My husband can't post our story because he signed the non-disclosure agreement. He really wanted to post, but he wanted the money back even more. But I didn't sign anything! I was at every meeting with him, even though they said not to come.
Our story is the same as everyone else that fell for the sales presentation. My husband went to the first meeting, and I was brought in on the second. When all was said and done, we had signed a one page contract for $7300, less 10% if we paid up front! We paid $6570 on our credit card. How stupid is that when we're both looking for work? I still don't understand how all those promises evaporated from the written contract, and we still signed it! Normally, we are always so careful with contracts.
After the first real meeting, we realized just how badly we had been taken. My husband was sick to his stomach, and couldn't sleep. We decided to take action.
We carefully recorded everything that was said at all meetings. Every insinuation, every phrase, we wrote down. We researched and found this site. Next, we wrote a letter requesting a refund. We contrasted the verbal promises and implied "contacts" with the reality of what the career adivsor said he would do. We addressed this letter to the "VP" who sold us the contract, the advisor, the current CEO of Bernard Haldane, and Bernard Haldane himself.
At the next scheduled meeting, we told our advisor we were dissatisfied, misled, and wanted a refund. We also told him we were mistaken, and couldn't afford their services. The first thing he said was "We don't have a refund policy." If we needed any confirmation that they were thieves, there it was. If they were concerned about our well-being, such as paying rent and buying food, shouldn't they have asked about our situation? We presented all the letters to the advisor, and let him see our research (addresses and telephone numbers of all the places we would contact for help) and sealed envelopes we planned on mailing.
They "Accounts Manager" called us, and tried to maneuver us out of wanting a refund. He had obviously been given a copy of our letter. We stuck to our guns, and he finally agreed. Of course, they got to keep $300 for the 2 1/2 hour first meeting.
The office that took us for a ride is in downtown Denver.
I hope it is not too long, but I wanted to show the letter we used and our "help list".
First, the letter. We modified it slightly for each person Here is the one for the current CEO:
To:
Jerold Weinger, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
192 Lexington Avenue, 15th floor
New York, NY 10016
Dear Sir:
After attending the first session with your company for Professional Career Development Services, I am completely dissatisfied. I request termination of my contract and a full refund of the $6570 fee.
The initial sales person I spoke with made the following statements that led me to believe your company would help me to find and obtain the job I was seeking:
1. The Internet and newspapers have only a fraction of the jobs available. Our contacts will help you reach the over 90% of jobs that are never advertised.
2. We have over 800,000 alumni in the industry to help you establish appropriate level contacts. Great emphasis was placed on Bernard Haldane's vast contact network.
3. We will start looking for a job for you right away, as soon as you sign the contract. We need to hurry to get everything done before the Christmas rush.
4. Many high level employers contact Bernard Haldane looking for qualified candidates.
5. We will get you in touch with the key decision makers in companies.
6. All clients (about 100) at this office for the last 12 months have been placed within 30-90 days of signing on.
7. We don't accept commissions or bonuses from employers; we ask that they roll this into our client's compensation package. The strong insinuation was that employers are contacting Bernard Haldane looking for people.
During the first meeting with my assigned career counselor, he stated that many of the alumni mentioned in the initial meeting were unemployed now, and he had only a limited time to search for jobs. He asked that I list all the people I knew to start building a network list. This contradicts Bernard Haldane's vast network of contacts and employers described in the initial meeting that are waiting to be tapped. It appears my Career Counselor doesn't know of any jobs, doesn't have time to look, and doesn't have any contacts to help me get a job.
My wife and I are both unemployed. We cannot afford to give away $6570 when we are trying to survive. Please reply as soon as possible to my request for a full refund.
Next, here is the list of contacts that was at the top of the folder we opened and set on the advisor's desk to get out the letters:
Places to contact:
1. Colorado State Attorney's Office 1-800-222-4444/ 303-866-5189
2. Consumer Protection Office, Colorado Attorney General's Office, 1525 Sherman St., 5th Floor, Denver Co 80203. Telephone: 303-866-5189/303-866-5125 or
Toll free: 1-800-332-2071, Fax: 303-866-5443
3. Phillip Parrott, Chief Deputy District Attorney, Denver District Attorney's Economic Crimes Unit, 303 West Colfax Ave., Ste 1300, Denver, CO 80204, tel: 720-913-9179, Fax: 720-913-9177, Web site: www.denverda.org
4. Denver District Attorney's Office, Lisa Curtis, Director of Consumer Services, 720-913-9161, [email protected]
5. Fraud Complaint Line, Denver District Attorney, tel: 720-913-9179.
6. Colorado consumer line, toll free at 1-800-222-4444,
7. Denver Post: [email protected]
8. Local TV Channels: www.thedenverchannel.com/call7forhelp/
9. Better Business Bureau. Http://www.denver. BBB.org, Phone: (303) 758-2100, Fax: (303) 758-8321,1780 S. Bellaire, Ste. 700, Denver, CO 80222 -4350
10. Usacomplaints.com
11. Personal Contract Lawyer: Law Office of John Kenneth Pineau, P.C., 303-861-8906, Creswell Mansion, Suite 300,1244 Grant Street Denver Co., Denver, CO 80203 USA, www.lawyers.com/johnpineau/
Well, I hope that wasn't too long. I'm sorry if some information was left out, but you know... My husband really wanted our money back.
I hope this helps.
Click here to all the others who have been victimized by Bernard Haldane Associates
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