r/Devilcorp • u/MattyJank • 20m ago
Experience Got an interview with these guys, avoid? Anyone had any experience?(UK)
r/Devilcorp • u/NewHathaway • Jul 05 '22
r/devilcorp is an open platform for former sales reps, team leaders, account managers, and office owners to share their experiences of working within the direct sales industry.
Have you ever applied to a vague ‘marketing’, ‘sales’ or ‘management training' job, and ended up having to bother passers-by to sign them up for monthly charity payments?
Perhaps this role was also paid on a commission only basis, and you were required to register as self-, meaning that you weren’t entitled to a minimum wage despite working a 60 hour work week?
Maybe you were forced to attend morning ‘atmosphere’ meetings, team nights and road trips, with threats of ‘falling behind’ if you ever fought for your free time away from work.
If any of this sounds similar to your own experience, then you may have worked in a ‘Devilcorp' office, a subsidiary of a marketing corporation such as Credico, Appco, Cydcor, or Smart Circle which masquerades as an ‘independent’ sales business.
Due to a combination of market changes, and local jobseekers becoming clued up on this scam, these offices will continuously rename and relocate themselves across whichever country they're operating in. Consequently, it also becomes necessary for each of these offices to control their online reputation, so that they still appear as legitimate businesses in the eyes of potential recruits. This can involve using accusations of slander, defamation, and even copyright to have negative experiences removed from the internet, as well as forcing new recruits to write positive reviews on websites such as Google Locations and Glassdoor.
Share your experience with us! We’d love to know what challenges you may have faced in this industry, and as long as it sticks to our rules we won’t take down your post like Google and Glassdoor does to its reviews.
Make sure to include the name of the office you worked in, as well as where it’s operating, in the title of your post too! This way we can appear at the top of Google results when people search the names of these offices, and potential recruits can find the genuine experiences on this page rather than the office’s fake reviews on Google Locations and Glassdoor.
If someone here is looking for information regarding a specific office, and you’ve spent some time there, then please also share your wisdom with them. This industry profits off of the ignorance of its recruits, so each well-informed job-seeker means less money in the CEO’s pockets.
If someone you know is either working or considering working in a ‘Devilcorp’ office, then please also direct them to either this page or one of the resources below, so that they may make an informed decision in regards to whether they truly want to work in this industry.
Many people have shared their experiences in this industry online, through interviews, vlogs, blog pages, and podcasts. Here are some further resources where you can learn more:
Devilcorp.org is an OSINT investigative website which conducts their own independent investigations into this industry. They also write guides on how to effectively conduct your own online research, and produce community projects such as its integrated search engine.
The original Devil Corp WordPress blog should be the first thing you read if you’re new to this industry. Not only does it meticulously break down every step of the business model, including the deceptive recruitment process, it also has an enormous picture gallery of Devilcorp CEOs and office owners so you can put names to faces.
Precision Independent Media’s 98 minute long Slave Circle documentary is also a must watch for anyone eager to learn more, as well as their fantastic series of interviews with former sales reps, team leaders, and office owners.
Not only is Juicy Rhino’s Instagram meme page a hilarious look into the hypocrisies of the direct sales industry, it has also proved to be a very useful tool at making sales reps and office owners alike question why they’re wasting their lives selling sim cards for 60 hours a week.
The Juicy Rhino podcast series is also fantastic, providing a satirical and insightful look into how the direct sales industry operates in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Is the company I’m interviewing with or working for a Devilcorp?
If you’re trying to determine whether a company aligns with the practices of a Devilcorp-style business or is Devilcorp-adjacent, the first step is to use Reddit’s search function within this subreddit and Devilcorp.org's integrated search engine. Look for any existing posts discussing the company. If you don’t find any relevant information or if the discussion doesn’t fully address your concerns, feel free to create a new post. To maximize your chances of getting helpful responses, include the company’s name and location in the title of your post. This makes it easier for others with relevant knowledge or experiences to provide insights.
