JAN-PRO Franchise Complaints

View Comments

• Why do cleaning franchisors hurt people like Mr. Padilha and Mr. Martins. Please read part of the following article that came out in the New York Times.

  What was hapening in 2005 is still hapening today in 2010.

  To read the whole article you can go to the following link.

  http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/13/national/13franchising.html

  Lawsuits Charge Fraud in Cleaning Business

  By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
  Published: July 13, 2005

  João Padilha had been saving money from his work as a restaurant deliveryman outside Boston when he heard a tantalizing offer to buy a cleaning franchise.

  Marcos Martins, a Brazilian immigrant like Mr. Padilha, was looking to go into business.

  Tri Duc Nguyen, a Vietnamese immigrant in Portland, Ore., needed a way to make money after Fujitsu closed the factory where he worked.

  All three men put thousands of dollars into cleaning franchises and say they were shortchanged.

  As Mr. Padilha retells it, the top Boston representative of Coverall Cleaning Concepts said he could make $3,000 a month cleaning buildings if he paid $12,880 for a franchise. What is more, Mr. Padilha says he was told he could easily parlay his investment into a large cleaning business.

  So Mr. Padilha paid the money and was assigned two women's health clinics, in Haverhill and Newburyport, Mass.

  He was told it would take two and a half hours a day to clean the clinics, but it took six hours, he said. Coverall also gave him two dialysis clinics, and soon he was cleaning and shuttling among clinics from 5:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays, with six more hours on weekends.

  He estimated that he worked 65 hours a week and 280 hours a month. But his receipts show that Coverall, which handled payments, paid him $1,262 a month, less than half what he says he had been promised.

  "I was doing all this work, but the check was for very little money," Mr. Padilha said.

  So he went to the director of Coverall's Boston office to complain.

  "When I came in, they said I had no more work," Mr. Padilha said. "He said the supervisor of one clinic no longer wanted me. They took all my work away in one fell swoop. I asked for my franchise money back, but they said no."

  "It's sad for a man to cry, but I left that room crying," he added.

  Mr. Padilha said he recouped none of his investment and soon learned that Mr. Martins had obtained the franchise to clean the dialysis clinics.

  Mr. Martins said: "I asked why the person who was doing it before had discontinued the work. The field consultant told me the person had gone back to Brazil."

  Mr. Martins put $5,000 down and promised to pay $306 a month for two years to obtain a franchise that he was told would generate $2,000 a month for him. He said he cleaned clinics 72 hours a week, about 300 hours a month, but received just $1,366.

  He, too, was, abruptly terminated at the clinics for reasons he says he never understood.

  A dozen franchisees, including Mr. Padilha and Mr. Martins, are suing Coverall, charging it with fraud, breach of contract and failing to pay the minimum wage. They assert that the company took out improperly large commissions and did not have enough customers to supply franchisees.

• Guest: I am asking for the admin. of this site to "step in" you want to insult me, fine. YOU want to try and Label ME fine, You leave my family out of it. YOU'RE a First Class,Low Class MORON for bringing my family up.

• Jerry writes: "You leave my family out of it. YOU’RE a First Class,Low Class MORON for bringing my family up."

  Seriously, Jerry, I'm sorry I upset you by mentioning your Uncle Dad. I'm sure it's a sore subject. I'm also certain he reared you as well as he could. ;)

  Speaking of leaving families out... It's too bad the scam franchisor couldn't leave the families of João Padilha, Marcos Martins, and Tri Duc Nguyen. Immigrants come to this country willing to work their fingers to the bone to help their families get a taste of the American dream. It's unconscionable that there are janitorial franchise scammers laying in wait to prey on their hopes and dreams. And it seems the complaints are consistent, whether it's Coverall, Jan-Pro, Jani-King or the others.

  Of course, Jerry will withhold sympathy for João Padilha, Marcos Martins, and Tri Duc Nguyen until he's satisfied they memorized the FDD before investing and that their immigration papers are in order.

• Guest: Obviously your parents were MORONS too. Obviously your Father didn't teach you too many manners, but again how could he, he was attempting to raise you by third party, I'm here to break the news to you, YOUR real MOMMA isn't named Rosa, she was simply the illegal alien housekeeper/cook/nanny that your Daddy found on a trip to Costa Rica. Since back in those days, all of the Elitest, Progressive, supposed "ruling class" of America all had illegal aliens he was upset that he didn't have one.

  So at the age of two, you were taught that Rosa was your MOMMA, because your REAL Mother, didn't want to be bothered as she was attempting to help the "poor, hungary, downtrodden" so commonly found in the HAMPTONS. It was/is her life mission to provide at least a BMW (used one of course) to every illegal immigrant currently working in the HAMPTONS as housekeepers/cooks/nannys/sex slaves.

