ever other week. At first, I thought this company was great and the job was so easy. All I did was answer the phone and set up interviews. After a couple of weeks of being there I started to hear complaints about the pay and people saying that they have not received their merchandise. I asked the manager I was working for and she said to me "don't listen to them they are just upset because they are not doing well in training". So, I did as she said and ignored all the complaining. I had been with the company about 4 months and Mr. Mingolo came to me and asked me if I wanted a promotion to work in the home office. I said sure! I would be making more money and the job was easy. A week later I started working in the home office which was about a mile away from the Montgomery office on Eastern Blvd. The first week was okay. I was bored alot, until people started to realize someone was answering the phone at the home office. The complaints poured in. Then I found hundreds and hundreds of orders not shipped. I tried to get everyone's order out to them when they called, but it got to be to much. After so long, we ran out of stuff to send. The home office was never fully stocked, especially when I got there, and I wasn't even the shipper. The shipper was some dumb kid they got to come in and stuff boxes. About a month after I was promoted and a week before I quit. I was told by Mr. M and Mr. Mac to only ship priority orders. That included: People that paid with credit cards and people who where talking about a lawsuit. I couldn't take any more! I quit a easy job that I received a steady paycheck. Reason being, I did not feel I could represent such a company that was so money hungary and cold. They did not care about the employees, unless you were making them money. They did not care about their customers, unless you paid by credit card (no charge backs) or threatning a lawsuit. People Beware!! There are bad companies everywhere. This is not the only one.

i worked hard i met every sello challenge and i paid 1,000 to go to some class. Mike jenkens in tuscaloosa always told me to help your self out he put me in debit. i got my gold pin then after i signed my conteract they wanted 6,000 i didnt give it to him and it made mark mingolo i dont care he owes me 6,000 and i will get me and Karyn and former divisional of georgiakevin Fuget and me any otthers are going to shut is sorry a*s down. they not going tell me because i have attention defect disorder aggaint the kid dont take their s**t i will get what want. they are not going treat like fool and their play toy. i will kick their a*s in court i have the best lawyer and the fire marshall wants him shut down and we will do it.i work into tuscaloosa under mike sorry a*s. go to hell!!!!!!!!!!! Jacob Russell ex manager never got my office

Janet, you have to be trully nuts to even think about joining this company! There is a good reason why everyone is so bitter! They've been screwed out of too much money! I did everything they asked, sold $13,000 worth of equipement in 3 weeks. I did the office training and went to all of those pointless meetings where they just say the same things all over again! Then I got my gold pin and went to Birmingham to scope out office space(I worked in the Norcross, GA office). All was fine until he brought me into his office and gave me the what we call the platinum challenge. They wanted another $6,000 to open the office! I was so pissed that I said a few choice words to him and that little girl Tim Mcadams. Then went straight to the Media. Channel 2 in Atlanta. They interviewed a bunch of us and soon enough, UWSI was no longer in GA. So what did they do, they picked up and moved to Tennessee and Alabama where they have screwing everyone their as well. When are you people going to wake up?! Do you honestly think that a legit company would hire you right off the street, train you for 3 or 4 weeks and then just give you your own office? GET REAL would you? THEY WANT YOUR MONEY! And no company in their right mind is going to bring in some 20-25 year old with no education and make them an office manager! When you get your gold pin, that no good midget Mark Mingolo is going to sit you down and then tell you that you have to give them $6,000 in order to open your office. If you think about it, that's because at that point, they quit making money off of you. You're of no use to them anymore, and after a few weeks or maybe months, they will make you so miserable that you'll quit or they'll tell you that you're not producing enough and fire you. Either way, you're screwed and they'll bring in the next poor sap to take your place. But soon enough they'll do the same thing to that person. Janet, actually it's probably already too late for you at this point. They've already sucked you in. But give it time. You'll see the light. Do they still give everyone a certain challene amount, then when you meet it, you get your red pin, they take you and all the others out to eat? Then they take everyone to a hotel where they have a so called meeting for everyone. Everyone gets rip roaring junk and passes out. But the midget and Tim Mcadams are really trying to get in everyone's pants. Is that idiot girlfriend of Mark's still there? Lynn? She's another loser. Janet, ask your why they keep changing the name of the comapny. Why don't they just tell you about the final $6,000 up front. Why are all of these people saying these things about them? If you think about it, you'll come to the same conclusion as the rest of us. It's a bogus company. Plain and simple. Aske Mark and Tim about Charles, ans Zuri. Also about Scott and Kimberly. All of these people were managers in Georgia. All of them poured tons of money into the company and in the end, they all got screwed. Ever notice how suddenly a manger is "gone" with no explanation of why. And if you get an explanation, it's always crap. To everyone else out there who takes up for this company, you're either nuts, or you're one of them. Everybody else, expose this company for what they are!!

