Advice on "business opportunity"

[ITPaladin]

I couldn't find a topic this would fit under even though this is technical in nature, so I posted in Off Topic...

Some time ago I came across this company while searching for jobs online.
Of specific interest was the tech support you can do from home.

From my reading of the website, I understand that you have to go to your state board of equalization office or something (I live in California)
and possibly pay the state fees to set yourself up as a "virtual corporation" first, before Arise will "contract" you for working with their clients.

It looks like there are possibly classes you could take to become 'certified' so you can have better opportunities (read closer as I skimmed weeks ago).

They require you to have a quiet place to receive calls after logging into their system (something I didn't have when I first heard about them a few months ago - landlady's dogs...rrr).

I looked them up on the Better Business Bureau website, and they are registered as a member with a "B+" rating, so it doesn't seem like a scam.

Anyone here ever heard of them, work as a contractor for them, etc?

Thoughts?
I really need a job after months...years of lack of regular empoyment. In the past 3 years I have gained my A+ and MCP - Windows 2000 Server certifications,
but have been unable to even get a Best Buy / Circuit City computer tech job even.
While completing my Associates degree, with no transportation other than bicycle / bus, this looks like it would be perfect for after classes part time if I could get help with the
start-up costs of the state fees (if any), and getting a phone activated (just have cell).

 

[DaveSimmons]

pay the state fees to set yourself up as a "virtual corporation" first, before Arise will "contract" you for working with their clients.

That's a red flag for me, contract work does not normally require this. Maybe they are trying to get around employment laws that apply even to contractors, which doesn't sound good or ethical.

It looks like there are possibly classes you could take to become 'certified' so you can have better opportunities (read closer as I skimmed weeks ago).

Another red flag, a reputable employer will not charge you fees for training that you need, or sell you courses with a promise of better jobs because of them.

Are they trying to make money off of support, or by selling training to employees?

Finally, why are they doing this roundabout scheme instead of just setting up a call center in a low-wage area and paying people minimum wage?

 

[ITPaladin]

It doesn't sound like you read through their website though:

How it works page

As your own Virtual Services Corporation, you invest in your own certification courses and equipment, laying the groundwork for your success. As your Virtual Services Corporation grows, it can employ additional Arise Certified Professionals agents to expand your business reach!

Results. The Arise service model is performance driven. Arise contracts with its clients to provide certain levels of service, which are mirrored by Arise's contracts with the Virtual Services Corporations. Arise typically pays a service fee to its Virtual Services Corporations that are based on per call, per minute, or per hour rates. Service opportunities in the sales arena also offer sales-related incentives and rewards.

Process of becoming an Arise Certified Professional

There is an assessment you must take, can if you fail you have to wait 3 months before taking it again.

You must pass a criminal background check:

You will receive simple instructions about how to submit the request to U.S. Information Search, including a $13.00 fee ($26.00 for the following states: MA, CO, NV, SD, CA and VT). Once completed, your results are sent to Arise within three to four business days.

Fee for certification program:

You are now able to enroll in the Arise basic certification program ACP101 - an introductory e-certification program ($99) - which, when successfully completed, will allow you to qualify as an Arise Certified Professional. Since the program is self-paced, you may complete it in as little as 20 hours, but you have 10 full calendar days if you need the extra time.

Strike the "better opportunities" comment. That was a mistake.

Establish a Virtual Services Corporation Arise will only contract with an incorporated entity to provide customer interaction services. Arise will not contract directly with any Arise Certified Professional. In order to do business with Arise, you need to establish a Virtual Services Corporation which is merely an incorporated entity that you own through which you desire to operate your customer interaction services business. The cost to incorporate varies by state and is paid to the state in which you choose to incorporate. You can use any pre-existing incorporated entity that you own or form a new incorporated entity. There is no limitation on the type of incorporated entity that is acceptable to Arise.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin
It doesn't sound like you read through their website though:

How it works page

As your own Virtual Services Corporation, you invest in your own certification courses and equipment, laying the groundwork for your success. As your Virtual Services Corporation grows, it can employ additional Arise Certified Professionals agents to expand your business reach!

Results. The Arise service model is performance driven. Arise contracts with its clients to provide certain levels of service, which are mirrored by Arise's contracts with the Virtual Services Corporations. Arise typically pays a service fee to its Virtual Services Corporations that are based on per call, per minute, or per hour rates. Service opportunities in the sales arena also offer sales-related incentives and rewards.

