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Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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TBirdMG
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Location: SF, CA, USA
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 Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:39 am Post subject: Bad Recruiters: A Reminder For Newbies (Add Your Comments) |
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Bad: WorkNPlay: Actively provides misinformation in order to satisfy its own agenda. WorkNPlay tells you the school/program that you have expressed interest in is no longer available, then recommends another for its own benefit. WorkNPlay just lies. Classic switch and bait.
Worse: Jun Education: Rude recruiters, speak poor English, will try to force you into a less than ideal contract. Jun Education has ability to selectively respond to ONLY emails it wants to answer. If you ask to speak with current teachers or school staff before signing a contract, Jun Education disappears. "Shee you later." |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:10 am Post subject: |
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WorkNPlay was good to me. Offered me a few schools, sent me their info, I chose one and worked there for a year quite happily. The teacher that replaced me is re-signing at the same school.
We all have different experiences with people. Some people think I am a gift from God, others think I am the spawn of Satan. |
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mountainous
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:11 am Post subject: |
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ASK NOW is also a dishonest recruiter. The owner of the recruiting company actually posted my visa number in response to this post: http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?noframes;read=10401
The recruiter has also divulged other personal information about me to posters on this board and others...very unprofessional and childish behavior.
I have also posted about the company and the hakwon on this forum. On many occasions, the recruiter posted here too and threads were deleted (probably because he posted my Visa number here). |
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Ut videam
Joined: 07 Dec 2007
Location: Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:14 am Post subject: |
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Oh wow, didn't see that one coming.
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Evanzinho
Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Location: California
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:16 am Post subject: |
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| Anyone have any dirt on SeoulESL.com? That's who I'm currently using and they seem fine so far (actually, the best of all the recruiters I've used) but would be interested to hear if anyone has had any problems with them. Thanks. |
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mountainous
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| Ut videam wrote: |
Oh wow, didn't see that one coming.
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Looks like a recruiter with that big nose  funny pic |
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Big4Jerm3
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| Any info on kimnjoe.com? I am currently using them. |
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mountainous
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Big4Jerm3 wrote: |
| Any info on kimnjoe.com? I am currently using them. |
I ran a search on "kimnjoe" and came up w/a full page of threads that mention them and/or discuss them. I didn't read any negs, here is one thread, for example: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=81801&highlight=kimnjoe good luck |
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felton3
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Location: On your computer screen
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject: continuing research |
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| Any opinions/experiences with Longbridge-Pacific? |
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mountainous
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: continuing research |
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| felton3 wrote: |
| Any opinions/experiences with Longbridge-Pacific? |
hi, felton, I have not personaly dealt w/them, but I did find some threads..here is the longest one that I found: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=57150&highlight=Longbridge+Pacific
When I ran a search of "Longbridge-Pacific" I only got one thread on the search results. When I ran "Longbridge Pacific" I got 39 results. I did not include the quotes on either search...hope that helps, good luck. |
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mountainous
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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| bump for the newbies... |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 2:33 am Post subject: |
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| Never pay a recruiter. Recruiters get their money from the school. If you paid a recruiter, you were cheated. |
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garykasparov
Joined: 27 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 10:19 am Post subject: |
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http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?noframes;read=10401 [ Read the rest of the responses]
School and Recruiter Reviews
Jason Cresswell - FRAUD - South KoreaBy:David <[email protected]>
Date: 26 January 2008
Jason Cresswell, recruiter, is a fraud. He tried to recruit me to teach illegally in South Korea for a low grade hakwon. I heard that Cresswell has recruited other teachers to teach illegally, this appears to be his M.O.
Cresswell works with a Korean fraud named Brant Kim to recruit teachers to work illegally in Korea. As you may know, illegal teachers have NO rights whatsoever to collect wages. Any complaining from the teacher about unpaid wages, etc... and the teacher is arrested, jailed, fined and deported. Jason Cresswell works for Korean hakwons as a recruiter of illegal teachers--the hakwons that he works for are all dishonest and will screw you on your wages. Cresswell works with a dirty korean fraud who uses the name "Brant Kim" and another character who claims to be "Brant Kim Senior." Together they try to pressure the teacher to work illegally, a scam.
I was naive and should have realized that Jason Cresswell is a fraud after he tried to recruit me to work illegally. Prior to going to Korea, I received roughly 100 emails from Cresswell. After I got to Korea, he turned his back on me and sought to blacklist me from ever working in Korea. As soon as I was fired from my job at ECC Kumho, I received an email from Cresswell threatening me with criminal prosecution in the event that I posted anything negative about him.
Jason Cresswell never sought to learn my side of the story as to why I was fired from ECC Kumho--I was fired because I voiced my concern that the hakwon failed to provide health insurance. Jason Cresswell never asked me why I was fired, he took the hakwon's side and threatened to prosecute me criminally and blacklist me from teaching in Korea. There might be some decent teaching opportunities in Korea, but you will not find them with Jason Cresswell.