I have already written a report of my own and feel very strongly about this company. I wanted to specificly address Janet from Arkansa. You said that you got a laugh from all these reports and that we had all failed. Honey, I didn't fail I completed everything and was one of the company's "In Crowd" until the truth was brought to my attention. The company is band from several states, have several lawsuits pending from over 500+ ex managers/employees, and will end the end ruin your live. The 125+ people who are involved in my lawsuit have been taken for over a combined total of 220,000+/-. Over a third over our sales were and have never been delivered even after contacting local offices and the head office through both letter and tetphone. Whether you take our warnings to heart or not is not our concern, but when it does happen to you just remember we tried. Tracie Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Well I'm not really sure witch way to sway on this one but I think I would actually back up the company before believing these people complaining on here. I do not know any of you nor am I familliar with this company. From what I have heard on here all these "Ex-Employees" seem to be very bitter but only because they have failed at what they were doing. I don't blame you. If I was uncapable of doing something I would probably try and find someone or something to blame it on just like these other people. I'm sorry but reading all these postings on here I have actually gotten quite a laugh.

Well I'm not really sure witch way to sway on this one but I think I would actually back up the company before believing these people complaining on here. I do not know any of you nor am I familliar with this company. From what I have heard on here all these "Ex-Employees" seem to be very bitter but only because they have failed at what they were doing. I don't blame you. If I was uncapable of doing something I would probably try and find someone or something to blame it on just like these other people. I'm sorry but reading all these postings on here I have actually gotten quite a laugh.

Well I'm not really sure witch way to sway on this one but I think I would actually back up the company before believing these people complaining on here. I do not know any of you nor am I familliar with this company. From what I have heard on here all these "Ex-Employees" seem to be very bitter but only because they have failed at what they were doing. I don't blame you. If I was uncapable of doing something I would probably try and find someone or something to blame it on just like these other people. I'm sorry but reading all these postings on here I have actually gotten quite a laugh.

Well I'm not really sure witch way to sway on this one but I think I would actually back up the company before believing these people complaining on here. I do not know any of you nor am I familliar with this company. From what I have heard on here all these "Ex-Employees" seem to be very bitter but only because they have failed at what they were doing. I don't blame you. If I was uncapable of doing something I would probably try and find someone or something to blame it on just like these other people. I'm sorry but reading all these postings on here I have actually gotten quite a laugh.

Well, after reading a long back and forth battle over the quility of the company inwhich I start this Satruday (Unique Worldwide Services Inc.) has put a little fear into me. I've already paid the 75$ "background check" fee, which has never occured at any other job inwhich ive applied for. Its insane, especially since you will never see that money again. Now, they want me to go there (Nashville TN, off the Briley Pkwy ext., Suit "P" of the Elm something or another offices, off of Royal Pkwy.) this Saturday and pay another 95$ bucks for a "kit", which they say is refundable. Now, until say 10 minutes ago, I was fully ready to serve this company, the person (Robbey Sory) who hired me was extreamly nice, about my age (20-25), and basically explained to me as to how this would be a great carrer. He also mentioned that I would make around $4,000 a month. He also noted that the $4,000 was the average, and that the sky was the limit. To me 40-70k a year a ton of money, hell to most anyone its no small amount, so sure I jumped at the chance... I have no idea where the hell im going with this, so to make it short, thank you all for saving me a lot of heart ach and pain...and as far as the 6 grand goes for an office, haha if I had 6 grand I would open my own UWSI!

