While this article addresses abuses of contract labor, I would point out that small companies use contract labor to “keep people working” when the business does not have enough work for a full time position and doesn’t want to force remaining employees to double up.
Contracting out gives the individual the right to define what work he does, his compensation, and the ability to take on jobs with other companies.
Of course, he is responsible for his own insurance and taxes.
That sounds all well and good, but the fact of the matter is that they are trying to “work the system” in order to cut costs. Doing it this way leaves a huge door open for fraud. The enconomy could be wonderful and they could still use that justiciation that “We are keeping people employed”. Sorry, but you have to spend money to make money.
I do see the point the article is making and have to agree. I am in NY were it IS a problem, “indepedents” not paying taxes, not having any insurances afforded to them, not being eligible for Wcomp, etc. It is actually a drain on the economy, so when they are not being “independents” and not working, they are not eligible for unemployment (that should have been paid into by their “employer”) now they are welfare recipients.
On the other side of the coin. It is a very practical way for a small business to keep its cost down and at least SOMEONE working.
Hey I will work for you as an independent. You must not have a non compete agreement because under the law, I am NOT at your direction. Therefore I can have a contract with you and a contract with the agent down the street that has contracts with other carriers that you don’t. Now I have access to all of the markets!!!!
They call these people “Day Laborers” Most Day Laborers are illegal so they don’t even record them as independant subs. There is no way to keep tabs, so no taxes, social security etc is being paid by either side.
However, if an illegal day laborer gets injured on the job, they are entitled to workers compensation benefits and they will be awarded too.
The IRS looks at several factors when determining 1099 status. They look at 3 common law rules which are behavioral, financial, and type of relationship. Insurance agents can be 1099 for the same reason real estate agents and mortgage brokers can be. All can have non-compete clauses and business cards as well.
If in doubt, have your contractor fill out form SS-8 and the IRS will make the determination for you.
Let’s see. If, for example, a construction company does this switcheroo which they all try to do and Big Brother who’s never lived under the same rules and regulations closes down said construction comany (can’t pay – no play)
so not only does society end up paying for his kids and his workers kids etc etc
in the end what’s the difference how the system collapses? Take your pick – put them in jail or let them produce? Oh, I forgot being productive is not the goal, submission to the State is, sorry. Ask the NEA or Teachers’ Unions – they’re paid to not do their jobs and put out “products” no one wants to hire anyway.
Just shoot us all and get it over. Then everyone can be a zombie for the rich and powerful who take it all anyway. Have fun.
Sure, tax rates are high enough and the big corporations through their network outlets, especially the FOREIGNER-OWNED FOX “News”, use the issue to robot us all around to vote against our own best interests on a variety of issues they determine. The real solution is to get the big boys like FedEx and Target to pay their legally required share and not CHEAT.
If you are going to win a war, you first need to identify the enemy correctly…
TN has passed a stopgap law trying to remedy this question of coverage for small contractors. The law is now in limbo, but essentially it is a demand that all contractors must insure all employees including owners with exception of corporations being allowed to excuse certain positions. Personally I feel the law is discriminatory since it pertains to only one classification (contractors). It was touted by big major contractors in hopes to eliminate their costs of insuring the “sub-contractors” who did not have their own coverage. It has had devastating results in that small contractors cannot afford the $7000 in new premium when they are now just beginning to get some work again.
Contract workers pay there socialist insecurity taxes on there net income as well as appropriate federal and state income tax (2nd plank of the communist manifesto). So what is the rub? Government does not like having it’s cradle to grave society circumvented. GOVERNMENT MUST GROW!Read Atlas Shrugged and you will have your answers.
We are paid by commission only, The agency pays 100% of our health insurance, The agency includes us on the workers compensation policy as outside sales. The agency does not tell us to be at the agency any amount of time per week. The agency pays for all of our continuing education expenses. but not gas expense to make sales calls. The agency has a 3 year non piracy agreement, not a non compete.
Should we be a W2 or 1099? We are currently 1099 subcontractors.
Joe, I’m not an attorney or an accountant, but it seems if they pay for your health insurance directly and your CE directly, you’re employees. Benefits like these aren’t to be made available to contractors.
Now on the other hand if they have some type of incentive program that doesn’t DIRECTLY pay for those benefits, that could enter you back toward the 1099 contractor status. If in doubt, sit down with the agent in charge and have a discussion. It’s best to make sure everything is on the up and up.
The article implies this practice is new and has been driven by the current economic down turn. The problem has existed for years.
The IRS has a basic five principle rule to determine whether the “independent contractor” is an employee.
1.) Is the independent contractor told when and where to work? If yes, the independent contractor is a employee.
2.) Does the independent contractor uses the tools (includes software and computers) furnished by the employer? If yes, the independent contractor is an employee.
3.) Does the independent contractor work day to day, week to week, or month to month exclusively for the employer? If yes, the independent contractor is an employee.
4.) Does the independent contractor hold himself out to the public as an independent contractor and solicits work from the public directly and bid on jobs independently from the employer? If no, the independent contractor is an employee.
5.) Does the independent contractor participate and have exposure for profits and losses? In no, the independent contractor is an employee.
The misconception in government and media is that the small employer is the most prevalent abuser. When in fact, the larger employers have used this method to shed liability exposures and taxation for years.
An example could be the newspaper delivery person. The newspaper industry contracted with people to deliver newspapers as independent contractors. The newspaper told these independent contractors where and when to work. They independent contractor were exclusive carriers for that paper and were not allowed to deliver additional periodicals. The independent contractor could only sell the one paper. Thus, he had only one “tool or product” to gererate revenue in a specified delivery area. The independent contract worked daily for the employer and did not compete in the market place with the participation of profit and loss. Therefore, the newspaper delivery person is an employee of the newspaper.
From an insurance perspective in North Carolina, the pauper subcontractor has been abolished. And liability follows the the money from the subcontractor through the general contractor to the employer. Lawyers will follow the money until workers compensation coverage is located.
Even if the subcontractor pays a percentage of the job back to general contractor to cover the premiums of him being an uninsured subcontractor and provide coverage for the subcontractor’s injured employee; the subcontractor is still in violation of employment laws and can be sued by the general contractor’s worker compensation carrier for damages since he was not and can not be additional insured under the contract.
The joke in the construction industry is: The last independent painting contractor hire to work on a job was the last person would got in the van that morning.
The question every person would recieves 1099 should be, Am I an employee?
The employer by using this method has saved the following:
1.) Federal Unemployment tax 0.8% of payroll,
2.) Employer portion of Social Security tax of 6.20% of payroll,
3.) Employer portion of Medicare tax of 1.45% of payroll,
4.) State Unemployment tax varying greatly from as little as 0.002% and as high as 4.5%,
5.) Workers Compensation coverage (based on payroll),
6.) General Liability coverage (based on payroll),
7.) Employee Benefit packages.
Bottom line is that taxes are due whether you are a contractor or employee. It’s just easier on the gov’t to deal with a handful of large employers than thousands of independent contractors.
Yes, taxes are owed. The question is who is the responsible party to pay them. The simple fact is the government has not gone after the the larger employers. So the small employers have followed their lead. Many employees of all sizes of companies are being screwed by their employers and the government from the inappropriate use of the term independent contractor.
VERY LONG BUT TRUE
Long but true: The State Senators, representatives, commissioner’s office, along with federal are not hearing the screams for help. I have pushed this for over 15 years, end result: Do what you are told or you can lose everything. I didn’t believe that was possible. Now read the agent’s web site: On the right is agents bulletin board and on the bottom is the last NAFFA Winter 2009/2010 report. They now type what I stated in from of the Wisconsin legalization 12 years ago.I can cover a lot of ground so sit back, read my notes and say: “This can’t be true”.
I’m not dead yet.
Steve
“”””IT IS NOT MY JOB””””
September 01, 2009
Sure wish that was on the State exam: It is not my job, to stick up for civil rights, equal rights, consumers, taxpayers and anything else that would help a person protect his/her estate. To quote Casey L when he gave the training on short canceling policies when the NAACP suit was going on: This (short canceling the policies) ” beats redlining, we get to cover everybody.”
I’m done, either I’m dealing with a lot of people that don’t have it together upstairs or I’ve lost it.
Enclosed are my packets. I do have to admit this experience was devastating to me. It rivaled, emotionally, my time in Vietnam.
I set out with one goal when I met with the first Senator.
1: Some way, shape, or form, protect insurance agents in Wisconsin.
I added a second goal:
2: I’d like to hear, on a talk show, TV, news, this statement or a class action suit:
A President, Jack, of a large insurance company in Madison, Wisconsin, is teaching its agency force to count corners on homes they write for replacement coverage. If you have a standard six outside corner home, add 2 or 4 corners making it an 8 or 10 corner home. This gives unearned profit to the insurance company, at the expense of the unwitting consumer.
How’d you like him to be teaching your children to count?
The company terminated a decorated disabled Vietnam Veteran, Special Forces, Green Beret Sergeant for calling his manager a “NIG”.
The manager stated he never said that but I was terminated anyway for that reason.
Approved by an Afro American Yvonne J ( A Lawyer), go figure. I would have taken a bullet for her.
The real reason is I refused to commit consumer fraud.
Welcome to Wisconsin, not a place to buy insurance.
From a number of U.S. Congressmen, Senators, Representatives, news outlets and even the Commissioner’s office: It is no one’s job. I sure wish I’d have known that prior to putting my neck on the chopping block.
United States Senator Russell D. Feingold is wrong, it is federal also. The Social Security tax is short-changed along with federal tax. Agents in Wisconsin are employees, but buried under “self-employed”.
Al Capone would have loved to have the State of Wisconsin as his ally. It is not anybody’s job, Federal or State, to police the insurance industry.
I was hoping to get one person of importance endorse me, but it is “Not their Job”.
Should I mentor the people around me with, if they see a house on fire or a car accident remember, it is not your job?
I’m not dead yet, but I cannot carry the ball myself. The right person is going to have to get screwed. Maybe one of the people that are supposed to oversee the programs. Then everyone will say ~~~~”” IT WASN’T MY JOB””~~~~~~
I’m done.
Thank you
STEVEN A BRUNELL
7676 S 70TH ST
FRANKLIN, WI 53132
NOTES
SENATOR LAZICH April 13, 2008
January 13, 2009. February 3, 2009.
FROM THE PRESIDENT, OR COMMANDER IN CHIEF, THE HOUSE OF CONGRESS, THE SENATORS, THE GOVERNOR OF THIS FINE STATE OF WISCONSIN, ALONG WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES, THEY ALL SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DO YOU KNOW THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES-THE VP’S, OFFICE MANAGERS, UNDERWRITERS AND EVEN CLERKS-CAN VETO ANY LAW, REGULATION OR RULE?
BETWEEN INSURANCE COMPANY AND AGENT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND NEVER WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
NOW THAT DOES NOT SEEM FAIR SINCE INSURANCE AGENTS ARE U.S. CITIZENS AND PAY TAXES ALSO.
