Job Discussion Forums

KarmaComa · Joined: 09 Jun 2014 Posts: 5

Hello,

I am writing this in the hope that someone can help or it saves a teacher going through what I am going through. It is slightly long winded, but please take the time to read it. It may save you from working for a crook. This is simply my experience of working for Ludka and Bell Poland. Take what you will.

I worked for Bell Poland for two years and just finished this summer 2014. I know Curtmonster, we worked together at the same school and I am the person he referred to in one of his previous posts (not the DOS). Some of you asked why I would be fooled twice into working for Bell. I didn't plan to do a second year, I was unsuccessful at getting my first choice job quite late in the day and I naively thought maybe Bell would get their act together. Stupid I know. I did enjoy the social side of my first year and I was settled in Poland with a group of friends and a girlfriend. However, none of the original native speakers returned and I soon realised that these guys were what made working for Bell tolerable. So that's why I went back.

In my first year, all the teachers were consistently paid late from November through to June. During my second year, the situation grew worse where I was paid anything from one to three weeks late. It was incredibly frustrating and it left a bitter taste as I had been a faithful employee and done a very good job for the company (in my humble opinion), I didn't miss one day of work and remained professional despite the situation. I consistently had excellent feedback from students and very high results for exam classes.

The head teacher at the school was always very helpful and sympathetic, she tried to help where she could and we had a few no b*llshit conversations with the cards down on the table. I found out Ludka owed her a serious amount of money as well as the head teacher at another school due to being over 7 months behind on payment. I assume it was the same for all the schools except the one Ludka was based at. As it happens, Ludka could not pay this debt and that head teahcer now runs the school independently.

For my final months wages, Ludka managed to pay them into the wrong account. I know she received my UK bank details with instruction to pay the money into my UK account, I have evidence of this. When I closed my Polish account in June, I was told it had a one month cool down before being completely terminated. This means money can be paid in, but I can only withdraw it within that month period in person from the bank. Since the payment was late in July, I was at a UK summer school and unable to travel to Poland. She did not rectify and has not rectified this mistake meaning I lose a months wages for her incompetence.

I have contacted EQALS, but they are unable to help. I have contacted the main company Bell, but they are unable to help. I have been cheated out of payment for my labour and I don't know how to fight to win it back.

Any advice or help would be appreciated. Needless to say, any teachers working for Bell, I urge you to find a new school. Don't let this woman continue to exploit teachers and operate as a business. She lacks ethics and common decency.