ERAC - Stay away

I have been working for ERAC for little over 6 months. The place is horrible. The only reason why I started working for this company was because fresh out of college I had no idea what I wanted to do. My GPA wasn't that great and then out of nowhere ERAC calls me. They bring me in for the interviews, and immediately hire me as an MT. They preach that "everyone has to work their way up...and pretty soon you'll be making some good money."

I worked 55 hours a week for 10 bucks an hour. That's like 26 grand a year. Not to mention my social life completely fell apart. And on nights when I thought I could have some spare time I was forced to go to Area outings and drink with co-workers. Everyday it was the same thing - show up at 7am...clean cars, answer phones with pissed off customers, check people into cars, and then do "callbacks" - which are basically calls finding out why your customers haven't returned your car yet. Most of the callbacks I did were trying to get customers to come in and pay us for the hundreds of dollars they owed. The "CQ" sheets are a joke. Almost every customer at ERAC needs to fill out a CQ sheet...which means that we don't trust them with the vehicle but if they put down a few names and numbers everything will be ok. What a joke. And as far as the customers go - yes - they are all trash. I don't know what it is about this company but the customers we deal with are complete trash. Mainly because of the weekend special - which allows customers to rent a car for 50% off. It's like a freak show in there every Friday. All these people out of nowhere come in and want a car, but can't afford to rent one out. We roll the deals anyway....

Occasionally, I would get a Saturday off. But still - I'd get home at 645pm, after working damn near 12 hours on Friday. I never went out because I was always so tired of the day to day drama. I just wanted a weekend where I can relax and enjoy a 2 day break. A break away from all the bullshit we put up with each day. Flex time is a joke too. Your only chance of getting it - is leaving the office without telling anyone. On the days I was supposed to leave at 2pm - I found myself staying until 3 or 4. So I began just booking it out the back door as soon as the clock read 2pm. Leaving that branch was such a relief!

The funny thing is - NO ONE likes working at this company. The only people that do have no social life AND love renting cars. Even though they tell you that you are learning to manage - all you are doing is renting cars. That's it.

You cant get promoted if your sales aren't high. Just because everyone above you profits from what you make. It's basically a legal pyramid scam. They want you to sell Damage Waiver. How do I feel about this insurance? Put it this way - if I wouldn't buy it myself - then I don't feel it's necessary. Why would I want MORE insurance on a car if I already have full coverage? Oh - I forgot - we were supposed to threaten the customers by saying "Well... if you get in an accident you'll have to pay us your deductible, and then we contact your insurance company...and then your premiums will go up." Please...what the hell!? The insurance is bullshit. It's hard to sell something that you think is pointless. And regardless of what people say - Damage Waiver is bullshit. The only people that buy it are foreigners who cannot speak English. I'm sorry to say that - but it's true. As soon as someone comes to the branch from a different culture - the MT's flock to the door because they know people will purchase what they do not understand.

And then you have these shitty "STAGE CLASSES." These classes consist of 5 or 6 MT's sitting in the same room learning about why ERAC is such a great company. They make you memorize why ERAC is such a great place to work with. All it is is brainwash. They make you learn all these steps to Customer Service, and ways of life. I feel like I'm in a damn FRAT! Role play...role play...role play.

My parents keep telling me to stick with it because the promotion factor is so "good." Little do they know - in my area there are 22 MA's. That means 22 people are waiting in line to become an assist manager. The only light at the end of the tunnel - would be if I stuck with the company for 5 or 6 years. And 5 or 6 years of making under 30 grand a year just wont cut it for me. My branch manager says he makes 42 grand a year. That's an awful lot of bullshit to put up for that pay. Not to mention, he still works 55 hours a week. I have a friend that works as a waiter and he brings home 35 grand a year. We don't even make that before they cut out taxes! The biggest paycheck I've seen was for 850 bucks. That was working 58 hours a week for two weeks.

Seriously - expect to make 1500 dollars a MONTH with this job. It's ridiculous. And the worst part is - when your benefits kick in - you'll only be bringing home 1400 dollars a month.

This job sucks, and I feel sorry for anyone who enjoys it. Please take my advice - stay away from this company. Everyone knows everyones business, and they are constantly moving people from branch to branch, even if you don't want to go.

I've asked my Human Resource Manager what the retention rate is for ERAC employees. He says that 60 percent stay. I find that hard to believe. Since I have been here I know of 9 people quitting. That's a lot. The people here drop like flies. I looked it up on a website - and it said "Enterprise will hire more college grads then any other company in 2007. That's because of the 7000 they hire, 6900 will quit." No joke. It's that bad.

This job just is not worth it. Not for someone who has a college degree.

[FreefromGreen]

wow...um I would post my experience...but it was the exact same thing...well stated

ps...I promise, there is light at the end of the tunnel, I am in a job I love now

yo bra, if there are 22 ma', 75 percent will quit in 6 months, you should get promoted really quick if you just wait it out.

sorry bud, I have no sympathy for you.
If you don't like it leave!

Why are you still there??? You don't think you can get a job making $10 an hour until you find out what you really want to do. There is no way you can find a job and work at ERAC at the same time so you will have to leave to do it.
Just f'in leave.
It pains me to see this story and wonder why you have not left!!!!!!!!!

simple. some people cannot just walk away without a job lined up, and you work so much at erac that getting to job interviews etc is nigh on impossible. seeing as i currently finish work at 4 in the afternoon and my hours are pretty flexible if i wanted to attend job interviews etc i could. 55 hours a week doesn't lend itself to this.

JUST LEAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Give your 2 weeks notice and start looking for another job. You will find not find your next career but just get something to pay the bills with more flexible hours to find the real job you want.

