We have managed to get our website unblocked and apologize for having to use this format for our site. But this is the only hacker-proof way we can get information to you. Previously when we had used a traditional website in 2010-2011, those blacklisted on our site hired hackers to remove and/or corrupt files so teachers could not learn about them. But by using this Blogger format, this web site is now hosted on the most secure servers in the world. Although we may get blocked by Big Red from time to time, no names nor details of those on our blacklist have been removed by hackers since we switched in November of 2012. HOWEVER, if you do not use a VPN you may not be able to see all the photos, graphs, and charts if you are viewing this site from within China.We cannot do anything about this except advise you to use a VPN.
We are now consolidating and compiling the 100 worst and Top Ten Best schools
to work for in China, and as always, your comments are welcome below or by
email. But, if you do not state how long you actually worked at the school you
are nominating for either list, and the specific reason why you complain/praise
it, your post will be deleted. Ditto if your language is too foul. We do not accept third-party rumor, hearsay,
nor gossip. Any school accused will also have the right to post a rebuttal
below as well. Also be advised that one
of our members told us they opened a web site outside of China that is not
subject to our restrictions at http://www.globalblacklist.org
and they will post on-line. As you see
in the sample below, we cite the source and reason for blacklisting based on
actual complaints. We are grateful to
Dave’s ESLcafe, ESLWatch, ESL Teachers Forum, ESL Teachers Cafe, TEFL.net, and
ExPat Forum for their cooperation and contributions. It is our sincere hope
that consolidating and sharing our experiences can reduce the stress, grief,
and monetary loss of fellow colleagues in China.
USEFUL ADDRESSES AND WEB SITES FOR VICTIMS OF FRAUD & EXTORTION BY SCHOOLS, PRINCIPALS, AND/OR AGENTS & RECRUITERS:
Honorable Wu Aiying
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
10 Nandajie, Chaoyangmen
Chaoyang District, Beijing
100020, China
Honorable Yuan Guiren
Minister of Education
No.37 Damucang Hutong,
Xidan, Beijing, P.R.C
100816
He Guoqiang
National Bureau of Corruption Prevention of China
NO.2 Guang'An Men Nan Jie,
Xuanwu Disrict,
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
10 Nandajie, Chaoyangmen
Chaoyang District, Beijing
100020, China
Honorable Yuan Guiren
Minister of Education
No.37 Damucang Hutong,
Xidan, Beijing, P.R.C
100816
He Guoqiang
National Bureau of Corruption Prevention of China
NO.2 Guang'An Men Nan Jie,
Xuanwu Disrict,
Beijing 100053
www.Jubao.gov.cn
www.Weibo.com
www.SAFEA.gov.cn
www.Weibo.com
www.SAFEA.gov.cn
You may also want to check the blacklist at www.ChinaScamBusters.com but we update the below list every month and always glean from their site as well as nine other ESL/TEFL forums as well.
Be
advised that large chain operations like English First, Wall Street English,
New Oriental, etc. should not be judged by the problems or misdeeds of one or
two locations.
Beijing’s 12 Worst Schools (“The Dirty Dozen”)
http://www.globalblacklist.org
Woodpecker English (Beijing - Zhongguancun) Manager Liu Lei
This school has a notorious reputation for not paying last paychecks and withholding release letters. We have received complaints from three teachers who report being threatened and/or bribed by Manager Liu Lei not to make problems. Steer clear of this school. The actual complaints were not authorized for publication, and we respect the requests of the three teachers who actually fear retaliation from Mr. Liu.
Pingyang Quishi School (Wenzhou)
http://open.salon.com/blog/china_business_central/2013/01/30/china_foreign_teachers_union_exposes_extortion_by_principals
Chi Cheng International School (Xian)
http://www.globalblacklist.org
Woodpecker English (Beijing - Zhongguancun) Manager Liu Lei
This school has a notorious reputation for not paying last paychecks and withholding release letters. We have received complaints from three teachers who report being threatened and/or bribed by Manager Liu Lei not to make problems. Steer clear of this school. The actual complaints were not authorized for publication, and we respect the requests of the three teachers who actually fear retaliation from Mr. Liu.