I’M GOING TO START WITH MY TERMINATION OF MAY 2003 AND THEN GO BACK JUST BEFORE BILL (AB) 485 WAS INTRODUCED.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY CALLED ME INTO A VP’S OFFICE ALONG WITH TWO COMPANY LAWYERS.
I WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE SIGNED A BLANK SHEET OF PAPER A MANAGER WANTED ME TO SIGN.
I WANTED TO SHOW IT TO MY LAWYER, (SO MUCH FOR BEING AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR).
I WAS THEN TOLD IN FRONT OF THE TWO LAWYERS IT IS ETHICAL TO ADD CORNERS TO HOMES AND THERE IS NOTHING STEVEN BRUNELL CAN DO ABOUT IT. (I ALSO RECEIVED 2 CE CREDIT ON ETHICS TRAINING CLASS PUT ON BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY).
THEN I WAS TOLD MY MANAGER SAID I CALLED HIM A “NIG”.
GREEN BERET SGT, VIETNAM 71/72, NEVER WOULD HAPPEN FROM ME. WHAT A PUNCH IN THE GUT!
STEVE BRUNELL WAS GONE AND I DID APPEAL, WHICH I WILL COVER LATER.
THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME:
I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHAT I WAS TOLD.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONTROLS AND RULES 100%.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY TERMINATED ME ONCE BEFORE IN DECEMBER 1993. I SPOKE TO A COMPANY LAWYER IN REGARDS TO A VERY RACIST MANAGER, IF YOU WERE AFRO-AMERICAN OR A WOMAN, THERE WAS NOT ONE NICE THING SAID. I ALSO SHARED THE THREATS BY INSURANCE COMPANY PERSONNEL.
YOU WILL SWIM WITH THE CURRENT OR DROWN,
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO SEND YOUR KIDS TO COLLEGE?
YOU WILL DO WHATEVER YOUR MANAGER TELLS YOU TO DO OR YOU’RE GONE,
FOLLOWED UP WITH, YOU ARE THE BIGGEST ******* I’VE EVER MET.
ALONG WITH MANY MORE THREATS.
I GAVE THE COMPANY LAWYER TAPES AND MEMOS AND SHE EVEN WAS TEARING UP.
NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY PERSONNEL, BECAUSE THIS IS THE BUSINESS PLAN OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
RIGHT AFTER I TALKED TO HER I WAS TERMINATED.
SHE GOT ME RE-INSTATED RIGHT AWAY, BEFORE ANYTHING GOT PROCESSED AND YES I SPOKE TO LAWYERS WITH THE NAACP, BUT THEY HAD JUST REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THEY HAD OTHER AGENT TAPES.
AGENTS TAPED BECAUSE WHAT I’M ABOUT TO TELL YOU, YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE. I WILL SHOW YOU WHY THE AGENTS NEED TO BE PROTECTED AND THE SAME TIME THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VETO-WHAT EVER YOU DO.
OCTOBER 15, 1997, BILL (AB) 485 WAS INTRODUCED AND SHOT DOWN. THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY GOT 10 MORE YEARS TO RUN WISCONSIN.
THIS INSURANCE COMPANY TRAINING WAS VERY UNIQUE. I HAD THIS PRIOR TO BILL (AB) 485 AND AFTER THE BILL GOT SHOT DOWN. THE TRAINING WAS GIVEN TO LOCAL AGENTS AND ALSO THE STAFF.
THE COMPANY MOTTO IS:
TAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN OFF THE CLIENT NOW,
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RETIRE WITH YOU.
THE COMPANY WOULD HOLD UP A DOLLAR BILL AND SAY THE COLOR GREEN, GOES WITH EVERY THING YOU WEAR.
ALONG WITH ALWAYS THREATS AGAINST YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
THEY SWEAR AT YOU AND YOU HAVE NO SAY ON PROTECTING THE CLIENT.
I SHARED PART OF THIS WITH A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT HE STOPPED ME PRIOR TO ME FINISHING AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NO WAY AN INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD DO THIS. “WRONG”, THEY GOT TEN MORE YEARS TO DO IT.
AGENTS TRIED TO KEEP THIS IN HOUSE, BUT NOW THEY PUT ME IN THE OUT HOUSE.
BECAUSE SINCE I’M IN THE OUTHOUSE I WAS GOING TO START BY CLEANING UP THE POOP IN THE BASEMENT.
THE TRAINING BY THE COMPANY WAS CALLED “HOW TO KEEP AND PRESERVE PREMIUM DOLLARS FOR YOUR AGENCY.”
THIS IS THE COMPANY TRAINING.
IF YOU RECEIVE A CANCEL LETTER FROM ANOTHER AGENT OR THE INSURED JUST TOSS IT. THE CLIENT WILL NEVER KNOW AND WILL FORGET ABOUT IT. IF THE CLIENT CALLS JUST SAY YOU NEVER RECEIVED IT, MAKING THE OTHER AGENT LOOK BAD AS IF HE/SHE DIDN’T DO IT.
THEN MAKE THE CLIENT PROVIDE PROOF HE/SHE DID GET NEW INSURANCE.
IF A CLIENT DROPS COVERAGE MAKE THE CHANGE DATE 7 DAYS OR LATER, CLIENT HAS NO IDEA WHAT HIS/HER REFUND SHOULD BE. ALSO IF CLIENT ADDS COVERAGE MAKE IT 7 DAYS EARLIER. YOU SHOULD GET PAID EXTRA FOR YOUR TIME.
IF CLIENT CALLS ON THIS, OH! COMPANY ERROR, DATE LOOKED LIKE 17 NOT 11.
NOW HAVING THIS TRAINING AND BEING IN THE OUT HOUSE I NOW WAS ON THE RECEIVING END OF WHAT I WAS TAUGHT.
AS I WAS REWRITING MY CLIENTS, I TOLD CLIENTS TO CALL ME WHEN THEY GOT THE REFUND OR IF THEY DIDN’T HAVE IT IN TWO WEEKS. I ALSO X-DATED THEM IN OUTLOOK.
THE FIRST THREE I SENT A LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER. THE RESPONSE WAS EACH CLIENT HAS TO FILE HIS/HER OWN CLAIM.
OK, THEY DID AND THE ANSWERS WERE DIDN’T RECEIVE IT. THE REST AFTER THAT WERE OH! WRONG DATE, I READ IT WRONG.
AFTER ABOUT 5 LETTERS ALL THE REQUESTS STARTED OUT WITH HOW CAN A COMPANY BE IN BUSINESS WITH THIS BUSINESS PRACTICE? I DON’T KNOW HOW BIG THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE IS, BUT THIS SHOULD HAVE RAISED UP SOME RED FLAGS. THEN I’D BE IN THE PICTURE GIVING THE REAL STORY.
THE COMMISSIONER WAS ON A NEWS STORY DOWN IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA AND HE STATED HE HAS THE POWER TO TERMINATE ANY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT WANTS TO DO OR TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS SENIOR CITIZENS, IN THIS STATE.
HERE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
AN 87-YEAR-OLD VETERAN (WILLING TO DIE FOR THEM). FAMILY IS READY TO GO ALL THE WAY ON THE COMPLAINT, NEWS ETC. LETTER STARTED OUT WITH HOW COULD A COMPANY DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE. CLIENT WAS INSURED FOR 30 YEARS+ WITH THIS COMPANY.
HIS CANCEL THEY KEPT ALMOST 30 DAYS OF PREMIUM.
NOTHING FROM THE COMMISSIONER’S BUT A FLUFF LETTER AND A “WE READ THE DATE WRONG FOR THE REASON”.
IF THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE HAD LOOKED INTO THIS, THEY WOULD HAVE ENDED UP TALKING TO ME. SENIOR STUFF ONLY FLUFF.
NEXT CASE, ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE. A YOUNG ADULT, SAME FORMAT ON THE LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER. THE CLIENT NOT ONLY GOT THE FLUFF LETTERS, HE WAS CALLED BY THE COMPANY AND YELLED AT FOR WRITING THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE. HE SHOULDN’T HAVE BOTHERED THEM. THIS CLIENT ALSO WAS READY TO GO ON THE NEWS.
I SENT IN OR I SHOULD SAY THE CLIENTS SENT IN OVER 15 REQUESTS FOR POLICY CANCELS. MY AGENCY WAS HARD TO REWRITE BECAUSE THE AGENT WHO WAS ASSIGNED MY AGENCY DID A GREAT JOB MARKETING THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW I WAS TERMINATED FROM THE COMPANY FOR CALLING MY MANAGER A RACIAL NAME.
I HAD THE TRAINING AND THAT IS THE ONLY REASON THE ACCOUNTS ABOVE GOT THE REFUNDS.
YOU ROB A BANK, YOU GET THREE YEARS IN JAIL. YOU SHORT- CHANGE CLIENT, AND YOU GET A SUMMER HOME.
A LOT OF OTHER TAX PAYERS WERE LEFT UNPROTECTED AND AN AGENT WILL DO WHAT THEY ARE TOLD OR LOSE THE AGENCY IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
NO ONE WILL EVER HOLD THE INSURANCE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ONES THAT WILL NEVER GET THEIR REFUNDS, UNLESS THE STATE GIVES THE AGENTS THE PROTECTION. THEN THEY CAN SPEAK OUT AND NOT BE BRUNELL (TERMINATED).
AFTER MY 15 COMPLAINTS THE COMPANY STARTED SENDING OUT FLUFF LETTERS, STATING YOUR POLICY WAS CANCELED THIS DATE AND TOLD TO CONFIRM THE CANCEL DATE. IF THE CLIENT FOLLOWED THROUGH, OK, BUT NO ONE READS THEM. THEY DON’T FEEL THIS COULD EVER HAPPEN. WRONG.
CLIENT SHORT CHANGED AND WILL NEVER KNOW IT. MONIES WILL NEVER BE USED TO PAY CLAIMS. FREE MONEY.
A CLIENT PAYS HIS/HER BILLS LATE. CREDIT SCORE GOES DOWN.
NOW CLIENT PAYS HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUMS BECAUSE OF CREDIT SCORE.
WIN/WIN/WIN FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
I’M GOING TO GO INTO THE TRAINING PUT ON BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS WAS ON APRIL 30, 1998. THIS WAS COMPANY WIDE TRAINING WITH SMALLER TRAINING SESSIONS ON A LOCAL LEVEL, TO ADD COVERAGE WITH NO MORE PREMIUM DOLLARS NEEDED.
MOST TRAINING WAS DONE ON AN OVERHEAD PROJECTOR OR AN EASEL BOARD AND NO HARD COPIES FOR THE AGENT
The only life policy a client will ever need to buy. U. L. 2000.
Client 35 years old wants $150,000 life and only pay on it for 30 years, but life insurance until age 94. Premium $111.83 a month.
