Insurance

American Income Life Employment scam

Posted by Rick on in Observances, Scams 215 Comments

American Income Life Employment scam ?

I’m getting pretty good at spotting these people a mile away.

Got a phone call from (503) 639-8735, didn’t recognize the number. Did a quick look up of the number on Google and found that they did this quite often. Less then ten minutes later, got another phone call from them which I decided to answer this time.

From the start it was obvious that the lady was working from a memorized script. She was full of “Um’s” and “Uh’s” and “OK, that sounds good” to every answer I said. It felt like she wasn’t really even listening to me. She asked what kind of job I was looking for, but didn’t mention that the company even had any IT jobs at all. She kept pushing to get me in the door.

Further Google Searching finds on scam.com quite a bit of very interesting information. Many people saying that the company is not a scam, but three times as many saying it is. Apparently unlike other insurance companies, they make you pay for all your classes and books to get an insurance license. After that they pump you leads that are two years old, or in many cases, older. They might be slightly legitimate, but any company that has as high of a turn over as they does, has something going wrong.

For the record, (and Google) their Portland Oregon address is:

15575 SW Sequoia Parkway
Suite #150
Portland OR, 97224

The “HR” person told me the door is on the “back of the building” and simply says AIL on it. To me that was the final red flag. If you’re considering working for this company, I would run away as fast as possible.


Update

– August 15th, 2016. I just got called by these guys again. They said that I applied for the position of Customer Service Manager via one of the career boards. But I track all the jobs I apply for in Excel. They are not there under American Income, or their parent company, Torchmark. Nor are they there under job title. So either they are putting out false jobs under different titles and companies, or they are doing the cold call technique. On the good side, the lady this time knew her script much better, but still evaded the truth when I asked if it was for a management position.

The new address is:
7200 NE 41st Street Suite #202
Vancouver WA, 98662
360-947-0987

Another thing I noticed, they now started “celebrating” all their worker’s success via YouTube. Almost every video has comments closed on it. Why would an company that is legitimate and above board being doing that? Even the largest companies like Nike, Exxon, Coke, etc don’t do that!

Portland Oregon Temp Agencies list

Posted by Rick on in Lists 3 Comments

Portland Oregon Temp Agencies list

This is a list of Temp Agencies and Employment Agencies with offices in the Portland, Oregon area. I do not have experience with most of these companies, nor do I endorse any. But I would be interested in your opinions on them. Please leave any comments (good or bad,) below.

Please also comment below on any companies that should be added to this list!

Portland Oregon Temp Agencies list

Accountemps (Accounting, bookkeeping, collections, general office) 503-244-9311

Accounting Connections (Accounting, bookkeeping, CPA’s, Administrative) 503-228-2335

Adecco Employment (Clerical, light industrial, data entry, drafters, engineers, production) 503-645-5938

Aerotek (Skilled light industrial, general labor, clerical, engineering) 503-403-1900

Ajilon (Accounting, finance) 503.228.0300

All’s Well (Most health care suport positions (no physicians)) 503-265-0542

Apple One (Administrative, sales, management, customer service, technical, call center) (503) 279-8893

Aquent (Creative and Marketing) 503-797-6600

Arrive Staffing Resources (Office, Accounting, Finance) 503-227-2211

ATSI Group (All IT Technical positions) 503-684-9100

Barrett Business Services (Clerical, Light Industrial, Technical) 503-234-2444

BDI Staffing (Heavy Industrial, Production, Assembly) 503.364.5189

BEGINRIGHT Employment Services (Warehouse, light industrial, clerical, production) 503-254-5959

Boly:Welch (Administrative, clerical, legal accounting support) 503-242-1300

Brooks Staffing (General Office, Administrative, Production, Light Industrial) 503-284-7930

CDI Professional Services (Electronics, IT, Administrative, Clerical, Call Center, Management) 503-629-7100

CLP Resources (Skilled Trades people for construction) 503-408-5730

Contractors Employment Service (Construction Industry Only, Commercial, residential, general labor) 503-654-0021

Crdentia Staffing (Finance, Credit, Accounting, Collections, General office) 503-246-8952

Creative Financial Staffing (Accounting, Finance) (503) 552-6717

CSR Personnel (Administrative, clerical, customer service, engineering, technical, production, healthcare) 503-287-4428

De Paul Industries (office, clerical, general labor, warehouse, manufacturing, janitorial, medical production) 503-281-1289

