You mean that little problem with.....what's the word........uh,...oh,yah....SUITIBLITY? That's not a problem. The need to put numbers 'on the board', at the twice weekly sales meeting trumps. The "battered wife syndrome" is a good way of putting it. Any agent who leaves, is lazy, stupid and dishonest, according to them, and they make that clear to the still hanging on, screwbies, while they hand them the client list of the departed, to rewrite,.. I mean service..does the word chargeback come to mind? Form letters are mailed to the clients, to beware/notify of the departed, and to let them know, it's not in their best interest to change their polices, nor to have any contact (implied) with anyone other than them, (everyone out there is suspect). So the clients, too, feel that something dishonest/wrong was done by the former agent ( and future agents, implied)...very professional. This is why they will call the company/branch to discuss the change they've made to see if it's alright, when considering a new policy. The majority of the clients are elderly women who think they should ask permission. It's something to remember when seeing a client, that to change their policy IS in their best interest, if it provides more/equal benefits for less money, and gives them the services of one agent. Build the trust, you may be a suspect.
Bankers Life was my very first company back in 1971 in Baltimore. I was brand-spanking new to the insurance business and was wowed by the daily commission checks the manager showed me. He drove a new Cadillac, wore $400 suits (a lot back then) and I went from number 23 to number 4 in the office my first month. Most leads came from Paul Harvey promoting the "White Cross Plan" and life seemed good, that was, until I started seeing how business was done. The top 3 guys above me were crooks! They sold little old ladies new indemnity policies but told them it was a special offer because they were such good customers. They tore the cover sheets off the policies and strongly encourged these trusting elderly clients to "put the polices in a safe place" (translation: a place where you won't think about them or see them again). I went on some leads where these precious old ladies would dump 18 polices on the table! I'm not exaggerating. Many of the polices had lapsed and could have been re-instated but these unscrupulous agents wrote them new polices in order to generate new commisssions. What a scam! When I left the company the top two agents from that office were on the front page of the Baltimore Sun and convicted of felony charges and fraud. I went on one appointment with my manager and the prospect was getting ready to be layed off from Bethehem Steel in a few weeks and I told he had all the insurance he needed right now and that he couldn't afford more, especially since he was going to lose his job. When we got into the car my manager told me to never tell a customer they had all the insurance they need. The irony is that I had quit the Baltimore City Police Department because of the corruption I found there! Amazing, huh? So that was my expereince with Bankers. Of course my story is anecdotal but it did leave a bad taste in my mouth. I can't stand dishonest agents. The license I carry in my wallet should stand for honesty and integrity. My customer has every right to expect me to be honest and do what's right for THEM -- not me. I sleep well at night.
But after being unemployed for 2+ years and not being able to find a job and benefits running out I gave it a shot...spent my last $ on that schooling & stupid exam that i passed the first time. I haven't seen many liars...the top producers def are, but there's only like 2-3 in our office and they aren't very pleasant people. But other than that the only other huge liar is the company and how it treats their agents and uses them...and i mean bad. Very corrupt, and the very few that actually make it with this company are of the same feather. I know my trainer is screwing me over...i just know. cant prove it...yet. I have a question for any other ex BLC employees...or anybody...I've been reading a lot of the horror stories that take place after you leave Bankers and i was wondering if anyone had any advice on how i can protect myself...I'm already $-400 due to "chargebacks" and i cant even afford to eat right now, and they never gave me a copy of my employment app...actually they didnt give me anything. What should i do?? I'm stressing out quite a bit. :( I've heard about them ruining credit, lawsuit harassment's, ridiculous amounts of $ being charged to you w/o a reason or documentation, getting charged for the whole year of EOC ins even though you were there 3 months, having your clients cancel their policies and rewrite new ones so your left with chargebacks, making you sound like the plague to your clients and telling them not to talk to you, and also changing your resignation to "fired" status. Any advice would sure help!
