Should an F rating from the BBB stop you from applying for work?

[Barracuda]

I have a company that called me for an interview for a customer service position that I later found out has a "F" rating from the local Better Business Bureau. Should l forget the interview, or not? What do you guys think?

[Seanette]

I'd be very wary, since presumably the BBB does some form of investigation of complaints received (unlike, say, Yelp). If a theoretically neutral party in disputes found enough negatives on how this company functions to give it that bad a rating, I'd be VERY suspicious about the matter.

[Barracuda]

I think I might still go....but my BS radar will be active, for sure.

[Deserted]

Let us know how it goes.

[Teefies2]

I worked for the BBB for 8 years. The thing is, the BBB doesn't get involved in employer-employee matters .... HOWEVER, with an F rating there is definately some kind of funny business going on. They may pay you well and on time, but you more than likely will be asked to do something that you aren't comfortable with/is just *this* side of legal.

Good for you for checking the company out that thoroughly! Good luck in your job search!

[taxguykarl]

OTOH, Teefies, if the business is scamming custys, can one assure that employess will not be stiffed (sooner or later) as well?

[EricKei]

Check the website and see exactly why they got the F rating. It could be worth it to find out if the rating is wholly justified, or if, on the other hand, they only got an F because there's no lower rating than F

Teefies - Quick Q -- It is my understanding that, if a business is listed on the BBB site, but not actually a paying member, their rating is *automatically* either an F, or restricted to a lower threshhold than usual. Is this accurate? (I'm only asking because you're a former EE there )

[Barracuda]

Ok, so I show up and there is a sign--not a handmade or cheap one, either--saying, "Interviews park here". Check. Go in and there are 5-6 people waiting for interviews. Check. Refreshment station set up for large number of people, presumably, the interviewees. Check. Not a staffing agency, which might explain this. Check. Get into the interview guy wants me to start Thursday if I'm hired, and oh by the way they're looking to hire 100 people. Check. They want me to demonstrate vacuum cleaners in people's homes who have set up appointments. Check check. Oh, and they want me to work 6 days a week, sometimes 12 hours at a time, for $2100 a month base pay. Check check check.

Yeah, I'm thinking this job may not be an opportunity I want to take advantage of.

[wolfie]

Oh, and they want me to work 6 days a week, sometimes 12 hours at a time, for $2100 a month base pay.

Assuming a 28 day month, 72 hours a week for $2100/month works out to $7.29 an hour at "straight time". Assuming time-and-a-half for hours over 40 per week, that's $5.96 an hour. How does that compare to minimum wage? Also (different field) it's ILLEGAL under FMCSA regulations for me to work more than 70 hours in 8 days - and trucking is one field that allows significantly longer working hours than others.

You'd be traveling to people's homes, rather than working in one location. Do they expect you to use your own vehicle? Count on added wear-and-tear, and fuel, plus insuring for use on-the-job instead of commuting (that one is a BIG cost).

To top things off, they misrepresented the position - sales is not "customer service". I'd walk away from that one - with a stop at the labour board to ask about the legality of their compensation scheme.

[csquared]

High pressure, in home sales. That explains the F rating. The fact that they are looking to hire 100 people says that there is a very high burnout rate.

If you have the right personality, there is probably some good money to be made. If not, RUN!

[Trixie]

Yeah, almost got caught in that one. They advertised a bunch of positions including office workers, which was really what I wanted. I made it through the first round still thinking office work was an option but pretty much walked out of the room when I realized what it really was. The interviews were held in a banquet hall and good thing I thought to sit towards the back of the room.

Just another thought...in this day and age do people really buy things sold by door-to-door salesmen?

[Deserted]

Would've been better to sit in the front, IMO. Let EVERYBODY know you're not in for it.

[MoonCat]

Ah yes, the vac sales company *sigh*

My brother worked for them. He tried the sales bit, didn't like it. Not a lot of people around here wanted to pay $1400+ for a vacuum and accessories.

He ended up working in their repair/service dept. Or, to be more accurate, he WAS the repair/service dept.

[Seshat]

I once went to an interview for door-to-door encyclopedia sales. They set up appointments for the demonstrations/sales pitches because (at least where I was) if you actually had an appointment, it wasn't an impulse purchase and thus not covered by a set of laws intended for exactly this sort of door-to-door sales.

My guess is that this is a shady company whose best paid staff are the legal team who hunt for loopholes and law-skirting opportunities.

[Ophbalance]

When I was in college, it was those stupid knives that can cut a penny into a corkscrew. The catch? You have to BUY the demo set of knives you need to sell. Hahahaha... no thanks.