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Bristol County Savings Bank announces establishment of new Government Finance Department.

DATELINE: TAUNTON, MA…
Bristol County Savings Bank recently announced the establishment of a new Government Finance Department, based out of the Bank’s Taunton, MA headquarters, which is dedicated to helping Southeastern Massachusetts cities and towns meet their financial goals.

In announcing the formation of this new division of the Bank, Patrick J. Murray, Jr., Executive Vice-President/COO/Treasurer of Bristol County Savings Bank stated, “The Government Finance Department will provide a critical service to municipal officers in the communities served by Bristol County Savings. Over the years we have developed strong relationships with many towns and municipalities. The creation of this department will enhance our existing relationships by expanding product offerings and streamlining the delivery of Bank services, while offering an attractive alternative for cities and towns that have not yet established a relationship with Bristol County Savings Bank.”

The Government Finance Department of Bristol County Savings Bank will provide a dedicated central resource, offering a diversified array of cash management options for towns and municipalities in Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk counties, underlining the Bank’s ongoing commitment to provide optimal service to local communities. Online banking will be available, and product offerings will include municipal checking, money market accounts and certificates of deposit, as well as additional cash management vehicles.

Jean C. Purrier, a specialist in municipal banking, will oversee the Government Finance Department, which will offer focused customer service provided by staff familiar with the banking needs of cities and towns. Bristol County Savings Bank’s strong financials may also offer added appeal for municipal investors, as the Bank’s capital position as a percentage of total assets is currently at 13.92%.

In addition, Bristol County Savings Bank is a member of the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF), as well as a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The DIF is a private, industry-sponsored insurance fund that insures all deposits above Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) limits at Massachusetts-chartered savings banks. The combination of FDIC and DIF insurance provides customers of Massachusetts-chartered savings banks with full deposit insurance on all their deposit accounts, providing an additional degree of security for towns and municipalities that are Bristol County Savings Bank depositors.

Bristol County Savings Bank
Bristol County Savings Bank is a full service financial institution offering commercial lending, personal and business banking, and mortgage services. The key words at Bristol County Savings Bank are: “Commitment, Stability, and Community,” values that are combined with state-of-the-art technology to meet the needs of its customers. A dedicated local community bank for over
160 years, Bristol County Savings Bank is actively involved in giving back to all the communities it serves both through financial support and the volunteerism of its people.

Founded in 1846, Bristol County Savings has $1.1 billion in assets, with 245 employees in Southeastern MA and RI. The Bank has 10 full service banking offices located in: Taunton, MA (2); Raynham, MA (2); Rehoboth, MA; Attleboro, MA; North Attleborough, MA; Franklin, MA; Dartmouth, MA; and Pawtucket, RI; two loan production offices located in Taunton and Fall River, MA; and two Educational Branch Offices located at Taunton High School and Attleboro High School.

The Main Office and Corporate headquarters of Bristol County Savings Bank are located on Broadway in Taunton, MA. For additional information please call 508-824-6626, or visit www.bristolcountysavings.com.

Bristol County Savings Bank announces establishment of new Government Finance Department.Read More

DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver donates washer/dryer to Servants Anonymous Society of Surrey.

COQUITLAM, BC…

While DirectBuy has made it’s name by giving families the opportunity to buy directly from the manufacturer and save hundreds, even thousands, on home improvement projects, furniture, appliance and many other household items, it’s reputation for generosity also speaks for itself. A fine example of that is DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver’s recent donation of a washer/dryer to Servants Anonymous Society of Surrey.

The Servants Anonymous Society, founded ten years ago, was set up to help sexually exploited young women get their lives back on track by providing secure housing and teaching them life skills. Servants Anonymous’ ASK Centre for Learning is designed to provide each participant with an opportunity to learn the personal and occupational skills required to help them obtain and maintain employment, return to school, and/or raise their children on a full-time basis.

“The Servants Anonymous Society is doing phenomenal work with these young women, many of whom come from very troubled backgrounds,” Peter Ruetz, owner of DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver. “While the retail value of the washer/dryer we donated is about $1800, you really can’t put a dollar value on helping a person get their life back and that’s really what they do at Servants Anonymous.”

