Investigation continues into Florence company charging for assessments
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Better Business Bureau investigating Florence...
The Better Business Bureau has confirmed that there is an open investigation into the Smosska company. Smosska officials say the company is a manufacturer of patient medical information cards.The Better Business Bureau says it is continuing with an investigation of a Florence company that says it wants to hire 3,000 people.
Smosska officials say the company is a manufacturer of patient medical information cards.
In a press release the company states that they are “committed to saving lives and reducing health care costs by using innovative technologies to deliver accurate patient information.“
The company has been holding a job fair since Monday at the National Guard Armory in Florence.
Armory officials say the company is renting out the spot, and that the armory is available for individuals or companies to rent.
Company officials said they are looking to hire 3,000 people, and that the positions will range in pay from $10 to $32 an hour.
During Smosska’s application process however, the company is charging each applicant a $40 fee for an assessment test.
Better Business Bureau officials say that, along with a lack of a solid business history, is troubling to them.
“People are very desperate right now and you’re talking somebody’s grocery money, you’re talking somebody’s gas money to get to a job they perhaps have right now… and putting word out that 3,000 jobs are coming to Florence, that’s gonna put a lot of people up in arms and hopeful, and if it’s not legitimate, that scares the Better Business Bureau,“ said Kathy Graham, president of the Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina.
News13 tried to contact the vice president and president of Smosska several times Wednesday, but did not hear back from them.
Smosska company officials did speak with the Better Business Bureau however, and told them that Smosska is a legitimate company, looking to bring jobs to the Florence area.
Company officials also met with the Florence County Economic Development Partnership on Wednesday, and laid out their company’s plans.
Economic Development officials say it was the first meeting they’ve had with Smosska officials, and that it was basically just an introduction to the company and what it plans to do in the area.
Partnership officials say they are happy to meet with any business that is planning to bring jobs and create growth.
The Better Business Bureau says it is simply concerned because there is no physical location right now, for the company that is supposed to employ thousands of people.
They say it’s also quite extreme for a company to go from a business with 10 employees to a business with potentially 3,000.
“Until I know something solid, I would say be very cautious,“ Graham said.
The Better Business Bureau says its investigation into Smosska could take several days, and a lot of it is contingent upon whether or not applicants hear back from the company about potential positions.
Smosska officials plan to continue the job fair through July 9, from 8 am to 8 pm.
Reader Reactions
i don’t have much of a problem , paying to take a screening test , you have to take work keys assesment for employment with vatious companies in the florence area . And it costs $35.00.. now that being said i stopped in at the armory just to see if their assesment test was work keys…it is not. I do not think companys should be able to have their own tests and charge for them , for employment with said company , what if all companies decide well now you just have to pay to take our test , I would go bankrupt just trying to find a job. Bottom line if you have to pay to take a test , then it should be a universal standard test accepted by all companies everywhere , as i believe Work keys is…if they want you to take their own test then don’t charge to take it…
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