I came across an opportunity to work at home. It was featured in an newspaper article that talked about it as “employment.” Eager to look at it and tell the readers of this blog about this “new opportunity” for employment, I went to the website to check it out — and realized a good lesson that is very important to the telecommuting job hunter.
The difference between employment and self-employment or more specifically, the difference between a job and a business.
Understanding the difference between being an employee and an independent contractor can save you a lot of money as well as keep you on the right track in finding telecommuting work.
For example, the article I read was about someone that utilized a website,
http://www.willowcsn.com, to begin working as a home-based customer service agent.
From what I can see, nothing is wrong with this company. It seems that utilizing this company’s training and strategies can allow you to work from home.
My problem is in the wording that they use: “employee“. When in fact, you are never an employee with this company. This company puts one who wishes to become a CyberAgent CSRs(tm) into business.
The steps that they outline, ultimately trains, sets-up and incorporates the individual to become an “independent contractor.” To do all this, you must INVEST up to $600. Once you have gone through the 8 week process and invested $600, you are then given contracts where you can make up to $14 an hour. (Understand, this is NOT a scam. They are totally above-board with the time and money you must invest to be able to take on these opportunities.)
There is nothing wrong with the scenerio above. It is not a scam. But it is considered a business. Basically, they are helping you set up a “home business.” Yet they still use the term “employee” on their website (which is very mis-leading).
An employee can not (by IRS standards) be an independent contractor. An employee does not need incorporation. An employee does not need to pay for anything to begin working (not equipment, not incorporation, not training). All these things are provided by an employer at no cost to an employee (usually).
Now, if you want to begin a home business, great. Look up willowscn.com, it looks like a reputable company. And I must say, that having your own business entity set-up does open you to contract positions that you can do from home that those looking for “employment” positions may have to pass up. (If you are interested in information on setting up a home business, let me know. I have alot of knowledge on doing that as well).
But, if you want to seek employment (where you submit a resume and time and effort alone), then move on. These types of opportunities are not for you!
News Flash!: I found a service that will employ you for customer service needs without the above investment.
Check out: Alpine Access at:
http://www.alpineaccess.com/external/agentFAQ.html
Happy Hunting.
![[del.icio.us]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Furl]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/furl.png)
![[Google]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[kirtsy]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/kirtsy.png)
![[Mixx]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/mixx.png)
![[MySpace]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/myspace.png)
![[Newsvine]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/newsvine.png)
![[Propeller]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/propeller.png)
![[Reddit]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/reddit.png)
![[Slashdot]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/slashdot.png)
![[Squidoo]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/squidoo.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://telecommutingjournal.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Your readers may also like to check out http://www.liveops.com and http://www.workathomeagent.com Both of them you are an independent contractor but no large fees like Willow.
LiveOps has a great FAQ page about becoming an agent in case anyone is interested. It looks like the only cost is a non-refundable $30 background check fee (and the monthly expense of having a dedicated phone line, an internet connection, a computer and other normal home office equipment). They require their agents to pass certification, they provide teleservices, mainly in the direct response marketing industry (infomercials) and agents are required to sign an independent contractors agreement where you agree to keep your relationship with LiveOps confidential – although it is non-exclusive, meaning you could provide similar services to other companies as well.
West Telemarketing (WorkAtHomeAgent.com) is along the same lines where you register, pass certification and then begin taking calls as an independent agent. I didn’t see anything about application fees or equipment fees but they do run a background check as well.
I WOULD LIKE MORE INFO ON THIS JOB 404 xxx xxxx DONALD
Editor’s Note: I deleted Donald’s phone number for obvious reasons.
Donald- To find out more about the opportunites listed here, please visit their respective sites. Alpine Access at: http://www.alpineaccess.com/external/agentFAQ.html as well as the WAH Journal comment suggestions (http://www.liveops.com and http://www.workathomeagent.com).
If anyone has any more information about Alpine, LiveOps or WorkAtHomeAgent, feel free to send in information and I’ll be happy to post it. You can email me, editor-at-telecommutingJournal.com, with the name of the site in the subject line or simply post a comment here about your own personal experiences!
Just was terminated from Alpine Access after 21 months under a pretext of attendance issues which were posted incorrectly by their payroll/ scheduling/ adherence department. Our turn over rate the last 6 months has been approx 35% total, and about 60% of each new training class. I now have stress induced diabetes and a hugely noticable amount of grey hair. I wouldnt recommend my worst enemy to apply at Alpine Access, they have no business ethics, and use sloppy payroll / hours accounting practices to their financial benefit, at the expense of the employee. There are many others who have developed the same opinion as mine.
Thank you for the comment, Carrie. Gathering individual and specific opinions based on actual experiences is what gives us all the power to make informed decisions!
Glad to see someone is staying on top of things.
Alpine Access has a lot of problems. The management expects perfection from it’s employees in contrast to the many errors management makes but never admits. A very frustrating situation for agents.