Pingyang Quishi School (Wenzhou)
http://open.salon.com/blog/china_business_central/2013/01/30/china_foreign_teachers_union_exposes_extortion_by_principals
Chi Cheng International School (Xian)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6633-chi-cheng-international-english-school-gallop-xi-an-china
Tian Shuo School & "Maggie" (Chanchun)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic1852-tian-shuo--changchun-china.aspx
Fei Fan English School (Fushun)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6622-review-of-fei-fan-english-school-fushun-liaoning-china
Tian Shuo School & "Maggie" (Chanchun)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic1852-tian-shuo--changchun-china.aspx
Fei Fan English School (Fushun)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6622-review-of-fei-fan-english-school-fushun-liaoning-china
Dong Peng English (Online)
http://www.eslbase.com/forum/viewtopic/t-2148
English First (CCTV News Broadcast)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=47786 and http://ef-hangzhou-china.blogspot.com/#!/2012/10/checking-employers-credentials-before.html and http://ef-hangzhou-china.blogspot.com/#!/2012/10/checking-employers-credentials-before.html and http://ef-hangzhou-china.blogspot.com/#!/2012/10/ef-hangzhou-student-grades-corruption.html and http://ef-hangzhou-china.blogspot.com/#!/2012/10/ef-hangzhou-tax-avoidance-and-utilities.html and http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic121-ef--english-first-china.aspx?MessageID=3549#post3549
Lucky Kids Kindergarten (Jiangdu)
See comments section below for details
See comments section below for details
ABC Foreign Language School
http://teflblacklist.blogspot.nl/2008/09/abc-foreign-language-training-school.html
http://teflblacklist.blogspot.nl/2008/09/abc-foreign-language-training-school.html
Key Logic a.k.a.
Key-Logic (Beijing)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic2143-pay-salary--earnings-of-china-foreign-teachers.aspx and http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/12/21/free-demo-classes-are-becoming-scam-watch-out and http://answers.echinacities.com/node/100048 and http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic2067-key-logic-in-beijing-are-thieves--beware.aspx
Peng You English (Online)
This company refuses to provide a legitimate mailing address and ownership information and all emails are sent using a VPN service.
Rego International School (Shanghai)
http://shanghaiist.com/2012/01/13/shanghai_rego_international_school.php and
http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/articles/blogs-shanghai/family-matters-shanghai/breaking-news-shanghai-rego-staff-faces-deportation-if-work-visas-not-obtained/
American Kids Language School (Hangzhou) (see photos below)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6964-american-kids-language-school-hangzhou-warning
Cheery English (Shanghai)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=3854
Peng You English (Online)
This company refuses to provide a legitimate mailing address and ownership information and all emails are sent using a VPN service.
Rego International School (Shanghai)
http://shanghaiist.com/2012/01/13/shanghai_rego_international_school.php and
http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/articles/blogs-shanghai/family-matters-shanghai/breaking-news-shanghai-rego-staff-faces-deportation-if-work-visas-not-obtained/
American Kids Language School (Hangzhou) (see photos below)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6964-american-kids-language-school-hangzhou-warning
Cheery English (Shanghai)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=3854
Treville Foreign Language School (Guilin)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6682-treville-foreign-language-school-scam-guilin-guangxi
Web English (Suzhou)
http://www.chinaforeignteachersunion.org/2012/12/china-foreign-teachers-union-posts-esl.html?showComment=1370910449109#c5622707613901347341
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6682-treville-foreign-language-school-scam-guilin-guangxi
Web English (Suzhou)
http://www.chinaforeignteachersunion.org/2012/12/china-foreign-teachers-union-posts-esl.html?showComment=1370910449109#c5622707613901347341
Larry's Global English School (Taizhou)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6618-larry-global-english-taizhou-china
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6618-larry-global-english-taizhou-china
Shanghai Golden Apple School
http://teflblacklist.blogspot.nl/2008/08/shanghai-gold-apple-bilingual-school.html
http://teflblacklist.blogspot.nl/2008/08/shanghai-gold-apple-bilingual-school.html
Golden Tran a.k.a. Goldentran (Beijing)
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2011/05/20/Any-good-one-on-one-English-school-in-CBD-Is-Goldentran-good
Web International English linked with China ESL & Rebecca Tang (Beijing)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic896-web-international-english--warning.aspx
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2011/05/20/Any-good-one-on-one-English-school-in-CBD-Is-Goldentran-good
Web International English linked with China ESL & Rebecca Tang (Beijing)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic896-web-international-english--warning.aspx
North China Power Electric University
http://teflblacklist.blogspot.nl/2008/02/north-china-electric-power-university.html
http://teflblacklist.blogspot.nl/2008/02/north-china-electric-power-university.html
Shanghai Kid's MBA Young American English School (Shanghai)
See comments section below for details
Okiki School, (Shangahi)
See comments section below for details
Okiki School, (Shangahi)
Canada Worldly English
(Guangzhou)
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1088069293-94300.txt
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1088069293-94300.txt
Larry Global English (Taizhou)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6618-larry-global-english-taizhou-china
