• Report: #715268

Complaint Review: PMA USA/conseco

Thank You

Read how Ripoff Report saves consumers millions.

  • Submitted: Thu, April 07, 2011
  • Updated: Fri, March 01, 2013

  • Reported By: anonymous — United States of America
PMA USA/conseco
11825 N Pennsylvania St # C carmel, Indiana United States of America

PMA USA/conseco washington national, bankers life No matter how bad you need money do not work for these people! carmel, Indiana

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: PMA Conseco

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Contact

*UPDATE Employee: Happy Employee

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: It is a scam..

*General Comment: Is PMA USA a real opportunity?

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Conseco, Bankers Life, Colonial Penn.....

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: PMA / CONSECO / Washington National

*UPDATE Employee: Very happy working for PMA!

*UPDATE Employee: An opportunity for all

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Me TOO/lied to at time of recruitment and discriminated against by PMA

What's this?
What's this?
What's this?
0Author 10Consumer 0Employee/Owner

Does your business have a bad reputation?
Fix it the right way.
Corporate Advocacy Program™

SEO Reputation Management
at its best!

I know that if there are a few of us that actually report, there are hundreds more that have been used and abused by this company.
PMA preys on new insurance agents promising them big money. I'm embarrassed to say I'm not a new agent ,I am seasoned and i still got took. Being an insurance agent, I am very much aware of the expenses envolved in my occupation. Gas, car, liability insurance, leads etc. not to mention the self disipline, unpredictable income from one week to the next. It is a tough industry to get started in and to stay in.   Run as fast as you can from this insurance job, they are unethical and unscrupulous. You will not make any money, even if you make sales.   When I think about what they are getting away with, and ruining peoples lives in this economy they should  be reported to every department of insurance in the country. They should be shut down and not be allowed to treat agents like this. I don't know how they sleep at night. And yes all those managers know how PMA USA/CONSECO operate. They are scared to death to leave themselves because they know that they would get charge backs as well if they have been there less than 5 yrs. 
THis is how they work: they recruit you, you memorize your script, run you around your whole state running up gas and hotel bills. you make a couple of sales and may break even. You stay 3 months or so, you want to quit b/c your exhausted, broke and disappointed. They keep your sales and charge you back the advanced commissions, due to some section in your contract that I still am not able to locate.
This grows their book of business and and it cost them nothing! They gain policies by recruiting and terminating. It's a vicious cycle. This is a form of money laundering. They pay, charge back, and keep the profits. The irony is as an insurance agent I have to take anti money laundering classes! An insurance sale is a tough sale no matter what product you represent. Carriers need agents to show and explain and impress the need for insurance. That is why they pay commissions. I don't get paid unless I sell. Most agent are 1099, which means, no salary, no benefits, no sick time or vacation, it's usually feast or famine. 
  I sold over a dozen policies with pma, most all of them were pretaxed, which means they are locked in that premium until their next enrollment period and had several groups i sold/opened during my short time. I got a termination letter in dec and just wrote business for nov effective. No reason, they knew they would get advances back by as mentioned before small print in contract. It was just spiteful and unethical. This had never happened to me before with an insurance company. If I was terminated, it was because of no production after being with them a year or two.
 In my experience, the definition of a chargeback was if for some reason the policy was cancelled, death, not taken etc. the monies you received were expected back usually minus the months that the insured was paying premiums or your incoming commissions covered the loss.  My policies were still in force and I got charged back for all I wrote. 2 yrs later I got a letter telling me my policies' premiums were under $250 mth. So they had  received premiums on l my sales all that time. That's just wrong on so many levels! Of course after my termination, they turned me over to a collection attorney who added another $500 to my balance, my credit was ruined, they reported me to Vector one and I got 1099 from the year a was with them and another the next year that I wasn't with them. Every time I asked them to send me validation of debt, they would send me my commission statements. HA! I called conseco and they couldn't talk to me, referred me back to col. atty. THey would not show me where any of my clients had cancelled because they didn't. If this has happened to anyone else, i feel that they are violating the unfair business practices act and maybe you can pursue them in small claims court or if enough of us report their behavior, a class action suit.  This company should be banned from all job recruiting sites and every insurance agent should be warned. 