That type of generosity is fairly standard for DirectBuy. Showroom owners across North America donate to any number of organizations, and have shown a particular affinity for making contributions to children/family-oriented organizations like Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, children’s hospitals and the Salvation Army.

“One of the keys to helping these young women get their lives back on track is providing them with a safe and clean environment in which to learn life skills. Something as simple as being able to take care of your own laundry can go a long way towards that young woman standing up on her own two feet. DirectBuy’s generous donation will go a long way in helping us help these women,” said Kelly Ferguson, facilities manager at Servants Anonymous Society.

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. With four convenient locations serving the Greater Vancouver area, DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on DirectBuy, you can visit www.DirectBuyBC.ca. To find out more about Servants Anonymous Society of Surrey, visit http://sasurrey.ca/.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 500 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy has been serving the greater Vancouver area since 1997. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The four DirectBuy showrooms serving the greater Vancouver area are part of more than 160 franchise locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 604-552-5255, or visiting www.DirectBuyBC.ca. 

Locations of the four DirectBuy showrooms serving the greater Vancouver area are: DirectBuy of Vancouver, 2659 Lillooet St., Vancouver, British Columbia V5M 4P7; DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver, 91 Golden Drive Unit #1, Coquitlam, British Columbia V3K 6R2; DirectBuy of Central Okanagan, #5 2260 Hunter Rd., Kelowna, British Columbia V1X 7J8; and DirectBuy of Greater Victoria, 350B Bay Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8T 1P7.

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

About Servants Anonymous Society of Surrey

Servants Anonymous Society (Surrey) began in October 2000 and is incorporated as a BC Registered Society. The SAS Surrey program is designed as an original self-help approach to recovery for female youth. The program provides sexually exploited females with secure housing, life skills and an opportunity to gain their grade 12 education through the ASK Centre for Learning. The ASK Centre for Learning is designed to provide each participant with an opportunity to learn the personal, academic and occupational skills required to help them obtain and maintain employment, go onto further their education, and/or raise their children on a full-time basis.

Servants Anonymous Society, Surrey received the 2008 Award for Excellence given by the Surrey Board of Trade for excellence in service to the people of Surrey. DirectBuy proves to be one more business that strongly endorses the work of SAS.

Servants Anonymous Society (Surrey) is located at 7452 132nd Street, #201, Surrey, BC, 604-590-2304. For more info, please visit http://sasurrey.ca/.

DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver donates washer/dryer to Servants Anonymous Society of Surrey.Read More

Old Colony Elder Services Treats Caregivers to a Special “Caregiver Night Out”

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a private, non-profit Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) that serves Plymouth county as well as the towns of Avon, Easton and Stoughton, recently held a special “Caregiver Night Out” for 30 caregivers.

Caregiver Night Out, which was held in the Great Hall at Halifax Town Hall, enabled caregivers to socialize with other caregivers while enjoying a dinner and a special night of relaxation.

Three self-care practitioners: Joanne Salerno, a Certified Massage Therapist and Reiki Master; Debra Bunszel, a Certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master and Dee Davidson, a Certified Massage Therapist were on-hand that evening and treated each caregiver to Reiki, reflexology and a chair massage.

“Caring for an elderly loved one can be overwhelming, frustrating and exhausting. Caregivers give so much of their time and energy; they rarely stop to take time out for themselves. A ‘Caregiver Night Out’ gives them a special night to rest, enjoy a meal and socialize with others who are experiencing the same caregiver challenges,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year.

The typical family caregiver is a 46-year-old woman (who is married and employed) caring for her widowed mother who does not live with her. Approximately 60 percent of family caregivers are women. 17 percent of family caregivers are providing 40 hours of care a week or more (National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP).

To learn more about caregiver support, contact the Family Caregiver Support Program at OCES at (508) 584-1561.

About Old Colony Elder Services

Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

The agency has 130 employees and operates more than 12 programs serving elders, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the new website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Score! What business owners need to know about obtaining financing in tough times.

MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS…

Despite all the doom and gloom talk surrounding economy, bailouts, foreclosures, soft real estate markets and the like, attaining a line of credit is still a viable option. According to Itamar Chalif, president of Atlantic Capital Solutions (ACS), the “score” on getting a line of credit for your business still may come down to one thing: your credit score.