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6618-larry-global-english-taizhou-china
Warren School of Language (Yinchuan)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6593-warren-school-of-language-yinchuan-warning
ECA (Guangzhou)
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=6030
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6593-warren-school-of-language-yinchuan-warning
ECA (Guangzhou)
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=6030
Kid Castle (Hangzhou)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic15-international-scam-warning.aspx#post2204
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic15-international-scam-warning.aspx#post2204
Bilingo China a.k.a. China Bilingo a.k.a. UFEIC a.k.a. UFIEC (Beijing)
http://www.tefl.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5685&p=13421#p13421 and
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic2133-warning--bilingo-china-cheats-foreign-teachers.aspx and http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/12/21/free-demo-classes-are-becoming-scam-watch-out#comment-602122 and http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/12/21/free-demo-classes-are-becoming-scam-watch-out#comment-601509 and http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/articles/blogs-beijing/expat-life/scam-alert-foreign-teacher-fraud/ and http://www.cleverchinacheaters.com/2012/09/the-china-blacklist-last-update-92012.html and from TEFL Bad Apple and echinacities.com listings just recently deleted (money talks in China and 8 negative posts from 5 different FTs magically disappeared).
http://www.tefl.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5685&p=13421#p13421 and
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic2133-warning--bilingo-china-cheats-foreign-teachers.aspx and http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/12/21/free-demo-classes-are-becoming-scam-watch-out#comment-602122 and http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/12/21/free-demo-classes-are-becoming-scam-watch-out#comment-601509 and http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/articles/blogs-beijing/expat-life/scam-alert-foreign-teacher-fraud/ and http://www.cleverchinacheaters.com/2012/09/the-china-blacklist-last-update-92012.html and from TEFL Bad Apple and echinacities.com listings just recently deleted (money talks in China and 8 negative posts from 5 different FTs magically disappeared).
Wuhan Polytechnic University (Wuhan)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6592-wuhan-polytechnic-university
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6592-wuhan-polytechnic-university
World International English School (Suzhou)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=48332
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=48332
Birmy International School
(Taizhou)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=48146
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=48146
Yang En University (Quangzhou)
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1088174973-67166.txt
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1088174973-67166.txt
KISQ School (Qingdao)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic15-international-scam-warning.aspx#post2592
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic15-international-scam-warning.aspx#post2592
Lingdong School
(Foshan)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6590-lingdong-foshan-china
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6590-lingdong-foshan-china
Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6591-jiangxi-university-of-traditional-chinese-medicine
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6591-jiangxi-university-of-traditional-chinese-medicine
Helen Group
(Hangzhou)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6575-china-tefl-network-helen-group-hangzhou-urgent-warning
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6575-china-tefl-network-helen-group-hangzhou-urgent-warning
Fuzhou Polytechnical College (Fujian)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic15-international-scam-warning.aspx#post2865
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic15-international-scam-warning.aspx#post2865
Tianjin University of Commerce (Tianjin)
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1086597142-661.txt
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1086597142-661.txt
Aston English Schools (Shenyang)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic107-aston-english-schools-china.aspx
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic107-aston-english-schools-china.aspx
Benxi Future English School (Dongbei)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic553-david-hao-and-benxi-future-english-school.aspx
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic553-david-hao-and-benxi-future-english-school.aspx
Yanjing Overseas Chinese University (Beijing)
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1079201175-78614.txt and http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1085602907-24355.txt
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1079201175-78614.txt and http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1085602907-24355.txt
Ginzhou Foreign Language School
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6565-qinzhou-foreign-language-school-poor-treatment-to-teachers
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6565-qinzhou-foreign-language-school-poor-treatment-to-teachers
Dezhou University
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6570-dezhou-university-college-is-hell
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6570-dezhou-university-college-is-hell
Kid's MBA (Jiangsu Province - All Locations)
This school is not licensed to hire foreigners and will never provide Z visas nor release letters.