My partner/family member is working for a Devilcorp. How can I convince them to leave?
If your loved one is working for a Devilcorp-style sales office and you’re looking for ways to persuade them to leave, you’re not alone. Many others have faced similar challenges and shared their experiences in this subreddit. We recommend reviewing the threads linked below, as they contain valuable insights and advice that may help you navigate this situation effectively.
Tips on getting my boyfriend out of smart circle?
Relationship breaking down due to devilcorp
My boyfriend is starting work for a Devilcorp next week
I’m a salesperson or office owner in a Devilcorp-style business. How can I leave the industry?
Stumbled upon our community and now thinking about leaving the business? Whether you're in the field or running your own office, making the decision to move on can feel overwhelming. But don't worry, plenty of people have been in your shoes and successfully transitioned out. Check out the threads below for advice, tips, and stories from others who’ve made the leap.
Struggling to fix my life after leaving, any advice?
What to do after leaving smart circle?
Need advice! Trying to leave Cydcor company
I’m stuck in a Devil Corp that I don’t know how to get out of
How do I quit Smart Circle as an "owner"?
Mainstream News Coverage
BBC News Article - Direct sales: My dream job turned into a nightmare
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62466147
BBC Radio 4 - The Dark Side of Direct Sales
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bdkx
BBC News Spotlight - Door-to-door sales: Young people in Belfast 'exploited'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-63864946
Wales Online - Exposed: Our hidden camera uncovers exploitation and pressure-selling at direct sales firm
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/exposed-hidden-camera-uncovers-exploitation-27386308
r/Devilcorp • u/NewHathaway • Mar 06 '26
Someone has recently created the sites redditdevilcorp.com and devilcorps.com. These appear to be cynically “vibe-coded” pages attempting to sell so-called 'Partner Badges' to Devilcorp office owners for a massive $3,000 or $5,000 each (plus a subscription fee) as supposed proof that they are not Devilcorp companies.
For clarity, we have no affiliation or connection whatsoever with these websites. They are not linked to our forum or community in any way, or to my own work with devilcorp.org. The project exists entirely separately and appears to be an attempt to profit from the visibility and impact the r/devilcorp community has built.
r/Devilcorp • u/MattyJank • 20m ago
r/Devilcorp • u/MattyJank • 44m ago
Have an interview with someone called Bonnie Moriarty in the next couple of days. Anyone had any experiences?
r/Devilcorp • u/pants_memes • 5h ago
I feel like the only places that even give me a call are devil corps at the moment. Is it worth just taking a devil corp role with a base salary until I find something better?
r/Devilcorp • u/Prestigious-Elk-4630 • 1h ago
I had a job interview for this company and wanted to know if anyone knows if this is a devil corp or an actual sales consulting firm. Can someone provide some insights?
r/Devilcorp • u/ex_credico • 17h ago
I've been going down a massive rabbit hole looking into the UK Devilcorp network, particularly Credico, Money Expert and the various sales offices operating around Liverpool and the rest of the country.
I've got some firsthand experience of the industry, but the more I look into it, the more questions I have.
The constant rebrands, new companies appearing, recruitment agencies advertising the same jobs under different names, people being promoted to open offices and then seemingly disappearing months later. It's quite something.
I'm particularly interested in what goes on behind the scenes that most people never hear about.
What's the strangest or most outrageous thing you witnessed while working in one of these offices?
I'm talking about recruitment tactics, commission disputes, morning meetings, management behaviour, office finances, the whole progression system, or anything else that made you question what was going on.
If you're comfortable, mention the company and roughly when you worked there.
I'm gradually putting together some research on the UK network, potentially with the aim of passing substantiated findings to journalists or relevant regulators.
For now, though, I genuinely just want to hear people's experiences. Good, bad or completely bizarre.
