Zoom Telephonics Invited me for an interview then refused to pay $800 in travel expenses because I did not take the job Boston Massachusetts
A professional recruiting company arranged an interview with Zoom Telephonics in Boston, MA. I live in San Jose, CA mailing travel expenses important. Zoom Telephonics agreed to pay travel expenses, which is customary for professionals.
Zoom Telephonics payed for the plane flight (thankfully). When I arrived at the arranged hotel there was no pre-payment plans by Zoom Telephonics. I paid the lodging with my own credit card (too bad!). I paid for all other expenses while I was in Boston.
After the interview I asked about filing for reimbursement (because they didn't raise the subject). They said that they did not have any forms and that I should call when I get home for the forms (I should have had "a bad feeling about this").
I called, received the forms, and filled them with Zoom Telephonics. To make a long story short, I get a letter from the Director of Human Resources (Ms. Karen Player (617 753 0549) indicating that Zoom Telephonics (she) would not reimburse me for the travel expenses. In the letter Ms. Player indicated several reasons why she would not reimburse me.
All I know is that I told the recruiter that I was not interested in the position, another long story that's better left go of! The recruiter called me a couple of times asking me to reconsider. OK ok ok, I'm not interested. That was the last contact with either the recruiter or Zoom Telephonics.
Now, the really strange thing is that if Zoom Telephonics or Ms. Karen Player had any issues with my decision, they should have contacted me directly. After the interview Zoom Telephonics did not contact me, except for the letter from Ms. Player. Wow, talk about being professional, I'm now responsible for whatever the recruiter told Zoom Telephonics or Ms. Player.
Now, for another strange thing. After I received the letter, I tried contacting the recruiter I worked with. I found that the recruiter had been fired. It seems that that recruiting company did a lot of business with Zoom Telephonics.
I wrote two letters to the CEO (Mr. Frank Manning) asking for his assistance. Zoom Telephonics did not contact me in any way. A strange thing then happened.
I latter called the Media Relations / Customer Relations Group.A senior level individual in the group and he said would investigate it for me. When I called back, he told me in very "polite" terms that he was told not to discuss the matter with me.
I guess I'm lucky Zoom Telephonics and Ms. Player didn't send me to jail for the rest of my life!!!
When all things are taken into consideration, it seems to me that it's very clear that there certain was unprofessional and unethical behavior!
James
San Jose, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
John
Memphis,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
An Old Recruiter Scam
#2Consumer Suggestion
Sat, February 14, 2004
I almost got tripped up by this scam about 15 years ago. A recruiting firm contacted me about a job in another state. They said the hiring company was having 'budget troubles' and could I cover the airfare/rental car costs and they would reimburse me . Well, the airfare and car would only total about $200 so I went along. I ended up passing on the job and I went through hell pushing to get reimbursed. I finally did.
What the recruiting firms do is gamble you're a sure thing and front the interview expense money themselves. When you're hired they make it back easily on the fee. The hiring company doesn't directly cover your interview costs.
Did you get anything in writing from the recruiter or Zoom before the interview with any expense stipulations? That would really help.
Could you elaborate on the reasons Zoom gave why you would not be reimbursed?
I could understand Zooms position if they found your resume was falsified or there was other material misrepresentation by you or the recruiter.