DO NOT SHOW HIM THIS LEDGER OR LEAVE IT WITH HIM
Show him this one at $115.00 per month. $3.17 extra and $115.00 a month is easier to remember to subtract.
$3.17 X 12 MONTHS = $38.04 A YEAR X 30 YEARS = $1,141.20
Client has modified the ledger and we don’t have to show him a correct one. Anyway no one enforces it.
$111.83 age 94 $115.00 age 94
Cash value $1,151 Cash value $224,677
Death benefit $150,000 Death benefit $226,924 ~ $1,141.20
Age 65 C V $61,203 – DB Age 65 C V $64,983 – DB
Age 66 CV $63,350 Age 66 CV $67,446
No one can show how $1,141.20 can turn into this and plus have a death benefit into $224,667 at age 94. $150,000 of life on a 65 year old $1,500 a year.
AGENTS SPOKE OUT IN HOUSE BECAUSE THIS ALSO IS OUR FUTURE AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WAS OF NO HELP.
I SHARED THIS FIRST LEDGER WITH THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND THEY STATED NO WAY WOULD A COMPANY DO THIS. WRONG.
THE AGENT VOICE IS A TOOL WE COULD USE TO BLAST THE COMPANY AND SAY THIS ISN’T RIGHT. IF YOU LOGGED ONTO THE SITE YOU NEEDED A PASSWORD. IN 2008 A GOOD NUMBER OF THE PROBLEMS ARE ON THE FIRST PAGE NOW.
DEATH BENEFIT ALONG WITH CASH VALUES, CLIENT HAS A PLAN
AGENT HAS A SOLID CLIENT FOR HIS/HER FUTURE.
COMPANY MAKES MONEY
WIN/WIN/ WIN TURNS INTO
LOSE/LOSE//WIN
NO DEATH BENEFIT OR CASH VALUE
CLIENT LEAVES AGENT AND ALSO NO EXTENDED EARNING PAID TO AGENT
COMPANY HAS ALL THE DOLLARS AND OWES NOTHING TO ANYBODY.
AT THIS TRAINING THE INSURANCE COMPANY BRAGGED AND KNEW THERE WAS NO WAY THE LEDGERS WERE OF FACT.
NOW THE U L STACKING GIVEN ON A LOCAL LEVEL
Sell a client a $100,000
2 years later, go back and add on another $50,000 with no increase in premium.
No replacement forms need to be filed. Did not cancel or use premium out of policy.
2 more years go back and add another $50,000.
2 years later go back and add another $50,000. Total now $250,000
5 years later go back and reduce back to $100,000. All done on $43.00
10- 15 years later, client has nothing.
THIS TRAINING WAS AFTER I MET WITH THE NEWS REPORTERS AND I TOOK, (WAS NOT TOLD I COULDN’T) A HARD COPY, FROM THE TRAINING ROOM.
AGENTS VOICE CONTINUED TO BLAST ABOUT THE UL LEDGERS, BUT THE COMPANY SENT OUT A FLUFF LETTER TO SHOW WE CHECK OUR LEDGERS. THE FLUFF LETTER WAS ON TERM ONLY. THIS WAS A BROADCAST LETTER E-MAIL
THIS IS TO SHOW GOOD FAITH TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HOLD TRAINING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLIENT, NOT ON HARD COPY, AND ON FRIDAY SEND OUT WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.
THIS WAS STATE WIDE TRAINING AND THE COMPANY UNDERWRITER ALSO HAD THIS TRAINING. I ALSO RECEIVED 2 CE CREDITS ON THIS TRAINING APPROVED BY THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
THE FIRST TRAINING PUT ON BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO HAD VP’S THERE.
THE UNDERWRITER DREW A SIX CORNER HOME ON THE BOARD AND FIGURED A REPLACEMENT COST ON IT.
THEN ADDED TWO MORE CORNERS RAISING THE DWELLING BY $16,000
THEN WE WERE TOLD, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY WE HAVE TO START ADDING TWO MORE CORNERS TO THE HOMES TO RAISE THE VALUE OF THE DWELLING ON REPLACEMENT COST.
BEING A LEADER I ASKED WHAT IF A JUDGE ASKED ME IN COURT HOW MANY CORNERS ARE ON THIS HOME?
A VP IN THE BACK STOOD UP AND SAID: LOOK WE ARE GOING TO PAY THE LOSS ANYWAY, SO WE MIGHT AS WELL GET THE EXTRA PREMIUM DOLLARS WE CAN
I SHUT UP AND AS THE YEARS WENT ON THE TRAINING GOT IMPROVED. NOW WE WERE TO ADD QUALITY POINTS. AN EXTRA BATH ROOM, REC ROOM ETC.
THE COMPANY SENT OUT A LETTER TO THE INSURED ASKING FOR THEM TO FILL OUT A REVIEW. SOUNDS LIKE A NICE THING BUT VERY CONFUSING.
EXAMPLE: HOW MANY CORNERS IN THIS ROOM (SQUARE OR RECTANGLE)?
12, BUT THE ANSWER SHOULD BE 4 ON A SQUARE OR RECTANGLE ROOM. I DIDN’T COUNT DOOR JAMS OR WINDOWS. THOSE THAT SENT BACK ONLY DID DAMAGE TO THEMSELVES.
A $150,000 HOME WAS GETTING A REPLACEMENT COST OF $250,000.
IN COMPANY TRAINING WE WERE TOLD THAT WE SHOULD MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE CLIENT’S POLICY, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE CLIENT.
ONE AGENT WAS 100% IN DOING THIS TO ALL HIS CLIENTS.
I ASKED HIM, HOW DID HE GET 100% AT THIS TRAINING MEETING PUT ON BY THE COMPANY?
ANSWER: HE MADE ALL THE CHANGES WITHOUT THE CLIENT’S CONSENT.
I ASKED HIM WHAT IF A CLIENT COMPLAINED?
ANSWER IF 2 OUT OF 100 COMPLAIN HE’D BLAME A COMPANY GLITCH AND CORRECT IT BUT HE STILL GOT THE OTHER 98.
THIS IS WHEN THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED, EVERYONE SHOULD BE 100 % OR NOT BE WITH THIS COMPANY.
THIS AGENT ALSO RECEIVED MY AGENCY AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB LETTING MY CLIENTS KNOW I WAS TERMINATED FOR CALLING MY MANAGER A RACIAL NAME.
I HAD A CLIENT FILE A COMMISSIONER COMPLAINT AGAINST ME.
HE WANTED TO LOWER HIS HOME VALUE BY $30,000, BUT THE BASE REPLACEMENT WAS HIGHER.
WENT TO ANOTHER AGENT WHO IS A FOLLOWER, AND GOT LOWERED.
CLIENT WANTED ME TO APOLOGIZE TO HIM, NO WAY.
CLIENT WROTE A LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER AND I WAS HOPING SOME ONE AT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HAVE LEADERSHIP ABILITY TO SAY THIS IS ENOUGH.
AGENTS ARE BEING TRAINED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLIENTS, NOW THE AGENT IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS FELLOW AGENT AND THE COMPANY BY UNDER-INSURING A HOME.
SORRY TO SAY NO LEADERSHIP SHOWN. COMPANY FALSIFIES AN ANSWER TO THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE.
I MADE SURE THE COMMISSIONERS OFFICE KNEW MY DATA WAS CORRECT AND THE OTHER DATA WAS 100% WRONG.
INSURANCE COMPANY NEVER HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FALSIFYING DATA TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
I RECEIVED NO ANSWER FROM MY LETTER.
THE AGENT INVOLVED WAS ALSO AN AGENT, MANAGER AND BACK TO AGENT. DID WHATEVER HE WAS TOLD.
WHEN HE WAS A MANAGER HE HAD AN AGENT BY THE NAME OF RUBE.
30+ YEARS WITH THE COMPANY. THIS WAS ON THE NEWS.
RUBE TAPED HIS MEETINGS.
RUBE WAS TOLD TO STOP WRITING AFRO-AMERICANS, (THE FULL N WORD WAS USED) OR HE’D BE TERMINATED.
RUBE STILL WROTE AFRO-AMERICANS AND WAS TERMINATED FOR IT.
RUBE SUED ALONG WITH HIS TAPES BEING PLAYED ON THE LOCAL NEWS.
RUBE LOST HIS SUIT, BECAUSE IN WISCONSIN AN INSURANCE COMPANY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT.
I’M GOING TO SHARE TWO COMPLAINTS. ONE AGAINST ME AND ONE AGAINST AN INSURANCE COMPANY. BOTH HANDLED BY THE SAME PERSON AT THE SAME TIME, DATES DO OVER LAP.
179745 03/03/2005 1169718 01/24/05
I’m beat up, Challenging why I never filed a complaint.
3rd party questions to me. STATE OF WISCONSIN OF NO HELP
two of them Bill 485 + PROTECT THE AGENTS
Client 100% wrong
April 13, 2008 THIS COMPANY AGENT DID NOT GET A REFUND, REQUEST
WAS IN SUNDAYS PAPER NEVER GOT THERE USING MAIL!
ALSO WAS GOING TO GIVE INSURANCE COMPANY not held accountable or
COVERAGE ON CLAIM FOR Questioned. On threats SENT HIM LETTER
ME, NO WAY BACK WITH A COPY OF ADDING CORNERS.
NO REPLY BACK. I CANNOT FINE HIM OR REVOKE HIS RIGHT TO DO BUSINESS IN WISCONSIN. SO I NEVER FOLLOWED UP.
COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE NO HELP.
AS FOR NOT STICKING UP FOR THE WEAK, I WENT TO THE NEWS MEDIA MANY TIMES. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLED ME AND TOLD ME SHE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE BUSINESS PRACTICE OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
THE D.A. SENT ME A LETTER STATING THE SAME.
THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHAT I WAS TOLD IN ORDER TO KEEP MY AGENCY.
THIS IS WHY THE PRESIDENT SHOULD ORDER IN AN A TEAM TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR CONSUMER/STATES/U.S. OF AMERICA AND EVERYONE WOULD BE PROTECETD..
AS OF RIGHT NOW WISCONSIN HAS DROPPED THE BALL, TO PROTECT THE AGENTS AND CONSUMERS.
EVEN IN COLORADO THIS COMPANY MADE THE NEWS BIG TIME FOR SHORT CHANGING THE CONSUMER AND IT DOESN’T EVEN MAKE THE LOCAL NEWS HERE. INSURANCE COMPANIES OUTRANK THE GOVERNMENT. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT STAND A CHANCE.
NOW WHY IS STEVE BRUNELL COMING OUT STRONG AGAIN TO SUPPORT THE AGENTS AND THE CONSUMERS OF THIS FINE STATE?
WHEN THE VP OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY CAME INTO THE AREA HE DREW A CIRCLE ON THE EASEL BOARD AND DREW A LINE FROM THE CENTER TO THE TOP.
