I thought about this for several weeks before finally deciding to part with my much need $200. I had several concerns but, thought for once, I would take a chance and try something other than combing through the newspaper every week. I met with a lady at the office in Montgomery. She started the conversation with the sales pitch, when I stopped her and started asking questions she was quickly replaced with a more "experienced" rep. I should've walked out right then. Jennifer Solberg was from THEIR CORPORATE office in Michigan, which in the following weeks I would find out that they DO NOT HAVE! I was lucky that day, because she only came down every once in a while to check things out and make sure her customers were being treated fairly and that they were doing their very best to "HELP" people locate PERMANENT jobs. So, we talked for a few minutes and honestly my mind was eased alittle. Big mistake, because than, Mrs. Solberg says to me " Let's get the contract signed and payment out of the way and then we can focus on you!" I was still worried so, she took $40 off the payment and I paid her $150 CASH (this will be important in a few mins). THen she looks at me and says now, tell me what you have been doing wrong.
This caught me off guard because, the extremely nice con-artist in front of me had turned on her attitude IMMEDIATELY after I signed the contract of course. I told her that I was just going to have to trust her but I was so far not impressed. She said that I would be once I went in the back and looked at the "JOB SOURCE CENTER"! So she walked me back and thats when I met the other lady. I don't know her name, Im sure she told me, because this lady was something else.
All I can honestly describe her as, THE COMPANY CHEERLEADER, She was that girl. She actually called herself the pep-talk girl. Again, I should've ran screaming through the office then but, I listened to her and walked over to the computer, sat down and logged in and started looking at thier " JOB LISTINGS". This infuriated me. It was EXACTLY the same thing I had seen the day before on EVERY job website and in the paper that week. I asked the obvious question "Where do you get these listings from?", to which she replied, "We call and verify with EVERY EMPLOYER that these jobs are still available and the CONVERSATIONS ARE RECORDED". I said "Ok, but do you call them from the paper or websites or do they call you and LIST THIER JOBS WITH YOU?" Now, keep in mind that there were 3 other people in the room with me, looking through jobs as well. (very important b/c now they were also questioning THE CHEERLEADER) She said that information was confidential and If I had questions I would again have to talk to Mrs. Solberg (THE CLOSER) and she would be glad to answer any concerns I may have.
So, I had seen enough, I got up, logged off of my computer, and started to walk out. She stopped me and said "wait, your session isn't over, You have to finish" I told her that I was not going to do this because it was exactly what I had already seen in the paper and I was not going to be taken for $150. This was bad for them because then the other people in the room started to ask questions, I got up, grabbed my "enrollment folder" (what a joke) and started to walk out. I left the office and went to my car to get my thoughts together, turned around and went back in. Was greeted by the same lady that I saw the very first time and she quickly went and retrieved Mrs. Solberg. I told her that this was not for me, I thought it was a scam and I wanted my money back. She said " Well honey, sit down and lets talk about it. Because a refund would not be possible." I asked why, since I had just handed her CASH! She said " Here look at your CONTRACT, you see that little NUMBER in the corner, these forms are TRACKED BY CORPORATE and I can not have one missing out of the order!" I replied " Look, Mrs. Solberg, I dont want to make a scene because there are other CUSTOMERS in here, but you need to give me a refund now! This is ridiculous and you know it." She said " Well, that is YOUR OPINION, all of our other CUSTOMERS think they are being helped, YOU SHOULD'VE READ YOUR CONTRACT MORE CAREFULLY AND SINCE YOU SAY YOU HAVE BEEN IN CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, YOU SHOULD'VE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THIS WOULD WORK!" I was FURIOUS! I almost called the police right then and there and probably should have because it is nothing but FRAUD, plain and simple! People are getting ripped off left and right and steadily STILL GOING IN AND PAYING $200 (or whatever deal that they work out) THAT MOST OF THEM CAN NOT AFFORD BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING SOLD THIS BULL@#$% PRESENTATION BY THIS COMPANY, THAT I HONESTLY BELIEVE ARE ONLY COPING AND PASTING THE JOB INFORMATION INTO A WORD DOCUMENT AND "UPLOADING" INTO THEIR "DATABASE". They may ACTUALLY call these places and record their conversations but, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE CONTRACTED TO HIRE FOR THEM. Either way, I was promised a REFUND that I have yet to get.
I have called offices in 4 different states; Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi and Florida and HAVE YET talked to ANYONE that is a MANAGER of any of them. I believe this "BUSINESS" (and I use that term loosely) is a franchise of sorts and will more than likely only stay in business for a short amount of time. After that, I'm sure the numbers will be disconnected and they will be nowhere to be found. I am currently thinking about legal action. Yes, I know, it's $150 and will cost more in fees than it's worth but, at this point, it's about principle. So, I pray that people will read this and be INFORMED at the very least before they make a decision.
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