Say It Isn't So!!
Brighton,#2UPDATE Employee
Sat, March 08, 2008
I also was terminated in the middle of a shift with no prior warning. After calling to inquire why, I was told it was due to government regulations and they were "sorry". After debating this with several others and finding no logical explanation, and inquiring again, I was told it was due to over-staffing the line. THIS IS NOT TRUE. THIS IS A COMPLETE LIE. They hired additional agents that began the day or and several days after we were "de-activated". They will not give us an answer. This company treats it's employees with no respect. Beware new and future employees. They just might "lose" your I9 paperwork and terminate you like they have so many others.
M
Winston Salem,#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, February 28, 2008
I have been working as a customer service representative for over 3 years now. I've worked for West, Blue Cross Blue Shield (as a temp worker) insurance company, and for an employee benefits outsourcing firm. Therefore, I'm very aware of how call centers work. I'm sorry what happened to you JD, but what you experienced is the NATURE of ANY call center job where you work as a customer service representative. Call Centers pay their employees based on the call volume. It would not make ANY sense to hire 500 employees if you only get 500 calls in an 8 hour time period. The company would LOSE money. However, put those same 500 calls in 1 hour, and you begin to break even. What would make sense is if you get 3000 calls in 1 hour...that's 1 call every 6 minutes for EACH representative. THAT gives the company enough call volume to do business. What you've experienced is NOT new...and West did NOT treat you wrongly. I'm sorry "Kha", but there is NOTHING to justify a lawsuit of ANY kind in this case, as it's the nature of call center work. When demand is high....you get extra time to sign up for, and possibly overtime. When demand is low....you usually are "let go" for the proposed time period. It's all based on "workforce management predictions", which I've given examples of above. Do some research on "the nature of call center staffing" and things like that, and you'll see that what I've said is true. Here is a link as well to give you an idea of how it's all done: CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
Steven
Jacksonville,#4Consumer Suggestion
Sat, February 02, 2008
Problem with call center jobs is that if no one calls they can't justify paying you to twiddle your thumbs for 12 hours. Evidently the product launch did not go as well as hoped. Evidently they played it safe and hired a lot of folks to train in anticipation of this product launch. Since things did not go as expected or other outside influences they had to let you go without notice. Hopefully you will be able to seek employment elsewhere. If they don't have any work for you they shouldn't really care if you seek employment elsewhere. If they say anything just ask "where's my check" since they are not paying you for not working they should be able to just let it go.
Kha
Austin,#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, January 31, 2008
I have been dealing with this company since 2004, what has happen to you is nothing new. West is the worst company in probably US history. How they have been able to obtain new clients and stay in this game for as long as they have beats the heck out of me. One things is for sure is that they can't keep clients. I can not put into words how ridiculous this company is. They have no respect for their employees/contrators in at all. Their Pals are nothing more but mere ghetto trash that has taken their job as acting "supervisor/call center agents" a little to serious. I found your post, because I've heard their is a class action lawsuit against them right now and I would like to join it if I can find the information. Anyway, my advise to you is that there are plenty of other legitmate work from companies avaliable. Please find one and part ways with West as quickly as possible. It will always get worst before it gets better when dealing with them.