I was excited to get an email from Stephen Craven at PersonalMaestro.com. I had seen their ads on craigslist for making money doing internet research. At a point in my life, where real life has been drowning me with rent and bills, the opportunity to make $10.00 per hour doing what I have already been doing since 1993, seemed *too good to believe*. IT WAS.
I was offered a position at PersonalMaestro.com by Kfir Alfia and Stephen Craven. At that point in time, those two guys were my heroes. As per an email Mr. Craven sent, I was given the impression, understandably so, that I would get my first paycheck on 12/08. Assuming of course, I started 11/27, which I did. Just in time to "earn some bucks" before Christmas.
First day was where it all went wrong. I, along with 4 other people started 11/27/06. We were gathered together to create our complementary Personal Maestro accounts. Free personal assistance with no limitation (other than limiting questions to one's you would ask your mother) how awesome. This place just got better and better.
"Okay, now just sign these contracts, " said Stephen Craven. Upon reading these contracts, the 5 of us began scratching our heads. The wording of this contract was ambiguous. I would give the exact wording, but despite my request, I was never given a copy. Having turned down interviews with several other potential employers, my back was against the wall. I needed a job desperately. I signed and suffered a "lump in the throat" effect awaiting clarification.
Culling out the weak had already claimed its first victim, one of the 5 of us quit. We all muttered about how stupid he was, when in fact, he was the smartest. We (the remaining 4) asked Mr. Craven if the contract meant we weren't getting paid for the first week. He said, no, of course we're going to pay you. We have you sign the contract so you won't quit after a week just to get a check from us. You will be paid and your first paycheck won't be until 12/08. We hold back a week to limit the cost of training new people.
Whew! That was relieving to hear from Mr. Stephen Craven. However, he informed us that we would be responsible for paying our own taxes for the first 90 days. From my point of view, that news was great. I had already been overpaying Uncle Sam $10.00 per paycheck on my prior job to keep from owing money.
Okay, so let's do the math. $10.00 an hour times 40 hours worked, I should have been paid around $400.00 on 12/08. With my rent due 12/08 this would have saved me from being homeless. Then things took a turn for the WORSE.
I was notified via email that my position at PersonalMaestro.com was no longer needed. I had committed no wrong doing. I had performed excellent, but I was let go over email. Worst of all it wasn't just sent to MY email account, it was sent to my girlfriend's email address as well. Why, because she was one of the people in my training class.
If you apply the math one more time (once more I promise), you get approx. $800.00 that was not paid out on 12/08 (or at all at the current time).
I was ready to begin finding other sources of income, like begging and donating plasma. It was bleak. Adam and Kfir Alfia, the company owners, had harmed my situation greatly. It got worse, if you can believe it, IT GOT WORSE.
Mr. Adam & Kfir Alfia called my girlfriend up for a report she made on this site, and threatened to sue her if she didn't have the record "expunged." Mr. Adam Alfia is probably used to using this term, but I will leave his public court records out of this report.
My girlfriend and I began to save EVERY email from these gentlemen. What we collected, I will not publish because I would like to give these gentlemen the chance to make things right. They really have had to overcome a lot to get to where they are. I wish them the best of luck, but I am left damaged by my experience with them.
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