The Henry Group, Brenda Bernal, Polaris, EQ Charity, Worldwide Marketing Consultants, New York Business Partners, Black Ops, Northstar Consulting, Credico multilevel marketing scheme, pyramid scheme, independent contractor New York, New York

First of all, I apologize that you went through this experience.  I've told you in person too.

It's no excuse, I must say I was new at the company, and the way I explained things may not have been correct.  I have a high level of integrity, and I would never knowingly lie to people.  

Healthcare: She didn't even need to wait for Assistant Manager, I could've helped her with healthcare then and there with the resources we did have.  For whatever reason, these small businesses don't take healthcare out of each check.  I was too stupid to remember that she asked about health, and didn't bother to ask as we moved forward. 

The owner of this company is no longer in business, and there's reasons why.

I agree no one should be making fewer than $400 / week.  

My apologies if we were ever not being legitimate; it's a small business run by people who didn't know what it took to run a company.  I didn't know about all the issues.  If I had known I would've taken other actions.

We certainly could've paid someone before our initial pay period of four weeks.

It was an opportunity, and to be successful, the person would've needed to correct all the mistakes made by Brenda.  Had I known the correct course of action, I would've done this myself.

Direct Energy is a reputable company, and the reason accounts may not have been paid is because the representative did not explain something correctly, and it came as a surprise to the customer.  Not that the customer didn't want it, it's just by misunderstanding something it could annoy someone.  Direct Energy does require people to renew to keep the low rate, so it takes the customer being on top of this.

We never promised anyone savings, but depending on the bill, and future usage many people do save money.  We appreciated having people work for us that did have integrity not to sign up people where it may raise their bill.  

Note, if you're on a 10-99, I would work out an action plan with your employer and your accountant.  I did pay major taxes at the end of the year.

In this model, people have been promoted in 11 weeks with all the prior knowledge, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months.  There are many examples.  

This particular company was not the best at saving money, she definitely made decent money.

The promoting owner's bonuses only come if the office is doing well.  If they're doing well, the promoting owner does recieve more, if not doing well, the promoting owner makes less.  

Meanwhile, none of that money comes from the new office.  The new office doesn't loose money because the promoting owner is taking it.  It's the same as working at a bank or any other marketing firm  If the job is done well, people are bonused.  If the promoting owner was a great coach, they deserve compensation for their coaching time.  They are teaching other managers how to increase their business volume.

Each owner is responsible for provideing the same opportunity that they recieved.  One reason why this office is no longer in business.

There are many laws about 1099 that weren't understood by this company.  I certainly would've been a bit more understanding.  No one desreves to feel like they are a slave or begging.  

There are benefits to working for a small company.  If the owner's experience isn't high, be prepared for mistakes.  I like this, because that's how I learn what works and doesn't work.  

There's certain expenses that shouldn't be cut, and managers don't always realize what's an investment vs. a cost.

Here's an article about small vs. big companies.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11064896/1/6-reasons-to-work-for-a-small-company.html

If you're reading this and have any questions about the two different opinions here, I'd be glad to provide further information.  This job isn't for everyone, or not always the right time for everyone, and it's not easy.  The people that have enough game to make it through their own growth and development in entry level have been doing really well.  I've seen enough successes and failures to see the reasons behind them.

FYI company is now known as HUDSON MARKETING SOLUTIONS!  Well, I was able to write such an accurate and detailed report because I had the misfortune of working there for a few months.  I wouldn't generally consider myself to be a dumb person.  I went to a prestigious prep school and the same college as the devil incarnate better know as Elana Stein (maybe now Elana Stein-Diaz).  When Lee Tyler took me on my day of observation he lied through his teeth about everything including the fact that I would "become eligible for benefits after I was promoted to assistant manager after six months" what a load of crap that was.  To get promoted to assistant manager you have to turn in to a lying sack of s**t like your predecessors and convince otherwise capable people to either leave well paying jobs with normal benefits (like I was DUMB enough to do) or convince recent college grads that there is no better option out there than for them to go door-to-door for a living.  Lying to people wasn't really for me, and I wasn't a big fan of making 200 dollars a week (before taxes).  Now I can assure you that some moron from the "business" will retaliate that I wasn't working hard enough... but I have had over a million dollars in sales everywhere I have ever worked... I dress impeccably, and unlike Raf and Brenda, I speak proper English. People trust me and are willing to buy what I am selling.  However, I have a conscience and ripping of poor people so that I could (maybe) make a buck (I say "maybe" because you don't get paid for half your sales for one b.s. reason or another was not something that I was comfortable with.  They REALLY DIDN"T WANT TO LOOSE ME... I was constantly asked to tell my day of observations where I went to school and my credentials... instead I often told them to get lost unless they were desperate for a job and basically unemployable elsewhere.  You were supposed to wait until lunch to breakdown the company for them... we usually did this over breakfast as to not waste people's time.  The company is crap.  The net 80k a year if they are lucky, managers take home around 30/35 for a 60 hour work week which is spent LYING to people desperate for jobs.  If you want to live like that, more power to you.  But it's a shitty life and I didn't want any part of it.  I now have a "real job" with benefits, sick time, bonus structure, and I am a manager.  However, unlike at "whatever the hell they are calling themselves now" I am not responsible for my rent or office expenses because I work for a corporation, and they take care of all that stuff for me.  At THG/Polaris there was a sign reminding us to keep the bathroom clean and to flush.  Where I work now we have these people called cleaning ladies.  They keep everything looking spiffy, and they too have benefits and make above minimum wage.  

I wish it were possible to contact you for more info. It's interesting that you know all these specific things about who lives in her home and the dog's name... even the picture. If you could please do an update as to HOW you got the inside scoop, I'd really appreciate it! But I know for a FACT it's true... (unfortunately)

6 points for your career...

1. Don't pre-judge.  Some places seem like its too good to be true, maybe not everyone makes it big.  If it takes hard work, and offers free training, it may be good just to build a resume.  Give it a shot, don't pay money or sign a contract that you have to stay or sign up your friends.  In a skeptical society, you want to be careful, don't write off something that could be what you're looking for just because it says, "no experience necessary".  Ask questions, while you may need people skills, work ethic, and integrity, many companies will teach marketing or sales, etc.

2. Others Make a percentage of what would be yours.  Also called multi-level marketing or a pyramid.

3. You pay for training.  While many companies need you to be licensed to represent them.  Know the difference between paying to join, paying to be licensed, or being paid and learning.

4. Get rich quick without hard work, student mentality, & integrity.  If it requires nothing from you, it will return nothing.

5. Do they interview or train in person or over the phone.  While it may not be a scam.  If you're doing everything over the phone, they don't care enough about your success to meet you.

6. Use professional sources to learn about scams.http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/07/15/cb.avoid.job.scams/

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_scams#mw-mf-search

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobsearchscams/qt/scamexamples.htmhttp://www.scamdex.com/employment-index.php

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/moneymatters/jobs-hunting-scams.shtml

http://www.rileyguide.com/scams.html