HE STATED THAT IF YOU ARE NOT ON THIS LINE, YOU WILL BE GONE.
NOW HE ADDS YOU WILL BE GONE LIKE BRUNELL.
IF MY NAME IS BEING USED THEN I’M STILL VERY MUCH AN ACTIVE PLAYER. SO HERE I AM, I’M NOT DEAD YET.
I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A LIFE SPECIALIST AT THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE COME OUT WITH A NEW U L. DUMPING THE OLD AGAIN.
WHY IS THIS THE ONLY UL PRODUCT THIS CLIENT WILL EVER BUY?
10 TO 15 YEARS LATER WHEN THE POLICY IS COLLAPSING THE CLIENT WILL FEEL FAILURE INSIDE. HIS FUTURE PLANS HAVE FAILED.
HE COULD WRITE A LETTER, BUT THE ANSWER WOULD BE A FORMAT FLUFF LETTER WITH NO SUPPORT FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
EVEN IF HE HAS THE LEDGERS AND GIVES THEM TO A LAWYER. THE LAWYER WILL NOT KNOW THEY WERE MADE UP. END RESULT INSURANCE COMPANY WINS.
THE COMPANY WAS RIGHT, THE CLIENT WILL NEVER BUY A U L AGAIN.
NOW IF THE CLIENT WANTS TO BUY NEW INSURANCE, IF UN-INSURABLE, WILL DIE WITH OUT INSURANCE.
IF INSURABLE WILL PAY A HIGHER PREMIUM, OLDER.
THE NEW U L HAS ADDED AN EXTRA FEE INSIDE.
THE NEW WILL BE SOLD TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION AND THE OLDER GENERATION WILL JUST SIT IN A ROCKING CHAIR WITH A VOID IN WHAT THEY PLANNED.
ON MY APPEAL FOR MY CAREER OF 24.5 YEARS:
MY WIFE AND I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A VP AND COMPANY LAWYER AND WE WERE TOLD I SHOULD HAVE SIGNED THAT BLANK SHEET OF PAPER. I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHAT I WAS TOLD AND HE’D SIGN AND DO ANYTHING HIS BOSS TOLD HIM TO DO. NO LEADERSHIP IN THAT POSITION OF THE COMPANY AND SO MUCH FOR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS.
WE WERE TOLD, IT IS ETHICAL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CONSUMER AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.
MY MANAGER DID SAY I NEVER SAID I CALLED HIM A “NIG” BUT I’M TERMINATED FOR THAT ANYWAY.
THE AGENTS IN THIS STATE NEED TO BE PROTECTED. IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO APRIL OF 2003 THAT WOULD BE GREAT (MY SON HAD TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE LEFT). BUT THE MAIN CONCERN IS TAKE CARE OF THE SENIORS AND TAX PAYERS BY TAKING CARE OF THE AGENTS OF THIS FINE STATE.
INSURANCE COMPANIES BELIEVE IN LIQUIDATION OF THE ESTATE FOR THE CONSUMER ALONG WITH THE INSURANCE AGENT AND CONSERVATION OF THE ESTATE FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY. LET’S DO ALL THREE. CONSERVATION FOR CONSUMER, AGENT AND COMPANY.
INSURANCE COMPANY TRAINING
ONCE ONE INSURANCE COMPANY SHOWS THE REST THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, THE REST WILL AND DO FOLLOW.
FOR EXAMPLE A LARGE COMPANY WAS JUST FINED FOR TAKING EXAMS TO GET THE AGENTS LICENSED.
THIS IS COMPANY TRAINING, TRUST ME AGENTS DON’T WAKE UP MONDAY MORNING AND COME UP WITH THE PLANS YOU ARE SEEING.
PROTECT AGENTS ON A FEDERAL LEVEL.
I’M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAS TO APPROVE A PRODUCT FOR SALE.
IF THE STATE APPROVES A PRODUCT THAT ITS ONLY PURPOSE IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CONSUMER, THEN WHY ISN’T THE STATE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OUTCOME, NOT THE AGENT?
LIKE THE U L BEING CHANGED EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS. WE HAVE COME OUT WITH NEW. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE OLD? MAYBE THE INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO SELL A U L IN THE STATE, BECAUSE THEY DON’T PUT OUT GOOD PRODUCTS AND ARE BAIT AND SWITCHING THE PRODUCTS.
WHY WOULDN’T WHOEVER APPROVES THIS PRODUCT SAY WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? NO WAY AND DOES THE PERSON APPROVING THE PRODUCTS KNOW WHAT INSURANCE IS?
IF THIS HAPPENS IN HOME INSURANCE THE CONSUMERS WOULD BE ON AN UPRISING ON LIFE AND HEALTH. NO WAY TO MONITOR IT ON A ONE ON ONE CLIENT TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND MORE FLUFF.
IF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WOULD PROTECT THE AGENTS. THEN MAYBE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD BE FORCED TO PUT OUT GOOD PRODUCTS OR THE AGENTS CAN SAY: I’M NOT SELLING THAT GARBAGE.
THE NEW PRODUCTS,
THE INSURANCE AGENTS OF THIS FINE STATE DO NOT WAKE UP ON A MONDAY MORNING AND ALL COME UP WITH THIS IDEA TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN OR CONSUMERS.
THIS IS FROM INSURANCE COMPANY TRAINING.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF AGENTS IN WISCONSIN.
LEADERS
DOERS
FOLLOWERS.
AT THE END OF THE TRAINING CLASS IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM THEY ARE BEING TOLD: THIS IS WHAT YOU’LL DO OR YOU’LL BE LIKE BRUNELL.
PROTECT THE INSURANCE AGENT AND THEN SOMEONE CAN SAY I’M NOT SELLING THIS, AND THE LEADERS WILL COME ALIVE AGAIN.
THE LEADERS ARE NOW BECOMING DOERS AND THE DOERS ARE BECOMING FOLLOWERS. THEY DON’T WANT TO BECOME LIKE BRUNELL YET THEY DON’T WANT TO BE FOLLOWERS.
STORY TIME
BATTALION OF ENEMIES
A CAPTAIN SENDS OUT TWO PLATOONS TO KILL ONE GREEN BERET.
GUN FIRE — GRENADES, A FIRE FIGHT OVER THE RIDGE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. FIREFIGHT LASTED 10 MINUTES.
½ HOUR LATER ONE ENEMY SOLDIER CRAWLS BACK INTO CAMP AND THE CAPTAIN SAYS WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE MEN.
THE SOLDIER ANSWERED THEY ARE ALL DEAD, SIR.
ALL DEAD WHY?
ON HIS LAST BREATH HE SAID THERE WAS TWO OF THEM.
THAT STORY WAS TOLD TO ME MANY YEARS AGO AND I’M NOT DEAD YET.
ON THE WAY TO VIETNAM I KNEW 4 THINGS.
I WAS COMING HOME IN A BODY BAG, POW, MIA OR GETTING ON A PLANE.
THIS PERSON DIDN’T, ANDREW FROM LAOS HE WAS A LEADER IN HIS TIME. HE DIDN’T’T HAVE THE OPTION OF GETTING ON A PLANE.
IN HIS 20’S HE GOT HIS FAMILY OUT OF LAOS AND SOMEHOW MADE IT TO THE U.S.
SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW HE HAS TO LEARN ENGLISH.
TAKES A STATE EXAM TO BECOME AN AGENT.
TOLD GIVE THE COMPANY FIVE YEARS AND HE CAN ENJOY WHAT HE HAS REAPED. (I HAVE THIS ON A VIDEO YET I THINK).
11YEARS WITH THE COMPANY AND SHARED THE SAME VP I HAD.
TERMINATED, DIDN’T’ WRITE ENOUGH BUSINESS. SO MUCH FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM IN WISCONSIN OR THE U.S.A.
GREEN BERET GRADUATION 2008 SAID THE THINGS I BELIEVE IN. HAPPENED TO BE AT FORT BRAGG 4/08 AND CAUGHT A GRADUATION. I ALSO WAS WILLING TO TAKE A BULLET FOR THE ONES THAT NOW HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS COUNTRY. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
RANDY PAUCH WHO (HE DIED, 4/08) WAS DYING FROM CANCER WAS ON “48 HOURS”. HE STATED IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE CORRECT AND YOU HAVE FAILED AND YOU ARE SITTING IN A HARD BACK CHAIR ROCKING BACK AND FORTH SAYING “BUT I WAS RIGHT IN TRYING TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE’ THEN PUT YOUR PACKAGE TOGETHER AND GIVE IT 100%. IF YOU ARE WRONG THIS TIME, THEN YOU’LL KNOW IT FOR SURE.
I’M NOT GOING INTO RETIREMENT KNOWING I QUIT, WHEN I KNOW IT FOR SURE.
THREE EXCELLENT AGENTS LOST A CAREER BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED BEING HONEST WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I FEEL RUBE SAT IN HIS HARD BACK CHAIR ROCKING BACK AND FORTH IN HIS GOLDEN YEARS SAYING HE SHOULDN’T HAVE WRITTEN AFRO-AMERICANS.
I DO NOT WANT TO SIT IN MY HARD BACK CHAIR ROCKING, SAYING I SHOULD HAVE SHORT-CHANGED CLIENTS AND ADDED QUALITY POINT TO HOMES (MY SON HAD TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE LEFT).
ANDREW HAD HIS AMERICAN DREAM TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM BECAUSE HE WAS NOT A FOLLOWER. WOULDN’T ADD CORNERS ETC.
TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND GET WISCONSIN TAKEN CARE OF.
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO RUN THIS COUNTRY AND DESTROY EVERYTHING OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BUILT.
SENATOR,
WOULD YOU LIKE A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK THAT SUPPORTS WHAT I JUST SAID, IT CONTAINS MY NOTE AND PAPERWORK TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING I SAID. EXCEPT, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE IT TOOK 10 MINUTES ON THE FIRE FIGHT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN 5.
SENATOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU’D LIKE TO ASK ME? THIS SHOULD SHOW WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROTECT ALL AGENTS IN EVERY STATE IF IT IS THAT WAY.
I WILL TRAVEL, BUT MY FUNDS ARE LIMITED SO THIS WOULD SPEAK FOR ME.
this is actually really good cause not all people get insured when they work for companys like that
While this article addresses abuses of contract labor, I would point out that small companies use contract labor to “keep people working” when the business does not have enough work for a full time position and doesn’t want to force remaining employees to double up.
Contracting out gives the individual the right to define what work he does, his compensation, and the ability to take on jobs with other companies.
Of course, he is responsible for his own insurance and taxes.
That sounds all well and good, but the fact of the matter is that they are trying to “work the system” in order to cut costs. Doing it this way leaves a huge door open for fraud. The enconomy could be wonderful and they could still use that justiciation that “We are keeping people employed”. Sorry, but you have to spend money to make money.
