Alpine Access Reviews

Mary   Canada

I've been doing my research on this company and reading through the comments. It seems to me that those that are happy with Alpine Access have had previous business experience before or see the value in investing in themselves and their employment. I am currently self employed - have been been for 5 years and prior to that was employed in either a consultant or client services role for 15 years. My clients and the industry requires that I get criminal and credit record checks at least once every 2 years - at my expense. Training has been at "my expense" either paid by time spent over and above work hours or cost of training. I see no problem in investing on myself or my work now or in the past. I also see no problem in paying for a report that confirms that I am a credible, responsible trusted person for employment. I would guess that the underlying reason for unhappy comments is the fact that a virtual environment is not like any other "job", would not have the typical training environment and the discipline to work from home is just not for everyone.

WC   Oregon

Dreadful place to work. Lack of bathroom breaks is a big one. On top of your assigned breaks, you should be at least permitted an extra bathroom break in the morning and afternoon. Awful place to work.

Ex-Employee2   Florida

There is a facebook page for all of the people that have been done wrong by this company. You can also check this out aaworkersleague

What many haven't mentioned is all the unpaid time you put in for them. 10-30 minutes everyday to log into their far less than par systems. Tech time for down time when their systems aren't working properly but they always find a way to blame it on something on your end so they don't have to pay you.

Management is a joke with mass confusion with no clear direction and constant conflict.

Jeff Tate   Salsbury

To any and all of you who are A: Complaining about the 45 background check fee or B: Talking about that guy who got fired for his wife having a miscarriage, you really need to keep your mouth shut about things you don't understand. If someone is fired from AA there is probably a reason. AA is just as flexible (or not flexible) as any other employer in the world. Everyone has some sob story or requires some accommodation, but you need to realize this is the real world and for every person who is disabled or has kids or some other bogus shortcoming there is going to be someone who is available and willing to take your place. In this world it is survival of the fittest, and employment is not a gift or something you are owed. If you want better, be better.

By the way, AA is a fine place to work. Grow up and stop trying to be spoon fed and get handouts, you are what makes humankind weak.

Dave Donahue   Durham

I applied to Alpine 3 years ago and got the back and forth treatment, jobs open then not, kept going on and on back and forth finally I just started messing with the support people asking if I could be a ceo of the company because I have a suit and a tie...lol

Lakisha   Fort Lauderdale Fl

I am a CCP...I love it because it allows me to make an income doing what i love from the comfort of my home without the hustle and bustle of commuting to work...A bonus I wasnt expecting is the sincere dedication of the Alpine family..From the beginning I felt a sense of belonging as if AlpineAccess was waiting on me..Join us...

Dale   California

I'm in my sixth month with AA having never worked customer service prior. I'm doing well and have received a promotion. The job gets easier every day. I asked for less hours and was given the exact schedule I requested. I've never had a problem taking off any time that I've needed. Supervisor's are extremely helpful and gracious. The money is not great but it's a paycheck. Overtime hours are available if they are wanted. I recommend AA if you need a second job or the flexibility of working from home.

Disabled & Forgotten   Atlanta, Georgia

Alpine Access swears in their online website that they have a policy that includes disabled individuals. Well after working for them for over a year I became disabled and they wrongfully fired me without even trying to follow the EEOC guidelines for disabled individuals. Even though the EEOC has found them in violation they still refuse to comply. This company is unbelievable when it comes to discriminating against people with disabilities.

We are currently in litigation through the EEOC for wrongful termination. I will keep this site and all others I can find on the internet as well as in the media informed of the outcome and the dangers of working for this company.

Anonymous   Location unknown

I accepted a position at AA and was scheduled for training. I spent $45 for background check, $45 to install a land line, $60 for a phone and $60 for both headsets that are required. The week of my starting date I informed AA that there was a change in my schedule and would not be able to attend to the complete training. However to please consider me for future opportunities since I understood it is required to have 100% attendance in training. AA told me that if I did not provide them with written document as to why I rescinded they will not consider me for future opportunities. What is that?!?! They pretty much told me they did not care what changes occurred in my life. This showed me the type of company this is. I agree with the previous review.

Ex-Employee   Georgia

Well, the company in itself is not a scam. It is really seemingly a great company to work for. I was in my last day of training and had some incidents in my home life happen to the point I had to chance my work schedule. I wanted to keep my job but I told my trainer about it and was wanting to maybe find a new program with better shifts for my time because they advertise they work around your schedule and yet I was pretty much told I would never be eligible for rehire?!? Really??! They make you think they care for you as an employee, seems they care more about the ones who are willing to give all their time to them.

