ECRG never produced promised results, nor did it properly address my concerns before it apparently closed up offices in Tredyffrin Township, PA, and Princeton, NJ (later in Lawrence Township). This Deceptive company is a waste of time, and victimized many consumers in the PA - NJ area.
In August 1999, I was informed me I was a "great candidate" for a career change and, with the help of ECRG, could be in a new position within nine weeks. Gary Schulman promised ECRG's "contacts" included recruiters who looked to him for prospects, and "a staff of professionals" to guide me in that search. After the snake-oil sales job, I signed up and allowed them to charge $5,000 in two separate installments on my VISA card.
I have a copy of the signed contract and credit card statements showing the charges. (I also have a money-back guarantee signed by Mr. Schulman, a flyer about the company, and a notebook of advice they provided that appears to be cut-and-pasted from other sources.) But that is where the great attention to detail on ECRG's part ended.
I quickly discovered that the "contacts" were simply lists of recruiters blindly culled from a database; the "professionals" were clerks who copied letters of introduction (many with typographical errors and misspellings), and a stream of consultants who did not remain with your firm long enough to complete the program with me:
1. Gary Ames: He handed me reams of paperwork (which I dutifully completed), met with me a few times, then forgot about me for several months and never bothered to tell me he was leaving. Of course, your own secretary (who also has left) commented that Mr. Ames' departure was no surprise because he "needed to go" due to many complaints of neglect from other clients.
2. Don Jones: He had me start virtually from scratch, met with me a couple of times, then forgot about me for several months and never bothered to contact me to tell me he was leaving.
3. Glenn Jacobs: He balked, then begrudgingly came to my home for an emergency meeting before a big job interview; claimed he did not receive my e-mail detailing the outcome of the interview and requesting direction for our next step, then sent an accusatory e-mail blasting me for not continuing with the ECRG program.in that note, he also announced he was taking a leave of absence.
It's difficult for me to comprehend that, as a "client, " I had to continually call consultants for updates and information instead of the other way around. They should be checking in with me to see how our combined career search was going.in traditional business relationships, the company receiving payment is obligated to provide goods and services.
I feel Mr. Schulman misrepresented ECRG during our initial interview, and his inconsistent staff has been unable to deliver the level of knowledge, expertise, and results he promised. I have gotten more information on how to craft a resume, make a career change, network, and conduct an interview from the Internet and books than has been provided to me by ECRG. I'm still waiting for that practice interview on videotape that was promised more than once as part of the program, but again was never delivered. I feel he and his staff have wasted much of my time, as well as my money.
While I cannot recoup any of the time I have spent driving to the office in Princeton after my overnight shift, or listening to your consultants regurgitate the same old tired company lines from ECRG script, I feel Mr. Schulman wronged me and probably thousands of other clients.
After finding out that a neighbor also had a bad experience with ECRG, I did an Internet search and discovered a crime alert in Tredyffrin Township about that business. I have since spoken with Detective John Bailey there, who told me there's a 33-page matrix list of claimants against ECRG.
I also called Lawrence Township, NJ, which is where ECRG moved after closing its Princeton office. Detective Lt. Boyd visited the Lawrenceville location and reported furniture and files inside.
An assistant US attorney in Camden, Mark Ferzan, sounded interested, and suggested I tell my story to the FBI. Agent Bill Grace in Cherry Hill, told me there is no active investigation and made a note of my call.
The New Jersey Attorney General's Division of Consumer Affairs also turned up references to complaints being filed.
Thank you for your time and attention on what I feel is a scam. I feel crossing state lines and the sheer number of clients left high-and-dry opens this up to numerous law enforcement agencies.
Bill
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
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