Dental Medical Staffing, Inc (Dentist, hygenist, assistant, office manager, xRay technician, receptionist, veterinary technician) 503-641-1176

Edgelink (technical) 503-246-3989

Edwards Enterprises (Construction, Assembly/Fabrication) 503-466-2171

Emerald Staffing (secretarial, clerical, accounting, word processing, sales, warehouse, customer service) 503-941-4788

Employers Overload (clerical, light industrial, technical) 503-624-8000

Experience Works (Staffing for mature workers 55 and over) 503-526-2761
Filter/Talent (Creative, advertising, design, marketing, public relations) 503-228-6892

Generator Group (exclusive high-end professional positions in apparel, footwear, sporting goods, retail, insurance, banking, IT, risk management) 503-224-4811

Goodwill Personnel Services (office suppport positions for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment) 503-239-1734

HR Extra (HR Executive, manager, HR support staff, recruiter, benefit administrator) 503-885-9875

Instant Labor (general labor, construction, assembly, production, moving, janitorial, warehouse, painting) 503-643-7028

Insurance Overload Services (Insurance, Administration) (503) 293-7650

Integrity Staffing (labor, warehouse, material handling) 503-692-1300

Interim Healthcare (Hospice, Health Care,) (503) 761-6050

Jones Partners (technology) 360-693-0181

Kelly Services (clerical, administrative, technical, light industrial, healthcare, management, engineering, sales) 503-643-1614

KForce (accounting, finance, technical) 503-244-2700

Labor Ready (light industrial, unskilled construction, assembly, freight handling, maintenance, warehouse) 503-641-7858

Legal Northwest (paralegal, legal secretary, legal administrator, records manager) 503-242-2514

Madden Industrial Craftsmen, Inc. (carpenter, welder (certified and non-certified), machinist, laborer, mechanic) 503-690-0641

Mainz Brady Group (Information Technology, Human Resources, Sales & Marketing and Accounting,) 503-688-1900

Management Recruiters (Management) (503) 287-8701

Manpower (light industrial, production, general labor, administrative, clerical) 503-641-6992

Maxim Staffing Solutions – (Admin, Healthcare including physicians) 503-452-7979

Medical Placement Services (nurse, front office, billing, medical records, CNA, CMA, customer service, affiliated with the medical society of metropolitan portland) 503-222-9977

Medical Staffing Network (nurse, medical technician, radiology, pharmacy, rehabilitation) 503-295-7828

Medical Society Staffing (Healthcare) 503-227-2737

Northwest Staffing Resources (administrative, customer service, light industrial, accounting, IT, medical, legal) 503-323-9190

Office Team (administrative, receptionist, customer service, data entry, clerical, executive assistant) 503-594-2000

OPTI Staffing Group (light industrial, clerical, office skilled trades, customer service, data entry, office manager, administrative assistant) 503-594-2000

The Personnel Department (office , clerical, technical, marketing, technical) 503-626-0311

Portland Habilitation Center (provides education, training and employment for people with disabilities) 503-261-1266

Resource Staffing Services (Logistics, Commercial Transportation, Production, Admin, Call Center) – (503) 261.8822

Randstad (office, executive office, industraial, call center, creative, technical, finance and accounting) 503-246-5342

Remedy Intelligent Staffing (light industrial, assembly, customer service, clerical, warehouse, forklift driver, administrative, data entry) 503-646-0400

Resources in Food (Hospitality) 407.248.1066 x105

Rose City Personnel (administrative, financial, legal, management, clerical, marketing, technical) 503-968-1100

Securitas Security Service (security) 503-243-1620

Sedona Group (office Support, light industrial, clerical, engineering, IT, medical, production) 503-466-9999

SFI Staff Finders Inc (Technology) 503-617-2979

Spark Pro (Technology) 503-684-9100

Staffing Partners (all types) 503-644-1945

Staffmark (Professional, administrative, Assembly, Warehouse, technical, customer service, skilled trades) 503-251-0004

Summit Staffing (production, light industrial, office, technical, medical) 503-639-9292

Today’s Office Staffing (office, legal, customer service, accounting and finance) 503-452-8400

Ultimate Staffing (Clerical, Customer Service) (503) 227-5582

Uniforce/Labforce (Medical, scientific, technical, clerical) 503-968-1311

Vanderhouwen & Associates (IT, Engineering, Accounting) (503) 299-6811

Volt Services Group (light industrial, reception, manufacturing, clerical) 503-221-8797

