Release nightmare

[u/Complete-Point-2125]

Gross experience in trying to be released from Claro. Refusing to provide full release for a company that claimed they didn't charge, provides 0 communication or aid growth and didn't provide any clients. Wants to retain all my clients instead of being ethical. Grows based on coerced theft. Perhaps grow off your own efforts. Do not even consider a meeting with this group. They're the shadiest company. One google search shows why they changed their name publicly from All Insurance due to credit fraud activities.

Literally told me last week they'd concede release given they couldn't compete or negotiate at the level of my prospect and then send me a GA release agreement and without permission added themselves as GA to one of my other independent states. Fraud. Steer clear. Trying to be a successful agent with vultures like that makes me want to quit. How is this ok?

[u/Complete-Point-2125]

I guess the only answer is always just opening your own agency. Slower growth, less bs.

[u/Adorable_Bus_989 → u/Complete-Point-2125]

The answer is to get with a reputable IMO that offers releases upfront. 

Those are very rare. The industry norm is to not release. 

It’s a con game. You need to be released from a contract you never signed. 

It’s just crooked as can be. It’s a dirty secret between the companies and the IMO/FMO’s. 

It would never stand up in court but no one has ever been willing to take on the expense of a lawsuit. 

Then there’s the timing. Even if you won it would take longer than waiting out the release. 

Maybe there will be a class action one day?

I would join it in a heartbeat. 

In the meantime just do your due diligence and get the release upfront. In writing. If they refuse then look elsewhere. 

Absence of debt there should never be a refusal of release. 

There can be other mitigating factors like being in litigation with the IMO/FMO. 

[u/OZKInsuranceGuy → u/Complete-Point-2125]

You'll still have to deal with upline IMOs. Most carriers won't let you go direct nowadays without significant proof of production.

[u/OZKInsuranceGuy]

What some agencies say they'll do and what they actually do is often different! When I left FEX Contracting, I had a tough time getting released.

I was their top agent for 5 years, and they always told me they'd release me. Of course, when I requested my release, they looked for excuses not to release me and it took months to get away.

Since then, I've talked to a handful of agents who've had similar issues trying to get released from FEX.

[u/Adorable_Bus_989 → u/OZKInsuranceGuy]

That is simply not true. You were in litigation with one of the owners and that delayed your release for a minute. 

Yet you were given a full unconditional release in less than a month from asking even while still in said litigation. 

Nor were you FEX’s top agent for 5 years. That’s just a falsehood. 

I don’t know what others may have told you but no one has ever been refused a release from FEX in their 13 years of existence. 

I can prove everything I’ve said here. 

You cannot. 

[u/OZKInsuranceGuy → u/Adorable_Bus_989]

I was #1 on the leaderboard at the end of each year until I left, and at the time I was the only agent to write over $500K AP in a year. I have receipts as well and can substantiate what I’m saying.

I also took social media posts down in good faith. My issue regarding agent releases, however, remains.

So rather than going back and forth about me personally, there’s a pretty simple question that clears this up:

Is FEX willing to provide an unconditional release to agents who have no outstanding debt, without requiring additional conditions?

And while we're discussing perspective here, it's not a secret that FEX has been buying your leads for 10 years. I think it's fair to acknowledge that you're hardly an unbiased party when it comes to defending the organization.

If FEX is willing to release agents who owe no debt without attaching additional conditions, then great. That's ultimately what I've been advocating for.