SKP   Midwest

I agree with Darren. AA is a scam and a joke. You will end up spending all kinds of money and not get any of it back.
I was told that it was a job for those who had disabilities. Then I found out that they are impossible to work for. I signed-up for part-time. The training was full time and more. I had to sit in a classroom for 8 hours. Also, I was given homework to work on in my spare time. We were told not to complain because any job would make you study on your time off. Really? I have never had a job where I was expected to take work home and not get paid for it. They wouldn't allow any breaks outside 10 min in the morning and 10 min in the afternoon. During that time you were expected to have homework completed and answers completed when you came back from your break. What's worse, they would assign homework that took over an hour to do and expect you to have it done in your 30 min lunch break. Again, you were told you would have to do it while you were on your break and then dock your time for the half hour you were on break for lunch. You are told to take notes, then told not to unless they tell you. Then you get in trouble if you haven't taken notes on specific information that you were told not to take notes on. I mean really. My health began to deteriorate and then they extended the full-time training another 3 weeks. I wasn't allowed to go to the Dr if I had to nor was I allowed to take a break if I needed to. If you have health issues, sometimes it is necessary to take a break when needed, not when told to. My body doesn't work that way. We were also told we would not need specific equipment, then were told we would have to have it the next day, no exceptions. When you live in the middle of nowhere, that is impossible. Finally, when you are thrown on the phone talking to real people, you are told that there will be individuals there to answer any question you may have. However, when you do have a question, nobody answers and the customer hangs up and calls back to complain. One time is understandable, 5 times is just wrong. Especially when you are evaluated on it. When their computer and phone equipment aren't working correctly, your pay gets docked, because you weren't working. I isn't my fault that their computer equipment isn't working right? They will find any and all reasons not to pay you. Some of the classmates I had were shorted money on their pay. It was not recovered after 2 months. I really do not believe they are on the up and up. Perhaps the EEOC should be made aware of how they treat their "employees".

Michele   SC

Alpine Access is the worst company I have ever worked for. Training was fine, nesting was ridiculous. Like someone said, you are thrown out there and expected to sink or swim. I have worked in similar jobs previously and know how to handle a job of this nature. Trainers said I was doing great, perfect attendance, fired me saying they didn't think I could do the job, even though I had been given great feedback from other trainers. This is a BAD PLACE TO WORK. It pays pennies, they don't help you with the cost of your home phone/internet bill, they don't give you paid vacations, paid time off, and the "benefits" are a joke. You may as well not even get benefits. You have been warned.

Stephanie   Maryland

Folks if someone is asking YOU to pay ANYTHING upfront or even after the fact to work for them is a SCAM! Legit companies write off expenses like drug&background checks!

Mark   Colorado

I worked for them and now in a real job working for a high caliber government position. When I first started working there you had only 10 min breaks only on a time clock and if you go over 1 min as it is clocked to the minute you are warned. You better not have to go to the restroom in 4 to 5 hours as you are not allowed to leave your headset on a call until your SPECIFIED break time THEY GIVE YOU, that also includes lunch.

Benefits? A Joke! You pay more in buying the benefits then they are worth as you will be looking for your own benefits and end up paying a fortune. No vacation time off, no sick days, all unpaid time that you have to build up and then give a 14 day notice. PS Also there is not 2 days off in a row you have 2 separate days off. Not 2 days off together. The job is extremely stressful and calls have to be done in 3 minutes or less. This is almost next to impossible and the calls are slammed one after another with several hundred calls per day you are beat by the time you get off work.

Working 1 days is = to working 5 days at that place. Do yourself a favor, take anything somewhere else, you love to be beaten? You love to be abused? Work for AA then... or go take anything anywhere and you will be much happier then 9 an hour for what should pay for the stress 20 an hour. Run while you can!

PRobinson   unknown

I can't wait to get back to work! The training is great and you get paid for it. I like the benefits. All I can say is thanks Alpine Access!

John M   Kennedale, TX

Alpine Access. That is what I tell people when they say "I can't find a job anywhere. I'm sick of driving around putting in job applications and not hearing anything back. What do you recommend, John?"

First of all, I have been in the management side of customer service for nearly all of my life in one aspect or another. So, if you can't handle talking to people you certainly will not like Alpine Access. Also, yes, you will get yelled at sometimes before you can even get your opening script out "Thank you for calling 'such-and-such'. This is John. How can I help you today?" It is just part of the game and you must have the maturity to not yell back or get mad and hang up on a customer (with very rare exception). Excellent customer service skills is required to do this telecommuting job.

Next, I see alot of reviews complaining about the start-up cost. I have tried several other companies that want for you to buy a "kit". All of them turned out to be "Thanks for your money. Here ya go!" and just throw you out to the wolves. The requirements for Alpine Access employment are certainly NOT asking too much. Yes, you are required to pay $45 for the CBC, credit check and drug test. Some projects require all of them; some require a few. It is completely up to the client (AOL, Xbox, TurboTax, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc) as to what they want in an employee. Then, Alpine Access selects the best of the best out of the pool. You DO NOT have to pay the $45 if you aren't not offered a phone interview. So, don't think that every job you get an Email about expressing interest to you that you will get it. Sometimes the automated system will turn you down because of an answer to a poll question which you receive via Email. In that case just keep an eye out for the next offer.

