Paulette
McCalla,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sat, July 24, 2004
You know Victor, I may have lost $76 but I am proud to say that I am not near as bitter and calloused as you. I didnt ask for your approval, I was simply telling others how easily thing do happen. I would be proud to say I have never made a mistake...which obviously you havent.
Mike
Radford,#3Consumer Suggestion
Sat, July 24, 2004
It's very simple to spot these dishonest operations, in person or online. Anytime you're required to pay a company upfront before you can work for them, it's a scam. Period. There are no exceptions. Real employers realize that people need jobs because they don't have any money. They also realize that it costs money to find and train qualified applicants. That's part of the cost of doing business. They will NOT ask the prospective employee to pay THEM. If an employer cannot afford these costs, they are about to go out of business anyway and you shouldn't bother joining them. Sometimes you may have to pay third parties for tools, uniforms, licenses, etc. Make sure these third parties are truly independent and not just part of a more elaborate advance-fee scheme. The items you buy will be yours to keep and take to another job if necessary. Make sure they are being sold at a competetive price, not an inflated price with a kickback to the "employer." A lot of fraudulent "employers" ask for money upfront on the pretense it will pay for a background check, credit check, etc. This is also a scam. If an employer wants to do these checks, they have to pay for them themselves. If you paid using a credit or debit card or an ACH ("Check by Phone"), contact your bank about reversing the payment. If it was a check or money order, the money is gone for good. Report this scam to the state AG. Also report them to the websites they advertise on; this may not do much good because most advertising websites are strictly about making money. As you've already found, the BBB is useless.
Victor
Old Bridge,#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, July 23, 2004
Sorry but you have spent $76 to learn a very valuable lesson. Why would you ever send money to a company you're seeking employment with? Not only that but you sent money without even going on an interview or meeting with anyone from the company. If you're every going to spend money on training materiels or anything like that you would want to be sure that you have secured the job and know what you're getting into. What if they really did send you materials and you realized you didn't want to get into that business? Did you ask whether you would get your money back or how you would go about doing so? To me it doesn't matter anyway because I would never go to work for a company to required you to pay them to train you. You spoke to a secretary and sent her money. I don't think the word scam could of been written on the wall any bigger or brighter.