Prestige Educational Services, Inc

Revdex.com:
At this time, I have not been contacted by Prestige Educational Services, Inc regarding complaint ID [redacted].
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Review: I applied for a job as a maintenance worker. This company called me and offered me a job and they went on to explain the job duties and that I was gonna be making 17 dollars per hour but that in order to be consider for the job I had to have a 10 hour OSHA card. They said that if I did not have the 10 hour OSHA card they could train me for 2 days for a 100 dollar feed and after that the job would be there waiting for me. On the first day of training I brought my 100 dollars and they told me that was just the entrance feed and that the total amount to get the 10 hour card was actually 500 dollars and that amount had to be paid in full before my first day on the job. I paid the full 500 dollars and took the 10 hour class so they ask me to come in the next day for job placement. Supposedly to tell me my schedule and location to work at. When I went the next day, this guy name [redacted] takes me and 3 others in the room and asked us a few questions like what hours are we available to work and what borough do we prefer to work. At the end of the interview [redacted] asked told us that he would call us when he had a job for us. He said that if the job was 11 dollars an hour or so that we should take it because u just want to get your foot in the door. I asked him how come he don't have a job for us and why is he talking about 11 dollars an hour. Because when they first contacted me they said 17 dollars an hour and they also said that the job would be there for me as soon as I had the 10 hour OSHA card which I now had. All [redacted] said was that he wasn't the one that contacted me and that he didn't understand why they had giving me the wrong information. I already knew something was wrong. I think we all did but I was desperate for a job since I had actually borrow the 500 dollars to pay for the OSHA card. At the end of the interview [redacted] said he would contact me and send me not to a job that was waiting for me but to a job interview. Today is 2-*-14 it has been 2 weeks since the job placement interview and they have not called me or sent me on any interviews and when I call them and try to reach them they don't answer phone calls. Frustrated from waiting for them to call me I went to their office 5 days ago and again this guy [redacted] gave me the same story that he has a few jobs lineup and that he's just waiting for their response to send me to interview with them. At this point I know this is a scam and I'm really frustrated about losing 500 dollars and that this company is getting away with doing this to so many people. They lie and offer you a job until they get your money and then they act like you bothering them when you try to reach out and see what is going on with the job.Desired Settlement: I wish I could get my money back but I know that's probably not going to happen. But at least stop this company from scamming other people because not every one has 500 dollars to throw away. Please stop them!

Review: 10/**/13 7:42am Received an email from Prestige Educational Services Inc for a job offer for janitorial cleaner position.

posted on zip recruiter

Received a call from [redacted] to inform me she review my resume on line and would like to setup for a job interiew for 11/*/13, She also asked me if I was OSHA certified. I Informed her no I'm not. She informed me that we have OSHA training available in order for me to get the job and I would need to bring in 99.00 dollars for registration for the training.

On 11/*/13 [redacted] interiew me and informed me I can start work by 11/**/13 after finishing 2 OSHA classes that include a fire guard training and I must bring in an additional 200.00 dollars for the OSHA class to be completed. I asked [redacted] why didn't she informed me before the job interiew and that I had to bring an additional 200.00 dollars and if I was paying for this job position she assure me I 'm not paying for the job. This is a requirement for the job that I will assign you for.

I feel this misrepresentation of false advertisement. This was not stated in there email and no place in the email was mentioned you have to bring any monies for OSHA/Fire guard training. When you are hired at any company they offer OSHA/Fire guard at no cost to the new employee. I would like to get my refund cash back.Desired Settlement: I would like to get my refund cash back.

Business

Response:

[redacted] has told you only part of the story. All applicants are informed during the telephone screening interview of the monetary requirements. They are also informed that if they are not qualified for the position or that they find that they are not interested in the position, they are under no obligation and they can leave the interview with everything they came in with, including the $99 registration fee which is required if they are found qualified for the position and if they wish to go through with it. The reason the complete fee is not discussed over the phone is that a in person interview is required so that all parties involved can see if the opportunity is right for all. All details of the position, training and payment are discussed during the in-person interview. The enrollment agreement is given to the applicant to review prior to any monetary commitments are made. Nothing is hidden and if [redacted] did not feel comfortable with the situation, he could have wal ked away right then and there.

