Job Discussion Forums

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

Does anyone know anything about this recruiter.... good, bad, about par for Asia?

TESOLman · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 34 Location: Vancouver, BC

I signed a contract with ESLAsia, sent them my original documents (big mistake, I think they sell them on the black market there) and have never heard another thing from them. My contact there, a Paul Alder, will not respond to my e-mails. Maybe others have had similar experiences. I'd also like to know what others have expereinced with ESLAsia.

zebra_fish2000 · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 14

My wife and I recently emailed ESL Asia our CVs. We got an immediate reply with a list of schools. We told them what we wanted in a school. Mr. Paul Adler emailed back a contract for a school in Tokyo. Being naturally wary, we looked over the contract, which sounded too good to be true, and emailed back our questions. We haven't heard back yet, and it's been four days.

I came to Dave's ESL Cafe to post a question about ESL Asia and what do you know? Elle had written a posting expressing concern about them too. Looks like our gut feelings were right, unfortunately.

Well, we are going to heed the advice and just avoid them. There are plenty of good opportunities out there. We're sure we'll find something.

Good luck, everyone!

TESOLman · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 34 Location: Vancouver, BC

Well, surprise, surprise! I final heard back from Paul Adler of ESLAsia. If I want my original documents back I have to pay 2000baht for them. What a nice gentleman!

The schools ESLAsia represents may be okay but I'd advise you to avoid ESLAsia like the plague, or should I now say SARS.

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

This is one of the reasons I put this topic up.. I was sent a contract for Merry House in Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan and sent Mr Adler my documents along with the visa fees.. The next week I see an ad on another board for Merry House looking for an immediate filling. I sent them an e-mail and did not hear from them for another week when they acknowledged receipt of my documents and fees.. over a week from the time the delivery services sent word that my items had arrived in Thailand. Suddenly I get this e-mail saying they lost the contract because I delayed too long.. "I delayed too long" right! Now to get my original documents back I too have to fork out the 2000 baht to get them back. I don't have enough in my bank account for now, so I worry how long they will hold them.

I was so eager to go back to Japan I think I let my judgement fail. Yes, I too heard from these guys after I posted my resume on Dave's resume site. I am trying to figure out how to get my stuff back... Maybe write to the American Embassy in Thailand..

khmerhit · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 4:24 pm Post subject:

Send copies next time. what a scam.

longtimeteach · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 107

2000 Baht in postage and handling fees to get your own docs back... Shame on them. That's 41 Euro! What postal authority charges that much for sending documents?

It's a rough lesson but I hope everyone who reads this thread will know NEVER TO SEND ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS TO ANYONE, ANYWHERE. If scans aren't good enough until you arrive, I'd pass on the job. There are plenty of other jobs out there.

Dealing with recruiters isn't the best idea anyway. Plenty of horror stories abound from people who've been burned.

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

I thought, because my age seemed to be a barrier, a recruiter might be a help. Lesson learned.... Embarassed

gecko · Joined: 11 Apr 2003 Posts: 42

Recruiters all over the worl seem to be a ruthless bunch of people. There are many schools out there to which you can apply direct. Avoid recruiters at all costs.

Jeeem · Posted: Sun May 30, 2004 2:22 am Post subject: Investigation?

Chalk up another sucker for the ESLThai or ESLAsia scam. Luckily I didn't send my original documents, only copies, but then the same old, same old from this fictitious Mr. Adler and another David Smith, (said recruitment director for the pseudoESLAsia team). Then they wanted me to send them 6000 baht for half of their employment fee and I said "Hell will freeze over first."

But, who knows, maybe someone can shut these idiots down. I've a Thai friend who lives in the Bangkok area and have sent her all their contact information that they utilize to receive money from unsuspecting ESL teachers (They give bank account info and address to wire money via Western Union, so they have to be working out of Bangkok). She has assurred me that she will contact the Thai police or government authorities and see what she can do.

I signed a contract through this agency for the Kittiwit Banpru school in Songkhla, Thailand and once my suspicions were raised, I contacted the school through their e-mail address and asked them about the ESLAsia agency. They were good enough to write back and tell me that other teachers had complained about this so-called agency and that they were definitely a scam.

-Jeeem-

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

Well I did get my diploma back, but not in the original protrctive cover it was sent in and it was damaged. They sent it back in a cheap envelope. I was promised they would send it back in its original holder.. I have sent a letter to the Embassy and to ESL Asia to make a formal complaint of their business practices.

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

DON'T USE RECRUiTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With access to the internet, Dave's Cafe. TEALIT, Ajarn and many other ESL websites why would anybody use a recruiter? They are not your friend.

It is beyond me.

napoleon8 · Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 9

Here is a web page detailing my very bad experience with ESL Asia:

http://www.geocities.com/oldhippy8/esl.html

jakee · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Brooklyn

I should have known it was too good to be true. Darasamuth School in Phuket was offering me 55,000Bht a month, and flying me there!! Naturally I was excited and a twenty dollar application seemed trifling. Then they started asking me for fee's I had already paid, asking for more money to process non-immigrant work visa (38$), and told me to send my BA when I had already explained I didn't have one? Well, then I finally did some digging online and it looks like I got duped.

I would also like to ask, what is the best way for me to proceed now? I am obviously leary of any online promises, and I would prefer to just show up and start my job search in person. However I have no experience, I thought if I went to a small school in the deep south perhaps they could give me some kind of rudimentary training. I would like to get the TEFL certificate at BangPhe as everyone raves about but I'm a poor sorry Yankee with NY landlords owning my soul. It's not like I never got any higher education, Four years of upper level university credits, with no proof but photocopied transcripts. If anyone can help I would appreciate the wisdom imparted.

Thanks, humbled, but not deterred
Jake

gecko · Joined: 11 Apr 2003 Posts: 42