All of you current "employees" and "managers" with this pathetic company make me laugh with your pompous remarks. You state "My company cares about fire safety and customers' lives!" Ok, your company cares about fire safety. Why, then, do none of your company's myriad of names ever indicate fire or fire safety? Why isn't it Unique Worldwide Fire Services? The answer: because it it easier to move from place to place ripping off people when you have a nice ambiguous name with no meaning. Don't you "current employees" find it amusing that there are virtually hundreds of these rip-off reports and complaints with the BBB and yet only a dozen or so claims by you fools that this company is actually legitimate? You current "employees" and "managers" are all very sad people. I hope one day you will find a real job with a real company with values and legitimate business practices.

All of you current "employees" and "managers" with this pathetic company make me laugh with your pompous remarks. You state "My company cares about fire safety and customers' lives!" Ok, your company cares about fire safety. Why, then, do none of your company's myriad of names ever indicate fire or fire safety? Why isn't it Unique Worldwide Fire Services? The answer: because it it easier to move from place to place ripping off people when you have a nice ambiguous name with no meaning. Don't you "current employees" find it amusing that there are virtually hundreds of these rip-off reports and complaints with the BBB and yet only a dozen or so claims by you fools that this company is actually legitimate? You current "employees" and "managers" are all very sad people. I hope one day you will find a real job with a real company with values and legitimate business practices.

Well, they are trying to rip me off. I have not received any merchandise yet, in fact, I have placed a stop order on a check because of the bad practices. The salesman won't even call me back. What else can I do? I will return the product in it's original state. THANK YOU ALL FOR STANDING UP AND LETTING US KNOW. Victimized

TO EVERYONE WHO IS JUST AN EMPLOYEE OF UWSI, YOU REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO. I QUIT AFTER 4 MONTHS OF BEING A MANAGER AT UWSI! THINK ABOUT IT... IF THERE'S THIS MANY REPORTS ON THE RIP-OFF REPORTS THAN THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG W/ THIS COMPANY. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU DROPPED THEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH A SCAM IT'S PATHETIC. tHE'VE CHANGED THEIR NAME AND HAVE SEVERAL LAW SUITS AGAINST THEM. IF YOU READ MICHEAL'S COMMENTS FROM TUSCALOOSCA, HE IS RIGHT. BUT I WAS STUPID ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY PAY THE $6000.00 FOR AN OFFICE. BECAUSE AFTER YOU GET YOUR GOLD PIN FROM $10,000 WORTH OF SALES(NOT $2000.00 LIKE WE TELL YOU IN THE MEETINGS) AND AFTER YOU THINK YOURE GETTING YOUR OFFICE AND YOUR FINISHED W/ YOUR TRAINING THEY HAVE ONE LAST MEETING AND TELL YOU, YOU CANT GET YOUR OFFICE UNTIL YOU PAY THE 6K AND THIS IS EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE! I WAS #1 TRAINEE IN THE COMPANY WHILE I WAS IN TRAINING. THE REASON WHY YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MANAGERS COMING OUT ABOUT THIS AFTER THEY QUIT OR GET FIRED, IS BECAUSE THEY MAKE YOU SIGN A CONTRACT UPON LEAVING SAYING THEY'LL SUE FOR FOR 25K IF YOU SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT THE COMPANY, CAUSE THEY'VE HAD SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND PEOPLE QUIT AFTER THEY FIND OUT THE TRUTH (AND THE ONLY REASON WHY I SIGNED IS BECAUSE I WANTED SOME OF MY $6000.00 BACK; WHICH I ONLY GOT $2000.00), MR MCADAMS AND MR. MINGOLO ARE VERY SMART! THEY MAKE YOU PAY IT IN CASH, SO YOU CANT SHOW IN COURT BY CHECK STUB OR MONEY ORDER THAT YOU'VE EVEN PAID THEM, TO GET YOUR FULL AMOUNT BACK. WHILE I WAS A MANAGER THEY TELL ME TO SAY THINGS THAT REALLY AREN'T TRUTHFUL TO MY EMPLOYEES, THATS THE MAIN REASON WHY I QUIT, PLUS THE 10% THAT YOU MAKE OFF YOUR EMPLOYEES ISN'T WORTH IT. I HAD PEOPLE COMING IN MY OFFICE WILLING TO PAY SO MUCH JUST TO GET AN OFFICE, WHEN I KNEW THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET IT OR THEY HAD TO PAY $6000 AND MAY NOT LAST. EMPLOYEES, PLEASE LISTEN.....THIS COMPANY REALLY IS A SCAM, I'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT WITH THIS COMPANY. IT ALMOST RUINED MY MARRIAGE. I HAD A SPOKESPERSON FROM WKRN TV CALLING ME WANTING TO DO AN INTERVIEW, BUT I REFUSED TO DUE TO OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES (EVEN THOUGH I WANTED TO SO BAD, BECAUSE I WANT TO WARN EVERYONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE THEIR LIVES ARE RUINED BY BAD CREDIT, LOSS OF $16,000, MARITAL PROBLEMS, FAMILY PROBLEMS- LIKE ME- DUE TO THE VERY WRONG CHOICE I MADE, BECAUSE I BELIEVED THEM AND BELIEVED IT WAS LEGIT!)

