Health Markets, MEGA, Mid-West, Cornerstone America Unhealthy "Health Markets" company for agents Nationwide Nationwide

After over two years of working with Health Markets (Mid-West, MEGA, Cornerstone America), I finally let the burden and monkey off my back by focusing in another industry that isn't as sketchy as selling MEGA insurance nor as financially draining to the pocket book too. Sure the managers and regionals were nice to a certain degree and the training was consistent and in depth, but many things were mis-leading, mis-represented, and omitted to us agents...even to the degree where I've heard and read several agents say it was like "brain washing" [they'd make you think the product is the best thing out there and teach you how to sell it without going over the flaws and pitfalls (somewhat deceiving people)...when in reality, the product is very limited and specific to who it can and can't help]. Not to mention that we agents were made to believe we'd all be making upwards to $90k our first year (assuming we could keep up with the unrealistic goals of 10+ appointments a week, etc.), supplied with great leads to call, and the business would build from there. It would take a little money to make money, but that's to be expected with any job, right? Come to find out, you're contracted with the company, yet treated like and employee and have certain expectations on you when it was apparent in training that we were free to be on our own.

No wonder the first office I worked out of went thru 50-100 agents each month...probably keeping 1% of them no more than a month or two.

And the leads...about as cold as it gets in Alaska for the most part, but still a lead (except for the 1/4 to 1/3 of them that either the phone numbers didn't work or people who said someone asked called them for their phone number and were almost "forced" to give their info for something they didn't want or need).

So the main reason I'm writing this is due to this: I received a letter that now put a gorilla on my back...after selling for them, trying to keep a good face for the company and yet going into debt and losing money (since the company doesn't do a good job with servicing and answering questions due to the lack of needs the insurance actually meets; clients kept dropping the plans. So MEGA (Health Markets) is stating that because of the contract I signed, it's my responsibility to pay them back for advances I received that didn't even come close to paying the bills, and basically that it's my fault that Health Markets can't retain clients during and after I leave their company because the product flat out "stinks" for the most part. Check out the article on NAIC...Health Markets is certainly "reaping what they sow", but I don't want to pay their bills for them if I don't have to.

I know there are several out there that have faced the same situation so my question on our behalf is this:
Is there any way to get out from paying them this money that is supposedly owed to them since: 1.) I can't afford $2300, 2.) I don't feel it is just nor fair to pay them any money...they should pay me for trying to convince clients how good their insurance is, and 3. So I can just move on with my life and prohibit other agents from getting upside down in their finances and deal with the same misfortune and mess it appears I'm dealing with now.

Buster
Huntington Beach, California
U.S.A.