Most sales agents are contract labor, including the agents in my office. They make their own hours and are responsible for their own pay.
Do they have a business card for your company? Are they allowed to work for other companies?
If yes to either questions, they are probably employees per the code.
I do see the point the article is making and have to agree. I am in NY were it IS a problem, “indepedents” not paying taxes, not having any insurances afforded to them, not being eligible for Wcomp, etc. It is actually a drain on the economy, so when they are not being “independents” and not working, they are not eligible for unemployment (that should have been paid into by their “employer”) now they are welfare recipients.
On the other side of the coin. It is a very practical way for a small business to keep its cost down and at least SOMEONE working.
Hey I will work for you as an independent. You must not have a non compete agreement because under the law, I am NOT at your direction. Therefore I can have a contract with you and a contract with the agent down the street that has contracts with other carriers that you don’t. Now I have access to all of the markets!!!!
They call these people “Day Laborers” Most Day Laborers are illegal so they don’t even record them as independant subs. There is no way to keep tabs, so no taxes, social security etc is being paid by either side.
However, if an illegal day laborer gets injured on the job, they are entitled to workers compensation benefits and they will be awarded too.
Last I checked Allstate, State Farm, and Nationwide agents are all independent contractors with non-competes.
The IRS looks at several factors when determining 1099 status. They look at 3 common law rules which are behavioral, financial, and type of relationship. Insurance agents can be 1099 for the same reason real estate agents and mortgage brokers can be. All can have non-compete clauses and business cards as well.
If in doubt, have your contractor fill out form SS-8 and the IRS will make the determination for you.
Let’s see. If, for example, a construction company does this switcheroo which they all try to do and Big Brother who’s never lived under the same rules and regulations closes down said construction comany (can’t pay – no play)
so not only does society end up paying for his kids and his workers kids etc etc
in the end what’s the difference how the system collapses? Take your pick – put them in jail or let them produce? Oh, I forgot being productive is not the goal, submission to the State is, sorry. Ask the NEA or Teachers’ Unions – they’re paid to not do their jobs and put out “products” no one wants to hire anyway.
Just shoot us all and get it over. Then everyone can be a zombie for the rich and powerful who take it all anyway. Have fun.
Sure, tax rates are high enough and the big corporations through their network outlets, especially the FOREIGNER-OWNED FOX “News”, use the issue to robot us all around to vote against our own best interests on a variety of issues they determine. The real solution is to get the big boys like FedEx and Target to pay their legally required share and not CHEAT.
If you are going to win a war, you first need to identify the enemy correctly…
TN has passed a stopgap law trying to remedy this question of coverage for small contractors. The law is now in limbo, but essentially it is a demand that all contractors must insure all employees including owners with exception of corporations being allowed to excuse certain positions. Personally I feel the law is discriminatory since it pertains to only one classification (contractors). It was touted by big major contractors in hopes to eliminate their costs of insuring the “sub-contractors” who did not have their own coverage. It has had devastating results in that small contractors cannot afford the $7000 in new premium when they are now just beginning to get some work again.
The producers here where I work are 1099 and the owner has already been busted once that I know of. And he still has us 1099.
Ha ha ha ha!!! Like he didn’t learn his lesson the first time and now he is setting himself up to be busted again.
What a dumb a$$.
Why do you work somewhere that you think the boss is a dumba$$? Who’s really the dumba$$?
Working on my business plan now and getting ready to make a move to open my own shop.
Sorry I didn’t disclose everything.
Contract workers pay there socialist insecurity taxes on there net income as well as appropriate federal and state income tax (2nd plank of the communist manifesto). So what is the rub? Government does not like having it’s cradle to grave society circumvented. GOVERNMENT MUST GROW!Read Atlas Shrugged and you will have your answers.
We are paid by commission only, The agency pays 100% of our health insurance, The agency includes us on the workers compensation policy as outside sales. The agency does not tell us to be at the agency any amount of time per week. The agency pays for all of our continuing education expenses. but not gas expense to make sales calls. The agency has a 3 year non piracy agreement, not a non compete.
Should we be a W2 or 1099? We are currently 1099 subcontractors.
Joe, I’m not an attorney or an accountant, but it seems if they pay for your health insurance directly and your CE directly, you’re employees. Benefits like these aren’t to be made available to contractors.
Now on the other hand if they have some type of incentive program that doesn’t DIRECTLY pay for those benefits, that could enter you back toward the 1099 contractor status. If in doubt, sit down with the agent in charge and have a discussion. It’s best to make sure everything is on the up and up.
The article implies this practice is new and has been driven by the current economic down turn. The problem has existed for years.
The IRS has a basic five principle rule to determine whether the “independent contractor” is an employee.
1.) Is the independent contractor told when and where to work? If yes, the independent contractor is a employee.
2.) Does the independent contractor uses the tools (includes software and computers) furnished by the employer? If yes, the independent contractor is an employee.
3.) Does the independent contractor work day to day, week to week, or month to month exclusively for the employer? If yes, the independent contractor is an employee.
4.) Does the independent contractor hold himself out to the public as an independent contractor and solicits work from the public directly and bid on jobs independently from the employer? If no, the independent contractor is an employee.
5.) Does the independent contractor participate and have exposure for profits and losses? In no, the independent contractor is an employee.
The misconception in government and media is that the small employer is the most prevalent abuser. When in fact, the larger employers have used this method to shed liability exposures and taxation for years.
An example could be the newspaper delivery person. The newspaper industry contracted with people to deliver newspapers as independent contractors. The newspaper told these independent contractors where and when to work. They independent contractor were exclusive carriers for that paper and were not allowed to deliver additional periodicals. The independent contractor could only sell the one paper. Thus, he had only one “tool or product” to gererate revenue in a specified delivery area. The independent contract worked daily for the employer and did not compete in the market place with the participation of profit and loss. Therefore, the newspaper delivery person is an employee of the newspaper.
From an insurance perspective in North Carolina, the pauper subcontractor has been abolished. And liability follows the the money from the subcontractor through the general contractor to the employer. Lawyers will follow the money until workers compensation coverage is located.
Even if the subcontractor pays a percentage of the job back to general contractor to cover the premiums of him being an uninsured subcontractor and provide coverage for the subcontractor’s injured employee; the subcontractor is still in violation of employment laws and can be sued by the general contractor’s worker compensation carrier for damages since he was not and can not be additional insured under the contract.
The joke in the construction industry is: The last independent painting contractor hire to work on a job was the last person would got in the van that morning.
The question every person would recieves 1099 should be, Am I an employee?
The employer by using this method has saved the following:
1.) Federal Unemployment tax 0.8% of payroll,
2.) Employer portion of Social Security tax of 6.20% of payroll,
3.) Employer portion of Medicare tax of 1.45% of payroll,
4.) State Unemployment tax varying greatly from as little as 0.002% and as high as 4.5%,
5.) Workers Compensation coverage (based on payroll),
6.) General Liability coverage (based on payroll),
7.) Employee Benefit packages.
The savings can easily exceed 30%!
Bottom line is that taxes are due whether you are a contractor or employee. It’s just easier on the gov’t to deal with a handful of large employers than thousands of independent contractors.
Yes, taxes are owed. The question is who is the responsible party to pay them. The simple fact is the government has not gone after the the larger employers. So the small employers have followed their lead. Many employees of all sizes of companies are being screwed by their employers and the government from the inappropriate use of the term independent contractor.
VERY LONG BUT TRUE
Long but true: The State Senators, representatives, commissioner’s office, along with federal are not hearing the screams for help. I have pushed this for over 15 years, end result: Do what you are told or you can lose everything. I didn’t believe that was possible. Now read the agent’s web site: On the right is agents bulletin board and on the bottom is the last NAFFA Winter 2009/2010 report. They now type what I stated in from of the Wisconsin legalization 12 years ago.I can cover a lot of ground so sit back, read my notes and say: “This can’t be true”.
I’m not dead yet.
Steve
“”””IT IS NOT MY JOB””””
September 01, 2009
Sure wish that was on the State exam: It is not my job, to stick up for civil rights, equal rights, consumers, taxpayers and anything else that would help a person protect his/her estate. To quote Casey L when he gave the training on short canceling policies when the NAACP suit was going on: This (short canceling the policies) ” beats redlining, we get to cover everybody.”
I’m done, either I’m dealing with a lot of people that don’t have it together upstairs or I’ve lost it.
Enclosed are my packets. I do have to admit this experience was devastating to me. It rivaled, emotionally, my time in Vietnam.
I set out with one goal when I met with the first Senator.
1: Some way, shape, or form, protect insurance agents in Wisconsin.
I added a second goal:
2: I’d like to hear, on a talk show, TV, news, this statement or a class action suit:
A President, Jack, of a large insurance company in Madison, Wisconsin, is teaching its agency force to count corners on homes they write for replacement coverage. If you have a standard six outside corner home, add 2 or 4 corners making it an 8 or 10 corner home. This gives unearned profit to the insurance company, at the expense of the unwitting consumer.
How’d you like him to be teaching your children to count?
The company terminated a decorated disabled Vietnam Veteran, Special Forces, Green Beret Sergeant for calling his manager a “NIG”.
The manager stated he never said that but I was terminated anyway for that reason.
Approved by an Afro American Yvonne J ( A Lawyer), go figure. I would have taken a bullet for her.
The real reason is I refused to commit consumer fraud.
Welcome to Wisconsin, not a place to buy insurance.
From a number of U.S. Congressmen, Senators, Representatives, news outlets and even the Commissioner’s office: It is no one’s job. I sure wish I’d have known that prior to putting my neck on the chopping block.
United States Senator Russell D. Feingold is wrong, it is federal also. The Social Security tax is short-changed along with federal tax. Agents in Wisconsin are employees, but buried under “self-employed”.
Al Capone would have loved to have the State of Wisconsin as his ally. It is not anybody’s job, Federal or State, to police the insurance industry.
I was hoping to get one person of importance endorse me, but it is “Not their Job”.
Should I mentor the people around me with, if they see a house on fire or a car accident remember, it is not your job?
I’m not dead yet, but I cannot carry the ball myself. The right person is going to have to get screwed. Maybe one of the people that are supposed to oversee the programs. Then everyone will say ~~~~”” IT WASN’T MY JOB””~~~~~~
I’m done.
Thank you
STEVEN A BRUNELL
7676 S 70TH ST
FRANKLIN, WI 53132
NOTES
SENATOR LAZICH April 13, 2008
January 13, 2009. February 3, 2009.
FROM THE PRESIDENT, OR COMMANDER IN CHIEF, THE HOUSE OF CONGRESS, THE SENATORS, THE GOVERNOR OF THIS FINE STATE OF WISCONSIN, ALONG WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES, THEY ALL SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DO YOU KNOW THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES-THE VP’S, OFFICE MANAGERS, UNDERWRITERS AND EVEN CLERKS-CAN VETO ANY LAW, REGULATION OR RULE?