I was a "Manager Trainee" of USWI. I fell for there add in the paper; Manager Trainee Immediate positions Full/PT, no experience, will train, $48-$60k yr . Thank god I didn't sock any money into the "pin" Program(I did get ripped off for a sales kit andand the background check". When they hire you they tell you that you have to sell $2000 dollars and collect several pin challenges. Well, these challenges are more sales. To get these sales they encourge you to pray on your friends and family. Oh, and about saving lives, nobody is interested in that, at the company meetings all they want to know is how much money you have made for them. This company thrives on intimidating there employees and customers. I wouldn't mind testifying on behalf of the lawsuit against USWI.Sorry to the guys in clevelend I hope you get your money back!

I am a trainee in Nashville. I have just completed my training, in 4 weeks, and I will be in my office next week. Let me just say that my customers have received all of their products in a timely manner, and the only way that they wouldn't have is if the trainee pocketed the money instead of turning in the order. You see viewers, the mananager trainee's have the responsibility to turn in your order, or rip it up and pocket the money. So, consumer's ask the person that did your order form if they turned it in or not. As for the comments on the other pages about drinkin, drugs, etc., I am very offended because I am a Christian. By saying that everyone is like that is just not right. There are going to be peope in every business that do things that you might not agree with or believe in, but it is not your place to judge them. Also, saying that all people in this business do not genuinely believe in saving people's lives is also invalid. My dad was a fireman for 24 years, and I hve seen people's lives been torn apart by fire. I want to save people's lives just like my dad. Everyone has their own opinion about McDonald's, Wal-Mart,etc., but as for me I believe in the products, the company, saing people's lives, and my customer's are very satisfied. I am sorry that not everyone can be successful at this business, but I am living proof that Unique is not a scam. Thank you for your time, and I wish everyone the best of luck in finding a profession that they are good at and believe in.

