provident agents [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

Zoetoes

I took a provvy loan out in desperation Christmas 2009 as I was struggling.

We agreed the amount, rates, collection days around work etc and the day I would get the loan.

Then she came a few days later than she should have with the cash and told me that I couldn't have the terms we had originally agreed on so there would be more interest, it was then too late to try Greenwoods etc so I just took it still.

Well she was a pain in the @rse from day 1, didn't stick to the days and times for collection, she would call before I got home from work (she knew I worked till 5) and then she'd ring me because I wasn't in! So nearly always I had to arrange to be in at such a time to fit in with her (not fit in with the customer??).

In the end I stopped being in to suit her, I was home for the times we'd originally agreed and if she t!tted about she didn't get the money that week and I eventually stopped keeping it until the following week.

Obviously I ended up in arrears and she still wouldn't stick to the days/times so I just stopped paying her. I asked if I could pay through the bank, direct debit, or online etc but was told home collection only, so to this day I still owe the prov.

I will never use Provident again, the customer service was appalling.

fluffy70

Angry_Norfolk wrote: »

Im a Provi Agent too. Im discusted with the latest twist from the company. How about someone starting a Facebook page to encourage ALL agents, Provi and Greenwoods to all go ill for a week at the same time. Im sure the customers would spread the word to agents. The threat of this and the massive amount of lost revenue will have the bosses quaking in their shiny boots. You know how the DMs are always pushing for more sales and collections. It would worry them no end. Just imagine, no money coming in for a week!!! I dont know how to do this on facebook but if someone out there could do it, im sure it would put the point across. Thanks Jane.

nice idea to stop the money coming into Provident's books for a week..... BUT... my husband is an agent too, if he goes sick for a week he doesn't get paid. All he brings home each week is roughly £100.... when the agents in his office were given the spin about this new plan, they all only heard the spiel about how they could make cash from certain things... only HE realised it was a con! As a result his manager has given him a 4 week 'reprieve' against this charging to give him a chance to get the round up. Surely this is an indication that the powers that be KNOW it's a con and vaguely illegal. Unfortunately as all agents are self employed and disposable, the agents have to toe the line to a certain extent and get out there collecting even when sick as a dog because they know that no collection = no commission. My husband's so called deputy agent is useless and when we got married he even had to do his round 2 days later. Not even a long weekend for us as a married couple!

YOUR_A_JOKE_PROVI

Zoetoes wrote: »

I took a provvy loan out in desperation Christmas 2009 as I was struggling.

We agreed the amount, rates, collection days around work etc and the day I would get the loan.

Then she came a few days later than she should have with the cash and told me that I couldn't have the terms we had originally agreed on so there would be more interest, it was then too late to try Greenwoods etc so I just took it still.

Well she was a pain in the @rse from day 1, didn't stick to the days and times for collection, she would call before I got home from work (she knew I worked till 5) and then she'd ring me because I wasn't in! So nearly always I had to arrange to be in at such a time to fit in with her (not fit in with the customer??).

In the end I stopped being in to suit her, I was home for the times we'd originally agreed and if she t!tted about she didn't get the money that week and I eventually stopped keeping it until the following week.

Obviously I ended up in arrears and she still wouldn't stick to the days/times so I just stopped paying her. I asked if I could pay through the bank, direct debit, or online etc but was told home collection only, so to this day I still owe the prov.

I will never use Provident again, the customer service was appalling.

Really sorry you had bad experience with your agent, however not paying your debt is not the answer, perhaps thats the reason you had to come to us in the first place???

shaftedbyprovi

Highlandbhoy wrote: »

There are a few points in your initial posting that you either: Never listened at your launch, never attended or simply do not have the ability to understand the new scheme.
Firstly to run in conjunction with this change, you were offered a better, enhanced opportunity to earn EXTRA COMMISSION,: Complaining ?? - Didn't think so !!!
Secondly you mentioned CAB & IVA accounts: NEITHER of these cases will cost you the deduction - clearly missed this at the launch !!!
Thirdly IF you do lose commission, you will have the opportunity to recoup all that you lose by doing what you signed up for, visiting and servicing customers on a regular weekly basis !!!
Fourthly, there are a number of factors and reasons where you will not be deducted commission and I would suggest you find these out BEFORE you post Negative Points
Finally, if you do remain aggrieved about these changes, then go back to your contract, which you clearly have signed, and action the part that allows you to resign, providing 7 days notice !!
GOOD LUCK & GOODBYE

