The truth about working at Amscot

As Director of HR for Amscot I am in the privileged position that I can answer nearly any question you might have about Amscot. I not only oversee the hiring process but work closely with the ownership of the company, senior management and regularly meet and talk with Associates and Managers in the field. I am ready and willing to answer any question about Amscot and give you a TRUTHFUL answer. I started with Amscot 9 years ago as a teller, and have worked every position in branch operations and human resources. I know exactly what it takes to be successful with this company and am willing to share what I have learnt over the years. It’s disappointing to read the negative comments on this website because most are blatantly untrue. The company has always worked hard to be a great employer and nearly every employee would agree (this is not subjective: I have objective surveys and interviews as proof). If you are considering applying for a job or would like more information about life in a branch, please ask away.

Charity

I have a complaint against one of your recruiters...I recently went to an amscot career fair and was not even given a chance at my interview. First off, there was a girl ahead of me and we were both given math tests and applications. She took 45 minutes to do a simple math test and application where as i did mine in less than 30 (i only got two answers wrong) but i was eavesdropping on her interview as it was 30 feet away maybe less, and the recruiter asked her questions about her previous jobs, what does customer service mean to you etc. The whole interview for her took 20 minutes. However when it came to me he only asked about where ive worked and that was all! I was well dressed, My resume was perfect, my math test was almost perfect yet he didn't ask anything about me nothing at all! he was prejudice because i aim a gay female. I am young yes but I am way more intelligent than most of the jerk offs that work in amscot and i deserve a chance! I am tired of working part time jobs! i graduated when i was 17 and completed 2 years of college yet no recruiter finds anything interesting about me. No, i am not the most bubbly of personalities but still i can get a good job done. Please reply to this comment i know its been a year but still.

You are LUCKY. read the postings about this terrible company. Your life was spared lots of stress & drama. This is not a CAREER. Use your energy elsewhere for this place underappreciates their employees. Good luck.

You just sound bitter along with a lot of other bitter people. I need a job; a career if you were not able to ignore drama in the workplace and overcome that that's your problem. As for me I need a job to support myself and drama free or not. all my life people undermine me and treated me unfairly but what i strive for is to overcome obstacles and become someone important. It is sad cuz i am smarter than most of my peers.If you research amscot you will see career advancement is one of their goals. I am tired of working for little to no pay. So if you can help me get a good job then let me know other than that just please leave employers alone

Ugh...nevermind. Please disregard what I wrote in my original post...everything was great until I was placed in my permanent branch. I don't know AMSCOT wants to just make a great impression until you actually get to your permanent branch...but it was a world of difference. I was told 1.) "This is the REAL AMSCOT now. NOT training. We're a busy branch, so we don't have time to wait around while you count your money in 3x while opening your drawer." (in training you're taught over & over & over again to count money 3x). 2.) "I know in training they probably told you you're going to get a nice 30 minute break, but that rarely happens here; we're too busy." 3.) The branch leader also proudly let me know on her first day that when she took that store, she'd fired everyone within a week except 2 people. Also, while I was trying to learn the "alternate" ways they do things at this branch, the store was WAY understaffed and it was only the branch leader and myself on my 2nd day. Being a trainee, you have to have a leader's password in order to cash most checks, so while the branch leader was constantly on the phone, I had 3 windows/customers all waiting for her to come over and enter her password so I could complete the transactions. Anytime I asked a question, I was met with "NOOOO no nononononononono..." while she flapped her hands in front of the computer and told me to just let her finish it and go on to another window. Therefore I wasn't shown anything - I just basically felt like a nuisance for even asking. So disappointing. The training week at the corporate office and my 1st week at the temporary branch were so great...and then to get tossed into this nightmare branch was really disheartening. It's a shame because I really enjoyed the work, too.

surveys and interviews are only done by Branch managers and corp office people in which they have to do from work. In which every one is afraid to write anything bad because they can figure out who did and then they eventually fire you for saying anything bad about them. And all statements by every one arent untrue and no one is bitter. If looking at all the long lasting associates at Amscot it slowly decrease as anniversays between 5 and so on years. Why are they always hiring because they have a high turn around. Yes very full of drama and they take forever to correct the issue in which they fire the wrong person or promote the wrong person its like they set u up for failure. And when theres and open door policy that just means give them a while you will be next on the firing block they will find a good reason to let you go though. And vacation days and perfect performers days ARENT supposed to be used for sick days those are days earned and should be used whenever you want to, so amscot tries to justify by saying people like to save a perfect performer day for a sick day in which they dont tell you that you can only have 3 excused absences and it still counts as an absence because you don't qualify for perfect perfomer if you missed work in the middle of a quater and they used your vacation for that day. This may sound like rambling on but its almost as if there is so much to say about AMSCOT not enough room. Surveys dont prove anything now if surveys were done from associates in the whole amscot company from other computers besides the ones at Amscot you will see the truth. So, if you want to work for Amscot you will only be doing it for the money thats for sure. But you will see when everyone tenses up with the district manager enters the branch and its like everyone is afraid to say anything and this is in all districts. Poor Branch managers who end the day crying because no matter how hard they try to it still isn't good enough/yelled at for other associates