“We work with businesses large and small in helping them secure Financing needed to grow their business such as working capital, capital improvement and more. The one thing we’ve noticed over the last several months is that while it’s true banks may be hesitant to issue mortgages and want 10 to 20 percent down payment, unsecured lines of credit up to $100,000 are still readily available if you have been in business more than two years and have a good business and personal credit score.”

To that end, Atlantic Capital Solutions recommends several ways to improve your credit scores, including:

  •  Paying your bills on time – being late as much as one time on a bill can have a negative effect on your credit score. If your overall credit situation is marginal than one bill being 31 days past due may break the deal.
  • Limiting your revolving lines of credit; lenders like to see you have the discipline not to extend your credit lines, that you “do not need the money” so to speak.  Remember lenders like to lend money to people who know how to use it, but do not need it.
  • Bringing the balance on your credit cards to 50 percent of the credit line or less. Having one credit card with a $10,000 limit and $9,000 balance will impact your credit score far more than three credit cards with a total credit limit of $30,000 and a balance of $5,000 on each.
  •  Keeping lines of credit separate from your partner or spouse – whether it’s financing a car, obtaining a credit card or conducting any transaction that involves borrowing money; if possible do not sign jointly on the account.
  • Owning a home – to lenders, home ownership represents stability from a character standpoint and from a practical standpoint. People who rent a home do not have an anchor to hold them in one place if things go wrong. People with a home typically will fight harder to make things right and it is much harder to pick up and leave when you have to sell a home. From a character standpoint, it shows you are invested, figuratively and literally, in the place where you live.

Adds Chalif, “While planning and credit scores play a major role in obtaining lines of credit, so does the key component of any transaction—the lender. Many small business owners get locked into the mindset that their bank is the only place they can turn to for a line of credit. So, if their bank turns them down, they stop trying. Or worse, use their retirement savings or equity in their home to fund capital improvements for their business. In times like this, that’s a recipe for disaster.” 

ACS offers small businesses a number of solutions to getting financing, including:

  • New and used equipment leasing/financing
  • Small Business Administration (SBA) options
  • Non SBA solutions for start-up businesses
  • Commercial mortgages
  • Terminal Rental Adjustment Clause (TRAC) leases
  • Lines of credit
  • Working capital loans
  • Business acquisitions
  • Factoring (accounts receivable funding)

Offering professional, one-on-one service, ACS helps small businesses sift through the fine print that goes along with many financing options so that the best interest of the business owner is protected.

Based in Middleboro, Massachusetts, ACS works with clients locally and nationally, including:

  •  Business owners, controllers, CFOs and other decision-makers.
  • Entrepreneurs contemplating the purchase of a business, franchise or start-up.
  • Equipment vendors

For more information about Atlantic Capital Solutions, Inc. and its range of services, you can visit http://www.AtlanticCapitalSolutions.com or call 508-718-5520 to set up a complimentary initial consultation.

About Atlantic Capital Solutions

Atlantic Capital Solutions has helped business owners, entrepreneurs, CFOs and other decision-makers find the right financing option for their organization. ACS works with a broad spectrum of lenders and institutions and is therefore able to offer a variety of customized programs for its clients, including: new and used equipment leasing/financing; commercial mortgages; Terminal Rental Adjustment Clause (TRAC) leases; lines of credit; working capital loans; business acquisitions; and more. For more information about Atlantic Capital Solutions and its range of services, you can visit http://www.AtlanticCapitalSolutions.com or call 508-718-5520 to set up a complimentary initial consultation.

Score! What business owners need to know about obtaining financing in tough times.Read More

Ring in the New Year Right – South Shore Skin Center offers Beauty on a Budget

Ring in the New Year right, without breaking the bank. Recognizing tighter budgets, South Shore Skin Center, one of the most progressive dermatology practices in Massachusetts with offices in Plymouth and Cohasset, is offering a special discount on Botox® treatments.

Botox® is used to treat lines around the eyes, frown lines between the eyes, and lines on the forehead that often appear with age. Botox® works by relaxing the muscles that contract to form these lines, creating a smoother appearance in the treated areas.

