BEWARE OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES IN SINGAPORE!!

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THIS FOR JOB SEEKER'S SAKE!!

Disclaimer: This is not to defame any individual employment agencies or to give a bad Reputation but I really want to share my own experience to warn those job seekers who are planning to take the same risk.

Singapore is one of the countries that you can easily visit because it does not require a visa upon entering. It is also one of the most "or should I say, MOST" convenient county in Asia in terms of transportation and it is a safe place to live in. So I will not wonder why a lot of foreigners are trying so hard to seek for a job. But due to the changes of Singapore Policies to the foreign workers, chances of finding one are too low. Most of them are taking risk to pay for the Employment Agencies just to get an edge and for the faster result "thinking that this is a very safe place and a scammer-free country!"

So here's my story.

My sister and my 2 cousins tried to apply online but they found none until we found this agency through online, GLOBAL RECRUITMENT CONSULTANCY PTE LTD located at 101 Geylang 23 Lorong, Prosper House. They received an invitation for an Interview *three of them* last February 1, 2018. They discussed about the payment and other details to market their CVs. We return back to their office the day after, February 2, 2018 so I can ask further information about the payment and all the legalities. The person-in-charge (Ms. Janet) discussed and explained it nicely as if you have to thank her for having the nicest offer on earth! They will give us a Contract and Receipt. Stated on the contract, if they can't find a job for them *including S Pass*, they will refund the full amount after 30 working days of the payment done. So she got me, but before paying their asked amount (which is S$500 each CV, so S$1,500 in total) I made sure that I fully understand the contract especially the terms & condition for the refund before I let them sign. We were able to pay them a weekend after, February 5, 2018 because I was rushing into something that day. Cutting the chase, after the payment we never received any calls, update, text messages or even emails from them until to the day that they have to go back to their country. February 27, 2018 I informed the agency *by email* that they already went back and asking if there's any update regarding their application but still, no response from them.

Since it's my own money, I took a full responsibility to get the refund from them. I marked my calendar to March 20, 2018 since it's the 30th working days after the payment "excluding weekends and holidays". March 12, 2018 I sent them an email *again*, asking / informing them that the three of them already went back to our country so I want a refund of my money. I also asked them if I can get my money on 20th of March onwards. They informed me that I can't get my money that fast because of so many reasons which I did not get at all. At first they asked me to wait for another 2 months for the refund so they gave me May 20, 2018 as my appointment. I tried to negotiate because in the first place they advised us that we can get that money back after 30 working days without mentioning all the reasons they have now. We had a 15-20 minutes conversation of quarrelling and shouting *f*cking them back* until they gave me the best offer they could give for the appointment, April 20, 2018. I felt like I have no choice but to agree! So settled, I saved that date for the S$1500's sake. But before I end the call, I made myself clear that I'll be refunding the whole amount for the three of them and not only for 1 person. And as I expected, they want to refund my money back each month every person. So if I have 3 of them, I can only complete my refund by June or July which I strongly disagree!! Fuck that system, I paid all of them *ONE TIME/ONE GIVE* so I will do anything to refund that money in full, no ifs, not buts! They agreed with me and gave me April 27, 5:00-6:30PM *three of them* instead.

(TODAY)

April 27, 2018, 6:00am, I sent them an email as a reminder of my appointment. Around 4:00PM while I'm on my way, someone called me from their office, and told me that my appointment was moved to next Friday, May 4, 2018. I calmly and nicely answered them "No I'm really sorry but I already filed a leave in my work for this day, I can't take another absent for this appointment because I also have a lot of work to do. Please be considerate". She still insisted that her boss (Ms. Janet) is on leave this day so she could not able to deal with me because she's just a staff and so on and on and on. I'm losing my patience, honestly I really don't know how can I deal with it because they are just f*cking inconsiderate! I am also working but I left my work behind just to attend to this appointment and they will just advise me that my appointment is cancelled an hour before my appointment?! She kept on telling me that she really couldn't do anything about it and since I'm getting emotional *I'm losing my temper*, I shouted at her on the phone and made myself clear that there's no way that I will agree again on whatever agreement they want. Our conversation lasted for 5 minutes and the only thing she said is "I CAN'T DO ANYTHING!" Oh hello to that delaying tactics just to get off the hook.

I shouted at her "We are talking about my money here, not your company's and we are talking about thousand plus dollars, not hundreds! I don't need your fucking reasons, I need your solution! All I want is to get my money back! When you need us to pay for your service, you are all acting so nice! But when I want to refund my money, you have so many reasons now! Just give my money cause I don't give a fuck!" and she kept on repeating her words until I informed her that I will report it to the police if they will not give my money back, *I will really do!* She started to talk nicely and promised me that she will try her best. "Do not try, DO IT!" that's the last few words I said before ending the call.

We reached in their office around 4:30PM. I introduced myself telling them that I was the one whom she spoke to. Gave me some "shits" of paper to fill-up *acknowledging that I received my money*. Since I want to play safe, I just filled up the information needed but I did not sign it just yet until they will hand me over my money. I've waited until 6:30PM until their boss came with the money. In addition to their unprofessional mindset, they asked me to meet their boss in the parking lot to do the unfinished business and as expected, I waited again *in that not-enough-light parking lot* for a few minutes. The place is like someone could just shoot me in my head and nobody will know, oh gosh! And then the action star came, he gave me all the shits IN THAT PARKING LOT and I have no choice but to go with it while counting that amount of money in that place like a criminal!! Help me Lord!

I already considered a lot of things they've asked! Maybe if this will happen to anyone who have no idea how to fight back, or maybe those people who will just agree to whatever settlement they want, maybe until now I haven't get my money back. Though I was able to get my refund, all the trouble I had with them was the most horrible experience in my entire life!! PLEASE CROSS OUT THIS EMPLOYMENT AGENCY ON YOUR LIST! We'll never know if next time you will not be able to get your money back because I did my own research, they already have 9 demerit points *complaints or cases* in MOM (Ministry of Manpower) so I am not the first one who gave them a fuck but I hope I'll be the last one. Better not pay unless you're already hired! Or someone can prove that the agency you're applying to is legit. Read all the blogs, comments, reviews / testimonials about that agency before you let go of your money. There's nothing wrong with trying or taking risks, but better be safe than sorry.

Tags: #RhikaDelosreyes #RhikaDelosreyesBlog