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 04/07/2011 07:51 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/PMA-USAconseco/carmel-Indiana-46032/PMA-USAconseco-washington-national-bankers-life-No-matter-how-bad-you-need-money-do-not-715268. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.

Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report.

Click Here to read other Ripoff Reports on PMA USA/conseco

Search for additional reports

If you would like to see more Rip-off Reports on this company/individual, search here:

Search Tips
Report & Rebuttal
Respond to this report!
What's this?
Also a victim?
What's this?
Repair Your Reputation!
What's this?
REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author 10Consumer 0Employee/Owner
Updates & Rebuttals

#1 UPDATE EX-employee responds

PMA Conseco

AUTHOR: Michael Broderick - ()

Get in touch with me via Facebook - Mick Broderick, Columbus, OH. Pic of a boy holding a pint of Guinness.
Respond to this report!
What's this?

#2 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Contact

AUTHOR: Mike12 - ()

If possible please get in contact with me, I may also have to hire a lawyer and id like to here your story. 
Respond to this report!
What's this?

#3 UPDATE Employee

Happy Employee

AUTHOR: New Employee - (United States of America)

As a newer agent that is contracted with PMA, I read the above report- several times, in fact. I had resigned from my previous position, which was salaried with a very fair compensation package. I was hesistant to start with PMA, but then realized I had nothing to lose- it was a great decision to move forward.

I have been working with the district, regional, and state managers. The training was paid for, all I needed to do was come up with 180 dollars for my exam and my insurance licensure. Managers were great about covering meals, splitting hotel costs, and even driving and paying for gas during training.

I cannot dispute your experience, and I am sorry it did not work out for you. What I can say is that my first week on my own, my commission and first week performance bonus was $4100.00. Although this is probably not a "typical week", my second week provided me with $2000.00.

The potential is definitely there, and if you are thinking about a career with PMA, I suggest you try it. I am happy to report that this has been a positive experience, working with great people.

Also keep in mind, that for every bad experience, a person is going to tell 11-15 people, and people with positive experiences are only goin got tell 1-3 people. Not everybody is going to have a positive experience--- not with this company, and not with any other company, but keep in mind that for every negative experience, there are countless positive experiences.
Respond to this report!
What's this?

#4 UPDATE EX-employee responds

It is a scam..

AUTHOR: former employee - (United States of America)

Conseco / Green Tree Financial/ CNO Financial, Bankers Life, Colonial Penn.. these are all the same company...
... They recruit young agents and burn through them as fast as they come thru the door.
Look at the retention ratios with this "boiler room" ... Watch the " Inside Edition" piece and put togeather all of the complaints - just on this board - it is the same over and over  - from all over the country... that is what you need to pay attention to.
It is company policy to go after former agents commissions or "advances" - the agency management goes after the former agents written policy's.... and re- writes them which produces additional commission (that the client pays for)and then goes after the former agents earned commissions.
I know of at least 12 others that Bankers has done this to. It is part of their operation.  This company should be shut down. I am embarrassed to say I ever worked there. I am still in the industry. 
 
Respond to this report!
What's this?

#5 General Comment

Is PMA USA a real opportunity?

AUTHOR: Is PMA USA a real opportunity? - (United States of America)

After several years as an independent contractor for PMA, I have been very satisfied and have seen this company change people's lives!  I can say that it is not for everyone and have seen people recruited that lacked work ethic or had too many personal problems to even function in any work environment.  Once I learned about the products and experienced how they made a difference in people's lives I was All IN......  I continue to grow and get better and must say that the training and pay has been wonderful.  It seems that every company in the world has a complaint, I typed in every major company I could think of and they all have complaints.  I wish the majority who are satisfied would leave their comments on here too.  Thanks PMA for a great job and opportunity!
Respond to this report!
What's this?

#6 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Conseco, Bankers Life, Colonial Penn.....

