Poor Client Relations
If I could provide a negative rating, I would. My experience with Colon McMenamy, an Allstate employee, was highly unsatisfactory due to his unprofessionalism and lack of responsiveness. I would strongly advise against conducting business with him. He initially established the annuity for my mother, but when she needed access to her funds, he failed to follow through. Despite my attempts to contact him, he did not return my calls. I then reached out to Emery Abshier, Colon's supervisor, who also did not meet his obligations to his client. Over eight years ago, $20,000 was invested in an Allstate Annuity, which yielded a disappointing $25,000. This poor investment outcome further eroded my trust in Allstate's ability to provide professional services. Mr. Abshier scheduled a meeting with my mother and me to facilitate her access to the funds. However, on the day of the appointment, he was unavailable at his office and instead left the necessary paperwork with his receptionists. Unfortunately, they lacked the proper licensing to provide my mother with information about her account. I found it perplexing that we were given an appointment without anyone being available to address our questions. If my mother had attended the meeting alone, she would have been forced to leave without resolution. I insisted that my mother receive assistance, and the office staff, recognizing my determination, contacted Mr. Abshier at his other office. We were able to conduct our business via speakerphone. However, I was unimpressed with Mr. Abshier's apparent lack of concern for his client's needs. The unorthodox manner in which our financial discussion was conducted led my mother to request that her account be closed. We were then informed that closing the account was advisable, although the implications of this were unclear. When I expressed my disappointment with the annuity's performance over the past seven years, I was told that the circumstances were different at the time. I appreciate the professionalism displayed by the receptionist and April Joiner, who acknowledged my frustration and ensured that my mother received the necessary assistance. It should not be so challenging to access one's funds from a financial institution. I am grateful for the nest egg from the sale of my motel business, which I will take elsewhere, as Allstate has demonstrated a lack of concern for its clients' needs. My experience with Colon and Emery has been particularly disappointing, and I appreciate the exceptional service provided by the receptionist and April Joiner.
Date of experience: December 20, 2024