Combined Insurance Company Of America ripoff the business that doesnt give a dam Chicago Illinois

What's the problem with these people! There are some bad apples in every company. Problem is tne blind eye. People let things happen with-out reacting. I've been with company for 3 1/2 years and it's the most positive company i've been with. The philosophies and teachings by my mentors cannot be matched.

The incomes earned by individuals and myself are awesome. Those that point fingers about the incomes not being met have to blame themselves for not going to work. SINCERE DESIRE + STUDY = SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!

It's called work and if you want something bad enough you have to earn it. Those that complain about the gaurantee joined the company for the company for the wrong reason. They just want an easy meal and a hand out! GO TO WORK!!!

Donny,

As a current employee with Combined Senior Division, I am curious as to what division you applied with in Nashville. Was it 7th Essential? Life/Health? Workforce? Seniors?
I can only answer for Seniors, but what you described is completely foreign to me. I started as an agent, and yes it is hard, very hard. Sales is very hard. I managed to survive and was promoted to Sales Manager in short order in which my goal is to get new agents making more money to support their personal, family, and financial goals, and I made overrides if they did well. Then I was promoted to Branch Manager, and now in addition to my Sales Manager duties, I also recruit, hire, and field demo. Let me say this: On our field demos we are as realistic as possible and we show the good, the bad, and the ugly. We do not sugarcoat anything...and then we get a much better hire because the agent will know exactly what a "day in the life" is like. I'm living proof that Ethics, morals, and "do the right thing because it's the right thing to do" is alive and well...especially in the the Senior Division of Combined in Minnesota. How's your PMA? Terrrrriffic!

from my first interview i felt like i was being mislead-of all the interviews ive been on ive never had an "executive" sell me on the company i was applying for. the "exeutive even dodged some of my questions, and furthermore my girlfriend was asked to be "interviewed", which is against the law. there are many reason why i wont be going to "sales school". for starters i have to go three weeks without income, i have to pay for my gas. i have to pay for my gas out while im selling, i have to absorb the cost of wear and tear on my car. however i do get a tax write-off at year's end, gee! if anyone is considering working for the pyramid scheme, be skeptical. and by the way why do so many people move up so quickly?

I worked for Combined for about four months. It was the worst four months of my life. When I started I was promised big pay checks that never were. Instead I got 14 hour days working in areas I was not familar with, having to call in to managenent with little or no sales. Myself and other agents were verbally abused by "upper managenment". We were told we would not last 6 months in the company, this after a long day in an unfamiler place. I once even had to work with an agent who lost his lisence to dui. I bascially drove and he did the selling because thats the way he wanted it. Needless to say I no longer work there, and just a few weeks ago I kicked an agent off my property!!

Kimberly,

I also worked for CICA and CLICNY for 11 years. I was an Executive for the last 3 years. I have personally seen the abuses alluded to. I finally could not take anymore "looking the other way" so to speak, and decided to make a stand for myself, as well as for the "little guys and gals".

After refusing to "put people in field" and allowing my managers to be subjected to the illegal transferring of monies from their inner accounts to go to a person who had quit in person, via letter, and numerous phone calls, several weeks before, and after subjecting myself to the constant harassing phone calls, abusive language, threats of loss of job, and the rest of the gamut, I filed a complaint through the AON Complaint HOTLINE.

You know, the place where one can file complaints without having to be worried about repercussions? What a joke. 4 days later I was terminated from my job. The disgusting nepotism and bonus motivated management (abuse) of people is startling.

Have the courage to follow through with your actionable complaints. There are hundreds more looking for hope and somewhere to turn. Lies, deceit, and work for nothing seems to be the motto since Mr. Stone died. My termination was probably the best thing to happen to me in my career. Seems like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I look forward to going to work every day. My employer treats agents like professionals and humans, using dignity and respect.

My attorney is taking action as well. I have amassed a laundry list of offenses, offenders, and names, dates, and incidents over the years. They are all going to EEOC, NYS Dept of Labor, NYS Insurance Dept, NAACP, and anywhere else appropriate. If I missed someone, let me know.
If you need an attorney, jump on board with the class action.