Thanks for the comment, Mike. Sorry you suffered the frustration but glad you made the effort to let others know!
I would avoid Alpine Access. Many of their positions pay $2-$4 per hour less than similar jobs at a call center such as credit card processing. Also every paycheck seems to be short compared to hours worked. If you use direct deposit you will never receive a paper stub showing the amounts with held or taxes paid. This company exploits it’s employees.
I wanted to apply for alpine, never would I imagne this company had so many problems. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences & sorry for time loss….
I got an email today from Alpine and I am glad I saw this site and the comments made before I wasted my time.
Thanks.
I just want to say that before my wife and I did invest the $139.00, I checked the company out with the BBB and they came up clean. So now I am mad and have the original letter without the order form, but I will cancel the money order I just sent. They just made the wrong person mad I am taking the letter to the post master and then I am filing charges against for false advertising. I just wish I found your site sooner would saved me a lot of trouble.
Thanks for the comment, Rob. I’m guessing you are talking about the Premier Mailing Service scam I wrote about not too long ago. I’d closed comments because the response was getting so far down the page. Perhaps I should re-open them.
I just recently submitted an application with Alpine Access and everything seemed so much more legitimate than other companies. They don’t request for the background check fee until AFTER you are offered a position. They also pay by the hour and not by the minute, their website was great and had lots of FAQ. I used to work at a traditional call center that offered NO benefits, full time, listening to phone warriors ramp and range using their vulgarities and profanities because they think you can’t see them so it doesn’t matter. Believe me, it’s shocking to hear the “F” work at random times or some adolescent throw a hissyfit on the phone because they can’t get what they want… The atmosphere there was dull and dry and gas prices now, the company couldn’t pay me to go back to them. Staying at home, wearing sweats and not having to pay for childcare fees and gas is the better route for me!
Regarding the other comments about Alpine Access posted on the website…. Any company expects you to work at maximum capacity. Why would they hire you otherwise? As far as payroll and proving hours worked, blah blah blah, you HAVE to personally document EVERYTHING! Even if you clock in online or via phone (like Alpine does) you should always verify with a supervisor and document each call. Can’t be too safe now a days! You’ll end up screwing yourself if you don’t keep proper tabs….
Anyways, I’m just little ol’ me with my own opinions. Alpine won’t be for everyone!
For the record, Bill, a reader, recently claimed that . . .
I have been working with Westathome.com for about 2 1/2 months. It has a crappy system used to route calls and place orders, but it’s ok. The craziest thing I have seen is that it states you can never get paid less than minimum wage for your city, but I have definitely gotten paid less than that before! I can’t quite figure out the pay system and they do not make it simple! My friend has worked for Live Ops for almost 2 years. They have a variety of opportunities there, not just infomercial calls, by no means! But it is very hard to get on with them. The fee for a background check with them is now $50. But she is telling me that they are about to lose a law suit that will require them to make all agents, employees! So, that will eliminate the background fee! I wanted to know it anyone has ever done Arise? I got all the way to the point of going to Incorporate myself, but that is expensive! And I have heard that your assigned a client, you train for them and if you don’t like them, too bad..your stuck with them! Can anyone comment first hand on Arise?
Thanks!
Angie – it looks like Arise actually used to be Willow (the same company written about in this article). A quick search on Google produced the following sponsored link at the top of the results page:
and the Arise homepage discloses the fact as well:
It’s certainly a legitimate business opportunity, so long as you know what you’re getting into (just as it was when it was Willow). They don’t hire you — you join them and you’re self-employed with all the costs that implies.
I do find it remarkably strange that each independent contractor is actually called a “Virtual Services Corporation” and it does sound expensive since you “invest in your own certification courses and equipment” but what I really don’t get is that you can then also “employ additional Arise Certified Professionals agents” since it seems anyone who joins has to be their own corporation… so who are these Arise Certified Professional agents you’ll be able to then employ?
I’ll be interested to see if anyone who has worked there gives you additional tidbits of info here. If not, try looking over at the Friends in Business message board (yeah, it’s OLD school but it’s full of priceless real-deal info on working at home and scams and self-employment options). When you want to search the message board for something in particular – here’s a shortcut way to do that:
Google FIB and whatever you’re looking for. So, for example, in this case you’d search for FIB arise on Google and you’d get what you’re looking for in the top 2 spots: http://www.friendsinbusiness.com/board1/index.cgi/noframes/read/131859.
I just happened to stumble onto this site as I am researching Arise. I would be very interested in anyone who works as an Arise agent or who knows a bit more about them. I don’t mind investing a LITTLE money and my home office is just about up to their specs now. But I am being very wary and cynical until I can get more of the straight “skinny” on this. Thanks, Gary
Gary – I hope someone who’s got first-hand knowledge also stumbles onto my site and is kind enough to post a comment here for you (and others who are looking). I totally understand being wary and cynical – you have to be these days.