Complaint Review: Bernard Haldane Associates - Atlanta Georgia

Thanks for the internet!!!!

I am glad that I made a search on www.MSN.com about "Bernard Haldane problem" as keyword search, because I felt like there was a problem with the stories they told me since 11/19/2001, and now I realized that I have been rip-off big time.

They used the fact that I was depress and looking desesperately for a job to rip me off. They make me signe three documents that I now regret where I owned them US $5000.00 with US $2500.00 already paid on 11/21/2001, here in their atlanta-GA (chamblee dunwoody location) office at Summit Bank building suite 100.

Let's me count my story:

1/- I received a call on 11/16/2001 at 1:39pm by a lady from Bernard Haldane and associate that tell me that they received my resume and that they can find me a job and we setup a interview for Monday 11/19/2001 at 2:00 pm with a man name Ron S. Cohen (Senior consultant).

2/- I met with M. Ron S. Cohen on Monday 11/19/2001, I told me various stories (he is a very good professional on how to convince somebody who doesn't have all his mind right in this difficult time), but he made some few mistake that made me now STRONGLY BELEIVED I was rip-off: he ask me if I have $250000.00 to invest (I told hime NO), he ask me if I have a saving account or some money in the side (I said yes I have arround $9000.00).

After telling me all types of story about dark business which represent 70-80% of the job opponing, he told me that by working with them I will get a job in 2 weeks, but there is a fee I have to pay them %5000.00(unusual, I ticked but my mind was already done with the fact that I am looking for a job since oct 2nd 2001). I ask him why and how? but he was smart to tell me that "don't worry about it" I will explain to you on our next appointment on Wed. 11/21/2001. he gave me some homework to do, ie a lot of papers to file out with some psycho-test ( I beleive now that was done to make their business look serious).

3/- On wed. 11/21/2001, he count me all kind of story, like how their have a database and a program that can give them all info about a company in the us: their oppening, the portfolio etc. Then he told me that if I have to work with them in two weeks I will get a job (promise/garantee in others word), but I have to pay the $5000.00 upfront, I said I can only pay $2500.00 now and the rest un 5 monthly payments. he make me signe two paper taht say that I owne them $5000.00.

I didn't know what I was doing I was like paralyse in my mind. When I get out I start asking my selt what is going on. But I said I will find out on my next interview he settle with a member of their teem Madame Dinese Goins for Monday 11/26/2001 at 2:00 pm. When I got home 30-45 minutes later he called me at home and change my nex appointment to be earlier that monday 11/26/2001 at 10:00 am. That was strange for me that he change that appointment, and the way he was happy and nice on the phone. I started be suspicious and said let me found out on monday what is going on. I could have block that check on Friday 11/28/2001 but didn't. They cached the $2500.00 check, it was debited in my checking account on Friday 11/28/2001.

4/- On monday 11/26/2001, ie yesterday I met with Madame Dinese Goins, her story started started being slide different, specially concerning their responsability on finding a job for me. She make me signe another document, but their was one part I was surprise, when it stated something like "Did a Bernard Haldane employee made a you signe a document where all promise wasn't mentionned", I asked her to explain some more and I told her that M. cohen did tell me that they will get me job (for me it was a promise/ garantee), she influenced me and said that NOBODY ganrantee me a job, she said they will help, it's not a garantee, she said that if I really need some cash there is some temporary agency that give part-time contract out there, I ask her some name and phone number she decline and said that she don't have it on hand, she will look for it (that was shocking, I am looking for a job and they said they will help, but they can't help: CONTRADICTION).

I signed NO, I was scared and suddently the fire alarm when off, and we went out by the back door, she didn't want me to take any of my document out (that was strange, beacause in the event of a fire you don't leave important doc on your desk!), I soon as when we get out the alarm went off, we went in by the front door this time (Only God knows what happen in her office with my stuff in their when I wasn't there). Another strange thing she told me is that they will help me write letter directly to the decision maker in the company (ie the CEO), but that it's me who will write it. She made anothe appointment for Wednesday 11/28/2001 at 12:00 pm. I became very suspicious I decide for my safety to act as there is no doubt in my mind, but I said I need to investigating this.

I had a headeache all afternoon and it's arround 3:00 am on Tuesday 11/27/2001 I went to the internet to look for problem reported on Bernard Haldane associates. Hopefully I am a computer programmer, so I know how to surf the net, then the first hit was your ad's that mention rip-off by Bernard Haldane associates, that confirm my tought.

I am made because I was stupid to give $2500.00 like that, now I want them punish severly, I want all my money back, I want to bring them to justice, I want to contact the media, I want to destroy them publicly by telling the truth, because their take avantage of my misery, of my daily stress etc... I have a familly to take care off and the $2500.00 was part of my 401k money I withdrawed to survive while looking for a new job since I was laid off.

Please help me, help me punish that company and get back my money.

If my wife found out she will kill me.

Sincerly,

Zacharie P.