Throughout the month of January, new and established patients of South Shore Skin Center may “lock-in” special pricing on Botox®. Patients will receive one free Botox® treatment with the advanced purchase of three Botox® treatments. Pre-payment is required and patients must sign up for the treatments by January 31st in order to receive one free treatment. This offer cannot be combined with other offers.

“The demand for cosmetic treatments such as Botox® and fillers has so far remained high despite the economy. As a thank you to patients, we’re offering ‘recession pricing’ in a sense on Botox® treatments which they can lock-into at the beginning of this year,” noted Dr. Richard Eisen of South Shore Skin Center.

South Shore Skin Center

Founded in 1984, South Shore Skin Center is one of Massachusetts’ most progressive dermatology practices offering a wide range of medical, surgical and cosmetic services.

South Shore Skin Center’s cosmetic services include Fraxel re:pair and re:store; Gentle YAG, innovative Laser, IPL (Intensive Pulse Light), Thermage and treatments for age spots, acne scarring, birth marks, tattoos and more. The practice also offers a full range of affordable anti-aging services including Botox®, wrinkle fillers, Microdermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels.

South Shore Skin Center offices are located at 223 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Suite 202 in Cohasset, Mass. (781) 383-3340, and 45 Resnik Road, Suite 102 in Plymouth, Mass., (508) 747-0711. For more information, visit their website at www.southshoreskincenter.com.

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J.P. Licks Donates Proceeds from Veterans’ Day Promotion to New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans

J.P. Licks, the homemade ice cream café with eight shops in and around Boston, has donated $1,300 in proceeds from a Veterans Day promotion to the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans (NESHV) in Boston.

In remembrance and support of veterans on Veterans’ Day, J.P. Licks offered patrons at each of their stores a cup of coffee for $1, which was then donated to NESHV.

“We wanted to honor and give back to those who have served us and our country. This the first time we have run this promotion and we’re very pleased with its success,” noted Vince Petryk, founder of J.P. Licks. “We will be looking into doing a similar promotion to support the troops next year.”

Stephen Cunniff, Director of Community Affairs at NESHV noted, “We appreciate J.P. Licks’ support and friendship.”

The NESHV is located at 17 Court Street in Boston. For more information, visit neshv.org. Visit jplicks.com for store locations and hours.

Best of Boston and Beyond

For more than 25 years, J.P. Licks has been serving homemade ice cream and other specialties in their eight Kosher-certified shops in and around Boston. Locally owned and operated, J.P. Licks has won many awards over the years for their intensely-flavored homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt. Most recently, J.P. Licks was named “Best of Boston” and “Best Location – Jamaica Plain” by Boston Magazine and also made WBZ’s “A-List” for the second year in a row. Known for their high quality, scrumptious treats and their knack for “treating people right”, J.P. Licks was named Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s “Small Business of the Year”.

In addition to their frozen creations, J.P. Licks roasts their own fair trade and organic coffee beans on-site at their Jamaica Plain store, which ensures the best and the freshest, full-bodied cup of coffee around. Decadent hand-packed ice cream cakes as well as breakfast & ice cream sundae catering are also available.

Visit the website at jplicks.com for more information.

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Marshfield Polar Express Magical Train Ride was a Hit – $30K Raised

The Marshfield Polar Express came to life this past Saturday on the Kingston commuter rail as the train made its magical round trip journey to the North Pole.

There was plenty of laughter and caroling aboard the Polar Express, as children of all ages and adults were entertained by Santa’s elves and Mrs. Claus while drinking hot chocolate and snacking on fresh baked cookies. Upon their arrival at the “North Pole”, each child wrote their Christmas wish on Santa’s scroll and received a special gift from Santa, so they may always believe.

The four, one-hour train rides were nearly filled to capacity. All proceeds from the Polar Express benefited the privately funded, non-profit the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield. More than $30,000 was raised and will support programs and scholarships at the club.