I refuse to listen to an MT bitch but not just leave.
I think if you are an Ass't Mgr or BM then it is more difficult to leave, you need to really think about your next move.

An MT makes $10 a hour, you're young, JUST WALK AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah. that is very true. it's very difficult to search for jobs while you're working those tough weeks at Enterprise. i am wondering what types of jobs people that use to work at erac have now?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have been working for ERAC for little over 6 months. The place is horrible. The only reason why I started working for this company was because fresh out of college I had no idea what I wanted to do. My GPA wasn't that great and then out of nowhere ERAC calls me. They bring me in for the interviews, and immediately hire me as an MT. They preach that "everyone has to work their way up...and pretty soon you'll be making some good money."

I worked 55 hours a week for 10 bucks an hour. That's like 26 grand a year. Not to mention my social life completely fell apart. And on nights when I thought I could have some spare time I was forced to go to Area outings and drink with co-workers. Everyday it was the same thing - show up at 7am...clean cars, answer phones with pissed off customers, check people into cars, and then do "callbacks" - which are basically calls finding out why your customers haven't returned your car yet. Most of the callbacks I did were trying to get customers to come in and pay us for the hundreds of dollars they owed. The "CQ" sheets are a joke. Almost every customer at ERAC needs to fill out a CQ sheet...which means that we don't trust them with the vehicle but if they put down a few names and numbers everything will be ok. What a joke. And as far as the customers go - yes - they are all trash. I don't know what it is about this company but the customers we deal with are complete trash. Mainly because of the weekend special - which allows customers to rent a car for 50% off. It's like a freak show in there every Friday. All these people out of nowhere come in and want a car, but can't afford to rent one out. We roll the deals anyway....

Occasionally, I would get a Saturday off. But still - I'd get home at 645pm, after working damn near 12 hours on Friday. I never went out because I was always so tired of the day to day drama. I just wanted a weekend where I can relax and enjoy a 2 day break. A break away from all the bullshit we put up with each day. Flex time is a joke too. Your only chance of getting it - is leaving the office without telling anyone. On the days I was supposed to leave at 2pm - I found myself staying until 3 or 4. So I began just booking it out the back door as soon as the clock read 2pm. Leaving that branch was such a relief!

The funny thing is - NO ONE likes working at this company. The only people that do have no social life AND love renting cars. Even though they tell you that you are learning to manage - all you are doing is renting cars. That's it.

You cant get promoted if your sales aren't high. Just because everyone above you profits from what you make. It's basically a legal pyramid scam. They want you to sell Damage Waiver. How do I feel about this insurance? Put it this way - if I wouldn't buy it myself - then I don't feel it's necessary. Why would I want MORE insurance on a car if I already have full coverage? Oh - I forgot - we were supposed to threaten the customers by saying "Well... if you get in an accident you'll have to pay us your deductible, and then we contact your insurance company...and then your premiums will go up." Please...what the hell!? The insurance is bullshit. It's hard to sell something that you think is pointless. And regardless of what people say - Damage Waiver is bullshit. The only people that buy it are foreigners who cannot speak English. I'm sorry to say that - but it's true. As soon as someone comes to the branch from a different culture - the MT's flock to the door because they know people will purchase what they do not understand.

And then you have these shitty "STAGE CLASSES." These classes consist of 5 or 6 MT's sitting in the same room learning about why ERAC is such a great company. They make you memorize why ERAC is such a great place to work with. All it is is brainwash. They make you learn all these steps to Customer Service, and ways of life. I feel like I'm in a damn FRAT! Role play...role play...role play.

My parents keep telling me to stick with it because the promotion factor is so "good." Little do they know - in my area there are 22 MA's. That means 22 people are waiting in line to become an assist manager. The only light at the end of the tunnel - would be if I stuck with the company for 5 or 6 years. And 5 or 6 years of making under 30 grand a year just wont cut it for me. My branch manager says he makes 42 grand a year. That's an awful lot of bullshit to put up for that pay. Not to mention, he still works 55 hours a week. I have a friend that works as a waiter and he brings home 35 grand a year. We don't even make that before they cut out taxes! The biggest paycheck I've seen was for 850 bucks. That was working 58 hours a week for two weeks.

Seriously - expect to make 1500 dollars a MONTH with this job. It's ridiculous. And the worst part is - when your benefits kick in - you'll only be bringing home 1400 dollars a month.

This job sucks, and I feel sorry for anyone who enjoys it. Please take my advice - stay away from this company. Everyone knows everyones business, and they are constantly moving people from branch to branch, even if you don't want to go.

I've asked my Human Resource Manager what the retention rate is for ERAC employees. He says that 60 percent stay. I find that hard to believe. Since I have been here I know of 9 people quitting. That's a lot. The people here drop like flies. I looked it up on a website - and it said "Enterprise will hire more college grads then any other company in 2007. That's because of the 7000 they hire, 6900 will quit." No joke. It's that bad.

This job just is not worth it. Not for someone who has a college degree.

You hit it on the fuckin nose!!

Use your vacation days/flextime days to look for a job. It's sad but hey, it's better than working at ERAC.

hey kid take it from a 3 /2 year manager. i made 56 year and that is not enough for that job. no money is. the job and company is terrible. stick it out 1 year pass the mqi and bolt. one regret i have is staying that long but i saw the carrot. believe me i work for a pharmaceutical company now and make 56 as my base and receive a 5k bonus every quarter totaling 76k and comp car gas 6% match and full benefits. i could have done this in one year, pharma companies love to recruit ex-erac employees with the passing of the mqi. believe me do that and then leave don't go any further. so in 6 months when you ready for your mqi, find a medical recruiter and leave as soon as possible.