BETWEEN INSURANCE COMPANY AND AGENT THEY HAVE THE POWER TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND NEVER WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
NOW THAT DOES NOT SEEM FAIR SINCE INSURANCE AGENTS ARE U.S. CITIZENS AND PAY TAXES ALSO.
I’M GOING TO START WITH MY TERMINATION OF MAY 2003 AND THEN GO BACK JUST BEFORE BILL (AB) 485 WAS INTRODUCED.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY CALLED ME INTO A VP’S OFFICE ALONG WITH TWO COMPANY LAWYERS.
I WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE SIGNED A BLANK SHEET OF PAPER A MANAGER WANTED ME TO SIGN.
I WANTED TO SHOW IT TO MY LAWYER, (SO MUCH FOR BEING AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR).
I WAS THEN TOLD IN FRONT OF THE TWO LAWYERS IT IS ETHICAL TO ADD CORNERS TO HOMES AND THERE IS NOTHING STEVEN BRUNELL CAN DO ABOUT IT. (I ALSO RECEIVED 2 CE CREDIT ON ETHICS TRAINING CLASS PUT ON BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY).
THEN I WAS TOLD MY MANAGER SAID I CALLED HIM A “NIG”.
GREEN BERET SGT, VIETNAM 71/72, NEVER WOULD HAPPEN FROM ME. WHAT A PUNCH IN THE GUT!
STEVE BRUNELL WAS GONE AND I DID APPEAL, WHICH I WILL COVER LATER.
THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME:
I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHAT I WAS TOLD.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONTROLS AND RULES 100%.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY TERMINATED ME ONCE BEFORE IN DECEMBER 1993. I SPOKE TO A COMPANY LAWYER IN REGARDS TO A VERY RACIST MANAGER, IF YOU WERE AFRO-AMERICAN OR A WOMAN, THERE WAS NOT ONE NICE THING SAID. I ALSO SHARED THE THREATS BY INSURANCE COMPANY PERSONNEL.
YOU WILL SWIM WITH THE CURRENT OR DROWN,
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO SEND YOUR KIDS TO COLLEGE?
YOU WILL DO WHATEVER YOUR MANAGER TELLS YOU TO DO OR YOU’RE GONE,
FOLLOWED UP WITH, YOU ARE THE BIGGEST ******* I’VE EVER MET.
ALONG WITH MANY MORE THREATS.
I GAVE THE COMPANY LAWYER TAPES AND MEMOS AND SHE EVEN WAS TEARING UP.
NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY PERSONNEL, BECAUSE THIS IS THE BUSINESS PLAN OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
RIGHT AFTER I TALKED TO HER I WAS TERMINATED.
SHE GOT ME RE-INSTATED RIGHT AWAY, BEFORE ANYTHING GOT PROCESSED AND YES I SPOKE TO LAWYERS WITH THE NAACP, BUT THEY HAD JUST REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THEY HAD OTHER AGENT TAPES.
AGENTS TAPED BECAUSE WHAT I’M ABOUT TO TELL YOU, YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE. I WILL SHOW YOU WHY THE AGENTS NEED TO BE PROTECTED AND THE SAME TIME THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VETO-WHAT EVER YOU DO.
OCTOBER 15, 1997, BILL (AB) 485 WAS INTRODUCED AND SHOT DOWN. THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY GOT 10 MORE YEARS TO RUN WISCONSIN.
THIS INSURANCE COMPANY TRAINING WAS VERY UNIQUE. I HAD THIS PRIOR TO BILL (AB) 485 AND AFTER THE BILL GOT SHOT DOWN. THE TRAINING WAS GIVEN TO LOCAL AGENTS AND ALSO THE STAFF.
THE COMPANY MOTTO IS:
TAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN OFF THE CLIENT NOW,
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RETIRE WITH YOU.
THE COMPANY WOULD HOLD UP A DOLLAR BILL AND SAY THE COLOR GREEN, GOES WITH EVERY THING YOU WEAR.
ALONG WITH ALWAYS THREATS AGAINST YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
THEY SWEAR AT YOU AND YOU HAVE NO SAY ON PROTECTING THE CLIENT.
I SHARED PART OF THIS WITH A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, BUT HE STOPPED ME PRIOR TO ME FINISHING AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NO WAY AN INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD DO THIS. “WRONG”, THEY GOT TEN MORE YEARS TO DO IT.
AGENTS TRIED TO KEEP THIS IN HOUSE, BUT NOW THEY PUT ME IN THE OUT HOUSE.
BECAUSE SINCE I’M IN THE OUTHOUSE I WAS GOING TO START BY CLEANING UP THE POOP IN THE BASEMENT.
THE TRAINING BY THE COMPANY WAS CALLED “HOW TO KEEP AND PRESERVE PREMIUM DOLLARS FOR YOUR AGENCY.”
THIS IS THE COMPANY TRAINING.
IF YOU RECEIVE A CANCEL LETTER FROM ANOTHER AGENT OR THE INSURED JUST TOSS IT. THE CLIENT WILL NEVER KNOW AND WILL FORGET ABOUT IT. IF THE CLIENT CALLS JUST SAY YOU NEVER RECEIVED IT, MAKING THE OTHER AGENT LOOK BAD AS IF HE/SHE DIDN’T DO IT.
THEN MAKE THE CLIENT PROVIDE PROOF HE/SHE DID GET NEW INSURANCE.
IF A CLIENT DROPS COVERAGE MAKE THE CHANGE DATE 7 DAYS OR LATER, CLIENT HAS NO IDEA WHAT HIS/HER REFUND SHOULD BE. ALSO IF CLIENT ADDS COVERAGE MAKE IT 7 DAYS EARLIER. YOU SHOULD GET PAID EXTRA FOR YOUR TIME.
IF CLIENT CALLS ON THIS, OH! COMPANY ERROR, DATE LOOKED LIKE 17 NOT 11.
NOW HAVING THIS TRAINING AND BEING IN THE OUT HOUSE I NOW WAS ON THE RECEIVING END OF WHAT I WAS TAUGHT.
AS I WAS REWRITING MY CLIENTS, I TOLD CLIENTS TO CALL ME WHEN THEY GOT THE REFUND OR IF THEY DIDN’T HAVE IT IN TWO WEEKS. I ALSO X-DATED THEM IN OUTLOOK.
THE FIRST THREE I SENT A LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER. THE RESPONSE WAS EACH CLIENT HAS TO FILE HIS/HER OWN CLAIM.
OK, THEY DID AND THE ANSWERS WERE DIDN’T RECEIVE IT. THE REST AFTER THAT WERE OH! WRONG DATE, I READ IT WRONG.
AFTER ABOUT 5 LETTERS ALL THE REQUESTS STARTED OUT WITH HOW CAN A COMPANY BE IN BUSINESS WITH THIS BUSINESS PRACTICE? I DON’T KNOW HOW BIG THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE IS, BUT THIS SHOULD HAVE RAISED UP SOME RED FLAGS. THEN I’D BE IN THE PICTURE GIVING THE REAL STORY.
THE COMMISSIONER WAS ON A NEWS STORY DOWN IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA AND HE STATED HE HAS THE POWER TO TERMINATE ANY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT WANTS TO DO OR TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS SENIOR CITIZENS, IN THIS STATE.
HERE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
AN 87-YEAR-OLD VETERAN (WILLING TO DIE FOR THEM). FAMILY IS READY TO GO ALL THE WAY ON THE COMPLAINT, NEWS ETC. LETTER STARTED OUT WITH HOW COULD A COMPANY DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE. CLIENT WAS INSURED FOR 30 YEARS+ WITH THIS COMPANY.
HIS CANCEL THEY KEPT ALMOST 30 DAYS OF PREMIUM.
NOTHING FROM THE COMMISSIONER’S BUT A FLUFF LETTER AND A “WE READ THE DATE WRONG FOR THE REASON”.
IF THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE HAD LOOKED INTO THIS, THEY WOULD HAVE ENDED UP TALKING TO ME. SENIOR STUFF ONLY FLUFF.
NEXT CASE, ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE. A YOUNG ADULT, SAME FORMAT ON THE LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER. THE CLIENT NOT ONLY GOT THE FLUFF LETTERS, HE WAS CALLED BY THE COMPANY AND YELLED AT FOR WRITING THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE. HE SHOULDN’T HAVE BOTHERED THEM. THIS CLIENT ALSO WAS READY TO GO ON THE NEWS.
I SENT IN OR I SHOULD SAY THE CLIENTS SENT IN OVER 15 REQUESTS FOR POLICY CANCELS. MY AGENCY WAS HARD TO REWRITE BECAUSE THE AGENT WHO WAS ASSIGNED MY AGENCY DID A GREAT JOB MARKETING THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW I WAS TERMINATED FROM THE COMPANY FOR CALLING MY MANAGER A RACIAL NAME.
I HAD THE TRAINING AND THAT IS THE ONLY REASON THE ACCOUNTS ABOVE GOT THE REFUNDS.
YOU ROB A BANK, YOU GET THREE YEARS IN JAIL. YOU SHORT- CHANGE CLIENT, AND YOU GET A SUMMER HOME.
A LOT OF OTHER TAX PAYERS WERE LEFT UNPROTECTED AND AN AGENT WILL DO WHAT THEY ARE TOLD OR LOSE THE AGENCY IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
NO ONE WILL EVER HOLD THE INSURANCE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ONES THAT WILL NEVER GET THEIR REFUNDS, UNLESS THE STATE GIVES THE AGENTS THE PROTECTION. THEN THEY CAN SPEAK OUT AND NOT BE BRUNELL (TERMINATED).
AFTER MY 15 COMPLAINTS THE COMPANY STARTED SENDING OUT FLUFF LETTERS, STATING YOUR POLICY WAS CANCELED THIS DATE AND TOLD TO CONFIRM THE CANCEL DATE. IF THE CLIENT FOLLOWED THROUGH, OK, BUT NO ONE READS THEM. THEY DON’T FEEL THIS COULD EVER HAPPEN. WRONG.
CLIENT SHORT CHANGED AND WILL NEVER KNOW IT. MONIES WILL NEVER BE USED TO PAY CLAIMS. FREE MONEY.
A CLIENT PAYS HIS/HER BILLS LATE. CREDIT SCORE GOES DOWN.
NOW CLIENT PAYS HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUMS BECAUSE OF CREDIT SCORE.
WIN/WIN/WIN FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
I’M GOING TO GO INTO THE TRAINING PUT ON BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS WAS ON APRIL 30, 1998. THIS WAS COMPANY WIDE TRAINING WITH SMALLER TRAINING SESSIONS ON A LOCAL LEVEL, TO ADD COVERAGE WITH NO MORE PREMIUM DOLLARS NEEDED.