This event was sponsored by Sam’s Club, Tiny & Sons Glass, ACT Smart, Inc., Dunkin Donuts, Family Crest Catering, EmbroidMe, Venus II Restaurant, Ninety Nine Restaurants, Marshfield Mini Storage, Roche Bros., Rockland Trust, Scituate Federal Savings and Vertex.

“This was the first year we held a Polar Express event and we’re delighted with the success of it. Thanks to everyone who volunteered; our staff who worked tirelessly to pull it together and all who generously sponsored the event. It was a great day out. We’ll certainly consider another Polar Express fundraiser in the future,” noted Greg Jackson, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield.

To view photos from the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield’s Polar Express, visit www.marshfieldpolarexpress.com.

About the Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield’s purpose is to establish a safe haven for recreation, which includes a variety of supervised activities for greater than 4,000 youth (between the ages of 6 to 18 years old) within the town. The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield has five Core Areas: Character and Leadership; Education and Career; Health, Sport Fitness Recreation and Life Skills; The Arts; and Technology. These Core Areas serve as the foundation for all programming.

As a privately-funded, non-profit organization, the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield relies tremendously on the generous philanthropic support of individuals.  Financial gifts assist in providing the financial strength necessary to continue the club’s mission “to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens, as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders.”

For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, please contact (781) 834-CLUB (2582) or visit the website at MarshfieldBoysAndGirlsClub.com or write to the club at P.O. Box 311, Marshfield, MA 02050.

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The Gables Condominiums in Abington offers 100% financing for qualifying veterans.

ABINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS…

The Gables Condominiums, a luxury condominium development located at 200 Hampton Way in Abington, recently announced the availability of 100 percent financing for qualifying active and inactive U.S. veterans, National Guardsmen and reservists. 

“We owe the people who serve and protect this country from harm a debt of gratitude that goes beyond just saying ‘thank you’. This special offer does that by giving a veteran who qualifies the opportunity to buy a beautiful condominium with no money down and no mortgage insurance payments—an opportunity you can’t find anywhere right now,” said Bisher Hashem, president of the Gables Development Corporation.

To be eligible, you must be either an active or inactive member of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard or a reservist. If you are inactive, you must have your DD214 certificate signifying an honorable discharge. All applicants are also subject to credit scores and income qualifications. The Gables mortgage consultant can qualify applicants over the phone.

Located off North Quincy Street in Abington, The Gables Condominiums include 220 total units. The development is also next to Ames Nowell State Park, which contains 430 acres of lush park woodlands.  

“This is a great opportunity for these veterans who have the income to afford a reasonable monthly mortgage payment, but may not have the savings to afford a conventional 10 to 20 percent down payment typically required by traditional lenders,” continued Hashem. 

For more information on VA financing at The Gables Condominiums, please contact The Gables sales consultant at 800-500-0992. To find out more about The Gables, visit www.TheGables.net.

About the Gables

Residents of these luxury condominiums also enjoy a unique opportunity to live in harmony with nature.  The Gables Condominiums abut Ames Nowell State Park, which contains 430 acres of park woodlands. This green buffer offers a wide variety of activities to appeal to all ages for fun, relaxation, stress relief, experiencing nature and exercise. The Gables is close in proximity to all amenities such as public transportation yet nestled away to allow its residents to enjoy the tranquility this neighborhood has to offer.  

The Gables offers gracious living at affordable pricing – units start at $269,900.  Each unit offers generous design and floor plan options, quality name brand products and materials. Each unit abounds with luxurious features including: whirlpool tub, fireplace, tile flooring in bathrooms and kitchen, central air conditioning and much more. Several upgrades are offered which allow even more opportunity to customize units to satisfy individual tastes.

The Gables offers a variety of floor plans and unit types ranging from town homes to garden units, and many properties include basements and garages.  The Gables offers more than just condominium living, it provides a quiet, safe and comfortable lifestyle for years to come.

Residents at The Gables include an eclectic mix of empty nesters, young families, singles and seniors.

This community is entirely aligned with growing requests for a greener daily life.  The designers of The Gables, wanting to reduce the overall impact to the environment, considered many features and benefits for energy efficiency.  Every one of the windows and doors are energy efficient products.  The properly-sized 90% efficient systems will often cut energy bills and reduce its lifecycle costs because of its greatly reduced operating costs such as repairs.

