Back To The Store Manager example essay topic

A Rent-A-Center's Survival Story by Carolyn Waugh-Tandy There are several states where rent to own contracts are illegal. In those states they use the term rental agreement contract. I was totally knowledgeable of this when I walked into East Stroudsburg, PA Rent-A-Center. Unfortunately I gave into my deep desires and over one month signed four rent to own contracts. No credit check required and you could purchase optional liability insurance- what more could I ask?

This all transpired in about October of 2000. I am only now trying to make some sense out of the whole humiliating experience. It became burdensome making our $139.00 weekly payments. The company was advertising in the local newspaper for Account Managers, Assistant Store Managers, and Store Managers.

The company would be opening another store in Bethlehem, PA. I went in to make my weekly payment. The District Manager was there. I was introduced to Mr. Louis Hall as an interested candidate qualified to apply for the position of Account Manager.

I expressed a desire to blend in with the all male less than 40 group. He was extremely charming and encouraged me to fill out an application. The company ran two adds for employment that year; one in September and one in December. I went to the newspaper later on and got photocopies of the ads. Back to my story, I made those payments for eight months.

When I missed a payment we were charged $5.00 per item late charge, plus the next weeks payment. Our bill was then $298.00! Although all the contracts stated weekly as well as bi monthly bill per item, I opted to pay weekly. Yes if I made all my weekly payments I would be paying roughly $1092.31 more. I did not remember signing anything declaring I had to make weekly payments. I guess I wanted to pay weekly so I would never fall behind far enough for them to repossess our things.

I really had another thing coming. Truthfully I do not know how I stayed a customer so long. They scratched the night tables- both had matching gouges. The deliverymen did this loading the truck to bring them. The computer never worked correctly. The "E" support was non operational and the fax program was not working.

The printer did not print most of the time either. I brought the whole thing back to the store and they sent it out to be fixed. In the mean time I was issued an identical printer that worked 100%. When my printer was returned fixed, I needed to replace both ink cartridges and it was a long time before I was able to use it.

Yes all the while I was making my payments. It finally happened on August 25, 2001. The store reposed everything for non-payment of $298.00. I called the store that afternoon and talked directly to Mr. Hall. I was very apologetic over the situation. I also reminded him of all the resumes I had left with the Store Manager.

I left five resumes and filled out two employment applications; one in person and one on line. He was very rude and abruptly said there were no employment positions available with in any of the company stores. He also said any "holes in the schedule would be filled by other employees". I was mortified over the repossessing of the four items, but now I was totally humiliated over his treatment of me. The truck came at 6: 00 pm on Saturday night and everyone in my neighborhood was outside enjoying the summer weather. The deliverymen removed the washer and dryer, bedroom set, computer and printer, and the 45-inch big screen television.

The laundry room had a funny smell but I thought it was just my imagination. The next day I went in there to clean up all the lint on the floor. The walls were covered in black mold- from about where the washing machine was standing all the way down to the floor. I began cleaning the walls with Clorox bleach in a spray bottle.

I scrubbed the walls until the plasterboard paper was coming off. I was so up set because our landlord was not going to renew our lease as it was. (I cannot blame him the repossession made us a poor credit risk). I was scared he would take legal action and make us pay for the damages! With in one or two days of cleaning the walls I became terribly sick with an upper respiratory ailment that required treatment at the local hospital on September 13, 2001.

I had bronchial pneumonia; at about the same time my youngest son got an earache, also requiring antibiotics. I still believe the mold made us sick. I sued the store for $8,000.00 at the local magistrates office. I felt the store's responsibilities fell short. If the deliverymen would have hooked up the appliances correctly and cleaned up the area before leaving we would not have had the black mold. I also felt their contracts were devised to deliberately deceive people how much more they would pay by paying weekly.

The local Judge disagreed and we lost. I contacted the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission regarding the company's hiring practices. They have been very helpful. I filed two separate complaints against the Rent-A-Center Company. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has a current case pending a settlement. I was so elated to read in their press release dated March 8, 2002.

I went directly back to the Store Manager and reapplied for a third time. This time I was allowed to take two separate pre-employment tests. I was so happy; I took my time and did my best. These tests were authorized through the E.E.O.C. Two days past and I went to the store to ask how did I do?

I had left resume number six but was not interviewed at the time of the test. I was told I had failed the visual by one question. I was not allowed to review either test at that time. The Store Manager was extremely cordial and courteous but no interview.

I filed with PA.H.R.C. I was so angry they were a big help. I am a part of the current court litigation's, from my first complaint dating back to October 2000. I also had an appointment to view my test results with a case manager. I went but I am not still satisfied. I am a white female age 47; I have slight vision impairment.

I have a lazy eye, since birth. I read much slower than most. I was given a timed test for 50 questions to compare same or different. I could only finish 46 of which I got 39 correct.

The case manager explained the significance of the tests. She also was supportive towards my position- I will get some of the initial settlement, she said. I did above the required score on the customer service section and I have excellent business skills. I signed the with drawl forms to with draw my complaint, the one from March 2002. I guess we won the war but lost the battle- is how I feel. I have been researching every aspect of the Rent-A-Center Corporation on the Internet.

I have found out some startling facts regarding the company. The company was sued for non-payment of overtime to Assistant Managers and Store Managers. The company was also liable for invasive testing of employees. The employees were requested to submit to 500 questions mostly not related to their actual job skills or abilities to function on a business level. The company made an agreement to pay $2 million for the people who took the test. This was in a California court.

They agreed to pay $2,000.00 to each employee who took the test and failed it. They also agreed to pay $1250.00 to each employee who passed, because of the invasive ness of the questions. The company claimed the purpose of the tests were to devise a profile of each employee according to the deviation of the answers to the true and false questions. The court ruled the questions were not pertaining to their abilities to perform the job functions.

As I stated earlier, I am a 47 years old. I have lived through a life experience similar to this before. Nothing they could say to me would change my mind; then or now. I never began my adult working career wanting to become a martyr.

Although I always have had similar views as Women's Rights Organizations I chose not to belong to any. I did not want to become stigmatized by belonging to them. I am proud to say in 1974 I was one of the first female employees at the New York Daily News. The industry did not sign a consent decree until 1979. I was invited back to work for the company. I was very na " ive at the tender age of 24.

The women were overwhelmingly applying to "shape-up" with the men. They came in with their manicures and platform sandals wanting to be hired because of their gender. I became totally disillusioned on why I had started there to begin with. I saw women working in crews of four and five manning entire presses.

It was very exciting. I did feel vindicated. Except when I saw less qualified females, wining discrimination, their refusal to do equal work use to grade on my nerves. I have often compared the similarities between the two companies. Many years ago I went to "shape-up" at the New York Times. I was the only one not hired on the floor- they had one more job left.

The janitor was given the job and it was held until he finished his first job. I was asked if I wanted to "fool around in the office with the Bosses". I left quietly. In my current position I have been forced to watch inexperienced and improperly trained delivery people ruin my home and make my son and I sick. I have also witnessed about five different men, under 40 get hired and trained and watched them get promotions. The one thing I have learned is I need to understand why these men have acted this way to me.

After reading the news article on Rent-A-Center's invasive employee testing policy, I have compassion for the Store Manager at the East Stroudsburg store. I do not know if the company broke any laws here in Pennsylvania, or even if the employees here in Pennsylvania received any of the settlement money. Just the reality of this helps me to have compassion. I have a stronger understanding for the human condition that brought about his actions.

The rest I will leave to the courts to figure out. I hope justices prevail in this no win situation..