Here is my Marcus Evans story: I am an American who moved to Berlin, Germany about a year ago. I was looking for a job and a friend of mine was offered a job as a sales assistant selling the sports packages. He told me I should apply. I was called for an interview and was also offered a position.
Since we both are Americans, we had to apply for work permits, to work legally in Germany. Both of our work permits were denied because the base salary of 770 euros was too low.in order for the government to give you a work permit you have to meet a minimum salary requirement, to make sure the company is not taking advantage of you.
We tried explaining the work permit office that we will also be making commission about 1000 to 1500 euros per month, as we were told by Marcus Evans. Marcus Evans even wrote a letter to this government office stating that their employees make on average 1000 to 1500 euros per month off of commission. We were still denied the work permits.
My friend consulted a lawyer, who said no problem, I just need a payroll list from your company, so I can prove that the employees make the commission and you will be able to support yourself. Marcus Evans refused to give us this information and now I understand why.
The main problem for my friend and I was that we waited for months to hear back about the work permits, as German red tape takes forever! My friend applied all the way back January and did not hear back until April. Marcus Evans told him to reapply and gave him another contract type paper that they thought would help.
Point being we both stayed in Germany and lived off our savings because we thought we would be working for Marcus Evans, and thought it was worth it to wait. He was offered the job in January and I in April. It is now August and we have given up, after depleting our savings and he has waited 7 months.
I believe Marcus Evans knew all along that we would be denied the work permits. If they were truly honest people they would have no problem providing the lawyer with the payroll list. Unfortunately, they know that people never obtain this average commission of 1000 to 1500 euros.
Plus my friend was also given work to do at home, as he was waiting for his work permit to go through. Our would be future boss gave him binders full of names and telephone numbers to be entered into spreadsheets. This took him over three weeks to do even with the help of his girlfriend and me. He was however happy to do it because he thought he would be working there in the future.
I am curious to know if any legal action can be taken. Marcus Evans wrote a letter to a German government office stating that their employees make commission of 1000 to 1500 euros. This is obviously a blatant lie.
During my interview I was given a tour of the office. I walked into the sales room where I would be working and there was about 100 people crammed into a room that should only hold about 40. There were no cubicles, all the sales assistants were crammed around tables, there was definitely not enough space.
I just want to warn anyone who may be living abroad and requires a work permit. You most likely will not be given the permit because the base salary is too low. Perhaps, I should consider my lucky for never having to work a day for this horrible company, my friend and I did however deplete our savings waiting around for months for the stupid work permits.
I am continually amazed how people can be so dishonest and yet it doesn't phase them at all. The only thing that makes me feel better is that I know "what goes around, comes around".
Berlin
Berlin
Germany
0 comments