Process of becoming an Arise Certified Professional

There is an assessment you must take, can if you fail you have to wait 3 months before taking it again.

You must pass a criminal background check:

You will receive simple instructions about how to submit the request to U.S. Information Search, including a $13.00 fee ($26.00 for the following states: MA, CO, NV, SD, CA and VT). Once completed, your results are sent to Arise within three to four business days.

Fee for certification program:

You are now able to enroll in the Arise basic certification program ACP101 - an introductory e-certification program ($99) - which, when successfully completed, will allow you to qualify as an Arise Certified Professional. Since the program is self-paced, you may complete it in as little as 20 hours, but you have 10 full calendar days if you need the extra time.

Strike the "better opportunities" comment. That was a mistake.

Establish a Virtual Services Corporation Arise will only contract with an incorporated entity to provide customer interaction services. Arise will not contract directly with any Arise Certified Professional. In order to do business with Arise, you need to establish a Virtual Services Corporation which is merely an incorporated entity that you own through which you desire to operate your customer interaction services business. The cost to incorporate varies by state and is paid to the state in which you choose to incorporate. You can use any pre-existing incorporated entity that you own or form a new incorporated entity. There is no limitation on the type of incorporated entity that is acceptable to Arise.

This reeks of scam, just like DaveSimmons posted. Basically, you're going to sign up and pay $99 to get "certified". Then you may or may not get any actual work from it, and even if you do, you'll get paid very little, probably minimum wage. I admit I haven't read all the details, but it smells pretty much like every other work-from-home-opportunity scam.

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin
It doesn't sound like you read through their website though:

How it works page

As your own Virtual Services Corporation, you invest in your own certification courses and equipment, laying the groundwork for your success. As your Virtual Services Corporation grows, it can employ additional Arise Certified Professionals agents to expand your business reach!

Pyramid scheme/recruitment scheme.

Results. The Arise service model is performance driven. Arise contracts with its clients to provide certain levels of service, which are mirrored by Arise's contracts with the Virtual Services Corporations. Arise typically pays a service fee to its Virtual Services Corporations that are based on per call, per minute, or per hour rates. Service opportunities in the sales arena also offer sales-related incentives and rewards.

Process of becoming an Arise Certified Professional

There is an assessment you must take, can if you fail you have to wait 3 months before taking it again.

You must pass a criminal background check:

You will receive simple instructions about how to submit the request to U.S. Information Search, including a $13.00 fee ($26.00 for the following states: MA, CO, NV, SD, CA and VT). Once completed, your results are sent to Arise within three to four business days.

Fee for certification program:

You are now able to enroll in the Arise basic certification program ACP101 - an introductory e-certification program ($99) - which, when successfully completed, will allow you to qualify as an Arise Certified Professional. Since the program is self-paced, you may complete it in as little as 20 hours, but you have 10 full calendar days if you need the extra time.

Scam. You must pay to be a 'Certified Professional' and they will not 'employ' you if you are not.

Strike the "better opportunities" comment. That was a mistake.

Establish a Virtual Services Corporation Arise will only contract with an incorporated entity to provide customer interaction services. Arise will not contract directly with any Arise Certified Professional. In order to do business with Arise, you need to establish a Virtual Services Corporation which is merely an incorporated entity that you own through which you desire to operate your customer interaction services business. The cost to incorporate varies by state and is paid to the state in which you choose to incorporate. You can use any pre-existing incorporated entity that you own or form a new incorporated entity. There is no limitation on the type of incorporated entity that is acceptable to Arise.

[/quote]

HUGE scam alert. By setting up a corporation, they enter into a service contract with your corporation and offload all legal responsibility to you.

Definite scam/pseudo pyramid scheme. Turn around and run, don't walk, from this.

 

[CrazyLazy]

Looks shady as hell. Maybe not a full fledged pyramid scam but definitely multi level marketing with some bullshit product.

 

[Feanor727]

Ackbar and Solo said it best...

 

[ITPaladin]

so even being a member of the BBB and having a B+ rating?

 

[CrazyLazy]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin
so even being a member of the BBB and having a B+ rating?

Just because something is in the Better Business Bureau doesn't make it legitimate. It's a factor to consider, but there are a ton of red flags going off with the rest of their site.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin
so even being a member of the BBB and having a B+ rating?

That means absolutely nothing. Most people don't bother reporting that they got scammed because 1) they don't want to waste the time, and 2) they are embarrassed that they fell for the scam.