This school is not licensed to hire foreigners and will never provide Z visas nor release letters.
Wenzhou University
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6557-wenzhou-university-oujiang-college
Beijing Homestay (Beijing)
This operation is not licensed nor approved by the Minitry of Education and will not answer questions posed by the CFTU about the "deposits" they request from tecahers, nor issues pertaining to invitation letters and visas.
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6557-wenzhou-university-oujiang-college
Beijing Homestay (Beijing)
This operation is not licensed nor approved by the Minitry of Education and will not answer questions posed by the CFTU about the "deposits" they request from tecahers, nor issues pertaining to invitation letters and visas.
Beijing High School No. 19
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/02/07/Beijing-English-School-Blacklist#comment-599757
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/02/07/Beijing-English-School-Blacklist#comment-599757
Dr. Duan & CMS Chinese Montessori Society
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6615-dr-duan-president-of-cms-chinese-montessori-society
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6615-dr-duan-president-of-cms-chinese-montessori-society
TEFL Academy
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5437-stay-away-from-tefl-academy
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5437-stay-away-from-tefl-academy
Guangdong Ocean University
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5431-gdou-guangdong-ocean-university-in-zhanjiang-china
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5431-gdou-guangdong-ocean-university-in-zhanjiang-china
Zenith Kindergarten
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5176-zenith-kindergarten-guangzhou
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5176-zenith-kindergarten-guangzhou
Decai Training Center (Guangzhou)
http://www.russellcase.net/americas-china-syndrome.html and
English First (Xian)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5159-contract-details-for-ef-xian
http://www.russellcase.net/americas-china-syndrome.html and
English First (Xian)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5159-contract-details-for-ef-xian
Dell English (Songyuan)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6577-dell-english-school-songyuan
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6577-dell-english-school-songyuan
English First (Changchun)
http://eslwatch.info/china-2/good-school-review-in-china/6609-ef-changchun-greylist
New Jordan Education Group
http://eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/128-beware-new-jordan-education-group-all-branches
http://eslwatch.info/china-2/good-school-review-in-china/6609-ef-changchun-greylist
New Jordan Education Group
http://eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/128-beware-new-jordan-education-group-all-branches
Shandong Provincial Modern School
http://eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/90-shandong-provisional-modern-school-culture-institute-in-jinan
Columbia Private English School (Changchun)
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article270.htm
http://eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/90-shandong-provisional-modern-school-culture-institute-in-jinan
Columbia Private English School (Changchun)
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article270.htm
English Town
(Panjin)
http://eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/126-english-town-panjin-china
http://eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/126-english-town-panjin-china
Yakup International (Beijing)
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article64.htm and http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article34.htm and http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article31.htm
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article64.htm and http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article34.htm and http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article31.htm
Hebi School of Vocation & Technolog
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=47634
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=47634
Roy English Training Center a.k.a. Roy Language
Center (Helionjiang)
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article32.htm and http://www.englishschoolwatch.org/notebook_detail.php?topic_id=2109
Jingbei Foreign Language College (Hebei)
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article141.htm and http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article267.htm
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article32.htm and http://www.englishschoolwatch.org/notebook_detail.php?topic_id=2109
Jingbei Foreign Language College (Hebei)
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article141.htm and http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article267.htm
John Gao's school, Number 2 foreign language school (AKA number 18
middle/high school), Modern English, People's Number Two Hospital, Shanxi
university (Taiyuan)http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1101454561-39762.txt
Yincai School (Inner
Mongolia)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=3845 and http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=3945
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=3845 and http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=3945
Sino Canada High School (Suzhou)
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1093239223-80936.txt