Good luck to you in the future. I am sure that wherever you end up, anywhere is better for you than where you were.

I worked for this company for 4 months, what a joke. Sales is a hard job but this was a joke. dealing with unhappy customers got old real quick. I traveled everyday with zero compensation for the travel. The pay plan was something to laugh at. Although i will say my bosses where great guys but bad trainers. I had a few good weeks but on the whole it was a bad learning experience. They tell you that there is a training salary that is guranteed until you have spent a week in license training and two weeks listening to some blow hard sales trainer telling you to have PMA. lol. I was a blind college kid who did not know what was out there other then this. It sounded great but ended up a flop. If you are going into this line of work think twice and if you still want to do it work for AFLAC at least they have a duck.

I spent 8years w/ combined ins. as a district mngr. ('90-'98)ive hired and trained hundreds of agents interviewed thousands for the job, but would never hire. (based on qualifications )

To have a career with combined ins takes long term committment, long hours, you must stay positive, be patient, be persistent, have character, and integrity. you must be honest with yourself, your customers and the company.

To be agent or manager with combined you must be self-motivated, driven and be able to complete a goal or committment you make for yourself. Most agents and mngrs. put more pressure on themselves than anyone else does.

Ive achieved 5 grand diamond awards,manager awards
training awards and many other that im proud to say the company recognised and spent handsomely for trips my wife and family have enjoyed.

When i had agents or mngrs that stole from the company or the customer... i fired them!!! When i had a regional mnger. ask me to do something in the grey to make numbers look better... id say no!! As an individual, you must be strong enough to stand up for what you know is right!!! or you are in the wrong. isnt that true?

I was wronged by a regional mngr. named SCOTT SMITH that transfered to Id. from Minnasota who the company has sinse fired cause of theft from the company and his trusting employees.

MY success today is a direct effect of combined ins companies pma and success system that i will for ever employ the principles and techniques.

Through the years ive experienced agents and mngrs that quit COMBINED INS. is because they are unable to motivate themselves to go to work. The system is designed for those who want a better life for themselves that arent afraid to work. It is the SUCCESS SYSTEM THAT NEVER FAILS!!!!!

Keith,
It is funny that you should mention the almighty dollar. How many people have been laid off over the years and told that it isn't anything personal, "It is just business." Loyalty is a two way street and the companies have taught the employees well that there is no room for personal feelings in business.

People used to be very loyal. They would get into a company and stay there until they retired. I worked in manufacturing for years and everytime the economy went a little slow they would lay off hundreds of people withough batting an eye. They would close factories that were profitable just because Wall Street liked the latest buzzword of "downsizing/rightsizing."

A person who complains about anything is told that they work for a paycheck, that that is their reward, their motivation. If they aren't happy then they can hit the road. To expect anything else labels them as a "whiner", "not a team player" or "not dedicated enough."

Yet, the officers and management of the company demand and receive bonuses and stock options to entice them to perform better. What about their working for a paycheck and their motivating satisfaction of doing a job well?

I have seen companies going into bankruptcy that paid their executives bonuses to stay through the bankruptcy process. When investors asked why they were told that the process was very "emotionally draining" and they needed these people to stay and get the company through.

Now, my thought is if they were there already then they were the problem that took the company into bankruptcy.

I guess my point would be, as long as the behavior on the part of companies to treat people like this please don't make it seem like a character flaw when the employees respond in kind.

If a person earned the money for work done and doesn't get it, then it absolutely is about the money. Why shouldn't a person get what they earned? Out of some loyalty? Again, loyalty is a two way street.

There are good companies and bad companies. There are good offices/departments and bad ones within the same company. Just because someone hasn't experienced what Kimberly has doesn't mean that her statements don't have weight.

Kimberly, I hope that you get everything back and that you find a much better place to work.

