In September I saw an ad in the Dallas Morning News Sunday edition. It was for a job listing, engineering technician of some sort. I t looked like a job ad anyway. It had just the name "Haldane & Associates", then phone number I think or just an email (not sure).
I called and finally go through. I asked about the position posted. They said I needed to come in for a face-to-face meeting. I scheduled the meeting, went at that time. When I arrived I was led to an office. I asked about the job that was listed. He said that we would discuss that later; later never came.
He started the smooth sales pitch. He started throwing termsw out: "hidden job listings", "we have contacts in major industies in the area", etc. He asked if I was married or had a significant other. I am not so he continued the sales pitch. Telling other exaggerations and outright lies (I found out later). The contract never supported any of the claims the salesman had made.
He mentioned the service would cost me $4500 up-front, $1410 more if I accepted a job over $45000 (I think). I was pressured to sign the contract without being given time to read it as he had another appointment very soon.
I did sign and charged the $4500 to my credit card (I am unemployed with no income and have just added $4500 more debt!) I was rushed out of the office with a photocopy of my contract. I was told to schedule a time to return to be introduced to my advisor.
I returned at the designated time and was introduced to him (Mr. B). I asked again about the job posting I had clipped from the paper. Mr B side-stepped this and went into the description of the first lesson: self-evaluation and assessment. I was given a workbook and a piece of paper to sign. I asked what the paper was for; Mr B said it was for his supervisors to evaluate his performance as an advisor, of no real importance (later I was to find out different). These were signed at the conclusion of each and every meeting. Mr B continued making exaggerated statements and evading direct answers to my questions.
I was returning weekly for about 6 weeks or more with lessons and homework to perform before the next meeting. Along the way a mock interview session was set-up. Mr B (business trained) acted as the "engineering hiring manager" for an example job listing I found and researched per his instructions. The interview was video taped and was a "JOKE", he asked me business questions and could not ask any intelligent technical or engineering questions. We reviewed the video and I took it home and was told to review it again there.
I signed the "not of any consequence piece of paper" and left. Not really satisfied with the proceedings. At some time along here he finally explained that the "hidden job listings" were a result of networking with people inside a company directly! They were not postings with Haldane as I had assumed.
In early December I joined a group called "Career Connections" in Dallas (well worth the $10/month membership. I got no mailing lists with different sub-groups of CC. One day I received an email warning that someone almost got suckered into signing with them, but had seen the articles in the Kansas City newspaper about them. I contacted Haldane and presented them with those articles, and asked for a refund. Nbody talked to me, they said a formal letter would be delivered in 10 working days.
Sure enough, it arrived today. I read it and saw all the "not of any consequence documents" being used to prove I was 100% satisfied with the service to date. Result was that no settlement was warranted in this situation. That I should continue to implement the "employment strategy plan" as layed out. And here I am! I wondered if there was any "class actions" or investigations in Texas like there were in Kansas, but I could not find anything.
So I am already out $4500 and wondering if they will come after me to collect the $1410 if I get a high enough base salary when I do get re-employed again. Is anyone else in Texas considering action against Haldane?
Tommie
Southlake, Texas
U.S.A.
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