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1093239223-80936.txt
Jinagxi University of Finance and Economics (JUFE) (Nanchang)
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article171.htm
http://www.abroadchina.org/html/cache=article171.htm
Yingtan College (Jiangxi)
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1083334358-43636.txt
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1083334358-43636.txt
AceLeader English School a.k.a. Ace Leader (Beijing)
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/02/07/Beijing-English-School-Blacklist#comment-556047
Youth Academy Of Dance a.k.a. YAD a.k.a. Tong Yi
Youth Academy Of Dance a.k.a. YAD a.k.a. Tong Yi
Vivid English School (Beijing)
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2008/12/01/Vivid-English-Club-Owner-Steals-Money-Skips-Town
Suzhou Foreign Language School (Suzhou)
http://www.tefl.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2896
EtonKids a.k.a. Eton Kids (Beijing)
http://etonkidsbeware.com/files/EtonLetter.pdf
Golden Apple (Beijing)
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2012/02/07/Beijing-English-School-Blacklist#comment-575659
Yu Ming Education Center aka Yuming Education Center (Tianjin)
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=4641
New Dynamic Institute (Beijing & Shanghai)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/forum/index.pl?read=80525
China ESL & Rebecca Tang (Beijing)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-recruiters-review-in-china/5450-chinaesl-a-scam-bad-for-schools-and-teachers and http://www.thebeijinger.com/node/1592803 and http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2013/01/31/beware-chinaesl-scam-alert-rebecca-tang-will-rip-you and http://www.thebeijinger.com/node/1592803#comment-589030 and http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-chalkboard/travelsmith2/posts/11005-the-shadiest-contract-ive-ever-seen and http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=35714
Caig Hill (China Esl Agent - See Photos Below)
http://craighillchinadailymail.blogspot.co.uk/ and http://chinascampatrol.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/is-the-china-daily-post-and-editor-craig-hill-a-shill-scam/
Ameson Education (America)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-recruiters-review-in-china/6583-ameson-education-aamp-culture-exchange-foundation
Athena Learning Center (Beijing) Owned/Operated By American Fugitive Sam Arnold
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/generalinformation/newsroom/mostwanted/SamuelNevielArnold.asp
American Kids Language Training School (Hangzhou)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic2192-american-kids-language-training-school---hanzhou.aspx?lastpage=1#post3809
Richard's English (Shaoxing)
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5249
HK Sunbow Foreign Language Kindergarten (Guangdong)
(See Complaints in Comments Section Below)
Chi Cheng International Language School (Xian)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/6633-chi-cheng-international-english-school-gallop-xi-an-china
Guangdong Ocean University (Zhanjiang)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5431-gdou-guangdong-ocean-university-in-zhanjiang-china
Mongolia College (Inner Mongolia)
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5402
Peng's Foreign Language Training School (Shenzen)
Unlicensed and Horric Contracts - 17 complaints received in 2012
Jilin Province Education & Maggie Wang aka Maggie Wong (Jilin)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-school-review-in-china/5431-gdou-guangdong-ocean-university-in-zhanjiang-china
Mongolia College (Inner Mongolia)
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5402
Peng's Foreign Language Training School (Shenzen)
Unlicensed and Horric Contracts - 17 complaints received in 2012
Jilin Province Education & Maggie Wang aka Maggie Wong (Jilin)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic2245-do-not-work-for-jilin-province-education-maggie.aspx
Fei Fan English School (Fushun, Lioaning)
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=6162
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=48150
The above is just a small sampling of the 317 dishonorable schools on our teacher's blacklist due to space limitations. Schools listed here are welcome to tell their side of the story in the comments section below and will have their names removed from this list only if they settle their disputes or after 24 months of complaint-free operation.
For the complete CFTU consolidated blacklist, please send an email to
CBL(at)ChinaForeignTeachersUnion.orgFei Fan English School (Fushun, Lioaning)
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=6162
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=48150
(Please allow 72 hours for a reply because we are swamped and staffed by volunteers)
Stay Tuned For
Our Next Post…
China's Top Ten Best Education Employers
In the interim we urge anyone thinking about teaching in China to read the attached articles so you know what to expect and avoid some unpleasant surprises...
China Teacher Scams
China Agent Blacklist
TEFL Teachers China Alert
10 China Employer Tricks & Traps
Getting Paid In China - On Time & In Full!
China Minimum Wage For Foreign Teachers
China's Agent Blacklist Is Below
WARNING! Do not download or send any personal information to the websites listed below. If you download anything that even appears innocent (like "Visa Rules In China", or "Free Housing Directory") a trojan virus bot will be implanted in your computer that will collect your personal and banking/credit card info for identity thieves who pose as employment agents.