MOST TRAINING WAS DONE ON AN OVERHEAD PROJECTOR OR AN EASEL BOARD AND NO HARD COPIES FOR THE AGENT
The only life policy a client will ever need to buy. U. L. 2000.
Client 35 years old wants $150,000 life and only pay on it for 30 years, but life insurance until age 94. Premium $111.83 a month.
DO NOT SHOW HIM THIS LEDGER OR LEAVE IT WITH HIM
Show him this one at $115.00 per month. $3.17 extra and $115.00 a month is easier to remember to subtract.
$3.17 X 12 MONTHS = $38.04 A YEAR X 30 YEARS = $1,141.20
Client has modified the ledger and we don’t have to show him a correct one. Anyway no one enforces it.
$111.83 age 94 $115.00 age 94
Cash value $1,151 Cash value $224,677
Death benefit $150,000 Death benefit $226,924 ~ $1,141.20
Age 65 C V $61,203 – DB Age 65 C V $64,983 – DB
Age 66 CV $63,350 Age 66 CV $67,446
No one can show how $1,141.20 can turn into this and plus have a death benefit into $224,667 at age 94. $150,000 of life on a 65 year old $1,500 a year.
AGENTS SPOKE OUT IN HOUSE BECAUSE THIS ALSO IS OUR FUTURE AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WAS OF NO HELP.
I SHARED THIS FIRST LEDGER WITH THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND THEY STATED NO WAY WOULD A COMPANY DO THIS. WRONG.
THE AGENT VOICE IS A TOOL WE COULD USE TO BLAST THE COMPANY AND SAY THIS ISN’T RIGHT. IF YOU LOGGED ONTO THE SITE YOU NEEDED A PASSWORD. IN 2008 A GOOD NUMBER OF THE PROBLEMS ARE ON THE FIRST PAGE NOW.
AGENTS VOICE WEB SITE: http://www.naafa.com/
WIN/WIN/ WIN
DEATH BENEFIT ALONG WITH CASH VALUES, CLIENT HAS A PLAN
AGENT HAS A SOLID CLIENT FOR HIS/HER FUTURE.
COMPANY MAKES MONEY
WIN/WIN/ WIN TURNS INTO
LOSE/LOSE//WIN
NO DEATH BENEFIT OR CASH VALUE
CLIENT LEAVES AGENT AND ALSO NO EXTENDED EARNING PAID TO AGENT
COMPANY HAS ALL THE DOLLARS AND OWES NOTHING TO ANYBODY.
AT THIS TRAINING THE INSURANCE COMPANY BRAGGED AND KNEW THERE WAS NO WAY THE LEDGERS WERE OF FACT.
NOW THE U L STACKING GIVEN ON A LOCAL LEVEL
Sell a client a $100,000
2 years later, go back and add on another $50,000 with no increase in premium.
No replacement forms need to be filed. Did not cancel or use premium out of policy.
2 more years go back and add another $50,000.
2 years later go back and add another $50,000. Total now $250,000
5 years later go back and reduce back to $100,000. All done on $43.00
10- 15 years later, client has nothing.
THIS TRAINING WAS AFTER I MET WITH THE NEWS REPORTERS AND I TOOK, (WAS NOT TOLD I COULDN’T) A HARD COPY, FROM THE TRAINING ROOM.
AGENTS VOICE CONTINUED TO BLAST ABOUT THE UL LEDGERS, BUT THE COMPANY SENT OUT A FLUFF LETTER TO SHOW WE CHECK OUR LEDGERS. THE FLUFF LETTER WAS ON TERM ONLY. THIS WAS A BROADCAST LETTER E-MAIL
THIS IS TO SHOW GOOD FAITH TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HOLD TRAINING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLIENT, NOT ON HARD COPY, AND ON FRIDAY SEND OUT WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.
THIS WAS STATE WIDE TRAINING AND THE COMPANY UNDERWRITER ALSO HAD THIS TRAINING. I ALSO RECEIVED 2 CE CREDITS ON THIS TRAINING APPROVED BY THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
THE FIRST TRAINING PUT ON BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO HAD VP’S THERE.
THE UNDERWRITER DREW A SIX CORNER HOME ON THE BOARD AND FIGURED A REPLACEMENT COST ON IT.
THEN ADDED TWO MORE CORNERS RAISING THE DWELLING BY $16,000
THEN WE WERE TOLD, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY WE HAVE TO START ADDING TWO MORE CORNERS TO THE HOMES TO RAISE THE VALUE OF THE DWELLING ON REPLACEMENT COST.
BEING A LEADER I ASKED WHAT IF A JUDGE ASKED ME IN COURT HOW MANY CORNERS ARE ON THIS HOME?
A VP IN THE BACK STOOD UP AND SAID: LOOK WE ARE GOING TO PAY THE LOSS ANYWAY, SO WE MIGHT AS WELL GET THE EXTRA PREMIUM DOLLARS WE CAN
I SHUT UP AND AS THE YEARS WENT ON THE TRAINING GOT IMPROVED. NOW WE WERE TO ADD QUALITY POINTS. AN EXTRA BATH ROOM, REC ROOM ETC.
THE COMPANY SENT OUT A LETTER TO THE INSURED ASKING FOR THEM TO FILL OUT A REVIEW. SOUNDS LIKE A NICE THING BUT VERY CONFUSING.
EXAMPLE: HOW MANY CORNERS IN THIS ROOM (SQUARE OR RECTANGLE)?
12, BUT THE ANSWER SHOULD BE 4 ON A SQUARE OR RECTANGLE ROOM. I DIDN’T COUNT DOOR JAMS OR WINDOWS. THOSE THAT SENT BACK ONLY DID DAMAGE TO THEMSELVES.
A $150,000 HOME WAS GETTING A REPLACEMENT COST OF $250,000.
IN COMPANY TRAINING WE WERE TOLD THAT WE SHOULD MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE CLIENT’S POLICY, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE CLIENT.
ONE AGENT WAS 100% IN DOING THIS TO ALL HIS CLIENTS.
I ASKED HIM, HOW DID HE GET 100% AT THIS TRAINING MEETING PUT ON BY THE COMPANY?
ANSWER: HE MADE ALL THE CHANGES WITHOUT THE CLIENT’S CONSENT.
I ASKED HIM WHAT IF A CLIENT COMPLAINED?
ANSWER IF 2 OUT OF 100 COMPLAIN HE’D BLAME A COMPANY GLITCH AND CORRECT IT BUT HE STILL GOT THE OTHER 98.
THIS IS WHEN THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED, EVERYONE SHOULD BE 100 % OR NOT BE WITH THIS COMPANY.
THIS AGENT ALSO RECEIVED MY AGENCY AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB LETTING MY CLIENTS KNOW I WAS TERMINATED FOR CALLING MY MANAGER A RACIAL NAME.
I HAD A CLIENT FILE A COMMISSIONER COMPLAINT AGAINST ME.
HE WANTED TO LOWER HIS HOME VALUE BY $30,000, BUT THE BASE REPLACEMENT WAS HIGHER.
WENT TO ANOTHER AGENT WHO IS A FOLLOWER, AND GOT LOWERED.
CLIENT WANTED ME TO APOLOGIZE TO HIM, NO WAY.
CLIENT WROTE A LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER AND I WAS HOPING SOME ONE AT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HAVE LEADERSHIP ABILITY TO SAY THIS IS ENOUGH.
AGENTS ARE BEING TRAINED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLIENTS, NOW THE AGENT IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS FELLOW AGENT AND THE COMPANY BY UNDER-INSURING A HOME.
SORRY TO SAY NO LEADERSHIP SHOWN. COMPANY FALSIFIES AN ANSWER TO THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE.
I MADE SURE THE COMMISSIONERS OFFICE KNEW MY DATA WAS CORRECT AND THE OTHER DATA WAS 100% WRONG.
INSURANCE COMPANY NEVER HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FALSIFYING DATA TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
I RECEIVED NO ANSWER FROM MY LETTER.
THE AGENT INVOLVED WAS ALSO AN AGENT, MANAGER AND BACK TO AGENT. DID WHATEVER HE WAS TOLD.
WHEN HE WAS A MANAGER HE HAD AN AGENT BY THE NAME OF RUBE.
30+ YEARS WITH THE COMPANY. THIS WAS ON THE NEWS.
RUBE TAPED HIS MEETINGS.
RUBE WAS TOLD TO STOP WRITING AFRO-AMERICANS, (THE FULL N WORD WAS USED) OR HE’D BE TERMINATED.
RUBE STILL WROTE AFRO-AMERICANS AND WAS TERMINATED FOR IT.
RUBE SUED ALONG WITH HIS TAPES BEING PLAYED ON THE LOCAL NEWS.
RUBE LOST HIS SUIT, BECAUSE IN WISCONSIN AN INSURANCE COMPANY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT.
I’M GOING TO SHARE TWO COMPLAINTS. ONE AGAINST ME AND ONE AGAINST AN INSURANCE COMPANY. BOTH HANDLED BY THE SAME PERSON AT THE SAME TIME, DATES DO OVER LAP.
179745 03/03/2005 1169718 01/24/05
I’m beat up, Challenging why I never filed a complaint.
3rd party questions to me. STATE OF WISCONSIN OF NO HELP
two of them Bill 485 + PROTECT THE AGENTS
Client 100% wrong
April 13, 2008 THIS COMPANY AGENT DID NOT GET A REFUND, REQUEST
WAS IN SUNDAYS PAPER NEVER GOT THERE USING MAIL!
ALSO WAS GOING TO GIVE INSURANCE COMPANY not held accountable or
COVERAGE ON CLAIM FOR Questioned. On threats SENT HIM LETTER
ME, NO WAY BACK WITH A COPY OF ADDING CORNERS.
NO REPLY BACK. I CANNOT FINE HIM OR REVOKE HIS RIGHT TO DO BUSINESS IN WISCONSIN. SO I NEVER FOLLOWED UP.
COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE NO HELP.
AS FOR NOT STICKING UP FOR THE WEAK, I WENT TO THE NEWS MEDIA MANY TIMES. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLED ME AND TOLD ME SHE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE BUSINESS PRACTICE OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
THE D.A. SENT ME A LETTER STATING THE SAME.
THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHAT I WAS TOLD IN ORDER TO KEEP MY AGENCY.
THIS IS WHY THE PRESIDENT SHOULD ORDER IN AN A TEAM TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR CONSUMER/STATES/U.S. OF AMERICA AND EVERYONE WOULD BE PROTECETD..
AS OF RIGHT NOW WISCONSIN HAS DROPPED THE BALL, TO PROTECT THE AGENTS AND CONSUMERS.
EVEN IN COLORADO THIS COMPANY MADE THE NEWS BIG TIME FOR SHORT CHANGING THE CONSUMER AND IT DOESN’T EVEN MAKE THE LOCAL NEWS HERE. INSURANCE COMPANIES OUTRANK THE GOVERNMENT. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT STAND A CHANCE.