  Your Mothers point was "at least Rosa wanted to have sex with your father".

• Jerry writes "YOUR real MOMMA isn’t named Rosa, she was simply the illegal alien housekeeper/cook/nanny that your Daddy found on a trip to Costa Rica"

  Jerry's sad attempts at humor reveal his true, underlying hatred of Hispanics and other ethnic minorities. He's obsessed and uses being Hispanic as the ultimate insult. While 1st Amendment and others think he's a paid propagandist, I think this hatred of (fear of) minorities is what's fueling his incessant daily defense of what's so clearly a scam perpetrated on the hopes and dreams of minorities.

  As Jerry has said in so many words, he believes the American Dream is for "Americans" which he thinks of as his fellow white, middle class hoosier tea partiers. Like he said, "Mexicans are Mexicans, Americans are Americans."

  As usual, Jerry's ugly remarks provide a window to the ugly truth. It makes me wonder how much of these janitorial scam is motivated by (or at least justified by) racism in addition to greed.

• Well, Jerry has stated that he's gone. He will post no more forever. To paraphrase Richard Nixon, "You won't have Jerry to kick around anymore."

  My guess is that Jerry found a more ethical, reputable franchisee to pimp out his services for, like the Massage Envy franchisee in SLC: https://unhappyfranchisee.mystagingwebsite.com/massage-envy-franchisee-fetish-afoot/

  As the illegal immigrants say, Jerry: Adios!

• Guest/SEIU: After taking a couple of days off, seeing that no one else is even "challenging" your "nonsense and dribble". I called a couple of friends who have in the past been "labled" as "racist". Bill, Glen and Rush all basically pointed out similar things. They don't have a racist bone in their body and neither do I. However, I must admit, it stung like HELL to be "called" that. Now I know how others feel, you want to "crawl" into a hole and say nothing, because the more you say, the more vicious the attacks get. Here's a NEWSFLASH that even TELEMUNDO and their "cracker jack" investigative TEAM could find. MOST racists are the one's throwing the mud, labeling the person or group.

  SEIU/Guest: Doesn't eat in a "soul food" restaurant because of the Food, he eats there to be "seen". Why do you think Former President Clinton has an office in Harlem? Difference between SEIU/Guest and me is I like eating "soul food"! I know how to cook Mustard, Turnip and Collar'd GREENS, make corn bread sweet, make proper sweat tea, deep fry a pork chop, make white gravey and prepare a proper "country fried steak".

  I guess my point is as follows, no I don't look at the people around me sitting in the restaurant to see what language they are speaking, what "hyphen" that should be associated with them (african-american, hispanic-american, asian-american and so on) Guess it never mattered to me. Still doesn't. People are People regardless of their "skin tone", regardless of their political beliefs, regardless of their religious beliefs.

  Now the viewers are wondering WHY is RACE being injected to the conversation about franchise cleaning companies? Honestly, it's pretty easy.

  1. One of the biggest "falsehoods" is that companies such as Jan-Pro, Coverall and Jani-King have "singled out" minorities for a variety of reasons. Most have come down to accusing them of "targeting" minorities by advertising in minority targeted newspapers, on minority targeted radio stations, print and post ads on minority known websites.

  Well, here's a "commercial cleaning moment" brought out in the franchise website and lawsuits. Guess what, I've been in this for over 25 Years, commercial cleaning as an industry is a "minoirty centered" industry!!! Forget about the "big 3" which by the way if talking strictly about "commercial cleaning' only one of the "big 3" that is actually in the TOP 5 in regards to commercial cleaning volume is Jani-King. Look at ABM, MBM, ISS, GCA, Varsity, Red River Sanitors, Pritchard and other "national cleaning companies" and look at their rosters of staff, you will find the vast majority, greater than 85% are MINORITY!

  This not only includes the work force that's actually cleaning the facilities, but the supervision, mid-management, upper management, executive management.

  Now let's talk about other "service related cleaning industries", such as Hotels, Theme Parks, School Systems, City Workers, State Workers, guess what, most of their "cleaning staffs" are MINORITIES!!!!!

  So, let's ponder this for a moment......... Common Sense dictates that if Minorities make up the vast Majority of staff, supervision, management, upper management in the "cleaning industry" as a whole, why wouldn't they be the one's most interested in a Unit Franchise?

