I graduated in May of a year plaqued with unemployment, layoffs and downsizing. After graduation, I was still working part-time at a restaurant and had no career. I felt lost and hopeless. Week after week, I went through the newspapers and contacted companies who said I lacked experience. I then found Bernard Haldane's ad showing that Marketers get $45-75K per yr. Salary.
I called in and had a meeting with Patti A. Hunter, the VP of client services at Bernard Haldane. Pat used the fact that I had just graduated to sucker me in.
She said my resume was conventional and that it would not get me anywhere; also, that since I am a "green grad, " I didn't know anyone or have any contacts and that Haldane Bernard had all the "connections/network."
Furthermore, Pat Hunter told me that I would get my "dream job" that will pay at least $45K; that I can be relocated anywhere; how the counselors will write all the cover letters/resumes, make me an expert interviewee and negotiator.
Most importantly, she said I would get my "dream job" in 3 months (which would have been September). She saw that using my vulnerability was working in her favor and so she kept lying and making false promises of how I'll find my "dream job" before I even have to worry about the cost of the service.
They charged me $5,560.00 and I maxed out my credit cards to pay it in July thinking I will have an adavantage over my fellow classmates that graduated along with those with years of experience that were laid off and also searching for jobs.
My counselor was/is Mark Niles. He was considered the "guru" there at Bernard Haldane. I was nieve and trusted him, never thinking he would screw me over or scam me. Mark made me change an important answer on the contract. The question asked if I was given a verbal agreement and I checked "yes." Mark Niles said my answer would never go through Human Resource and that I needed to change my answer to "no."
Months passed with no leads nor interviews. When I met with Mark Niles, it lasted 20-30 minutes and all he did was talk. I never felt a sense of acclompishment or direction when I left the meeting.
Mark and I put my resume together and it was very unsatisfied with it. The resume he returned to me had mistakes both grammar and spelling. I had two different business professionals look at my new resume and who then suggested that I try a different format.
In the next phase, Mark Niles was expected to coach me in interviewing and negotiating skills. He never coached me, only videotaped a mock interview twice, which both times I was unsatisfied. Mark never even went over how to negotiate in an interview, or even a third of what he was required to do.
Pat Hunter said that Bernard Haldane had all the connections. I never received any "qualified leads" which was one of my written expectations of Bernard Haldane.
Bills started to become overwhelming, including my student loans. I was then forced to get a second full time job to pay for bills in September. Family, friends, colleagues, and co-workers I talked to were apalled that I paid so much money for a service that could not even get me one qualified LEAD insix months, that they do not ever contact me, NOTHING!!! Except a f! @$#@% bill!!!
I would get upset and call in, demanding some action or changes, such as having Mark contact me to follow up, which he did for one week and stopped.
Mark Niles would then turn the situation around to where I was to be blamed, that I was not dedicated enough in my pursuit for my "dream job" when I am working two jobs. How am I to pay them for their service without working?!!! I have done my part and still have not found anything, career or lead.
In December I called in to Bernard Haldane to demand my money back. I was told to contact Robyn "Lea" Upton and after several attempts, finally got a hold of her. She said she'll review my records and also tried to put the blame on me, that I was working two jobs. Sure enough, I received a leeter staing that I will not get any money back and that I can continue using their service if I like. Why would I? They couldn't do anything before and they still have not. I've called and Robyn still has not returned my phone calls or is somehow always conveniently UNAVAILABLE!
It is now January and I am still at the same situation I was in over six months ago when I started this crappy service, just worse now that I have even more debt... All for nothing. I will turn to the BBB and the Texas Attorney Gerneral for help. I pray others will find this website before signing up for some fraudulent, shady service that will get them nowhere but in debt.
Johnnie
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.
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