Everybody thinks it's a free for all

USAA recently opened up their eligibility. Originally, USAA was only for officers when it was formed in 1922. Then over last many decades, eligibility was opened up to enlisted people. As of October 2009, as long as you served honorably regardless of when you served or if you retired or separated, you can now be eligible for USAA membership. Any one can get bank products, but the hot items are auto and home insurance, which requires eligibility.

I sat and listened to some calls in the Claims dept yesterday. One guy's homeowner policy was canceled mid term because USAA discovered, and gave this guy PLENTY of time to prove to us otherwise, that he was not eligible. He lied and said he had been in the military. Sad sad sad. Guess who told us that he wasn't in the military? His ex-wife. Why the hell lie about being in the military? Do these same people lie on Veterans Day to Golden Corral to get a free meal? No, because they have to show military ID, which leads me to why don't we make these people prove it?

I took 2 calls today where people wanted to establish eligibility. But of course they start off the phone call saying "I wonder if I can get auto insurance (or homeowners insurance)." I went through the eligibility questions, but something tells me that neither of these guys were really...they lied just to get eligible.

Now, if you are familiar with military discharge, you know that when you leave the military that you get a DD214. So, you're probably saying: What? You all don't ask for DD214s? The answer is No. We have been told that if we suspect that they really aren't eligible, we can ask them for a DD214 to be faxed in. But you do that and these people get ANGRY: "How dare you question me about my military experience?!" 1 thing that I have learned about people is that ALL people eventually hang themselves. If these 2 guys really aren't eligible, we will eventually find out.

Back to the "real" world at USAA

Friday is the end of my homeowners training class. My schedule will go back to 930-6 with every other Wednesday, every other Saturday off. I've learned a lot. And Lord only knows it's been GREAT having an earlier shift and off every Saturday.

But now back to the "real" world...held to almost impossible standards: phone productivity, referral numbers, my shitty shift, and 30 days STRAIGHT of nothing but homeowners calls. I'm gonna pull my hair out before it's all over. I really hope the next 30 days goes quickly. Occasionally an auto call sneaks into the homeowners queue. So, I'll be happy...ESTATIC...when that happens.

I really shouldn't complain. I have a job. And like management likes to keep reminding us: when the phones are slammed, that's job security. Blah, blah, blah.

Honestly, this is the best job I've ever held...besides being in the Army. The longest job I had was working for Medco Health Solutions, a prescription benefit manager and home delivery pharmacy. I was there 6 years. I was a CSR, a pharmacy tech, and then in management. When that job came to an end (I left because I was forced out...I couldn't work their RIDICULOUS overtime...from sun up to sun down in the "pharmacy" (just the front end where the orders came in) 7 days a week. Ummm, no thanks.) I was making 17.10 an hr. I've been at USAA for less than 2 years and I make 2 cents less than an hour than when I left Medco. There are a lot more opportunities for advancement at USAA too. They ask A LOT of us, but it's an okay job and the benefits really are not anything to turn your nose up at.

There are a lot of blogs out there with disgruntled former and current employees. A lot of the old timers are bitter. I really hope I don't become like that. I really really really hope I don't.