  Now, SEIU/Guest will point out that this is proving his point, they ARE targeting minorities!!!!!! Well, let me ask a stupid question? Do you ever see a Captain Crunch commerical aired during LAW AND ORDER, how about during NCIS, how about during AMERICAN IDOL, really I could go on and on, but come on even 1st amendment gets it, you don't advertise Captain Crunch on any of those shows because they aren't the one's that are going to EAT it!!!!!

  Now, SEIU/Guest will come back and say, Captain Crunch isn't getting sued for Target Marketing! REALLY!!! How about all of this non-sense with the Toy being put in the McDonalds Happy Meal, How about all of this non-sense with needing to show the "calorie content" of a Whopper, How about all of this non-sense in regards to taking soda machines out of our schools!

  Come on, that's the problem with these cases as a whole.... They Lack Common Sense, that's why when they are actually brought to trail and placed in the hands of a Jury, its usually a LOSS!!! Problem has been Coverall and Jani-King in particular have "settled" too many cases for the same reasons that most car companies "settle cases" and why most companies "settle cases" to be honest with you, it's due to "cost". It's cheaper to "settle" than to fight.

  Of course, SEIU (formally known as guest) already knows that. He also knows that what is being said by me is TRUE in regards to why Minorities are the primary plantiffs in these lawsuits, it's not because of them being Targeting by vicious, malicious, racists, bigots, southerner's, Tea Partiers, Republicans, Masters etc..... It's because the industry as a whole is a Minority run, operated, supervised Industry.

  SEIU has an agenda, 1st amendment has an agenda, even I have an agenda. Just like Fox News, WE REPORT, YOU DECIDE!!!!

  For the record and for future knowledge, SEIU (formally known as guest) I admit I'm a little slow, but during my time of reflection, I remembered why I thought you were SEIU, few people know about David Bego with EMS. But you did, you even knew that his "book" was self-published, Funny didn't put two and two together, though my original instinct was Spot On!!!

  In closing, I don't believe for one second, that the Big 3 are actually targeting minorities on purpose or for an "evil based master plan". If I did, I wouldn't be defending them or simply pointing out FACTS. Those pesky little things that SEIU and 1st amendment keep wanting to HIDE!!!!

  HOLLER!!!!! If you love the fact that the FAT MAN is back!!!!!

• SEIU (formally known as guest): Forgot to address the Illegal immigrant nonsense with your brillant intellect as it is, I needed to remind you that illegal immigrants can't vote, can't get drivers licenses, aren't allowed to own their own businesses, can't get permanent status............ WAIT A MINUTE! You already knew that, your hoping that if you and the PROGRESSIVES help them get all those things, that they will automatically be so THANKFUL that they will be as loyal to you as the "BLACKS" used to be!

  And SEIU calls me a "RACIST"!

  HOLLER if you LOVE this COUNTRY and want to KEEP IT FREE!!!!

• Jerry the Flip-Flopper is back! Just 2 days since he wrote "For the record... this will be my final posting"

  At least he's returned with new, wonderful "Jerryisms" to lighten our days.

  Jerry writes: "I know how to cook Mustard, Turnip and Collar’d GREENS, make corn bread sweet, make proper sweat tea"

  Mmmm! "Sweat" tea! Sounds delicious! No doubt made from the sweat of hardworking, blue-eyed, white, documented citizens of THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

  Jerry writes: "My heros are Ronald Regan...those currently and formally that served in the Military."

  Jerry must admire Ronald Regan very much... wonder how he feels about Ronald "Reagan"?

  On the second point, I must agree with Flip-flop Jerry... I have no respect for those who are "informally" serving in the military either.

• No matter your race: In my opinion based on what I have personally seen;

  If you cannot afford to hire a franchise attorney to review and explain the FDD in your
  language DO NOT lease a franchise cleaning business;

  If you need to finance this in any way, DO NOT lease a franchise cleaning business;

  If you do not have prior experience in commercial cleaning, DO NOT lease a franchise cleaning business.

  If you dont understand the contract you WILL FAIL.

  If you go into to much debt, you WILL FAIL.

  If you were told that you were going to be a business "owner" - IT WAS A LIE

  Please understand that you DO NOT OWN these accounts, thats why I refer to them as a lease.

  In my opinion, based on what I have personally witnessed, I would NEVER recommend a franchise in Illinois while Bob Miller is the master franchise owner.

  I have received several letters from his attorney stating the Jan-Pro would protect their interests and I am not to compete against them.

  For the record, I have taken a position with a non-franchised janitorial company and intend to directly compete against Jan-Pro of Northern Illinois.

  Remember the chess game to which I have referred to Bob?

  In case you havent noticed, the game has begun.

  Semper Fi