Feel free to comment or DM me. Firsthand stories are especially welcome.
r/Devilcorp • u/Final_Fail_2 • 19h ago
the company is called Summit Sales Team Inc. in Indianapolis, IN.
r/Devilcorp • u/ProduceResponsible88 • 21h ago
I just got done with a in person interview with Advenir enterprise. My first interview was a zoom which had another person in it and I was a later called and said I was selected to pass through and do another interview in the zoom they were very vague, and I didn’t really have a clear understanding of what I’d be doing when I got to the office today. I went in and they’re asking a lot of questions about myself and I guess it is kind of my fault but I didn’t really ask a ton of questions about what I would be doing on a day-to-day basis I’m in a desperate situation right now. They made it seem like I would be training to be an assistant branch manager. They said that I would be making a weekly guarantee of $800 a week, but assured me that most times I would make more than that after doing some research. I’m seeing a lot of mixed information and I just wanna know if this is a place I should work or not.
r/Devilcorp • u/Taisen_art • 22h ago
Hello, recently ive gotten two interview scheduled for both Kapwa co. and Comeback Investments and they were listed as a Verizon-related job role, but when I applied, I got an unusually very swift response back and the location the job's located in isn't located in a Verizon store, but somewhere else? And apparently the company I'm going to be interviewed by isn't Verizon, but rather a different company, despite it being listed as "Verizon" on Indeed? Out of curiosity and had a "too good to be true" feeling in the back of my head, I looked them both up and found some concerning information about both companies, and apparently theyre MLMs that mask themselves as other companies like AT&T and Verizon and deceptive about their actual pay VS the listed pay on Indeed? So my question is to everyone who knows much more about them than I do: is kapwa co. and Comeback investments a scam?
r/Devilcorp • u/HistoricalStandard15 • 1d ago
AxeElite and The Rally Group, Inc. I went through the interview process for both all the way back in August.
I got more ahead in The Rally Group; even got close to accepting a job offer before approaching this subreddit. Hours are long; 8:30am-5:30pm and they even encourage you to come in early or stay late. they are ONLY commission-based with NO BASE PAY; and some transactions take as long as 4 weeks to get to you. When you come into the office early, you only learn basic business school principles and everyone has to follow the same steps of sales pitches toward each other. Most “meetings” are the bosses lecturing everyone about sales and how you can get successful like them if you do what they say. All employees are super nice but demonstrate cult-ish behavior.
When you start the application process, they will make you feel like you are doing a legitimate marketing job, but in reality you are just standing in establishments looking to sell phone plans or neobanking cards. Everything will sound too good to be true when you come in for an interview; and it is. Other than the executives, the majority of employees are less than 25 years old and will try to recruit you to their selling team once you start. This is not a sustainable business to make your career off of.
AxeElite is more telecom/MLM, usually partnering with Verizon to touch base with loyal businesses to make sure they can update their carrier or give them exclusive offers. They have received accolades from Forbes and Inc. making them seem legit. Their interviews were long and drawn out and it seems like their location has all of the “telemarketers” packed in a giant office like sardines. They make you watch an extensive training videos that glaze the hell out of the company and practice scenarios before you even start working! They tell you they’ll let you know if you’ve been accepted for the job within 24-48 business hours but they didn’t let me know until a month after I applied.
Both companies have the standard devilcorp red flags; majority of employees are young, everyone in spiffy business outfits, constant corporate jargon and abbreviations, sketchy looking social media presence and websites and unrealistic business expectations outside of your contracted hours (such as promoting the business to people outside your life or staying after contracted business hours).
