The telemarketing place I was working for (Discount Energy in Dunedin) kept giving me bad checks. Every time I turned in a check from there it would bounce. Sure for the most part I always ended up getting paid even though it was never the right amount. Somehow even though I worked eight hours a day, five – sometimes six – days a week, I rarely ever saw a weekly paycheck over $200. It was always closer to $150 – much less than minimum wage. Now that’s while I was in work release, but now that I’m out I still haven’t gotten paid. I figured out that with everything they owe me for the last couple weeks and including one past check that bounced - they owe me $782.
Now get this – the owner of Discount Energy, Doug, told me he won’t give me my last two checks he owes me because another check he gave me bounced at Amscot. LIKE THAT’S MY FAULT!!!!!! I’m not the only person he’s done this to. It’s just that everybody who works there is from a work release program and nobody will say anything because they need the job or they’ll go back to prison.
Currently I’m taking all necessary legal actions to get what I’m owed and also that the guy who runs this crooked place pays for what he is doing.
The Largo Residential Reentry Center is fully aware that the residents’ paychecks keep bouncing. The financial person at the Center was supposed to get back to Ted a week and a half ago to let him know the total number of his paychecks that have bounced, but has not yet returned the call. Another released inmate (from the female Center) also has not received the pay owed her. Yet Goodwill continues to have their work release residents work at this place. Ted has hired a private investigator to investigate the owners and will be pursuing further action with the state.
