Senior Healthcare Consultants: How safe are they for agents?

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 09:09 pm Post Subject:

from the very start, shcmanager - wrong, wrong, wrong.

shc agents are not in business for themselves - they are captive with every move accounted for, reported and tracked by shc. this makes them employees, not independent contractors. there are three tests that the irs uses - behavioral control, financial control and whether a contract exists. relentless and countless reports, mandatory daily meeting attendance and field training is behavioral control. the agent can only be paid through shc (because of the non compete agreement) so that's financial control. and yes, there's a contract, so, three for three.

the only reason "you are in business for yourself" at shc is because shc is dodging social security and medicare taxes. that's it, folks.

yes, there is high turnover at any commission job but it is far more extreme at shc - because shc is pushing you out as soon as they take you in. relatively high but normal turnover in a 100 percent commission job is usually due to a person not having budgeted enough for starting a new business. extreme turnover at shc is due to a few company fatcats intentionally throwing financial roadblocks in a new agent's progress. like progressively driving farther and farther - two, three, four hours or more from home - for a day's appointments, half of which won't even be at home. this is called "the system" - and in initial training, everyone is told repeatedly, even brainwashed, into "trusting the system" and "following blindly".

what they don't tell you is that the system is built to exhaust and destroy you so they can take your business, throw you away like a juiced lemon and laugh all the way to the bank.

as far as this single example shcmanager comes up with (notice they didn't provide overall turnover numbers)...it's specious at best, laughable at worst. shc highly overstates the money they invest in training or even appointment setting despite their assertions to the contrary - the trainee pays a substantial entrance fee of $599 or $999, foots the bill for travel to dallas and lodging, pays for travel and lodging expenses for field training which is often hundreds of miles away...all of this drains the trainee, all of this costs shc little. it is all designed to hasten the agent's demise, to bleed them out faster.

if you've lived it - you know. if you haven't - sadly, you'll find out.

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:34 pm Post Subject: Response to: Been There

Been There –

I appreciate your comments and will attempt to address your concerns.
We have multiple phone coaches available each day to assist agents in the field, especially new agents. Occasionally there are times where many people are calling in at the same time. If someone needs an urgent question answered, they are instructed throughout the Base Training and in the meetings to call back as many times as it takes to get someone live on the phone. If the phone coaches are coaching someone they generally will not interrupt that call unless they are called multiple times by the same number. If they do get multiple calls from the same number they are to answer that call, realizing it’s an urgent question. We understand it’s not a perfect system, which is why agents are also instructed to contact two additional managers if they cannot get a hold of their assigned phone coach.

If, in the unlikely event that they are unable to reach any one of the 4 managers assigned to assist field agents, (i.e., bad cell coverage, etc.), then they talk to their trainer at the end of the day and can get their questions answered. What is interesting about your statement is that the phone coaches record every call that they make and receive on a call sheet. Each person that they are responsible for coaching is called multiple times each day. Please send an email to SHC_answers@shcmarketing.com with your name and the time frame that you were on staff as we would really like to investigate your claims – we can’t get better unless we can identify the source of the problem. If what you are saying is accurate, then obviously that is something that would be addressed immediately. With the call sheets we can literally go back and see the vast majority of calls between a phone coach and an agent and attempts made to reach agents that go unreturned.

In regards to the accusation that we intentionally run agents long distances so they will quit – that is so counterproductive to what we strive for. The method used for determining agents’ areas to run appointments is explained in the recruiting process, then again in the BCU, and once again when they sign off on this fact prior to ever accepting this position fully and going in the field. Typically this means that a consultant starts in the closest area where someone with your experience level has had success – this is to try and give them the highest probability of success. They are then slowly moved out, and then back in, and as their experience level grows it opens up more areas for them to work that correlates to their level of experience and sales. This is ONLY through their learning curve. That is reiterated multiple times and again signed off on by anyone who has attended the BCU. Again, send me an email and I will gladly send you a copy of what you initialed and signed indicating that you understood this! Again, please send us an email and we will gladly look into your particular situation.

As it applies to meetings there are multiple team meetings on Mondays, not just one. That is because the web conference system we use only allows a limited number of attendees. If we were to combine all of the meetings there is no way we could come close to getting everyone into the meetings. That is why they are called Monday Team Meetings. The early morning meetings, Tue-Fri, are only for new agents and those needing extra coaching; the majority of people on staff are not required to attend those meetings so the number of people attending would obviously be smaller.