THESE WEBSITES ARE EITHER OUTRIGHT SCAMS OR KNOWINGLY ACCEPT ADS FROM SCAM AGENTS:
THESE WEBSITES ARE EITHER OUTRIGHT SCAMS OR KNOWINGLY ACCEPT ADS FROM SCAM AGENTS:
work-in-china.net
globalcrossroads.net
globalcrossroads.net
chinaesl.com
teachabroadchinaalliance.com
teachabroadchinaalliance.com
eslchina.com
tefl.cn
teachabroadchina.com
eslteachersboards.com
tefl.cc
0086.com
teach-in-china.net
china-tesol.com
chinajobsite.com
abroadchina.org
workabroadchina.com
globalcrossroads.net
chinatefl.cn
bilingual-institute.com
directcareers.com
employment.com
tefl.cn
teachabroadchina.com
eslteachersboards.com
tefl.cc
0086.com
teach-in-china.net
china-tesol.com
chinajobsite.com
abroadchina.org
workabroadchina.com
globalcrossroads.net
chinatefl.cn
bilingual-institute.com
directcareers.com
employment.com
chinatefl.net
humanresource.com
jobsearchdirect.com
jobvacancies.com
myreplymate.com
primesolutionsservices.com
personnelrecruiters.com
humanresource.com
jobsearchdirect.com
jobvacancies.com
myreplymate.com
primesolutionsservices.com
personnelrecruiters.com
personnelservices.com
recruitmentservices.com
response4free.com
staffsolutions.com
chinatefljobs.com (not a scam - just very greedy agents)
teachers-international.org
teachinginchina.com
teachinchinatoday.com
teacherwantedchina.com
nextstepchina.org
nextstopchina.com
teachinginchina.net
recruitmentservices.com
response4free.com
staffsolutions.com
chinatefljobs.com (not a scam - just very greedy agents)
teachers-international.org
teachinginchina.com
teachinchinatoday.com
teacherwantedchina.com
nextstepchina.org
nextstopchina.com
teachinginchina.net
silu.com
teachcn.com
chinatefl.cn
chinateachers.com
Also take note that chinajobsite.com will publish your resume and image on-line without your knowledge nor consent. Getting it removed may take 30 days if you file a police complaint.
CHINA-WIDE SCAM AGENT & RECRUITER BLACKLIST:
David Wu aka David Chen aka David Wei (Beijing - Wudaokou & CBD area)
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4669587247946114773#editor/target=post;postID=2870659859993322318
Danny Liu a.k.a. Dan Lu, a.k.a. Dan Lau
(Beijing - Wudaokou)
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2010/03/10/Danny-Liu-and-Amy-are-still-out-there-scamming-laowei-AVOID-THEM
Ken Carroll
(Shanghai)
http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst5942_Shanghai-China---Foreign-Teachers-in-Trouble.aspx
Rebecca Tang
(Beijing)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-recruiters-review-in-china/5450-chinaesl-a-scam-bad-for-schools-and-teachers and http://www.thebeijinger.com/node/1592803 and http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2013/01/31/beware-chinaesl-scam-alert-rebecca-tang-will-rip-you and http://www.thebeijinger.com/node/1592803#comment-589030 and http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-chalkboard/travelsmith2/posts/11005-the-shadiest-contract-ive-ever-seen and http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=35714
Ken Carroll
(Shanghai)
http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst5942_Shanghai-China---Foreign-Teachers-in-Trouble.aspx
Rebecca Tang
(Beijing)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-recruiters-review-in-china/5450-chinaesl-a-scam-bad-for-schools-and-teachers and http://www.thebeijinger.com/node/1592803 and http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2013/01/31/beware-chinaesl-scam-alert-rebecca-tang-will-rip-you and http://www.thebeijinger.com/node/1592803#comment-589030 and http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-chalkboard/travelsmith2/posts/11005-the-shadiest-contract-ive-ever-seen and http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=35714
Kenneth Craig Hill (Agent for China ESL)
(Shanghai & Australia)
http://craighillchinadailymail.blogspot.co.uk/
Lilly & Lily (Beijing) Lily@126.com & Lilly@126.com & esl_lily@126.com
Tel: 152-5717-8901
Eric Liu
(Beijing - All of Beijing)
http://www.thebeijinger.com/node/1593119
Start Consulting