All they do is ride you. They want everyone to be responsible for things inside their branches but Amscot corp office is responsible for advertisement so they always want to fire people because of branch growth only because they are mad they opened a branch almost on every corner like a 7-11 so one branch is going to the busiest because its in a better location. And amscot states they are consistant but that isn't true they are always changing something and once you get used to one routine then you have to learn another one. Raises are only for branches that are growing so you better hope you get sent to a busy location like a 24 hr location if you intend to get a raise after your 2nd year because they only let 1 year associates get a raise baised on a performance appraisal. But really whats the need for one if your not going to get a raise. Im sure Amscot will fire you if your doing something they dont like. Amscot is to nosey they make it their business to let you know where you can work now that they allow you to have a 2nd job and it cant mess with your flexibility with Amscot. Before Amscot felt like they paid you enough so there for you dont need a 2nd job. Umm seriously between cutting hours to keep payroll down how else are you going to be able to afford living expenses. And if nearly every associate would agree then why when people go place they tell you how sorry they feel that you work for a company that doesn't appreciate their associates. Amscot makes plenty of donations yeah to make themselves look better as a company. But they only time they appreciate you if your making goals like income then every associate gets a 5 dollar gift card to publix. but what about lots of other times like during busy times and computers stop working and all associates are getting cursed out and trying to make the best of things.. or when associates gets amscot their funds back from customers after nearly getting their life threatened.

Charity McDowell in Tampa, Florida said: As Director of HR for Amscot I am in the privileged position that I can answer nearly any question you might have about Amscot. I not only oversee the hiring process but work closely with the ownership of the company, senior management and regularly meet and talk with Associates and Managers in the field. I am ready and willing to answer any question about Amscot and give you a TRUTHFUL answer. I started with Amscot 9 years ago as a teller, and have worked every position in branch operations and human resources. I know exactly what it takes to be successful with this company and am willing to share what I have learnt over the years. It’s disappointing to read the negative comments on this website because most are blatantly untrue. The company has always worked hard to be a great employer and nearly every employee would agree (this is not subjective: I have objective surveys and interviews as proof). If you are considering applying for a job or would like more information about life in a branch, please ask away.

Charity

Charity,
Why does amscot use a credit report to determine eligibility? If it is a deciding factor, what in a credit report makes a person unsuitable? FICO score or something else? Or is it just a broad spectrum thing?

emeraldmist20, thank you for your question. The reason we run credit checks is because we are a highly regulated money services business and we have an obligation to hire associates who have relatively good credit. If you have questions about the details, please give us a call to discuss. Thanks again for the question.

Sincerely,

Charity

No Charity....you are completely wrong. The surveys are used to glorify Amscot yet at least 75% are false for fear of reprimand from Amscot on the employees who want to disclose the truth about working at Amscot. I am one of those employees....& my copwrokers feel the same way. Come on....a company that is so crummy on sick/vacation days....overworking w/ no or very short breaks can't be as glamorous as the surveys say. This isn't Family Feud unfortunately. The responsibility a FSA has is tremendous yet treated like a slave. Try all your PR techniques Charity & Amscot....the truth will permeate. Also what happened to the hundreds of truthful comments about Amscot? There were many forums exclusively about how Amscot truly is & how current/former employees vented....they are all gone. Did you have something to do w/ that to protect your image?

apparently the idiot above didn't read the response that was given to the question that was asked. If you are so sick of having a job why not just quit? my advise is either quit or tell your concerns. If you don't have enough balls to call someone up and see what they would actually do about whatever it is your complaints are then keep your mouth shut. But it sounds to me like you want a job with a lot of time off and several long breaks throughout the day...lazy bum. BTW thanks for answering the question about the credit.

The truth about working in AMSCOT is very stressing .. Amscot wants perfect people to work in their stores and at the very first mistake you make your fired ! . obviously your going to make mistakes noone is perfect ! That's why amscot is always hiring cause they fire people like crazy . This company is just ... ridiculous!