Westaff (Entry level clerical, light industrial, customer service, call center) 503-224-2401

A solution for Universal Health Care

Posted by Rick on in Analysis, Politics 0 Comment

A solution for Universal Health Care

There is no reason we could not have “Socialized” Health Care (instead of it’s true meaning – Universal Health Care,) have it cheaper, and allow it to serve all people, AND still have the ability to bypass the “Lifetime Cap” that so many people are afraid of. It does mean that all sides would have to make sacrifices though, plus the Insurance and Health Care Industries would have to undergo some major changes.

Step One would be to Nationalize ONE major Insurance Carrier. This company would have a cap of 6.5% profit margin. They would operate independently of the US Government, but would answer to Congress, the Judicial Branch, and it’s investors. The 6.5% Profit margin is below high risk funds, but slightly above most medium risk funds making it a good company for larger funds to invest in. The company would have as it’s mandate to reduce costs as long as it is not at the expense of the care their clients would receive. Their secondary goals would be 99% customer satisfaction, 5% or less waste, 90% Employee Satisfaction, and client processes that are as simple as possible. This means Bonuses, company perks, benefits, etc – you want the place to be a happy place to work which means happy and productive workers who in turn give good service to the clients.

Step Two would be to mandate health care upon everyone. Companies would still contribute to Health Insurance just like they do now, and would need to include part time employees in the plan. I would allow them the ability to only need to pay 75% of the cost of a full time employee for the part timers though so it would still be cost effective to have part time employees in certain situations. Although I would not allow the number of part time employees exceed more then one half of the number of full time employees unless special circumstances warranted it.

Step Three would be to put a cap on Doctors earnings, I’d still make it fairly high to make the industry attractive. In return they would be exempt from general malpractice suits, although they would still be liable for gross negligence. I would make it easier for Doctors to consult with each other, including a national database (and forums!) of illnesses and diseases, their symptoms and a step by step regime for each one. Controls would be put in place to allow doctors to step outside of that regime when needed – probably a peer review committee randomly selected of doctors and retired doctors within the local geographic area. Doctors would also need to go through a periodic re-examination. The test would include mental abilities, skills, and face to face behaviors. It would also be partially dependent on their patients treatments, recoveries, and happiness with the doctor in general.

Step Four: Give the FDA more power to analyze and enforce Food and Drug quality controls and tests. They would also have the ability to fast track promising new drugs and greater ability to use human volunteers. The FDA would also have the power to price control drugs, making it cheap enough to be cost effective for general use.

Step Five: Drug and Medical Supply Companies. As above, I’d Nationalize one of each industry. The goals would be the same, with the same profit margins, employee bonuses, etc. Drug Companies would not be allowed to give gifts to doctors and such would be as tightly controlled as campaign donations are for politicians. (Or more so.) Companies would still be allowed to patent and license technologies, plus sell their own house brands of common medications.

Step Six: Consumers/Patients would be able to purchase additional insurance to hedge against costs that went over the lifetime cap – I think most people are saying $3 million lifetime. The exact finances would have to be worked out, but say you want to go to a five million lifetime cap. You’d have to add say $1.5 million to a general fund that is only payable upon your death, or upon your reaching the $3 million dollar cap. Excess monies in the fund at your death would be inherited, taxed at a slightly lower rate (to encourage starting the fund in the first place,) but would only go into your inheritors own fund. Half the interest on the fund would go to the company that administrats these funds and the other half would go back into the fund itself. The companies would only be allowed to reinvest the money in low and medium risk ventures as determined under supervison of the SEC, but would be liable for any decreases of more then 10% over the life of the fund. IE – if a person puts in $1 million dollars over their lifetime, but the funds value decreases to $500,000 the company would be liable for the missing $500,000.

Individual Users would be able to get a .05% tax break per a year that they’re able to see a Doctor for regular check ups. They would also be able to get another .05% tax break once every ten years, providing they either make significant changes to their health (significant weight loss, stop smoking, etc), or maintain within 15% of the recommended standards as approved by a doctor. To qualify for this, they would simply need to have an annual physical/checkup every two years.

There is still a lot more to it, but I believe that this would be an extremely effective system, provide health care for all and answer all the issues people have with Universal Health Care, yet not give up too many individual rights and freedoms.