Since you will be working from home there are a few CRITICAL requirements. You MUST have a fairly new computer. I'd say nothing older that about 5 years. You MUST have somewhere in your home that can be completely noise-free while you work (no kids screaming, dogs barking, etc.) Now, if a helicopter flies over your house or a neighbor fires up their lawnmower then you can't help that BUT if you get a quality noise-cancelling microphone headset then you shouldn't have to worry about that anyway. I already apologized once to a customer about the noise outside saying the yard crews were mowing and the customer said "I don't hear anything". hehehe. A side note: You MUST MUST MUST give the impression that you are working in a call center. NEVER break that illusion. Yes, it is a little white lie but it is a job requirement. If you are asked "Where are you working from?" simply give your city and state. Otherwise if you say "Colorado" which is were Alpine Access is based you can get caught up when the customer says "What you do think of the weather here in Boulder?" DOH.

Ok, sorry I got side tracked. Hardware requirements before training and then production. Fairly new computer, hardline high-speed internet (cable, DSL, fiber optic are all fine). You can NOT use wireless anything OR satellite internet. I would not recommend using a laptop for work; try to stick to a PC. Granted I do have the software necessary to work loaded on my laptop also but that is only for an emergency if my PC is down. That has never happened (knock on wood). A good microphone headset that plugs into your computer for training and "town hall meetings". A good Plantronics unit is about $40. Finally, a good microphone headset with phonebase for production. I recommend VXI (VXI.com)for their single-line unit. It is about $150 but a well built unit and their customer service is excellent if something breaks. My son got ahold of my headset a few years ago and broke the mic off of it. VXI shipped a replacement for it UPS red free of charge and I was back in business two days later.

So, $45 for the checks, $40 for the training headset and $150 for the production phone. $235 isn't much to ask. You'll make your money back during training anyway so it's a "win-win" situation in my eyes!

Training: Two things. Be ON TIME everyday and TAKE ALOT OF NOTES. If you have a printer I recommend printing hardcopies of everything you possibly can. There is a temptation to wander off or not pay attention since you are indeed working from home. Please don't do that. The flex trainers that have been doing this for quite a while can tell which students are paying attention and which are not. Also, if you don't understand something during your training then ASK QUESTIONS! There are no dumb questions if you don't understand the material. However, forgetting your screen names and passwords because you didn't write them down; that is dumb and will get your trainer thinking that you are indeed NOT paying attention. WRITE THEM DOWN! You'll have several different logins for different programs and won't remember all of them. Currently I have six. Some I use everyday and some are just once in awhile. On taking notes, get a big 5 subject spiral to start with. You'll probably use at least 1/2 of it up during training. Don't throw it away after training because if you did it correctly you'll have a wealth of information in it. One more thing about training: Make absolutely sure that your time during training is completely free. You are NOT allowed to miss a day. If you do then that probably will be grounds for dismissing you from the project altogether. Once you pass training and get into production then you have alittle bit more flexibility. Think about it: If you miss a day then your trainer would need to go back to catch you up and hold the rest of the class behind. It isn't fair to everyone else.

During the first few days of training the main priority is to take care of any tech problems. Alpine Access trainers are excellent at dealing with this and are expecting tech issues with every class they teach. What you can do after getting your phone interview and getting a date to star... read more »

Karen R   San Antonio

I have worked for Alpine Access since June. It is one of the fairest companies I have ever worked for. They do not fire you if you take time off sick and the like. I had the flu and took time off and all was fine. You have a time bank which increases as you work. When you take time off you take hours from it. If you fall under a certain number of hours (-5) you get a verbal. then it progresses from there.

Since I have been there, I have been promoted and given a raise. My team leader (supervisor) encourages us to strive for the best and is fully supportive of my wanting to move into training.

As for breaks, as with any job you are assigned a break and lunch time. I am sure that you can work it out with your manager if you need a certain time. I started nights and now am on days with friday and saturday off.

Best company ever.

Elk   Colorado

Worked for AA for 8.5 years(this was 3 years ago). I had just started a new program after training(we were rushed thru this training,never had that happen before on any projects I worked w/AA) once in the new program, we were thrust into another cross training for the same project( we were going ot be doing the job of what normally would be 2 separate depts for the cost of 1).

A few weeks after cross training was done, I went to my manager( 2nd manager since other moved up in the company) ,let them know I felt under trained on new portion of project. I felt like I was letting customer down in certain areas due the rush of the cross training as well. I asked to be placed on the wait list for a new project, instead this manager decided to request I be let go period. It was never mentioned to me I would be ineligible for rehire. Now 3 years later, I am still ineligible for rehire. Anyhow, I've found a wonderful place with Teletech and am happier than I ever was with AA. Save your money and time and try Teletech instead. No fees for background checks etc.

Sean F   Arkansas

@Mich876, I went through a bankruptcy earlier this year and was just hired by Alpine Access. As you probably know the $45 credit check fee is only due if & when you are offered a job. Before I accepted, I asked about my bankruptcy history. I was told that as long as the bankruptcy is discharged (i.e. not still in progress) then the bankruptcy itself, and any discharged debts, would not cause a problem with being hired. I paid the fee, and passed the credit check.

I actually start training on Thursday, so I'm not submitting a star review here until I've had some real-life experience with Alpine.

Sandra   Lewis

Just was offered a position with alpine Access. can anyone tell me if you can choose when you take your lunch breaks? I am hoping to work out picking up my daughter from school around my lunch break.