I am a former employee of Unique Worlwide Services, Inc. (who has since changed its company name for the Nth time). There is television footage of the UWSI scam in the news media in the state of Georgia. In Alabama there is currently a law suit pending against the company for fraud and other things (for personal reasons I chose not to participate in the law suit). I was progressing very well in the company, in management training. The products sold are, in my opinion, better than those of anyone else. I have only used the fire extinguishers, and I would recommend them to anyone. The ideas of the other products are wonderful, and I hope they prove to be true (but would have to see the products in action first). However, the fire extinguishers I sold turned out to be TEN YEARS out of date. They were expired, and sold as new. When I discovered this I immediately quit the company, as that is illegal. As new, I would buy more the extinguishers. Halonaire is a great idea. The company has been moving from state to state, changing its name, and selling expired products. The company's latest alias, as far as I know, is "Executive Plus". The management training program is designed to weed out those who are not serious about the job (nothing wrong with that). But it is also designed to get everyone to spend their own money to help themselves progress through the training, and then get them to quit (there is something wrong with that). This self help is nothing other than buying company products from yourself. After spending thousands of dollars, which most trainees do, then drawn-out intense discouragement causes people to quit. I was lucky only to have a few thousand dollars down the drain. If that were not enough, the managers who do complete the trainging (after spending thousands of dollars to help themselves) I found out these managers-to-be had to shell out an additional $6,000 to actually get an office (no one is told this until they "complete" training). This is not another 6,000 dollars in sales, but money demaded up front; all the while employees are encouraged to do "what ever it takes" to get the money in. I shall only mention it was a tremendous strain on my marriage. One employee actually completed training, and paid the $6,000, and was then fired. She was told she didn't have what it takes (she joined the company after me but completed training before me). For those of you still in the company, ask someone about Margaret from Georgia. Please note! At the time I worked for UWSI the company was about 4 years old, yet no office managers had been there more than a couple of years. Where were the "veterans?" In truth, the company plays on simpathy and ignorance, to get the money. Neither customers nor employees are safe. Most of the evidence can be found in the Alabama case, be patient. The truth will come out publicly soon enough, but it already has in Georgia.

Dear Rick, Sandy and any other shills out there: You did a nice job shilling your company and yet neither one of you said anything about helping an unsatisfied customer. You only attacked that customer. You know...the same customer whose life you want to save--right, Sandy? UWSI wants to save lives? Maybe, that is the premise of the business. But a business is in business for one singular purpose--to make money. UWSI would not have to shill this page if they would only give a dissatisfied customer a refund. But no, money comes first--not the customer as Sandy proclaims. If Rick is correct and the customer has buyer remorse then so what? Give the person their money back! It's all about lives--right, Sandy? Not the money! Well, frankly I'm excited. Any day now I expect to see postings from UWSI customers who have received refunds. Thanks, Rick and Sandy. I expect to see results very shortly. The readers will expect to see these elated postings very shortly--since it is about the customer--right, Sandy? TFC PS Who do you think you are? I will suggest anything I like to an injured party. Neither of you or any other person will have anything to say about it. Stop trying to intimidate people out of relief, it's disgraceful.

I am an employee of Unique Worldwide Services Inc. and I have not met one person, from the Executive to the salesperson, who does not have the consumer's best interest at heart. Their logo is "saving lives for a living" and that is exactly what they are doing. We are taught that we are not selling merchandise, but we are selling fire safety and changing people's lives, for the better. We give people a chance to survive a fire, which they otherwise would not have survived. Every person that I have visited to check their fire extinguishers had outdated and no-good extinguishers. What would have happened if there was a fire and the extinguisher failed? Who would take the responsibility for the lives and property lost? We are out there in the field, helping people and saving lives, because that is what we do for a living and I am proud to be associated with Unique Worldwide Services. I get a moral satisfaction from my work knowing that I am making a difference in someone's life. We do not sell cheap products, but quality products. What price should be placed on a person's life? People only buy what they need to fully protect their lives and their property, nothing more, nothing less. No-one is scared witless to make a purchase or forced into buying anything. Unique Worldwide Services Inc. is a good Company with wonderful people working hard everyday whose main purpose is to SAVE lifes, not destroy it.

My response is short and to the point. I was speaking to a friend who said that they had been interviewed by UWSI and when he returned home he read the report on the company and got discouraged about working for the company.

I decided to read the report to see what his concern was, after reading the report I realized that it was nothing other then speculation and opinionated comments based on one or two peoples situations.

After reading the report I told him to go for it, ignore the people who have something bad to say because obviously there most be something good going on if other people are happy. Well this was five weeks ago, my friend recently completed the training that he was undergoing and has been placed within an office.