Your assumption of all of the revenue generated is grossly incorrect. By the time we pay for the costs of admin staff for the field agents, supply department, supply personnel, recruiting staff, advertising, our carrier relations department, SHP Department, licensing department, call center personnel, call center equipment (dialers, phone lines, long-distance, data, recording and verification equipment (because every appointment that is set is recorded)), phone systems, the building lease itself, and that is just to name some of the expenses associated with running this business, it adds up quickly.

We only make money if you go out and are successful, regardless of what you may think!

PLEASE send me an email so I can follow up on your concerns personally.

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 01:55 am Post Subject: Why even bother?

This is great that you are engaging everyone on the blog but you must realize that there are MANY former agents out there that feel ripped off by SHC. You've built up this reputation over the years and you can write off former agents as malcontents or failures but it isn't something that will be forgotten by them. You have set yourselves up to be the Yugo or Ford Pinto of captive insurance agencies.

You had a chance to make things right YEARS ago for me and only later on are you making an alleged effort like on RipOffReport.com. My own rip-off was only to the tune of about $600 (I still have all the email correspondence) but I will NEVER forget it and I will tell everyone about the experience ANY chance that I get.

Really, I'm not even sure it was worth you guys pocketing such a small amount of money and creating a LIFETIME of ill will. It isn't just the money...you might not understand but it is the principal of being cheated when a person did everything they could to make it work. Most people don't wake up in the morning and look to fail at something.

Can everyone writing on the various blogs be malcontents or failures? It is up to folks reading to decide for themselves if it will be different for them at SHC.

And by the way, no one should have to petition you to make things right. If you have records on everything you SHOULD GO OUT AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND PAY FORMER AGENTS WHAT THEY ARE OWED! Don't just talk about it...do it. Unless you have sloppy record keeping you will know what policies earned out. The agent knows because the carrier sends them a copy!

You would find that would do wonders for the reputation of SHC in the eyes of many former agents. Otherwise your organization would be better served on relying on recruiting people that don't visit blogs like this or know how to use Google.

ms

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 06:52 am Post Subject:

I wouldn't trust shcmanager. By emailing the address they are providing you are essentially putting your name on a list. I wouldn’t put it past this company for collecting that information and then going after you for slander.

There is no point in arguing with anyone from SHC. They have repeated their justifications so many times they believe that they are telling truth and are in the right.

If a company needs to have stacks of disclaimers, initials and signatures their practices should be questioned. Especially, if that company immediately defaults to saying something like, it’s not our fault because you initialed this.

While the paperwork keeps them from having to refund money and gives them a sense of security against a lawsuit, it doesn’t make what they are doing ethical.

SHC will never admit that what they are doing to their new agents is wrong. They can’t, can you even imagine the class action lawsuit?

I hope that everyone that is considering SHC finds this thread, and is able to see through shcmanagers poor attempt in justifying their treatment of agents.

Know that if you become a part of their organization that you will have signed enough paperwork that allows them to do anything they wish to you and your bank account.

Shcmanager, please continue to post responses, because you are really doing your company more harm than good.

No one and no company is perfect. If you wanted to gain some creditability, then tell us what you or your company has done wrong to its agents. If you mention anything about initials on paperwork, or some story about an agent that you so desperately tried to help, you have missed the point.

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 02:51 pm Post Subject:

Yeah, SHC is probably collecting names and IPs to send to their legal counsel with that email address. They're paranoid from the top down, and they'll start action at the drop of a hat to keep their scam going.

The last two posts make an excellent point. Most of us have had a lot of jobs. I know I have. Some I succeeded, some I failed. In every other job but this one, I was able to shake hands, walk away and know why I succeeded or failed. I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong and I'm intelligent enough to know what happened and what I could have done better.

This was very different. This was a flat-out scam. And it's no surprise that even months or years later, people are still angry about being taken.

Understand this - SHC will never admit to wrongdoing or compensate former agents unless forced to in a court of law, by the IRS or by TDI. If they admit a thing, they're done. So they've got to keep up appearances and in the meantime, intimidate anyone who might blow the whistle on them.