I Feel the company rewards the crooks by promotions and runs off any honest employee's. I have seen everything Kimberly has posted. My district manager Chad Abney along with my Sub-Regional Sandy Raymer have both stolen from the company and employees. I was credited over 1,000 in cash prizes I never seen that went into Sandy's pocket. She charges you for training new agents and pulls applications from them to credit her son that works under her. She has charged district managers $100.00 a week for man weeks for employee's that had not worked for the company for over a month. The regional Doug Smith admitted he had alot to do with this. Mr. Chad abney went through packages changing dates on application's and checks sending them through weeks after using the checks to cover cards he rolled. reinstating policies with money orders and checks for renewals from me and my team he threw away. Then when the Policy holder sent there reciept in you get charged for proof of payment.Also Policy's being thrown away. things like this have run alot of good salesman and policy holders away.

I have not seen much with the company not paying claims. Policy holders sometimes are unhappy because it paid what it said it would or the agent may of lied. It also has alot to do with what the Dr. puts down.

If the corruption was ever fixed it would close down the company in many states.

I Feel the company rewards the crooks by promotions and runs off any honest employee's. I have seen everything Kimberly has posted. My district manager Chad Abney along with my Sub-Regional Sandy Raymer have both stolen from the company and employees. I was credited over 1,000 in cash prizes I never seen that went into Sandy's pocket. She charges you for training new agents and pulls applications from them to credit her son that works under her. She has charged district managers $100.00 a week for man weeks for employee's that had not worked for the company for over a month. The regional Doug Smith admitted he had alot to do with this. Mr. Chad abney went through packages changing dates on application's and checks sending them through weeks after using the checks to cover cards he rolled. reinstating policies with money orders and checks for renewals from me and my team he threw away. Then when the Policy holder sent there reciept in you get charged for proof of payment.Also Policy's being thrown away. things like this have run alot of good salesman and policy holders away.

I have not seen much with the company not paying claims. Policy holders sometimes are unhappy because it paid what it said it would or the agent may of lied. It also has alot to do with what the Dr. puts down.

If the corruption was ever fixed it would close down the company in many states.

I Feel the company rewards the crooks by promotions and runs off any honest employee's. I have seen everything Kimberly has posted. My district manager Chad Abney along with my Sub-Regional Sandy Raymer have both stolen from the company and employees. I was credited over 1,000 in cash prizes I never seen that went into Sandy's pocket. She charges you for training new agents and pulls applications from them to credit her son that works under her. She has charged district managers $100.00 a week for man weeks for employee's that had not worked for the company for over a month. The regional Doug Smith admitted he had alot to do with this. Mr. Chad abney went through packages changing dates on application's and checks sending them through weeks after using the checks to cover cards he rolled. reinstating policies with money orders and checks for renewals from me and my team he threw away. Then when the Policy holder sent there reciept in you get charged for proof of payment.Also Policy's being thrown away. things like this have run alot of good salesman and policy holders away.

I have not seen much with the company not paying claims. Policy holders sometimes are unhappy because it paid what it said it would or the agent may of lied. It also has alot to do with what the Dr. puts down.

If the corruption was ever fixed it would close down the company in many states.

Thank you to those who stood up for me. I do have to say at the time I wrote this I was very upset with CICA. I will never again work for that company or buy one of their products. It was not a matter of learning to manage my personal time when I was an employee. Unfortunately the Regional and sometimes the Divisional management called every day at all hours of the day asking me to do things which were inappropriate. There were comments made in meetings that were clearly sexual harrassment and nothing was done about it.

I experienced many wrong doings by employess of this company. I am not saying they do not have some good people working for them or that I disagree with Mr. Stones teachings....only that the company should stand behind what they say. I went to many meetings in Chicago were they preached about how sexual harrassment is not tolerated...yet nothing was ever done about any complaint I myself or my agents filed against anyone in the Region we worked in. There were only three occassions...but all by the same person and nothing was done. I spent many hours doing work for CICA which I was never paid for.

But when it came time for me to leave they "Charged" my account for things I never agreed to. I never had anything signed in writing stating they would or could charge me for bad checks by clients or negative accounts by former agents. Yet they still took thousands of dollars from me when I left. My final check was $3 and some change. They owed me over 2 months pay and that is what they said was left after they charged for 3 agents' bad debts as well as other misc things which I have no clue what they could be. Something should be done to regulate this.