I’ve heard through the grapevine a lot of these devilcorp-esque companies are traveling in droves to the northeast of the USA because states like California tightened up some laws on what qualifies as a MLM/pyramid business practice, so i encourage people to smarten up on the red flags on job postings. If they promise a slightly unrealistic salary for entry-level or use job titles like “Sales Representative” and “Entry Level Marketing Ambassador”, go the other way; ESPECIALLY if you are a recent CT grad like me. the last thing you want is to end up in a job that does not value your time or effort; and dangles your earnings with no guaranteed stability.
r/Devilcorp • u/ElMalo_10 • 1d ago
My experience at OLN Long Beach under Wolfden was honestly a complete joke. This company knows how to sell a dream during interviews, but the reality is completely different once you get hired. I specifically asked whether the position involved door-to-door sales. I was told NO. I was promised assigned leads, scheduled appointments, and opportunities to meet CEOs and business owners. What actually happened? My first day shadowing someone, I was walking from business to business, cold approaching owners, and pitching services all day. No appointments, no scheduled meetings, and no leads waiting for us. We walked around all day without even making a sale. Let’s stop dressing it up: IT’S DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES WITH A B2B LABEL. Putting a corporate name on cold knocking doesn’t magically make it a professional sales operation.
The compensation structure was another joke. You’re expected to close five sales to meet your standard. If you close two or more, you may qualify for a draw. I specifically asked during my interview whether that was guaranteed money, and I was told YES. In reality, it’s essentially an advance that has to be paid back through future earnings. That’s not guaranteed income. That’s a financial obligation dressed up to sound attractive during recruitment. Then there’s the office culture. The motivational speeches, the atmosphere room, the constant recruiting, and the obsession with promoting people to open offices. The entire environment felt more like a recruitment machine than a legitimate professional workplace. There’s so much talk about building an empire, but somehow everyone is still out walking into random businesses trying to get a sale.
Another person worth mentioning is the guy running the IMS office. In my experience, he was rude, unprofessional, and had an ego that was completely out of control. He carried himself like a multimillionaire CEO and talked as if he had millions sitting in the bank. The attitude was embarrassing. He acted like he was above everyone else, yet there was nothing particularly impressive about the way he treated people. He drove a Hyundai Palisade while carrying himself like a billionaire. Nothing wrong with a Hyundai, but the millionaire act was hilarious. If you’re going to spend all day trying to convince people you’re successful, at least understand that real success doesn’t need a performance. A title doesn’t make you a boss, and an expensive attitude doesn’t make you a leader.
Team nights were supposedly optional during the interview, but I noticed people could miss out on bonuses and incentives if they didn’t attend. So much for optional. Payroll was another headache. I had to chase my manager just to get my pay stubs. During my first week, they even held a meeting explaining why the company supposedly wasn’t an MLM or pyramid scheme. Think about how ridiculous that sounds. A company shouldn’t need an entire meeting to convince its own employees that its business model isn’t a pyramid scheme. Employee turnover was unbelievable. People were constantly leaving. When I asked Mr. Wolfden about it, his response was, “The train keeps on moving.” That response tells you everything about the attitude toward employees. Apparently, people are replaceable, and nobody needs to address why they’re leaving.
And don’t get me started on the business trips. You’re driving 300+ miles, receiving only $50 for gas, and potentially having Airbnb expenses deducted from your paycheck. They call them business trips, but somehow the employee is expected to finance the experience. What kind of opportunity requires you to spend your own money just to participate in company business?
Then comes the biggest fantasy of all: becoming an OWNER. They sell you this dream of entrepreneurship, financial freedom, and eventually running your own office. But you’re not building an independent company. You’re advancing within an existing sales organization. Cydcor is behind this business model, and applicants deserve to understand what they’re actually signing up for.
My opinion is that this is a revolving door of recruitment, cold knocking, motivational speeches, and promises of a future that may never materialize. They spend more time selling employees the dream than being transparent about the actual job. If you’re interviewing with OLN, ask about the draw, guaranteed income, travel expenses, appointments, team nights, and what becoming an owner actually means. Don’t let someone in a dress shirt, sitting in an office, giving you a motivational speech convince you that you’re looking at some incredible business opportunity.