Oh yes. Don't ever think that former agent/manager case story up there was an actual attempt at an explanation. That was a warning to a very specific individual: "we know who you are".

Let that sink in for a moment.

Sites like Ripoff Report, who SHC paid off, and even this site - they're not the answer. The only thing that will end this scam is having SHC finally brought to justice. SHC does everything it can to keep current and former agents from talking to each other. That has to be overcome if this is going to work.

Tell everyone you know who was taken by SHC about this site. Email them, phone them, bang on their doors at 2am. Point them here. Let them know they're not alone. Keep prospective agents from being scammed.

We can do this if we work together.

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 04:43 pm Post Subject:

Yes, I would say SHC Manager got very suspiciously defensive at my comments.

There may be multiple phone coaches but they instruct you to call one. Interestingly enough you are calling a cell phone...you can tell whether or not someone is on another call. My calls went totally unanswered...just rang and rang and rang. After much frustration, I would leave a voice mail that never was responded to.

As far as the travel...what a joke. I was told in my interview that the travel would be within 90 miles. Hmmm...I was driving over 3 hours one way. Give me a break.

As for the team meetings on Monday....okay so they have more than one. They still don't have all of the agents they claim to because when someone asked Mr. VD in training how many agents there were he had this "baffled" look on his face and said "Uh, well, there's a lot, like over 100".

The set up fee is quite the SCAM. You are told it is for a lifetime of supplies. Where is the supplies? When I asked where something was, I was told to go to the website and get it myself.

The path I have taken since SHC just confirms everything was not right with SHC. I am now selling insurance for a company that did not charge me a dime and pays me twice a month. Absolutely no problems.

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 06:22 pm Post Subject:

I've got an idea; Why don't we get a dozen agents who've been wronged by this company together.

I want to see every single documents they received during their training which show the company's blatant misrepresentations, lack of support, all the dishonest things they've done, examples of policy churning and the names and/or case files of seniors who were wronged, agents who were literally driven to bankruptcy, proof of every bad thing I've reviewed in this thread, and will sue them back to the stone age.

However, gripes, groans, and unsubstantiated testimony won't work, I need documents which clearly show how bad this company is.

Let's work together to get back with these agents have coming to them. I'm on your side.

Mark

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 06:29 pm Post Subject:

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 06:33 pm Post Subject:

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 06:36 pm Post Subject: My experience

I have been watching this blog for several weeks now and felt like it was finally time to chime in. I have been with SHC for a few years and have had no desire to manage or train people. I have been watching these blogs slowly build up to where they are at the present time. Until now I have dismissed them as a few who didn’t do their due diligence and did not flourish in the SHC system.

I am glad that the company finally started responding to the entries and I applaud the effort because they are in a catch 22 situation here. If they sit back and don’t respond then new people looking at this will see only negative out here in cyberspace. If they do respond then they have to acknowledge the people who came through their system and failed, and that’s hard for any organization to do.

Have I seen more people come here and fail than succeed? Yes I have, not unlike any sales organization or line of work such as real estate, mortgages and insurance. For what it’s worth, here’s what I have seen, the company does what they said they would, point blank.

SHC has a system in place that allows you to sell more than the average agent, and in doing so build up a nice residual income. Is it hard? Yeah you better believe it is and not everyone can do it.

Why are all these blogs here? Maybe it’s because the company actually goes to the expense of giving an agent all of these advantages that it causes the agent to feel entitled to the business, and when it does not materialize they become even more disenfranchised because they made an investment.

I read an entry on this blog a few months back that says it all.
“I can't believe people are so bitter here.

I have recently gone through the interviews with this company, and to be fair I have seen nothing held back.

Are they going to make themselves look bad? No of course not. But in all fairness they lay out everything to you.

Every bit of information conveyed here in complaints has been explained fully to me by recruiters. SHC explains what you could pay for in the beginning, the 18 dollars per preset appointment is not a surprise at the last minute. If anyone with half a brain searches the website and reviews the information(like SHC requests you do) they will know all this information.

To be honest anyone who gets all the way to Dallas, THEN decides they don't like all these fees is an idiot. If the company isn't for you, don't go for it. There may be better out there, but by no means is this a scam.”