Hello Mr.Charity i really appreciated about your all comment and explanation i have really important question, i got interview couple days ago and Gentleman was really nice, he was really honestly.i did forget to ask him about first one week training could you please tell me,
how is it?what type class is it?what is the main subject(math,policy or costumer service) what time class will start and finish? and Quiz will be like test a, b, c,d or kind of we will write what we learn?

Kuscu, I am happy to see you had a pleasant interview experience. Week 1 is a classroom style training that you get paid for. You will review a different topic every day. We will discus the time and details with you if you get hired. As far as the test they are mostly done online. If you come in, you study your notes from the previous day, pay attention, have a positive attitude and always ask questions about any topic you don't understand I am sure you will be successful in passing Week 1. The trainers are always there to answer your questions and available after class to help you on topics you may not understand or you may have additional questions about. Hope this helps! Good Luck to you!

Charity in Tampa, Florida said: Kuscu, I am happy to see you had a pleasant interview experience. Week 1 is a classroom style training that you get paid for. You will review a different topic every day. We will discus the time and details with you if you get hired. As far as the test they are mostly done online. If you come in, you study your notes from the previous day, pay attention, have a positive attitude and always ask questions about any topic you don't understand I am sure you will be successful in passing Week 1. The trainers are always there to answer your questions and available after class to help you on topics you may not understand or you may have additional questions about. Hope this helps! Good Luck to you!

Hello,Mr.Charity
thank you very much for your fast respond.You said We will discus the time and details with you if you get hired. i hope they will hire me.i will let you know and thank you very much again for your all help and advice.

Kuscu, just make ABSOLUTELY SURE that during your week of training, you sit at the same table in the break room as the rest of the class when you eat lunch. During our lunch break, I dared to sit at a table that was right next to where the rest of my classmates were eating lunch and when I returned to class I was pulled into the office by Charity and reprimanded about not seeming like a "team player" because I didn't sit at the same table as the rest of the class. As ridiculous as this sounds, it's true. I was also spoken to by the other Amscot trainer who was there (I can't remember her name, but she'd just been promoted to the position of trainer)....because I'd chosen to sit at my own table rather than cram myself at a table where 10 other people were sitting hunched together shoulder-to-shoulder. Ridiculous. I should have taken that as my cue that Amscot wasn't going to be for me.

I worked for Amscot for a little over a year and was promoted to an "Assistant Leader" during that time. I just left the company after being offered a much better job. You want the truth about Amscot? Here it is.
During the interview: You can not be a smoker or any other tobacco products (automatic disqualification). You must have a completely open schedule (COMPLETELY OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY). If you're in college, sorry about your luck. You must have three references, with good phone numbers, as they will call/harass all of them until they get to speak with them about whether or not you are a good, trustworthy, person.
After being hired: You will go through one week of training at the corporate office. They will tell you all of their amazing success stories about how they came from nothing and being at Amscot changed their lives through all the amazing promotions they've recieved! WRONG. The first week in training you can tell it's a bit uptight. If you "curse/swear" (even on accident) they will immediately walk you out of the building and send you on your way. As somebody else said, during lunch, if you don't sit with other people and have a professional chat, they will tell you you're not acting like a "team player". If you make any sort of joke during class, it's frowned upon because you seem like you're just clowning around. Most of the classroom time is taking multiple tests. Read the 30 minute passage, take a 30 question multiple choice test. Rinse and repeat. OVER AND OVER. This classroom "teaching" is basically just to burn it into your mind that everybody is a criminal or a terrorist and you need to be suspicious of EVERYTHING ALWAYS.

well stated, but you forgot so many other things...like NO complete weekends off. Vacation requests are frowned upon & can only be taken in week increments. Working 12 hours 1 day then 4 the next....working til 11p or so then in @ 6a the next day. Being locked in the CAGE ENTIRE shift....no OFFICIAL breaks...you just eat inbetween taking customers mostly. Basically a SLAVE...your rights stripped & you're there acting as a legal loan shark. Then playing janitor at night cleaning the disgusting floors of Tootsie Rolls & other crap. Oh yeah collecting $ from past uncollected debts to unsuspecting customers then having that customer get pissed off at me for taking their $ & afraid to go out to my car at night thinking they may be waiting. I hate how they use "corporate" so much to distingish the chosen few w/ power at the Westshore HQ. Unbelievable company. So glad I am no longer an employee there. A company that encourages its employees to not mingle/communicate with others alone states enough about this company. Hey is that ex FBI old guy still there?