clearly you are a manager of some sort with provident! LAUNCH what launch? read a few paragraphs on dm computer, they point out all the good points (joke) and say only bad one is you lose money if yiou dont/wont threaten customers. to quote you 'enhanced commission' you mean they wont fine you anymore for paper work mistekes or if a cust has gone twenty weeks without paying. i still have freinds at prov who tell me what hoes on. they are so _i$$ed of with them. why dont the lazy am/rom get of there !!!!! and go call on these people. I worked for provident for a while then saw the light. my office manager is out calling on people right up to a year after they have not paid. this company are serious about its business and not trying to fine an agent for there own failings. there are lots of jobs out there for this kind of work, you dont have to stay with them. lots of company will take you and there is nothing to stop yopu taking your good cust over with you. 7 days notice! remember you work as self employed and cannot be held to contract.

Hammyman

fedupagent1911 wrote: »

agents actually care about their customers !!

Indeed. Got to keep them friendly so they'll sign up to top-ups without question thus ending up paying 75% OR MORE interest on some of their earlier loans.

There's a real sense of ironic justice in the Provi screwing over the agents who are screwing over their customers.

YOUR_A_JOKE_PROVI

I really agree with your points relating to the high interest charged, however you have to remember that customers approach us for loans not the other way round, I cannot speak for other agents but i can promise you that i have never ever pushed a loan onto any of my customers in fact i actively try to discourage them from 'topping up'. Lets be frank here customers come to us for one reason only and that is because they cannot get credit through the normal channels and can only speculate as to what those reasons might be. Provi are highway robbers thats for sure but they do offer a service to high risk customers and obviously that comes at a price. Please dont keep bad mouthing the agents because we are only trying to earn a living, we dont set the rules and i think you'd be suprised by how many compasionate agents are out there.

jesp74

I've just seen this comment on the Daily Mirror article.
Colin Alleway said:
Agents in my branch earned on average 17% more this week on the new commission scheme.
I say:
Some agents in my office got paid £15 bonus, for a brand new customer who has yet to pay, that being so they can take it back off them when the penalties kick in.
I wonder if they gave the £15, so it would make the scheme/office figures, better that they actually are.

stormchild

just back from weekend away to find the comments from highlandbhuoy really offensive to any hard working agents. the 'launch was terrible not even done by area managers (i have spoken to agents from several offices and all the same). We do have the ability to understand the scheme provident has put in place and know that we are being ripped off. I really doubt you are an agent as you too would be outraged as no-one i have spoken to thinks this is a good idea. royal wedding this week what would you suggest we do? Maybe we could attend the street party thats been arranged and see if we can pick up some new customers lol, said with my tongue firmly in cheek! Think our commission is going to be right down this week due to wedding so at least we wont have to try too hard to stop managers bonus this week haha.

firebladechick

Ive been an agent for the last 10 years and im disgusted at the way we have been treated, to have the privilage of losing £10 for being told "sorry cant pay you this week" is a joke. I stand to loose £110 this week and i knew id lost £30 before id even left the house as three customers have been put on a reduced rate so wont get what theyre asking for!!! As for my contract there is nothing to say they can change the way they pay us commission but after speaking to Trading standards, FSA,CAB,ACAS ive hit a brick wall and dont know where to turn anymore, the best i got was write to the company to air your grievence....... that will be a waste of time it will either be put in the bin or be filed und A for Annoying Agent!!!!!!! As a single parent the little i earn each week is essential but to loose this amount of money is a killer basically im working for nothing, myself and a few agents from our office have demanded a meeting with our AM wether this comes off who knows???? i think an email to watchdog is next on my list!!!!!

fluffy70

my husband (a COMPASSIONATE agent before you start slamming the agents again Hammyman - DH struggles with what he does on a daily basis as he hates seeing people in strife, but on the flip side I work for local govt and at risk of losing my job in the cuts, and we have a 3 year old to feed and rent and bills to pay), saw one of his colleague agents this morning when he was dropping our son off at nursery and she know that already she has lost £120 this week thorugh this scheme - that reduces her take home to £80. Funmnily enough she has been told that from next week she can ave the same 4 week reprive that he has been given because he cottoned on to the scam. Does that not indicate that there may be a way to overturn this stupid scheme that Provident are trying to implement?

Honestly, if the agents were actual employees and not self employed the employer would not be permitted to do this!!

Come on Agents - please don't take this lying down - group together in your branches and make it known that this is out of order. I don't suggest walking out as you'll most likely be replaced, but some adult negotiation at nationwaide level will surely let the bonus bosses know that you're not up for it.