The fire protection that I ordered I recieved in a very timely fashion and further I am very satisfied with my protection , maybe that is because I bought it because i had a true need and not just because I was trying to help my friend out. That is exactly why these comsumers have a problem, I have worked in marketing for a long time and I know when a customer is mad because they purchased a large amount of product to try to help someone progress and then when it does not work out for the individual the customer no longer wants there merchandise.

Well I'm sorry to tell you that is not the way business works. The company did not make you purchase and I do not feel like they should be responsible for a consumers inability to make good decisions and a sales person trying to slight there way through a system the wrong way. Do not be mad at the company be mad at yourself. As far as the Fraud Chick is concerned why whould you suggest to harrass and discredit a company that you do not know anything about? Do you not realize that the are people who probably work hard to make a honest living with this company and by you making uneducated suggestions like that you could in actuality be hurting alot of people who are not in the wrong at all.

I think the suggestions you gave are a fraud, and you should evaluate your comments before you give such closeminded, incriminating suggestions. In closing, I apologize that the response went a little longer then I planned but I hate to see anybody try to make something sound bad that they do not have complete knowledge.

If you are reading this whether you are an applicant, a customer, or just an outside party with nothing to gain or lose always remember that there are two sides to every story, do not let one side influence your view it might be the wrong side!

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:

Their email: [email protected]
Their name: The Fraud Chick

Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion

Rebuttal:
Please ignore Donald, he can't help himself. Have you ever notice that smug, self-serving salespeople always use that same question, "Did anyone put a gun to your head?" I've even heard it in court as an excuse to the judge. Strong-arm salesmen, those who use high-pressure sales use this as a defense-so ignore Donald, he's a shill and could care less if you were
screwed out of $7,000. He doesn't hear words like "I'm unhappy, I want my money; not your crappy, shoddy fire suppression crap."

Don't go to the BBB, here's what I want you to do:

1. Send all fire equipment back to its originator address. If you haven't received it yet don't accept it.

2. Send a formal letter to Unique and tell them you've either denied the product when it was delivered or sent it all back in it's original condition. Since you haven't received a thing of value for your money ask them to refund you immediately. Send a copy to the salesman and a copy to the Home Office of Unique, you'll have to get that address from the Attorney General because I couldn't find it.

3. Contact your local newspaper and tell the consumer columnist about your salesman's scare tactics. I've no doubt in my mind the salesman tried to scare the hell out of you so you'd buy it. Also contact the local news station and have them come out to your house for a "Consumer Watch" interview. Oh, and make sure you include Donald's helpful remarks as a sample of Unique World Wide Service's absent customer service.

4. Send a detailed letter to you're your state's Attorney General and ask for an investigation. Let them know in your letter you've already gone to the media. If you like I will help you word the letter just so, you have my e-mail address.

5. I hope you paid by credit card. If you did just make a fraud complaint of misrepresentation and get your money back. Otherwise we will have to wait for your salesman to give it back. If you haven't paid yet, terrific, just don't accept any of the products. And DON'T pay a cent.

I just hope they didn't try to set you up with any crappy monthly
monitoring service!

Good Luck
The Fraud Chick

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:

Their email: [email protected]
Their name: Donald Scoggins

Their relationship to the company: Supporter

Rebuttal:
Let me share with as I am an Office Manager located in Cleveland,
Tennessee about this statement. Who forced you to pay for the products from Unique? I hope the salesperson did not hold a gun to your head to get you to sign and pay the money. You had three days which was on the back copies the gold and pink copy you recieved to cancel the order. The products we sell at Unique are better products and I even have them in my own home. Tell me of another company that offers a ten year warrenty on
their fire saftey products including Wal-mart? If you needed money for medical purposes why did you sign the order form and pay the money for the products? Did the salesperson really intimidatede you if so why did you not report this person to the local office that the person worked out of? The person you bought the products from was paid a commission on the
products after a period of time and you could have canceled the order. I hope that you realize that you have great products and that if you should ever have to use them you will be grateful that your life from a fire might have been saved. Think about it isn't your life worth something to protect?