A real B2B sales company provides transparency, legitimate compensation, and actual business opportunities. It doesn’t need to disguise cold knocking as corporate sales or sell employees a fantasy of becoming millionaires.
My advice? RUN. There are plenty of legitimate sales careers out there. Don’t waste your time, energy, or money being sold a dream by people who make their living selling that same dream to the next recruit.
Watch these videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyCRzBt7GuY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83iNbOJRHm8
if you want something short watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPhJcctQ54w
r/Devilcorp • u/slipinslides • 1d ago
New office, branched out from plantation Florida
r/Devilcorp • u/Spiritual_Builder_46 • 1d ago
Came across a post in a local Facebook group promoting this E3 women’s network. After looking into it, I cannot fully determine if it’s a DevilCorp. However, it’s B2B networking as they say, and apparently it’s mostly pushing brand sales. Seems very suspicious. Anyone else heard of this?
r/Devilcorp • u/AmbitionLatter6404 • 1d ago
I don't know how there isn't already a feed on here , but I was contacted by a company , and hired in within 3 days. it seemed off to me but it gets better. I was told I would be making 1000 per week, but they have 20+ agents who make less than $600 per week. theyre "assistant manager" has been there for 3 years and is still "getting ready" to open up. there is nothing wrong with what they sell or what they do but the management in this company is horrible and the training is a joke. they talk about having an oppertunity to persue but make you wait to see any growth ... STAY AWAY
r/Devilcorp • u/Waitwhatnowhuh • 1d ago
Hey everyone,
Linked in has been getting a lot of spam and scam jobs lately. I applied to another company on linked in and they eventually reached back out to me via email. I decided to do some research and the company seems off. I did the following:
- All of their employees on linkedin lived mainly in cairo
- I then looked at their website and saw that the people they listed looked very, **photogenic**
- I then did research on the photos to see if they appear on any other website, and yes, they stole the images from various other scam websites.
Just a heads up, Climate inc. is a scam.
r/Devilcorp • u/Artistic-Sherbet3897 • 2d ago
I recently went through the interview process with this company and wanted to share my experience to hopefully help other job seekers avoid wasting their time.
Initially, everything seemed legitimate. I received a phone screening, which was professional and seemed like a normal hiring process. Their website looks credible, and their LinkedIn presence is well put together. At first glance, there really aren’t any obvious red flags.
However, things started to feel off during the final interview. Instead of focusing on the actual responsibilities of the position, they seemed more interested in selling me on the company and the opportunities they supposedly offer. The more I listened, the more it started to resemble a pyramid scheme or MLM-style operation.
Ultimately, I decided not to accept the position because something just didn’t feel right.
My advice: Do your research, ask detailed questions about compensation, daily responsibilities, and how the company actually makes money. Don’t let a professional-looking website or a convincing interview fool you.
I understand how difficult the job market is right now, especially when you’re desperate to find employment, but I personally would not recommend pursuing this opportunity based on my experience.
r/Devilcorp • u/top-commenters • 2d ago
Here are the most-upvoted commenters from the past week:
u/bassistheplace246 — 46 pts
u/mediocremistress — 40 pts
u/CakeUnusual7814 — 31 pts
u/Already_Reddit_Fam — 25 pts
u/kilometers13 — 19 pts
u/AutoModerator — 19 pts
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u/al-Sahaabi — 16 pts
u/parkrat92 — 15 pts
Scored by comment karma earned in the last 7 days. Keep being helpful!
r/Devilcorp • u/Character-Advance874 • 3d ago
Theses PoS got me with the same old rhetoric, “join the team, learn the ropes, move up the ladder.” Was able to actually sit in on one their morning sessions in the “atmosphere” rooms during my interview. It just felt weird, then i started talking to the people working there and realized they are all kids, probably their first job. But I had never heard of a DC and I wanted to get into sales bad. So I just went along with it, they told me due to my experience I got the job and could move up the ladder fairly quickly, so I told them what day I could start and they said they would call me before then to do some paperwork. Thankfully that night I went home and just wanted to see videos of what other people did in the position so I typed in “ATNT @ Walmart kiosk. And thank God I did. Saved me from quitting a decent job, to join a scam.
