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Report: #1125858

Complaint Review: Secret of the Islands - Columbia South Carolina

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Karen Bursma — Summerland Key Florida
  • Author Not Confirmed What's this?
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  • Secret of the Islands 550A Rivermont dr Columbia, SC 29210 Columbia, South Carolina USA

Secret of the Islands Johnny Hoy, JoAnne Bolos, Fired for making too much money, False Allocations of stealing, Not paying monies owed, Breech of their Contract Columbia South Carolina

*Author of original report: Whole Company is a Lie.

*REBUTTAL Owner of company: Clarification

*REBUTTAL Owner of company: Correction

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I am searching for help for anyone who can give help. I worked for a company called, Secret of the Islands for 14 months. The company has a past history record of releasing(Or other words, firing) its employees from the company when they have reached a financial plato that the company feels is too much pay.

 

You see, we are sales representatives. We build our territory, are paid a salary and paid commissions. If the company fires you, all the accounts that, we as representatives, have built become the companies and they no longer have to pay the representative. I am the third representative in the Florida Keys that this has happened to. They hire us as independent contractors, to avoid paying federal taxes. My position was moved into Management. I was responsible for managing representatives, and for hiring and firing of  more representatives. I was paid a based salary, including commissions, all expenses paid for phone, travel, other materials, etc. They dictate the amount of hours we are allowed to work. Along with a detail of accounts of activity log of all locations visited. They dictate how many accounts to be opened in a week. They have deducted several representatives based salary when they took a couple days off of work. All of this and much much more. Here is just a couple ideas:

 

Again, they avoid paying taxes by having us sign a contract stipulating that we are independent contractors, not employees.

 

One of my representatives, whom happens to be my daughter, runs the Tennessee territory, they paid for her move from Michigan to relocated to Tennessee. They paid for her apartment for six months. She was also fired at the same time as I was. Her territory collects large sums of money and she has always been praised for an outstanding sales representative. Senior Vice President, George Lutz spent three days with her going through her accounts to find out where the accounts were, filling her accounts with inventory, all while him knowing that she wasn't going to be there any longer to maintain her accounts because she was being terminated. He also was treating her poorly, and making her very uncomfortable by his language towards her. On the third day, they fired her. They took her company vehicle; she was not allowed to remove her personal items, which included her wallet--which she stated that was in the truck several times. She was asked if it contained any of her personal items to which she said that her wallet was in the van. Before she could retrieve it, he sped away; her wallet still in the van.

 

After filing a police report and locating where he was staying, including where the van was located, the police allowed a search in his room, along with the van, and all her personal items were gone. Assuming he threw them all away. They are now calling her and harassing her, trying to coarse her into confessing for doing misconduct on the job-- for things she has not done. The company is threatening her with legal allegations--again, for things she has not done.

 

This company is owed by a convicted felon, for bank financial fraud. He owns his own plane and boats, and he frequently flies out of the country for business and vacation time. The company employees many illegal, undocumented employees at his plant in South Carolina and his seal packaging plant in Atlanta, Georgia. They have refused to pay my last pay period, along with two other employees. They work all over the United States and including in other countries. I truly believe that they are not licensed in other states to conduct any sort of business.

 

We signed a noncompete contract prior to working for this company. They are in breech to this contract in many areas. When an employee tries to work in a field that is comparison to their product, they file lawsuits with the common knowledge of saying, 'We will not win a lawsuit, but we are here to break them financially.'

 

I am asking for anyone that can help for the sole purpose that this company needs to stop ruining peoples lives.

 

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/23/2014 10:28 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/secret-of-the-islands/columbia-south-carolina-29210/secret-of-the-islands-johnny-hoy-joanne-bolos-fired-for-making-too-much-money-false-a-1125858. 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. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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Updates & Rebuttals

REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
1Author
0Consumer
2Employee/Owner

#3 Author of original report

Whole Company is a Lie.

AUTHOR: - ()

POSTED: Friday, March 20, 2015

Everything which was written in the original report is accurate and true.  This whole Company is built on unethical lies from the Owner on down to the product which is also fake.

This rebuttal was written By a Joann Bolos.  She is the Ex girlfriend of the real owner who is a Felon (for Fraud) Johnny Hoy.  Johnny personally hates Joann, but needs Her to be 51 percent of his Company on paper, inorder to keep the Federal Government off his back.  Joann has never hired or fired a sales rep in her life.  She Trains NO one, never has.  She makes no personal decisions.  Johnny makes all  the decisions and is a parinoid Drug user, flying off the handle at the drop of a hat.  

Lies of this company......Product is all natural.  Coconut oil used.  Buth lie.  Soy Bean Oil is used.  The scrub ruins sinks and drains.  It is sticky.  It is greasy.  Slippery.  There are many other Salt Scrubs out on the market today.  Many are very good.   Do not use this Companies fraudulent product.

This company uses illegal aliens.  Pays them cash.  Their product is made from Illegal Aliens, packaged by Mexicans in Tennesee, all taking jobs from American Families.   

This Company has been reoprted to The IRS, Tax fraud, Social security Commissiion, Osha, illegal Immigration Administration, USDA among others.  

The Customers who are looking to buy a Salt Scrub Product should not desire this drama in their lives.  Trust me, secret of the Islands is being investigated on many levels.  

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#2 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Clarification

AUTHOR: Joanne - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, March 19, 2015

Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately in business there are certain actions and behaviors that lead to termination.  Theft, mismanagement, and misappropriation of funds are just a few.  Over the years, I have hired many independent sales representatives that have worked with Secret of the Islands, built their territory and continue to maintain a happy working relationship with us. Some of my sales team opened their territories when I started the company and they continue to work their territory.   Deciding to terminate a sales representative is not an easy decision.  Upon termination Secret of the Islands has to implement management into the area to locate, train and hire a replacement.  This decision is both a burden financially and on company time.  I am sorry you were unhappy or feel unsure of the reason for your termination of our business relationship, but my phone lines are open to you 877-929-7258. If you would like some clarification on the reasons you were terminated or company policy, feel free to call me and I would be happy to discuss this with you. 

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#1 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Correction

AUTHOR: Joanne - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, March 19, 2015
Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately, the information you have outlined regarding the product, company structure, and senior management are inaccurate. I am Joanne Bolos, CEO and president of Secret of the Islands. As a woman entrepreneur, I pride myself on a quality product with all-natural ingredients.  Over the years, I have built my company's brand and established accounts nationwide.  I have maintained a great relationship with all my accounts and customers, and if any of them have complications with my product, me and my team are quick to work with them to find a resolution. I stand behind my product, my customer service, and most importantly, my team. 

 

As the CEO and president of the company, it is my decision who to hire and put into management positions within the company. All people make mistakes and I am a believer of giving people second chances. So as part of the hiring process, we look at the individual based on their qualifications, work performance, and dedication to the company. However, I would like to clarify that the allegations that a sales manager is the "owner" and CEO is inaccurate. 

 

With my company, as with any company, there are specific actions that result in terrmination of a business relationship.  While I can not go into specifics with a 3rd party regarding someones termination, my phone lines are open to you if you would like clarificaion on my companys policies  877-929-7258. 
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