(China)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic2253-avoid-start-consulting-like-the-plague.aspx
Anthony Martin
(Online)
http://www.elgazette.com/ELNews/NewsStory.asp?SubTitle=&Special=&StoryID=597
Teddy Tucker
(Online)
Allan Woods
(Online)
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/ftc-educational-services-bad-employee-c603001.html?page=2
Ricky Gu ricky_qu@yahoo.com
Biggest ad spammer since Lily - possible ID thief
Wei Fu Ying
(Beijing - Haidian District)
Ying At Friendship Hotel Office Center
Fenny Perlandas, PELCC
(Guangdong)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-recruiters-review-in-china/5432-fenny-perlandas-and-pelcc
Steven Armstrong aka Network Education
(Australia)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/scamalerts/index.pl?read=2478
ECA (Kevin)
(Guangzhou)
http://www.esl-jobs-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=6030
Sijifengxing Education, (Lilly)
(Beijing)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-recruiters-review-in-china/6571-avoid-sijifengxing-education
David Baine
(Online)
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=14967&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15&sid=ba1068dfd8a1a0460cb7909feae3861d
Edward Jacobsen
(Shenzhen)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-recruiters-review-in-china/6673-edward-jacobson-shenzhen
Liu Wei Wang
(China)
http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4669587247946114773#editor/target=post;postID=7451273965587718545
Jeff Gao a.k.a Jeff Sya
(Chongqing)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic2144-beware-of-jeff-gao-jeff-gowe--sya-education-scam.aspx?lastpage=1#post3736 and http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic15-international-scam-warning.aspx
Jieling Chen (of Colorado)
Frank Zhang
James Zhang
Cecille Bautista
Cletus
Sang Xing
Anthony Martin
Paul Adler
David Smith
Michael Simpson
Malcolm MacDonald
Tim Chen
Jeff Chen
(Online)
http://china.eslteachercafe.com/topic15-international-scam-warning.aspx
Brian McCloskey
(Unknown Now - Previously Shanghai)
http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst5942_Shanghai-China---Foreign-Teachers-in-Trouble.aspx
Paul Adler
Hellen
Bobby Zhu
Sally (Korean)
(Online)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?read=47005
Bao Park
(China)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/scamalerts/index.pl?read=1971
Vivian Wang
(Beijing - Shunyi)
Johnson Zhang
(Beijing)
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2010/01/26/Warning-Warning-Johnson-Zhang-Alert
Doris, David, Bill, and Lorena
(Beijing)http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2010/05/08/warning-warning-avoid-DavidBillDorisLorena-with-numbers-1391182012915810764659
Teach In China aka New Times International
(Online)
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=14967
Daniel Brenar
(Beijing)
http://antifraudintl.org/showthread.php?5568-Daniel-Brenar-Daniel-Berner-2008
Amy Zhang (age 45)
(Beijing)
http://www.thebeijinger.com/forum/2010/03/10/Danny-Liu-and-Amy-are-still-out-there-scamming-laowei-AVOID-THEM
Adwaa Rabia
(Saudi Arabia)
http://www.eslwatch.info/middle-east-2/bad-recruiters-review-in-middle-east/7529-adwaa-rabia-saudi-academy-scam
Alex Wee
(Shanghai)
http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst5942_Shanghai-China---Foreign-Teachers-in-Trouble.aspx
Michael Simpson
(Online)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/forum/index.pl?noframes;read=2261
Teachers-International.org
(China)
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/scamalerts/index.pl?read=2332
David Huang of Radisson Education
(Guangzhou)
http://www.eslwatch.info/china-2/bad-recruiters-review-in-china/7530-david-huang-of-radison-education-guangzhou
Robert Li
(Beijing - Wudaokou - See below)
This hilarious but revealing text exchange was received by Johnathan W. and it just has to be shared with you to show you what you are up against here in China...
How to best deal with agents & recruiters if you still want to use one?