There are lots of scams in Korea as well. Beware of any recruiter like Jason Cresswell that tries to recruit you to teach illegally--they are working for the hakwon and not for you. Cresswell never helped me to recover the money that the hakwon screwed me over for. I offered to resolve the dispute and save face for Cresswell, the hakwon and Kim in exchange for 15% of the disputed amount, about 125,000 won. Jason Cresswell refused to accept my offer.
Jason Cresswell is a selfish liar and a fraud. At best, he will set you up with a crappy hakwon for a crappy wage. Cresswell has posted advice to 'never pay a recruiter' yet he is a recruiter who sells a job search product! Cresswell would argue that this is consistent. After spending a few years in Korea working for hakwons, Jason Cresswell has lost the ability to tell the truth and moreover, the ability to discern the truth from his endless lies. |
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Ut videam
Joined: 07 Dec 2007
Location: Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject: In the interests of full disclosure... |
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http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?noframes;read=14819
| Jason C wrote: |
Re: Jason Cresswell - FRAUD - South Korea
By:Jason C
Date: 19 February 2008
In Response To: Jason Cresswell - FRAUD - South Korea (David)
Jason Cresswell here...hopefully I can offer a bit of clarification here.
1. Yes, David, you were offered a position in April where you would have flown in and done a Japan visa run. This was something that was done every day before the new visa rules. However, due to your not having your degree available and your bird issues, we bumped back your date of departure.
Perhaps this number is familiar: [deleted]
It is the number for your visa, just in case your post implies that you came to Korea without a visa, I wanted to clarify that you came into the country legally.
I did a quick search on postings by Mountainous, your Dave's ESL posting name, and it seems that "Fraud" is your favorite word! You throw it around very liberally.
OK, to help readers understand what we are dealing with here, I'm going to share a few of your emails:
Jan 19th: Subject: Jason Cresswell - Diploma Fraud
"Jason, tell me why the hakwon kept my diploma for so long. If you dont have a valid answer, all of you are accused of diploma fraud, using american's authentic diplomas to make phony duplicates and selling them to korean frauds. Jason Cresswell -Diploma Fraud"
My comment: errr, wtf?
Another good one. This email is David's attempt to get me to pay him money after having been fired and having the airfare deducted from his pay, as per the contract. Main reason for being fired? A yelling session at other staff members in front of parents at the school that was severe enough that people were worried about their safety. (hence the reason we no longer could try to find another position for David after his being fired. We can't recommend people who can't control their temper)
Jan 14th: Subject: Offer to Resolve and Save Face
"I would like to give you (your recruiting agency, your recruiters, ECC Kumho, B. Kim Jr., B. Kim Sr.) a chance to SAVE FACE by resolving our employment dispute.
The hakwon failed to pay 775,000 won of my salary after I was unjustifiably terminated, a breach of contract. Even though the hakwon owes me 775,000 won, I am willing to accept 375,000 won as a complete resolution. If you refuse my offer, that is your choice.
In order to help all of you blame each other or anyone but yourself, I have set up my offer as follows: B. Kim can pay 125,000 won on behalf of Ask Now, that way if Ask Now loses face then it can blame B. Kim for refusing to pay. The hakwon can pay 375,000 for everyone, that way if Ask Now and/or B. Kim Jr. and Sr. lose face, they can all blame the hakwon. Ask Now (Jason Cresswell) can pay the hakwon's share so in case the hakwon loses face, the hakwon can blame Jason Cresswell. As you are aware, the only thing worse than losing face is causing someone else to lose face. You have each other to blame.
If you refuse my offer, please prepare the following documents and forward them to me by scanning PDF files: (1) the receipt for my plane ticket that allegedly costed 775,000 won (2) all letters written to me by the hakwon, including the letter that Ellie wrote commending me on my excellent performance (3) any evidence that ECC complied with its promise to provide health insurance. (4) any proof from Ask Now that it sought to 'negotiate the contract on my behalf'
Please be advised and instructed that sufficient facts exist to allege fraud
against all of you, including jason, ecc kumho, b. kim jr and b. kim senior. You have the opportunity right now to resolve the dispute and entirely save face."
My comment: I had to read this one a few times and after being sufficiently confused, decided to disregard it as a feeble attempt to extort money by threatening to do exactly what he is doing here. Sorry, I am not going to allow the threat of someone trying to smear my name as a valid reason for me to send them money. When someone is fired for good reason and has to pay the consequence, it is up to them to take responsibility for their actions. This is back in August/September, and now you come asking for money? I'm not the bank.
From the same email:
"It is also true that ASK NOW failed and refused to help me find another job or "guide me" in any way except to make false threats, selfishly. Below is a copy of Ask Now's advertisement in which it falsely states that it will guide me thru the end of my contract and negotiate the contract on my behalf. Both of these promises are false and both are made to cause me to rely on the promises to my own detriment. Fraud is confirmed, Mr. Cresswell. Fraud committed by the hakwon and the Kims easily follows."