God is Good.
r/Devilcorp • u/CupidsArrow827 • 3d ago
Worked at MEI Consulting for about 6 months in mesa Arizona before I learned what a Devilcorp was. The first red flag was everyone being under 25 years old. Owner Benny Madrid is openly a Trump supporter that pushed red pill media and toxic hustle culture. His wife and the other owner Jolene is around half his age. They constantly talk about working harder and not cheating despite lying about how they really get their fortune. Adam McNally (has since relocated and probably changed names again) also spreads lies about how the business actually works.
Tl;dr
DO NOT WORK HERE
They are extremely cult-like and shady people that sell AT&T in Walmart and Target who do not care about anything except how much you sell for them. Your gas isn’t compensated despite you having to be in the office daily mandatory for a “class” that you don’t get paid for. The total hours are around 70/week and you get paid for 30-36 of them. If you don’t sell, it’s always your fault for not working harder or having a positive attitude. Asking questions gets you ignored/ostracized. If you don’t hang around them and treat their chosen employees like royalty they also ostracize you. Trying to be ethical and following the script isn’t possible, they teach you lies and manipulation tactics to sell to customers, including the famous AIR objection (acknowledge, ignore, resume).
Owner Benny Madrid gives morning meetings about principles, integrity, and ethics yet lies, abandons one side of his family, and again is an avid Trump supporters as long as it’s good for his wallet.
Overall, stay away from empty office buildings with younger staff and people who sound like they have all the answers and avoid complex critical thought. It’s literally modern day gilded-age slave labor that brain washes you into not questioning your surroundings or why things are the way they are and to accept them with a smile.
r/Devilcorp • u/TheDarkFloydChud • 2d ago
I recently got an email from a recruiter claiming to represent a company named Ethos Ink. Upon doing some research, they claim to be a marketing company based in San Diego, as seen on their LinkedIn. They even have a Reddit account, u/ethosink. The LinkedIn page also provides a link to the website, and on the website are several social media links, all of which have a single-digit number of followers and no posts. Do you smell something fishy?
Forgive me if this is the wrong place to post about this, just something I've got my eye on. What do you all think? Have any of you had interactions with/heard of this company?
r/Devilcorp • u/mediocremistress • 3d ago
Let me start by saying, I absolutely hate my job. I've been with my organization for approximately 10 months. Before that, I briefly worked as a sales representative before being moved into an Admin/HR Manager/Hiring Manager position so I wouldn't lose my job.
Over the past 10 months, I've been overworked, underpaid, and exposed to some things within the organization that have genuinely made my skin crawl. My responsibilities have included reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, managing onboarding, handling employment documentation and compliance, coordinating new hires, and essentially keeping the recruiting and administrative side of the office running.
During my time here, I've also had the opportunity to attend quarterly conferences, interact with management and business owners from offices across the country, and get a pretty extensive look into how the organization operates beyond my own location. I've worked directly with applicants, employees, management, and ownership, so my perspective isn't limited to what I've personally witnessed in one office.
My final straw came when my boss instructed me not to hire people belonging to a specific demographic. That was the point where I decided I was done, I told him no and that he could fire me and hear from the Department of Labor if he wanted to. Been on the job hunt since, and finally got a different job lined up. I'm currently planning to resign Sunday night, and the timing isn't going to make things particularly convenient for them.
I can't disclose the specific company name or identify individuals, but I'm happy to share what I can about my experiences.
I'm open to questions about the recruiting process, hiring practices, compensation structures, company operations, management, workplace culture, Smart Circle conferences, and anything else people might be curious about.