AUTHOR: former employee - (United States of America)

As a former employee with this outfit, this report is spot on... What I find very interesting is the fact that ALL of the reports on this operation are the same, poor management, churning clients, replacing policy's when an agent leaves so they can then go after former agents for 'advancements" ... The whole operation is a scam... It's no wonder that  INSIDE EDITION Investigated Sales Tactics of  Bankers Life ...www.insideedition.com/.../778-inside-edition-investigates-sales-tactic...

Then go to YouTube and search 'Bankers Life and Casualty' - and look for the 'Inside Edition' version/. The video was posted in 2004, but the COMMENTS are RECENT.. This company was investigated, and found to be quite heartless toward the elderly, as well as using inappropriate practices for 'interviews' and training|.
Respond to this report!
What's this?

#7 UPDATE EX-employee responds

PMA / CONSECO / Washington National

AUTHOR: Michael Broderick - (Virgin Islands (US))

I spent three months with this company about two years ago and am still raw with rage when I think back on it all. I am angry at myself for being suckered in. I am angry at the company for the way I was recruited.

I guess I learned a thing or two about the big bad world so I am posting this in order to save someone else the hassle. I am also posting this to let you know that you may feel free to contact me regarding this matter in order to hear my story. Also - if you are fighting a lawsuit (and I was threatened with one) please get in touch and I will give you advice - I would be only too delighted to testify.

Yeppers - ended up having to hire a lawyer for myself to get me out of a mess. 

DO NOT TOUCH!!! DO NOT BELIEVE!
Respond to this report!
What's this?

#8 UPDATE Employee

Very happy working for PMA!

AUTHOR: PMA happy employee - (United States of America)

For each employee that didn't have a good experience I can assure you that there are thousands more that did.  I am sure of this because I am one of them.  I started with no prior experience but good work ethic and a burning desire to succeed.   This is THE best job I have ever had and the best insurance company I have ever worked for!

I had good days and bad days like with any sales job but the good days far outweighed the bad.  They provide you with outstanding leads and they never hold you back when moving up in the company since if you don't make money- no one does!

The only time there would ever be a charge back is when you are advanced commission BEFORE the company actually gets paid on it.  Ex) Customer pays a month, you get paid for 6 months.

So basically this is an advanced temporary loan and if you spend the money right away the policy is canceled you will be asked to repay it, no different than any other bank or insurance company if you spend money before it is yours.

This has been the most supportive working environment I have ever been in and I would personally recommended this job to all of my friends and family, many of them already do!

One more thing to add from a credible source:
http://www.bbb.org/nashville/business-reviews/insurance-life/washington-national-insurance-company-in-nashville-tn-37058264
Respond to this report!
What's this?

#9 UPDATE Employee

An opportunity for all

AUTHOR: PMAUSA / Dallas, TX - (United States of America)

Performance Matters Associates (PMAUSA) offers an outstanding opportunity for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong work ethic.  We provide you the sales system, training, income, awards and recognition while you build your own business as an independent contractor insurance agent. 

Our system has proven successful for many folks who are making more money than they ever thought possible, building renewal income for their future while helping Americans through the outstanding supplemental health and life products we are proud to market for Washington National Insurance Company. 

This business is not for everyone perhaps your personal lifestyle does not allow you to commit, perhaps you just dont have what it takes to be a true self-starter with that entrepreneurial spirit.   
Were sorry for those who did not succeed with us and sincerely wish you the best for the future. However, what we absolutely know for sure and stand behind 100% is that if you combine a strong commitment to working the system with all the tools and resources we offer success is indeed achievable!
Respond to this report!
What's this?

#10 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Me TOO/lied to at time of recruitment and discriminated against by PMA

AUTHOR: A. Surrena - (United States of America)

I have read your report and I just completed my complaint against this company.  I too am a seasoned agent and no one has provided me the information about these supposed cancelled policies.  I want to file a joint lawsuit against this company.  Please keep your hand in the pot as some would say because I have found multiple stories that are so similar it is scary!

This company should not even be allowed to be in business.
Respond to this report!
What's this?
Report & Rebuttal
Respond to this report!
What's this?
Also a victim?
What's this?
Repair Your Reputation!
What's this?

Advertisers above have met our
strict standards for business conduct.