[redacted] also seems to not have sent you a copy of his enrollment agreement which clearly states the policies of the company. I am including a copy of the agreement in this response for you to review. Another thing that [redacted] did not do is to return to our office to speak to anyone about his concerns and his desire to receive a refund. Had he done as much, he would have been given a “Refund Request” form to fill out and submit as well as talk to a manager about his concerns. Your notice is the first time we are hearing about this matter. If [redacted] had come to speak to a manager, because he did not attend the class, he would have been eligible for a refund. $100 is not going to make a difference in whether our company stays in business or fails. Please have [redacted] come to our office and speak to [redacted] and we will proceed to process his refund. [redacted] must bring his original enrollment agreement and payment receipt.

In closing, [redacted] seems to be having a serious case of buyer’s remorse and did not feel comfortable with telling us himself. Instead he files an inaccurate if not false claim and tarnishes our company name. [redacted]

Office manager

Review: I was contacted [redacted], a receptionist at Prestige Educational Services (a.k.a. "IFC") because I applied for a maintenance job. I was told on the phone that an OSHA card is required for employment and I must be available to work immediately. On the phone I was asked if I already had an OSHA card. I replied "no" because I took the course with a previous employer, but was not in possession of the card. and I was told that I could be trained by their company to obtain one. She also stated that I must pay $100 fee for a "seat" . When I completed my interview, I paid the $100 and was told that, that was the downpayment, payment for my seat, and the course is a total of $400. But again it guaranteed my "seat". I was scheduled for a class the following Monday and was told to bring the remaining $300 because the price of the course is $400. Upon calling my interviewer that monday morning, I was told that monday's class was filled to capacity. Even though I paid a fee of $100 for this guaranteed "seat" that wasn't available. & Wednesday was the new date. Only to be called back by "[redacted]" minutes later asking if I can bring a fee to guarentee my "seat" for Wednesday's Class and that they

MAY have a spot for Monday's Class if I was too come to the office. Confused and detoured by this I called my previous employer numerous times , and I was able to obtain my OSHA card. I contacted Prestige and I was told by a upset "[redacted]" that they will not be able to offer me the job unless I go through their 10-hour OSHA training. As a reassurance that I was being scammed, I submitted another resume to Prestige. Another woman called stating the same thing the previous lady did verbatim from a company called IFC. She called in the same exact manner as last time, as if it was scripted. This time when I told her that I had my OSHA card, she was caught off guard and put me on hold. Once she returned to the phone, she said that I can come in for job training that costs $70. Presenting me with a different fee which was never mentioned the first time, & only because I stated I had my OSHA this time. I was told to come to the same place. This reassured me that Prestige (IFC) are preying on the unemployed in promise of future employment. Upon further research I found out that the OSHA 10-hour training is not $400! But instead $89 - $149.99 but never $400. I am asking for my $100 to be refunded for this guaranteed "seat" that was never furnished too me. But more importantly stop these scammers from preying on desperate unemployed individuals whom barley have money to begin with.Desired Settlement: $100

Business

Response:

We are sorry for any bad experiences that [redacted] may have had with some of our employees. Rest assured they will be spoken to concerning issues of customer service. It is unfortunate that [redacted] did not ask to speak to one of our management team. If he had, his concerns would have been dealt with in a more professional manner. Having said that, I believe [redacted] may have twisted the truth somewhat as to the events that transpired. All clients are told up front what exactly is required when it concerns training and any fees. All clients are given our enrollment agreement to review prior to submitting any payments. This gives the client the opportunity to ask questions and possibly decide not to go through with it. It is obvious that [redacted] decided to go through with it but due to a scheduling mix-up, the class that he was originally scheduled to attend filled up prior to his arriving to attend the class. With the volume of people we deal with and the fact that we are a relatively new company, in operation for less than 3 months, there are bound to be some growing pains. The method in which we schedule classes has already been addressed and hopefully the measures we instituted will prevent over booking in the future.