The use of well water to maintain the lush landscaping and other natural features instead of municipal resources is another important characteristic.  The designer also minimizes wastewater by using ultra low-flush toilets and lastly installed high-efficiency lighting systems and task lighting reduces general energy use of the entire site. Some benefits, such as improving comfort, reducing pollution and waste are not easily quantified but will change the way residents live for years to come.

Many people today are looking for a greener lifestyle in their next home, to live somewhere that promotes the economic health and well being of family, the community and the environment. From energy efficient lighting to water conservation, The Gables is a spectacular model for greener living on the South Shore.

Set on 41 naturally-wooded acres off North Quincy Street in Abington, on 200 Hampton Way, directions from the North and South can be found at www.thegables.net/location.html.

 

The Gables Condominiums in Abington offers 100% financing for qualifying veterans.Read More

Deliberately Misclassified? Allstate independent contractor agents, formerly Allstate employees, fight for true independence.

GULFPORT, MS….

People go into business on their own for a number of reasons, but the ability to “be your own boss” tops the list. So when Allstate Insurance converted the majority of its sales force from employee to independent contractor status in 2000, many of those agents anticipated liberation from the requirements of being an Allstate employee. Eight years later, 11,000+ Allstate agents are still waiting for their independence.

What Allstate agents have found as “independent contractors” are:

●        Mandatory office hours.

●        Sales quotas.

●        Verbal and written warnings threatening loss of contract for not meeting company expectations.

●        A requirement to forward office telephone calls to company service centers after hours.

●        Subjection to several employee-like controls, including annual performance reviews.

●        Mandatory meetings and training sessions.

●        Restrictions on certain inbound e-mails, some blocked.

In fact, many agents feel they’re treated more like employees today, than when they were actual employees. Said one agent, “Back then, we had a pension plan and, if the company wanted to fire you, there was an agent review board in place. Now, they can fire you with or without reason.”

Allstate agents certainly aren’t the first independent contractors to be treated like employees without the accompanying benefits. In 2007, after filing a class action lawsuit demanding parity with employee drivers, current and former FedEx independent contractor drivers were elated when Judge Robert Miller of the U.S. District Court in Northern Indiana certified them as a class. Not only has this action allowed their case to proceed, but it opened the door to similar cases involving independent contractors who are treated like employees.

Two months following the U.S. District Court in Northern Indiana’s decision, the Internal Revenue Service levied $319 million in fines and penalties levied against Federal Express. The fines and penalties were later withdrawn, but the IRS has continued to audit Federal Express for the years 2004 through 2006.

So why hasn’t the IRS gone after Allstate?

“That’s a good question,” said Jim Fish, executive director of the National Association of Professional Allstate Agents, a non-profit representing the rights of Allstate agents. “Agents bear all of the expenses and risks associated with operating an independent business, but are controlled as employees. Meanwhile Allstate enjoys a huge competitive cost advantage by avoiding expenses associated with pensions, health insurance, 401k’s, Social Security, and, most importantly, federal taxes. You would think that alone would rate the IRS’s attention, but that’s not been the case.”

The long-term goal for most insurance agents is to build their book of business and then, when they retire, sell it to the highest bidder. At Allstate, this is not always possible because the company controls who buys these books of business. Said one agent, “Our books of business were supposed to replace our pensions, but [Allstate] managers have started to interfere in the sales process, which has lowered the value of our agencies. This isn’t fair because for many of us, our book of business is the most important retirement asset we have.”

For more information on the National Association of Professional Allstate Agents, you can visit their Web site at www.napaausa.org or call (877) 269-3474.

About National Association of Professional Allstate Agents (NAPAA)

Based in Gulfport, Mississippi, NAPAA is a non-profit organization whose members are predominantly insurance agents under contract with Allstate. In addition to offering a variety of benefits and services, NAPAA further serves its members by acting on their behalf and speaking with a distinct and unfettered voice on a wide range of issues. To contact NAPAA, please visit its Website at www.napaausa.org or call (877) 269-3474.

Deliberately Misclassified? Allstate independent contractor agents, formerly Allstate employees, fight for true independence.Read More