I responded to an add in the Omaha World Herald for a free career market analysis, as I was interested in relocating back to Omaha and wanted to test the waters and get a feel for what "need" existed for my skills and experience. I called and made an appointment with a Phillips Carlyle International career counselor.
I was told after my interview, that I did indeed possess a needed and valuable skill set, and that Phillips Carlyle would have no trouble getting me interviews with the hiring managers of any number of companies, and would also be able to identify other industries that I would be able to cross over to, different from the industry I had been working in.
There was a "Hard sell" and a high price, but they insisted they could place me, in the typical 90 days, in a career that I ould not only like, but would would have compensation more than adequate to make up for their fee.
In mid Aril 2001 I contracted the services of Phillips Carlyle. We set a deadline date of August (before the start of the new school year) to have obtained gainful employment.
I came in with a resume, which was "re-vamped" to the PCI style, and I provided them with a database I had created of over 100 Omaha companies with contact names and addresses, I had identified as possible employers who could use a person such as myself. I attended PCI's seminar, which was little more than the presentation of all the reasons why "Normal" job search efforts won't work or get you a job, and why PCI's services and methods were going to be the "magic bullet" to get me hired.
I did everything PCI asked of me, including the "Advice Interviews" with people who don't have positions and no interest in hiring you. These that were arranged by PCI turned out to be personal aquaintences of the people in the PCI office, and I got the impression from the "Advice" interviews, that they simply were doing this as a favor to that person. One was even with a former PCI employee.
The deadline date of August, came and went without a single legitimate interview. We set a new deadline date of Christmas, which came and went without an interview. We set another deadline date of March, which also came and went. We set a final deadline date of June, the end of the current school year, so I could relocated my family during the summer break, and this date came and went without an interview.
I have been very patient, and at each of the milestone dates I expressed my concern and dissapointment at the lack of activity in obtaining interviews, let alone an actual offer. I also stated each time that I would need to see that positive activity and start getting interviews, or I would indeed be asking for my money back.
All the while, I see nothing happening, but me still searching the websites and newspapers for opportunities, and PCI doing nothing.
It has now been 14 months. I have made my official written request to PCI to return my money, and to terminate the very little if any service they are supposed to be providing.
I am getting the run-around, stall tactics, no phone calls being returned, and typical lack of response, that I am now just finding out that other people have experienced. I have been extreamly polite and professional throughout all of our business dealings, and expected PCI to respond in kind, to my request for refund, knowing full well that they have failed to deliver on every single contracted service and promise.
Larry
Flower Mound, Texas
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