As for [redacted]'s claim that our prices are too high, I thought we were living in a society in which businesses are free to charge what the market will bear. As with any product, there are bound to be fluctuations in pricing between companies. I believe this is called competition. Our company offers other services along with the training that others may not. We offer lifetime placement assistance, resume writing assistance, assistance with application preparation for the courses that require state licenses and interview prep classes, all free of charge.

Does the other places [redacted] saw the training for cheaper offer any of this? Did [redacted] send you a copy of his signed enrollment agreement which clearly states all of our policies? Did [redacted] attempt to speak to a manager about his refund? I think the answer is "NO" to all of the above.

If [redacted] comes to our office and fills out a Refund Request form, it will be processed as per our policy since it seems he did not attend our class. Please have him ask for [redacted] when he comes in and he must present his original enrollment agreement and payment slip.

Office manager

Review: Prestige educational serviceS claim that they have job openings for housekeeping/ janitor work they tell you to give them $100 and then another $299 and that amount will go to the OSHA traning class but in the daily news papper they state that they have a house keeping position not that they are a school I did give them my $100 that I don't have to give im a single mother I need every penny I have I work to hard to get scamed by these heartless people that pray on the poorDesired Settlement: To get the job they stated in the news papper housekeeping and if I have to pay the rest of the money of $299 I just want them to be true to the work I looked them up on the entrenet and it seems that they scamed other people as well .

Business

Response:

Concerning Complaint ID[redacted]

First of all, our ads, regardless of where they are listed do not state that jobs are guaranteed. Our ads state that there are opportunities available for janitors, porters, etc. We recruit for many different maintenance companies in the NY/NJ area and we have to ensure that possible candidates meet all requirements of the hiring company. One major requirement is that all maintenance /cleaning candidates be OSHA General industry certified. To this effect, we offer the required training for a fee. This fee is strictly for the training course and the associated certification which by the way is conducted by OSHA certified trainers following all OSHA protocols.

As [redacted] stated herself, she did not pay us anything as is her choice after listening to how the program works. We dot solicit any payment unless the client agrees to the terms and conditions and understands how the process works. During the initial telephone screening interview this process is also explained and all respondents are told that if they do not wish to enroll in the program or are not comfortable with it in any way, there is no monetary obligation and they leave our office with what they came in with.

[redacted] was told what the payment was for (OSHA training) and she opted not to participate in the program. Where is the "scam" she mentions? Nothing was hidden from her and she was told how the process works before any payment was asked for. She decided not to take advantage of the program so she left with everything that she came to our office with. If she feels that we should possibly have given her the training for free, then how do we pay our expenses?

In the end, we are made to look like the bad guys but our company is the one that has to pay the expenses related to gathering our contacts, cultivating the relationships between us and the hiring company , paying for the instructors time and materials and all other business related expenses.

Review: On November [redacted] was enrolled in an OSHA class for maintenance a 10 hour class which he was instructed to pay $400 for. He was told he would receive a certificate along with assistance in job placement. After numerous phone calls he does not have a certificate nor has he been sent for job interviews. He was given two interviews to go to which he showed up for and was told that there are no such jobs available. We have called OSHA in Albany regarding his certificate and were told that his name did not appear on the list. Numerous calls to both Prestige and to the instructor who taught the class have not been returned or resolved. When they do finally answer the phone we are told the typewriter is broke that is why there has not been a certificate issued, and when asked about job placement they have him running back and forth to their [redacted] office to be given interviews to go on that do not exist.Desired Settlement: This is surely a scam that this business is running and in this economy would like to see this type of business stopped. We would also like a refund of the $400 that was paid for services that were obviously not rendered.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by Prestige Educational Services, Inc regarding complaint ID [redacted].

Sincerely,