NOW WHY IS STEVE BRUNELL COMING OUT STRONG AGAIN TO SUPPORT THE AGENTS AND THE CONSUMERS OF THIS FINE STATE?
WHEN THE VP OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY CAME INTO THE AREA HE DREW A CIRCLE ON THE EASEL BOARD AND DREW A LINE FROM THE CENTER TO THE TOP.
HE STATED THAT IF YOU ARE NOT ON THIS LINE, YOU WILL BE GONE.
NOW HE ADDS YOU WILL BE GONE LIKE BRUNELL.
IF MY NAME IS BEING USED THEN I’M STILL VERY MUCH AN ACTIVE PLAYER. SO HERE I AM, I’M NOT DEAD YET.
I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A LIFE SPECIALIST AT THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE COME OUT WITH A NEW U L. DUMPING THE OLD AGAIN.
WHY IS THIS THE ONLY UL PRODUCT THIS CLIENT WILL EVER BUY?
10 TO 15 YEARS LATER WHEN THE POLICY IS COLLAPSING THE CLIENT WILL FEEL FAILURE INSIDE. HIS FUTURE PLANS HAVE FAILED.
HE COULD WRITE A LETTER, BUT THE ANSWER WOULD BE A FORMAT FLUFF LETTER WITH NO SUPPORT FROM THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
EVEN IF HE HAS THE LEDGERS AND GIVES THEM TO A LAWYER. THE LAWYER WILL NOT KNOW THEY WERE MADE UP. END RESULT INSURANCE COMPANY WINS.
THE COMPANY WAS RIGHT, THE CLIENT WILL NEVER BUY A U L AGAIN.
NOW IF THE CLIENT WANTS TO BUY NEW INSURANCE, IF UN-INSURABLE, WILL DIE WITH OUT INSURANCE.
IF INSURABLE WILL PAY A HIGHER PREMIUM, OLDER.
THE NEW U L HAS ADDED AN EXTRA FEE INSIDE.
THE NEW WILL BE SOLD TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION AND THE OLDER GENERATION WILL JUST SIT IN A ROCKING CHAIR WITH A VOID IN WHAT THEY PLANNED.
ON MY APPEAL FOR MY CAREER OF 24.5 YEARS:
MY WIFE AND I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A VP AND COMPANY LAWYER AND WE WERE TOLD I SHOULD HAVE SIGNED THAT BLANK SHEET OF PAPER. I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHAT I WAS TOLD AND HE’D SIGN AND DO ANYTHING HIS BOSS TOLD HIM TO DO. NO LEADERSHIP IN THAT POSITION OF THE COMPANY AND SO MUCH FOR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS.
WE WERE TOLD, IT IS ETHICAL TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CONSUMER AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.
MY MANAGER DID SAY I NEVER SAID I CALLED HIM A “NIG” BUT I’M TERMINATED FOR THAT ANYWAY.
THE AGENTS IN THIS STATE NEED TO BE PROTECTED. IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO APRIL OF 2003 THAT WOULD BE GREAT (MY SON HAD TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE LEFT). BUT THE MAIN CONCERN IS TAKE CARE OF THE SENIORS AND TAX PAYERS BY TAKING CARE OF THE AGENTS OF THIS FINE STATE.
INSURANCE COMPANIES BELIEVE IN LIQUIDATION OF THE ESTATE FOR THE CONSUMER ALONG WITH THE INSURANCE AGENT AND CONSERVATION OF THE ESTATE FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY. LET’S DO ALL THREE. CONSERVATION FOR CONSUMER, AGENT AND COMPANY.
INSURANCE COMPANY TRAINING
ONCE ONE INSURANCE COMPANY SHOWS THE REST THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, THE REST WILL AND DO FOLLOW.
FOR EXAMPLE A LARGE COMPANY WAS JUST FINED FOR TAKING EXAMS TO GET THE AGENTS LICENSED.
THIS IS COMPANY TRAINING, TRUST ME AGENTS DON’T WAKE UP MONDAY MORNING AND COME UP WITH THE PLANS YOU ARE SEEING.
PROTECT AGENTS ON A FEDERAL LEVEL.
I’M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAS TO APPROVE A PRODUCT FOR SALE.
IF THE STATE APPROVES A PRODUCT THAT ITS ONLY PURPOSE IS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CONSUMER, THEN WHY ISN’T THE STATE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS OUTCOME, NOT THE AGENT?
LIKE THE U L BEING CHANGED EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS. WE HAVE COME OUT WITH NEW. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE OLD? MAYBE THE INSURANCE COMPANY SHOULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO SELL A U L IN THE STATE, BECAUSE THEY DON’T PUT OUT GOOD PRODUCTS AND ARE BAIT AND SWITCHING THE PRODUCTS.
WHY WOULDN’T WHOEVER APPROVES THIS PRODUCT SAY WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? NO WAY AND DOES THE PERSON APPROVING THE PRODUCTS KNOW WHAT INSURANCE IS?
IF THIS HAPPENS IN HOME INSURANCE THE CONSUMERS WOULD BE ON AN UPRISING ON LIFE AND HEALTH. NO WAY TO MONITOR IT ON A ONE ON ONE CLIENT TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND MORE FLUFF.
IF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WOULD PROTECT THE AGENTS. THEN MAYBE THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WOULD BE FORCED TO PUT OUT GOOD PRODUCTS OR THE AGENTS CAN SAY: I’M NOT SELLING THAT GARBAGE.
THE NEW PRODUCTS,
THE INSURANCE AGENTS OF THIS FINE STATE DO NOT WAKE UP ON A MONDAY MORNING AND ALL COME UP WITH THIS IDEA TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN OR CONSUMERS.
THIS IS FROM INSURANCE COMPANY TRAINING.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF AGENTS IN WISCONSIN.
LEADERS
DOERS
FOLLOWERS.
AT THE END OF THE TRAINING CLASS IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM THEY ARE BEING TOLD: THIS IS WHAT YOU’LL DO OR YOU’LL BE LIKE BRUNELL.
PROTECT THE INSURANCE AGENT AND THEN SOMEONE CAN SAY I’M NOT SELLING THIS, AND THE LEADERS WILL COME ALIVE AGAIN.
THE LEADERS ARE NOW BECOMING DOERS AND THE DOERS ARE BECOMING FOLLOWERS. THEY DON’T WANT TO BECOME LIKE BRUNELL YET THEY DON’T WANT TO BE FOLLOWERS.
STORY TIME
BATTALION OF ENEMIES
A CAPTAIN SENDS OUT TWO PLATOONS TO KILL ONE GREEN BERET.
GUN FIRE — GRENADES, A FIRE FIGHT OVER THE RIDGE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. FIREFIGHT LASTED 10 MINUTES.
½ HOUR LATER ONE ENEMY SOLDIER CRAWLS BACK INTO CAMP AND THE CAPTAIN SAYS WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE MEN.
THE SOLDIER ANSWERED THEY ARE ALL DEAD, SIR.
ALL DEAD WHY?
ON HIS LAST BREATH HE SAID THERE WAS TWO OF THEM.
THAT STORY WAS TOLD TO ME MANY YEARS AGO AND I’M NOT DEAD YET.
ON THE WAY TO VIETNAM I KNEW 4 THINGS.
I WAS COMING HOME IN A BODY BAG, POW, MIA OR GETTING ON A PLANE.
THIS PERSON DIDN’T, ANDREW FROM LAOS HE WAS A LEADER IN HIS TIME. HE DIDN’T’T HAVE THE OPTION OF GETTING ON A PLANE.
IN HIS 20’S HE GOT HIS FAMILY OUT OF LAOS AND SOMEHOW MADE IT TO THE U.S.
SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW HE HAS TO LEARN ENGLISH.
TAKES A STATE EXAM TO BECOME AN AGENT.
TOLD GIVE THE COMPANY FIVE YEARS AND HE CAN ENJOY WHAT HE HAS REAPED. (I HAVE THIS ON A VIDEO YET I THINK).
11YEARS WITH THE COMPANY AND SHARED THE SAME VP I HAD.
TERMINATED, DIDN’T’ WRITE ENOUGH BUSINESS. SO MUCH FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM IN WISCONSIN OR THE U.S.A.
GREEN BERET GRADUATION 2008 SAID THE THINGS I BELIEVE IN. HAPPENED TO BE AT FORT BRAGG 4/08 AND CAUGHT A GRADUATION. I ALSO WAS WILLING TO TAKE A BULLET FOR THE ONES THAT NOW HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS COUNTRY. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
RANDY PAUCH WHO (HE DIED, 4/08) WAS DYING FROM CANCER WAS ON “48 HOURS”. HE STATED IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE CORRECT AND YOU HAVE FAILED AND YOU ARE SITTING IN A HARD BACK CHAIR ROCKING BACK AND FORTH SAYING “BUT I WAS RIGHT IN TRYING TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE’ THEN PUT YOUR PACKAGE TOGETHER AND GIVE IT 100%. IF YOU ARE WRONG THIS TIME, THEN YOU’LL KNOW IT FOR SURE.
I’M NOT GOING INTO RETIREMENT KNOWING I QUIT, WHEN I KNOW IT FOR SURE.
THREE EXCELLENT AGENTS LOST A CAREER BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED BEING HONEST WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I FEEL RUBE SAT IN HIS HARD BACK CHAIR ROCKING BACK AND FORTH IN HIS GOLDEN YEARS SAYING HE SHOULDN’T HAVE WRITTEN AFRO-AMERICANS.
I DO NOT WANT TO SIT IN MY HARD BACK CHAIR ROCKING, SAYING I SHOULD HAVE SHORT-CHANGED CLIENTS AND ADDED QUALITY POINT TO HOMES (MY SON HAD TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE LEFT).
ANDREW HAD HIS AMERICAN DREAM TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM BECAUSE HE WAS NOT A FOLLOWER. WOULDN’T ADD CORNERS ETC.
TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND GET WISCONSIN TAKEN CARE OF.
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO RUN THIS COUNTRY AND DESTROY EVERYTHING OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BUILT.
SENATOR,
WOULD YOU LIKE A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK THAT SUPPORTS WHAT I JUST SAID, IT CONTAINS MY NOTE AND PAPERWORK TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING I SAID. EXCEPT, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE IT TOOK 10 MINUTES ON THE FIRE FIGHT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN 5.
SENATOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU’D LIKE TO ASK ME? THIS SHOULD SHOW WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROTECT ALL AGENTS IN EVERY STATE IF IT IS THAT WAY.
I WILL TRAVEL, BUT MY FUNDS ARE LIMITED SO THIS WOULD SPEAK FOR ME.
THANK YOU, FOR YOUR TIME.
STEVEN A BRUNELL
7676 S 70TH ST
FRANKLIN, WI 53132
414 425 9655
stevebrunell@sbcglobal.net August 9, 2009
is allstate ins co being investigated re : misclassification of agents..thanks for your info..bill