Complaint Review: Hal Butler

I stumbled upon Med-Dent Associates, as it was known then, through a fellow classmate who happened to be enrolled in a probability and statistics course in the spring of 2003. I will begin by giving credit, even though it was not particularly earned: Through my contact with Hal Butler (all over the phone, and never did I meet any of his associates), I was introduced the world of actuarial science. The course I was enrolled in at my university helped me form a strong foundation and I passed my first actuarial exam, and thereafter I passed two more before I graduated, got a job and became an actuary.

Now for the bit where Hal screwed me over:

Through the fellow classmate, I got Hal's number who was advertising at my university's career center under the name of 'Med-Dent Associates' as a placement firm for actuarial analysts. Incidently my fellow classmate did not subscribe to any of the products Hal was advertising, but that may be simply because he (my classmate) did not have an interest in actuarial science. 

Hal said that he was looking to place a few students as entry level candidates and being a naive 20 year old, i did not even ask where. He said that the firms he is hiring for does sponsor international students. In hindsight, this should have been a massive red flag for me. However, to establish my candidacy, he wanted me to pass an actuarial exam, and to assist with that he was organizing a study group. Sound familiar? 

The study group needed a fee of $300 which was not that much considering what i paid for college. The exam registration fee was $80 since I was a full time student and I passed with a near perfect score. Once I had passed and received my result, I was to fax my score card and resume to Hal and he would follow up with me, and get this, refund me the $300 for passing the exam.

Of course I never saw a penny of that $300. But I did hear from Hal once more, after I filed a complaint with the BBB and he called to offer me the $300 but wanted a copy of my receipt. Did I mention that he never gave me a receipt? Again, the fault is partly mine for not requesting a receipt aggressively. I do have the check after it was encashed/deposited. I warned my university's career center against this fraud and he has thankfully never been allowed to prey on the students on campus. 

He now goes by numerous pseudonames or fellow associates have become the face of his organization. He has his dirty little fingers in a number of pies in Brentwood, Tennesse.