Complaint Review: Bernard Haldane Associates

I finally received my refund from BHA in December 2001, approx. 2800$ CDN. I struggled for many, many months and fought with the head office in the U.S.A. I just couldn't accept that this firm took my money for services not rendered. Pure robbery in modern times camouflaged by expensive offices and slick salespeople.

I was initially presented the BHA concept by Suzanne Fortier, General Manager, in Montreal. I really think she should go back to being a lawyer.

I consulted a lawyer and was ready to expose them. I was enraged. Yes, I know " I told you so". But I just couldn't imagine that these types of traps are still possible in this day and age.

My advice: Don't give up. Fight for every penny. Trace back all your notes during the first session presentation, recall all false promises,
go over activities completed with your advisor.
I know you won't come up with much because you spend the time doing all the work. Ridiculous.

I really sympathize with you. I am still considering to take them public. I want them to crumble. I want people to be aware of this BHA going concern.

Good luck.

I don't now how many times I've heard the expression, "I told you so", and yet, I went ahead and made another stupid decision based on emotions and not common sense.



I, too, have been ripped off by Bernard Haldane Associates and am so upset that they preyed on the most important thing in my life and that's my work. It defines who I am and my sense of worth. I went to see Haldane, out of desperation, last February, 2001. I had been away from Canada for the last 6 years, working in a difficult, jungle enviroment as a Mine Geologist. I was there, not by choice but by need because, unfortunately, there is very little work in Canada in Geology. That's right, Canada, a country that was so strong in the natural resources field, has little work for hundreds of highly qualified professionals, like myself, these days. After building up the company I worked for,( from an exploration stage that had only expenses), into a productive mine with substantial yearly profits, the company was bought up by another mining company and we, the harding working management staff, that were responsible for having built up the mine, were given a handshake and a pink slip, "thanks but we have our own staff". I returned to Canada, wounded but determined to do even better because of all my valuable work experience. Well, hundreds of C.V.s later, I was still out of work, even after taking more computer courses, including C++ and autocad and Gemcom. That is when I gave BHA a call, at the Montreal office, met with Ms. Fortier, told her my story and was blinded by her slick presentation . I was given the exact same sales pitch, like all the other victims and have had very little in terms of concrete results from them. I finally told by "counsellor" that I wanted to end the contract and that I understand that I should pay part of the cost for having helped in only two areas: the C.V. and cover letter write up and perhaps a bit of coaching but, surely, it wasn't worth paying that ridiculous price of almost $6000.00! Well, you can imagine that I was refused a refund for services not rendered and that is the position I find myself as of now. Is there any way I could find assistance in getting back some of my money?

I don't now how many times I've heard the expression, "I told you so", and yet, I went ahead and made another stupid decision based on emotions and not common sense.



I, too, have been ripped off by Bernard Haldane Associates and am so upset that they preyed on the most important thing in my life and that's my work. It defines who I am and my sense of worth. I went to see Haldane, out of desperation, last February, 2001. I had been away from Canada for the last 6 years, working in a difficult, jungle enviroment as a Mine Geologist. I was there, not by choice but by need because, unfortunately, there is very little work in Canada in Geology. That's right, Canada, a country that was so strong in the natural resources field, has little work for hundreds of highly qualified professionals, like myself, these days. After building up the company I worked for,( from an exploration stage that had only expenses), into a productive mine with substantial yearly profits, the company was bought up by another mining company and we, the harding working management staff, that were responsible for having built up the mine, were given a handshake and a pink slip, "thanks but we have our own staff". I returned to Canada, wounded but determined to do even better because of all my valuable work experience. Well, hundreds of C.V.s later, I was still out of work, even after taking more computer courses, including C++ and autocad and Gemcom. That is when I gave BHA a call, at the Montreal office, met with Ms. Fortier, told her my story and was blinded by her slick presentation . I was given the exact same sales pitch, like all the other victims and have had very little in terms of concrete results from them. I finally told by "counsellor" that I wanted to end the contract and that I understand that I should pay part of the cost for having helped in only two areas: the C.V. and cover letter write up and perhaps a bit of coaching but, surely, it wasn't worth paying that ridiculous price of almost $6000.00! Well, you can imagine that I was refused a refund for services not rendered and that is the position I find myself as of now. Is there any way I could find assistance in getting back some of my money?

I don't now how many times I've heard the expression, "I told you so", and yet, I went ahead and made another stupid decision based on emotions and not common sense.



I, too, have been ripped off by Bernard Haldane Associates and am so upset that they preyed on the most important thing in my life and that's my work. It defines who I am and my sense of worth. I went to see Haldane, out of desperation, last February, 2001. I had been away from Canada for the last 6 years, working in a difficult, jungle enviroment as a Mine Geologist. I was there, not by choice but by need because, unfortunately, there is very little work in Canada in Geology. That's right, Canada, a country that was so strong in the natural resources field, has little work for hundreds of highly qualified professionals, like myself, these days. After building up the company I worked for,( from an exploration stage that had only expenses), into a productive mine with substantial yearly profits, the company was bought up by another mining company and we, the harding working management staff, that were responsible for having built up the mine, were given a handshake and a pink slip, "thanks but we have our own staff". I returned to Canada, wounded but determined to do even better because of all my valuable work experience. Well, hundreds of C.V.s later, I was still out of work, even after taking more computer courses, including C++ and autocad and Gemcom. That is when I gave BHA a call, at the Montreal office, met with Ms. Fortier, told her my story and was blinded by her slick presentation . I was given the exact same sales pitch, like all the other victims and have had very little in terms of concrete results from them. I finally told by "counsellor" that I wanted to end the contract and that I understand that I should pay part of the cost for having helped in only two areas: the C.V. and cover letter write up and perhaps a bit of coaching but, surely, it wasn't worth paying that ridiculous price of almost $6000.00! Well, you can imagine that I was refused a refund for services not rendered and that is the position I find myself as of now. Is there any way I could find assistance in getting back some of my money?

I don't now how many times I've heard the expression, "I told you so", and yet, I went ahead and made another stupid decision based on emotions and not common sense.



I, too, have been ripped off by Bernard Haldane Associates and am so upset that they preyed on the most important thing in my life and that's my work. It defines who I am and my sense of worth. I went to see Haldane, out of desperation, last February, 2001. I had been away from Canada for the last 6 years, working in a difficult, jungle enviroment as a Mine Geologist. I was there, not by choice but by need because, unfortunately, there is very little work in Canada in Geology. That's right, Canada, a country that was so strong in the natural resources field, has little work for hundreds of highly qualified professionals, like myself, these days. After building up the company I worked for,( from an exploration stage that had only expenses), into a productive mine with substantial yearly profits, the company was bought up by another mining company and we, the harding working management staff, that were responsible for having built up the mine, were given a handshake and a pink slip, "thanks but we have our own staff". I returned to Canada, wounded but determined to do even better because of all my valuable work experience. Well, hundreds of C.V.s later, I was still out of work, even after taking more computer courses, including C++ and autocad and Gemcom. That is when I gave BHA a call, at the Montreal office, met with Ms. Fortier, told her my story and was blinded by her slick presentation . I was given the exact same sales pitch, like all the other victims and have had very little in terms of concrete results from them. I finally told by "counsellor" that I wanted to end the contract and that I understand that I should pay part of the cost for having helped in only two areas: the C.V. and cover letter write up and perhaps a bit of coaching but, surely, it wasn't worth paying that ridiculous price of almost $6000.00! Well, you can imagine that I was refused a refund for services not rendered and that is the position I find myself as of now. Is there any way I could find assistance in getting back some of my money?