provident agents [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

pipsqueek52

jenny5969 wrote: »

AgentStig wrote: »

I have been ferreting around trying to find my agreement with Provident ( no mean feat when you have done 11 years as an Agent !) The most recent update I can find from 2002 states under section 2 - Self employed Status,and I quote
"We have introduced a few changes in the agreement to reinforce your self employed status.
We have also clarified our authority to make deductions from your commission payments in specified circumstances,such as errors in money collected."
I can find no mention of Pot Deduction specified anywhere,so therefore I must conclude that Provident are in breach of the agreement.
The second paragraph is just as interesting,and I quote
"We are not making any changes to the commission arrangements but we have included a provision,for the avoidance of doubt,that your commission includes a payment in respect of any statutory period of annual leave to which you are or may become entitled.",

:T Well done Stig I have looked high and low for mine to no avail.


Did you read your "Agents Manual" ?? go to the "Development" section, F9 - F30 Arrears Recovery/UTR's/Support Visits .....
pay particular attention to F25 SUPPORT VISIT's
There will be occassions where you feel that you have done everything possible to try and sort out the problems of an arrears customer and have failed.
Maybe you feel you cant handle a particular customer - they've given you promises and not kept to them or they refuse to answer the door to you or they might be un co-operative,rude or aggressive.
Whatever the reason,if you have done all that you can do, inform the Manager and ask them to visit and help sort it out.
They may want to visit the customer with you,either on your NORMAL round or at some other time. This is called a "Dual Visit" and is useful because it allows you to be there when any agreement is made.
It also stops the customer using the normal excuse given to Manager's - "My agent does'nt call" - which is not always easy to encounter when you're not there.

Manager's sign customer payment card's as proof of calling on them, this can be easily varified,which arrears clients have or have not been called upon?? I feel this should be taken into consideration before POT deductions can be applied to us!:money:

This is not a Personal attack on DM's/AM's etc just my opinion as a tired Agent .... I would'nt do their job for all the Tea in China

Have at last found an agents agreement latest one dated September 1996 no mention of deductions from commission. Have been with Provi since 1986 should i have another one?

demoralised

An_Area_Manager wrote: »

There has been an announcement on the clerks grapevine message board that they are to remember that any main agent covering as deputy for another agent must pay in that book to the original agents unique number. You can only use your unique number for your agency or a vacant agency. So my idea has gone out the window. Only a third of agents are currently better off the rest have lost to some extent.

yes and what head office must know is that I and some of my friends are in that third but all of us STILL think it is very wrong, overall it is impossible to "be better off" in the long term, at best you may be able to reclaim some which has been taken from you, they don't just have two thirds unhappy, but the vast majority of agents. Who in their right mind wants a totally demoralised workforce.My heart goes out to all who have lost, it is disgrace,shame on you provident.

marsie_2

beaver123 wrote: »

the threats have begun!

I have been told by my boss that "i am the only rebel in my branch and can make things very difficult for myself" If i follow through with any no issue action on week 20.

my name has come out at our office cause i left my name on a email i sent to head office, looked me up and forwarded it on, when i got in the office i sensed they knew something, but as yet no mention, i will just voice my opinion if and when challenged, i run my agency well, have caused them no trouble over the years, but i am very principled and this cuts deep, keep up all the hard work agents, a couple of things have been dropped so we must be doing something right

beaver123

I know for a fact I am not the only agent in my office that is unhappy-and I am entitled to voice my opinion on something that could potentially affect me a great deal.

I too have never caused my manager any trouble, never had a day off or holiday and bring home the bacon for her every week so bring it on I say!

jenny5969

marsie wrote: »

my name has come out at our office cause i left my name on a email i sent to head office, looked me up and forwarded it on, when i got in the office i sensed they knew something, but as yet no mention, i will just voice my opinion if and when challenged, i run my agency well, have caused them no trouble over the years, but i am very principled and this cuts deep, keep up all the hard work agents, a couple of things have been dropped so we must be doing something right

:mad::mad: Customers phoned me & said they where asking questions,that I as an agent have never known them to ask before!! they have been out many times tho not in the past 5/6 yr's. I have always been fine I am a long standing agent dedicating many yr's to Provident,I am not concerned as I do my work by the book everything ligit & above board,I am fearful that if they really want rid of the "Noisy ones" they will get their way. I am intrigued that they have time to scrutinise my agency atm with all the other issues that are going on within the company ...... I dont know how they got on,but im sure if they r gonna sack me I will be posting Soon!

ohdear56

jenny5969 wrote: »

:mad::mad: Customers phoned me & said they where asking questions,that I as an agent have never known them to ask before!! they have been out many times tho not in the past 5/6 yr's. I have always been fine I am a long standing agent dedicating many yr's to Provident,I am not concerned as I do my work by the book everything ligit & above board,I am fearful that if they really want rid of the "Noisy ones" they will get their way. I am intrigued that they have time to scrutinise my agency atm with all the other issues that are going on within the company ...... I dont know how they got on,but im sure if they r gonna sack me I will be posting Soon!

Looks like their on to you.

ohdear56

AgentStig wrote: »

According to freely available information on the Internet Chris Gillespie made £404,000 last year including bonuses,thats the equivelent of 80,800 £5 Pot deductions.I 'm sure he wouldn't be happy lose that much out of his wages !!
This cruel system that Provident has introduced is crucifying the smaller agencies , the Agents that can least afford to lose money . I am also wondering as the vast majority of Agents are women is there a Sexism element to this.
The board seem to be under the misapprehension that we are all part-time housewives out to make a bit of pin money .........and that we won't fight back.
We must stick together,men and women,full-time and part-time and make them understand that without us Agents- Provident does not exist.Start writing your letters now !!!

Oh my god! Chris Gillespie has obviously worked his way up the ladder. There is always going to be a top boss who earns a damm site more than the average worker, that's life.
Maybe if you stopped moaning and worked your agency properly even if that involves canvassing for new customers (I know hard work) then maybe you may see positive results.

I really do not know why you have to bring up that the majority of agents are women, it's obvious that women are the ones to apply for the jobs in the first place. Why does this make provident manager's racist?

ohdear56

bret wrote: »

ALL AGENTS EVERYWHERE...NO SALES WK 20.. NO SALES WK 20.. NO SALES WK 20.. NO SALES WK 20..NO SALES WK 20. NO SALES WK 20. tell ur customers to have their loans next week so u dont let them down.

looks like you will be looking for another post.

Marvin-the-Martian_2

to sammyantha provident and other companies that provide such services through their hard working agents. do a fantastic job.
when was the last time you wanted a loan from the bank did they hand deliver it to your home, did they promise to collect the payments 52 weeks a year, and sometimes double that when you were out on the lash or just did not have the money that week,
did they not put on extra charges every time you missed the agent, or not charge you for letters sent to your house,
to be an agent you have to have the patience of a saint.
to be totally weatherproof,
flexible to breaking point,
have no sense of smell,
honesty
loyalty
to have an understanding and sympathy with the customer
be an agony aunt/uncle
basically almost superhuman which many agents are.
and to really understand agents and provident you really have to do the job. walk a mile in their shoes and see if it fits or hurts.
so until then you cannot really comment about the agents morals when yours are so very skewed.
if anyone else would care to put down what it takes to be an agent
please do..

ohdear56

I just wondering whether you all are paying Tax and NI? I know this is being looked into.. As many agents are not putting down that they are working for Provident/Greenwoods.