 

[ITPaladin]

bump for more replies

 

[XxPrOdiGyxX]

go for it and let us know how it turns out.

 

[ViviTheMage]

run

 

[gorcorps]

Jesus fuck OP, you have such a hard-on for this that it's impossible to convince you otherwise. Everybody has pointed out how shady it sounds, and you keep running to their side trying to make them more legitimate when you don't even know what they're up to. If you can't take advice then you deserve to be scammed. Go for it, good luck, and don't come back whining about how you lost your money.

 

[ITPaladin]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Jesus fuck OP, you have such a hard-on for this that it's impossible to convince you otherwise. Everybody has pointed out how shady it sounds, and you keep running to their side trying to make them more legitimate when you don't even know what they're up to. If you can't take advice then you deserve to be scammed. Go for it, good luck, and don't come back whining about how you lost your money.

damn what is your problem?!

I seek counsel from a multitude and you have a problem with it?

Go troll elsewhere.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Jesus fuck OP, you have such a hard-on for this that it's impossible to convince you otherwise. Everybody has pointed out how shady it sounds, and you keep running to their side trying to make them more legitimate when you don't even know what they're up to. If you can't take advice then you deserve to be scammed. Go for it, good luck, and don't come back whining about how you lost your money.

damn what is your problem?!

I seek counsel from a multitude and you have a problem with it?

Go troll elsewhere.

he's not trolling in this case imo. you're giving yourself every inch you can take to make the company seem legitimate and therefore buy into it, however, the multitude is giving you the opposite. basically, it's your money, do as you please with it, but be warned that there is something that just isn't right about the way that company has worded things on their site.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Jesus fuck OP, you have such a hard-on for this that it's impossible to convince you otherwise. Everybody has pointed out how shady it sounds, and you keep running to their side trying to make them more legitimate when you don't even know what they're up to. If you can't take advice then you deserve to be scammed. Go for it, good luck, and don't come back whining about how you lost your money.

damn what is your problem?!

I seek counsel from a multitude and you have a problem with it?

Go troll elsewhere.

It's not trolling when he is trying to help you and you are too thick to comprehend.

Let me try something you might better understand, seeing how you call yourself IT Paladin.

These (companies) are the people that say "Paradigm Shift" and "ROI" a lot.

oh and I did a simple google check (searched Arise Virtual Solutions Inc scam) and this is the first link


http://www.ripoffreport.com/re.../317/RipOff0317967.htm

 

[ITPaladin]

all I said was, "bump for more replies", as I hadn't seen the thread in a while after browsing older things I forgot about, and that was the response I got.

 

[CrazyLazy]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin
all I said was, "bump for more replies", as I hadn't seen the thread in a while after browsing older things I forgot about, and that was the response I got.

If you didn't get that it was a scam after the first dozen replies you deserve to get your money taken.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

at this point, if you are still even possibly considering it... DEFINITELY DO IT

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
at this point, if you are still even possibly considering it... DEFINITELY DO IT

 

[So]

If someone wants you to pay them money to employ you, it's a scam.

 

[ITPaladin]

I didn't realize this part of this forum was WoW.
I just asked for opinions, came back after 4 months to bump the thread, and get reamed for doing so.
Screw it. ALL I WANTED WAS MORE OPINIONS. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO EVEN CONSIDER IT. I WAS JUST CURIOUS!!
BTW, the link to ripoffreport shows positive comments with a link to MSN Money article mentioning the company...
The complaints all seem to have to do with blaming the company for not having work, when it is not they that provide the work to you like an employee.

 

[darkxshade]

you can diieeeuuuuu it

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin
I didn't realize this part of this forum was WoW.
I just asked for opinions, came back after 4 months to bump the thread, and get reamed for doing so.
Screw it. ALL I WANTED WAS MORE OPINIONS. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO EVEN CONSIDER IT. I WAS JUST CURIOUS!!
BTW, the link to ripoffreport shows positive comments with a link to MSN Money article mentioning the company...
The complaints all seem to have to do with blaming the company for not having work, when it is not they that provide the work to you like an employee.

you are retarded... let me try this again

company promises huge list of clients looking for "certified" professionals to do the work

you can't access list til you become "certified"

You pay company

Company then send you 0 work

You are not employee, just sub contractor, so they have no obligation to you.

Yes, bumping a 4 month old thread is bad form.

And yes, refusing to believe people who told you what is happening (in this particular circumstance) is moronic.

You know what, you should become double, no, triple certified. Oh wait, you have no money.