I am a carpenter/licensed building contractor based in West Central Florida. Due to the very slow construction industry here, I responded to a listing for this company that was posted on Career Builder.com. I called the company last week in response to their ad for workers in the Caribbean and left a message. My call was returned within a few hours by the fast-talking president of the company, "Bobbi".
I asked the normal questions, such as the likelihood of landing a position through this company, details of employment, etc. I was told there was a 99.9% placement rate for carpenters, teams of carpenters, foremen, superintendents, sub-contractors, and contractors. Transportation, lodging, food, and possibly a per diem were to be payed by prospective employer. This sounded like a dream situation!!! I asked if I could e-mail my resume and was told to bring it with me upon personal interview. I left off that I would call Monday to make an appointment for Wednesday.
I called Monday morning, left a message, and was called back within an hour. Bobbi told me to bring picture i.D., my resume, and $330.00 for a refundable (by future employer) application/processing fee. I was told that the normal fee was $580.00, but since Christmas the fee has been reduced. Many of my additional questions went unanswered, and I was told that everything would be answered at the two hour interview (at least four hours away on the other coast of Florida). I made the appointment.
Feeling uneasy about the situation of having to pay a "fee" for employment, I did some checking on the internet. I found usacomplaints.com through Google and found three reports about this company there. Every report said that this company provided no jobs, just took money. I also checked Better Business Bureau—rating of B. The next thing I did was do a Google search for direct Caribbean employment —every site search came up negative. I then called several contractors listed on a Nassau, Bahamas contractor listing site, and found out that the Bahamas are as dead as Florida for construction.
After my research, I believe that this company is misrepresenting itself, is, at best, a resume distribution outfit, and is fleecing people in their time of need. They should be investigated and shut down.
I hope that other people read this and the other postings and run far away from this company. Buyer beware.
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