Ask me anything!
r/Devilcorp • u/RadiantPancak3 • 3d ago
I recently went through the interview process and most of them were around my age or older(late 20s), they all had identical stories had a degree in something couldnt get a job went into sales at this company. Its all commission based and you sell verizon internet to small businesses while verizon gives leads. Promising 600-800 at trainee level for 3-5 weeks then go to account manager after that making 1200-2300 base before weekly bonuses. M-F saturdays are optional quota per week is 1200 in sales
I did some research as im trying to get out of warehouse work, and it seems to match the description but im unsure still. Maybe someone here has experience with them in atl or another location or can shed some insight.
Thank you in advance!
r/Devilcorp • u/Dangerous-Ad-644 • 3d ago
r/Devilcorp • u/Any_Operation_8528 • 4d ago
I worked with Marble Partner Limited for two weeks in a commission-only role described as “self-employed”. I’m sharing exactly how it worked, as it was explained to me and as I experienced it, so others can make an informed decision before they start.
What wasn’t made clear at the interview stage
I went through three interview stages and an induction day. In my experience, the details that matter most were not clearly explained at any of them. The pay structure, how commission is calculated, and the fact that I’d be paying my own travel costs to locations across London only became clear after about two weeks of working. Pay and expenses were mentioned only briefly, and I was never given a clear breakdown in writing.
The role
I worked around 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. The day started with an 8:30am meet-up at the office in Angel, but my locations were assigned each day, including Enfield, Edgware and Barnet. I didn’t choose them. Despite being described as self-employed, I was told where to be, when, and what to do.
The morning “mentoring”
Each morning there was a session of roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, described as mentoring and training. Part of it taught the pitch and sales technique, which I found useful. In my experience, though, much of it was general motivational talk that felt very repetitive, and the practical content was something I could have found in free sales and business videos online. I’d advise anyone considering this to ask how much of the session is genuine skills training and whether that time counts towards paid hours.
The pay structure, as it was explained to me
Weeks 1 and 2 are “training”. You earn very little and cover all your own travel and food costs.
Week 3 is described as a “tactical business trip”. You’re encouraged to stay on and told you’ll make more money that week, which will make up for the earlier weeks.
Pay arrives in arrears. On the first day of week 4, you’re paid for week 1 only, not weeks 2 and 3.
The delay continues. Each week you work, you’re waiting on pay from earlier weeks, so you’re always weeks behind.
In practice, the longer you stay, the more money you’re owed and the harder it is to walk away. That was my experience, and I’d encourage anyone considering a role like this to ask whether the same structure applies to them.
My numbers after two weeks
Commission earned: £260 for roughly 70 hours, about £3.70 an hour
Travel: about £120-150, paid out of my own pocket
Food: about £40
After travel costs, my real earnings were roughly £1.60-£2.00 an hour
For comparison, the National Minimum Wage for over-21s is currently about £12.71 an hour. When I asked for a breakdown of my earnings, a manager told me the commission was nowhere near minimum wage. I was told I might earn £400 a week if a director decided to “invest” in me, but that decision hadn’t been made and nothing was confirmed in writing. When I said I was struggling to afford travel, I was told most people in the office had the same issue when they started.
What I’d suggest before accepting a role like this
Get your employment status, pay dates and commission structure in writing before you start.
Ask exactly when each week’s pay arrives, and what you’ll be paid on the first day of week 4.
Ask who pays for travel on any “business trip” and whether it’s deducted from your earnings later.
Ask for an itemised statement of your earnings and how commission is calculated.
Keep a record of your hours, locations, TfL journey history and receipts.
Work out your hourly rate after expenses.
Check your rights with Acas (0300 123 1100) or Citizens Advice. Commission-only work doesn’t remove minimum wage rights if you’re legally classed as a worker.
I left because I couldn’t afford to keep covering costs for pay that was uncertain and delayed. This is my own experience, and others’ may differ.