They should be made to put it in writing when they promote someone. I never saw anything in writing. It's not all about money at this point. I'm trying to say that CICA really should set some guidleines and regulations on each position and make sure these things are well known when promoting someone. Had I had the knowledge I may not have accepted the position. If you want to be in upper management with CICA then you should plan on having them in your life 24 hours a day as that is how it will be.

There is no way you can properly manage "Company time and Personal Time". Not if you want to maintain your position. That is Fact. My final thought is for anyone who is reading this....Good for you if you have the sense to get out and away from something you are not happy with...and for those that are happy with it...Good for you for statying with something you love...I just hope when the blinders come off you remember that there were good honest people out there who tried to give you useful information before it was too late.

I worked for this company about five years ago, and my family and I are still policy holders. My cousin introduced me to this business, and he is a multi-millionaire out of the 30+ years he put in. I struggled with the demands of the job, but I know it was me, and wasn't the company itself. I did not acheieve much success, and only lasted a few months, but again, my work ethic wasn't as high as needed for this position. There is such a high turnover rate because it is such a demanding job, and there is a great reward for success, that people don't fully realize the demand until they are already overwhelmed.

I personally have never had a problem with a claim. My parents both have. I have even sent in a bogus claim to prove a point, and it was sent back asking for more info. As I explain to people, if the form isn't filled out properly, you will not get paid. CICA is a large company with alot of policyholders, and they have to do things by the book. Most denied claims come from a lack of information from one of two sources- the policy holder or the doctor.

It sounds as though Kimberly had issues with managing her own time vs. company time. I do not think you could find any sales-oriented company that didn't have agents misrepresenting, being pushy, or deceiving customers. I do think, for the most part, CICA weeds out those people.

Any company has its bad apples Combined has its share but as a 24 year veteran of Combined I still feel that the principles espoused by W. Clement Stone are valid the complaints by Kimberly seem to be focused on just the almighty dollar that she decries. A good understanding of the product she sold and of human nature would probably explain most of her complaints. It is easy to find fault with any company or person but to strive to make a difference and change things for the better is much more difficult.

Any company has its bad apples Combined has its share but as a 24 year veteran of Combined I still feel that the principles espoused by W. Clement Stone are valid the complaints by Kimberly seem to be focused on just the almighty dollar that she decries. A good understanding of the product she sold and of human nature would probably explain most of her complaints. It is easy to find fault with any company or person but to strive to make a difference and change things for the better is much more difficult.

Any company has its bad apples Combined has its share but as a 24 year veteran of Combined I still feel that the principles espoused by W. Clement Stone are valid the complaints by Kimberly seem to be focused on just the almighty dollar that she decries. A good understanding of the product she sold and of human nature would probably explain most of her complaints. It is easy to find fault with any company or person but to strive to make a difference and change things for the better is much more difficult.

I believe there are many disgruntled employees and policy holders with Combined Insurance Company Of America. It is rather stressing to deal with situations like this day in and day out. Meeting high quota marks and striving for the best. Yeah, Yeah. Well How's your PMA? when you hear so many bad things about the company you are currently employed by? I felt good about this company when I started. Like I said WHEN I STARTED. The training it takes, out of town and or even out of state, is mind boggling. Then to see court documents presented to you, to hear why won't they handle my claim (when it is what the policy states as covered) and hearing Oh, another new face. (and / or) Sorry, but I highly doubt it will be you I see in six months, there has been a new face every six months ever since I bought this policy. at those times, and there are multiple in just one day, it seems hardly worth it. Yet, I am still with the company. But for how long seems to be the biggest question. Why is it that in License Training we are taught that the State Commissioner is strict and watches EACH and EVERY company like a hawk, that there are so many court cases? I am by far not questioning the Iowa State Commissioner. She has a most trying job on her hands. BUT why is Combined still allowed to offer services and employment if this continues going on?? I have witnessed evey thing Kim reported and let me tell you it is not exaggerated at all! Including a court case for mass fireing with out propper notification that cost the company atleast $10,000, not mentioning court costs! (search Google!) By no means do I with hold my name from shame, but for the mere fact that this is my only source of income for the time being. Kim you were not singled out, you are one of many that get this treatment!