My comment: Like I said, when someone loses their temper enough to make people worried about their safety, our obligation to work on a second contract ends there.
From the same email:
"Please inform me if B. Kim Jr. and B. Kim Sr. deny that they attempted to induce me to work illegally in South Korea without an E-2 Visa. Please also inform me if you deny that the school had no intention of paying me for any work, no intention of paying me any salary, and no intention of paying for me to go to Japan to obtain a Visa. Go ahead and deny it but make sure you provide clear evidence to the contrary ....otherwise fraud is confirmed."
My comment: Instability is confirmed
From the same email:
"Anyway, you have the chance to save face and resolve the dispute. If you refuse, that is your choice and you have each other to blame....blame anyone but yourself. I am not sure why you act so surprised that Koreans are accused of committing frauds. I understand that the front runner for President of South Korea is accused of committing fraud. Here is an article entitled "Court Allows For Fraud
Probe Into South Korean President"
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/10/2136003.htm
I am not aware that the dirty fraud has lost popularity since it was announced that he is accused of fraud.
have a nice day....the ball is in your court if you want to try and save face. "
My comment: Why the obsession with fraud? You were fired, deal with it and please try not to use this "save face" stuff as a way to get money out of me. My face is doing quite well, thanks.
My reply to the original request for money:
"Unfortunately, I will not be able to comply with your request. In this situation, you were terminated from employment for cause. When you lost your temper in front of staff and parents, you forfeited your right for us to negotiate in good faith on your behalf. There are certain basic requirements that must be met in order to maintain employment at any position, and if you are unable to do so, then it is up to you to take responsibility for that. In this case, the contract stipulates part of that responsibility as reimbursing the cost of airfare. Schools don't fire teachers without reason. It is done as a last resort and only when there is no other viable option. This is a situation you have created for yourself and in no way is anyone else responsible financially for actions you took. Perhaps the best outcome of this would be for you to use it as a good example of how to react to a situation in the future in order to avoid similar circumstances."
Note: The firing happened shortly after arrival and is not an attempt to avoid paying severance etc...
Jan 19th: Subject Fraud Probe
"Now it is time to spread the word about "Jason Cresswell" a dirty scammer. Don't think for a second that anyone in America, including any court, would have an iota of sympathy for a stinking fraud like you that tries to induce college grads to leave the USA and come to Korea to work illegally, get stiffed on salary, jailed, fined and deported back to the USA.
You are singing the wrong tune, boy, anyway since you have rejected my good faith offer, I have opened up a fraud probe on you and B. Kim."
My comment: wow
In regards to the health insurance, I don't think anyone is going to buy the idea that you were fired because you asked for health insurance. I actually wonder if you were even at the school long enough to have gotten health insurance? As most people know, you must first receive your Alien Registration Card before the insurance can go into effect.
But, having arrived on August 6th, and having had problems starting on August 23rd (with the first accusation of fraud about not being able to teach privates), I don't even know if you lasted long enough to get the ARC and insurance.
Anyhow, to summarize, I will say that having to deal with all of these emails and now having to spend my time defending myself here due to some ridiculous statements is really a waste. I would much rather keep myself busy dealing with clients and keeping up to date on the new visa rules. Having to spend my morning digging through old emails and posting them here is really quite aggravating. But, like anyone knows, reputation is most important in this industry, thus here I am!
So, to anyone reading this and trying to decide for yourself who to believe, I'm pretty sure the irrational style of David's posts will speak for themself and discredit anything he says, but if that's not enough for you, then I'd invite you to do your own "probe" on me and our company. You can go to Facebook and get in touch with many of our past clients, or you can go to our website and see the testimonials page, or you can contact me directly. It won't be hard to find out the truth about me.
I am also assuming that any moderators reading this will realize that it is silly and false and will probably delete the thread, but in case they don't, at least I have the above to help clarify.
To David, I hope you are now satisfied. I am also curious as to why you were fired or quit your second job in Korea and ended up in China? More fraud?
Anyhow, like I said in my email to you, I really think that all of this negative energy is bad for you and you would do best to move on and try to spend your energy on more productive and positive tasks. Take care of your health and try to enjoy your life.
Jason Cresswell |
EDITED to clarify that this is a repost of someone else's original post offered as a service to tell the "other side" of the story.
Last edited by Ut videam on Sun May 18, 2008 8:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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fustiancorduroy
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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I worked with "Fred" from Longbridge Pacific when I first came here. He wasn't very helpful. He gave me incorrect information about the school regarding the conditions and working hours, although maybe the school wasn't telling him the truth. He was slow to respond to my questions, though he eventually put me in touch with one of the current teachers. He insisted that my salary of 2.0 was good and that I couldn't get any better (which was BS) because I would only work 100 hours a month (well, that wasn't entirely false I suppose). And once I got here I never heard from him again.
I haven't used a recruiter since and don't advise doing so. But if you feel more comfortable going through a recruiter, there are better agencies than Longbridge Pacific. |
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