The owner of a vacuum cleaner franchise in Denton County, Texas stands accused of hiring a known felon who ended up allegedly stealing from a customer. Ernie Nowell owns the local Kirby vacuum distributorship, hired his relative, who remains unnamed, even though Nowell was fully aware of his criminal history which included drug and alcohol charges. Jamie Chadwell has accused the door-to-door salesman of entering her home with another salesperson and stealing jewelry while she was distracted during the demonstration. Chadwell later learned of the previous criminal history of the accused. She says she “trusted him” and “feel[s] angry” that the employer knew about his felony convictions.
Kirby, based out of Cleveland, says that all local distributors are required to perform background checks on their sales force when they are hired. Company executive Steve Baden, says that factory distributors are required to follow “reasonable measures” in ensuring the sales force doesn’t present “a threat” to customers. Kirby points out that it’s up to local distributors to hire salespeople, and the company isn’t directly involved in the hiring process. Nowell says that he has run his Kirby franchise for 43 years, and although he knew about the criminal past of his relative, he wanted to go ahead and give him a chance. Nowell says he was aware that he was violating corporate policy by hiring his relative. He states the relative has been in many “rehab programs” but isn’t “a threat to anybody.”
Nowell believes his relative is innocent, and says that he performs background checks on those that he hires, and hasn’t “done anything wrong.” However, according to Nowell, the accused employee was fired after the theft was reported. Consumer advocates are saying the case demonstrates how homeowners are mostly guessing if they should trust salespeople who come to their door, especially as they usually increase in the summertime. According to Dallas Better Business Bureau spokesperson Jeannette Kopko, there isn’t really a “great way” for homeowners to know who’s at their doors, and they are “stranger[s]” if they are uninvited. She said that nationally Kirby has a rating of B+ from the BBB. Chadwell said she will no longer open her door to traveling salespeople in the future, and has even posted a ‘no solicitation’ sign at her door.
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Source: http://www.khou.com/news/Company-sends-out-felon-as-traveling-salesman-162064395.html