Keep in mind that most scam agents and fake recruiters do not have a real offices, websites, nor a land line telephone number. They will use free emails like @163.com, @126.com, @sina.com, @tom.com, @hotmail.com, etc. When they contact you by telephone, ask them to text you their website address and real Chinese name. You will probably never hear from them again. If they send you an email. we suggest your first response is to answer with the below form letter. If they actually reply with all the requested information, send it to us and we will verify the registrations for you free of charge and if they check out, add the agents to our "Recruiter Whitelist" (now being compiled). Remember, never give them ANY personal information, not even your last name, until you get this form back from them and it checks out. If you think this letter is "going too far", please remember that 20% of all foreign teachers in China become victims of identity theft. See this article for details: China Identity Thieves Posing As Employment Agents
 |
| Legitimate recruiters and agents will not object to completing this form for you. |
The FT's Poem
By. Sandra
In China, the sharks are quite many,
But the lifeguards are way too few
Insatiablly the sharks forever search,
For daily fresh meat - just like you.
Ask them no questions
And they'll tell you no lies.
But if and when their lips move,
The truth the agent always denies.
They give you "great news",
Of a job that pays the very most,
But once you sign and pay them,
They become an elusive ghost.
So charming and smooth
They recruit the old Chinese way
Keep calling and smiling they will,
Until you believe and pay.
Every ninety days or so,
They will change their number and name.
They are masters at playing
This deception game.
Five times more money than you,
They will surely always make.
Like everything else in China,
They are bogus and fake.
So if you should meet one,
Smile and say... "Bu Xie Xie".
But only after you snap their photo,
You take their card and then say...
"I already have a good job,
But, I will certainly introduce you,
To all my many teachers friends,
And the good folks at the CFTU."
The CFTU Wall of Shame
Cherry Li - Suzhou
 | |
Craig Hill - China ESL Abbey Hu - Suzhou |
 | ||
| Susan - American Kids Language School |
 |
| Principal Kathy - American Kids Language School |
Believe it or not their are some honest, decent, and ethical recruiters and agents in China. We can count them on one hand and they will be the beginning of our Recruiter Whitelist. We will make this list available privately to members. If you know of a legitimate recruiter which is properly licensed and will give us their full Chinese name to run a check at SAIC, we will add them to our whitelist after visiting with them and we agree they are who they say they are and can be trusted.
 |
| CLICK TO ENLARGE |
NEWS FLASH!
(January 25th, 2013)
We just received a tape recording of an alleged Huijia Kindergarten principal giving instructions to an agent who had been paying her 3,000 rmb bribes. As soon as we verify the voices of both the principal and agent, we will send the details to members. In the interim, when dealing with Huijia, we suggest you directly visit the school and avoid agents until we get to the bottom of this. Remember, most public schools, public universities, and international schools are legitimate and honest. Despite all those schools you see listed above, remember there are over 19,000 schools operating in China today and over 7,000 employment recruiters and agents. Unfortunately there are only 362 licensed and registered agents and recruiters in all of China. So unless you are prepared to search for that proverbial needle in the haystack, you may just want to avoid them altogether and find your own job in China which is not hard at all.
Stop Agent Fraud & Employer
Abuse!
If you
see or experience it - Report it to the CFTU:
Abuse[at]ChinaForeignTeachersUnion.org
(All reports received are strictly confidential)
©Copyright 2010-2013 By CFTU – All Rights Reserved
Abuse[at]ChinaForeignTeachersUnion.org
(All reports received are strictly confidential)
©Copyright 2010-2013 By CFTU – All Rights Reserved
Ivy Education is not a licensed school and consequently uses illegal foreign teachers. There are two schools which they currently affiliate with: Qidong middle school and Taiyuan number 5 middle school, operating "AP" programs. They are a shadow company operating around the fringes of the law, and great caution should be used in any dealings with them.
ReplyDeleteI should have known better, but I trusted a few people and let my guard down. They do pay well, but have no ability to get anyone a visa, despite what they say in their ads or to your face. Just hired another teacher in Taiyuan on a tourist visa. I had one semester remaining on a residence permit and was lured by the salary. Very polite, evasive and great con-artists. Note: There are several companies in China using the name "Ivy Education", and some of them may be legit.
Is this the Ivy School located in Jiamusi, China? I was offered a job there and I want to make sure its ok. THank you
DeleteMP
Key-Logic of Beijing are not to be trusted. I see they are already on the CFTU blacklist but they are very devious people who recruit foreign teachers with a trick that is easy to fall for. They offer lucrative long-term contrcts of 30,000 to 80,000 rmb and then give you a list of courses they want you to teach. They then tell you they will sign a copntract with you after they see and approve your lesson material (ppts). Once they get them in their grubby little hands they tell you the client postponed the class and they'll call you when they have the new dates. You will never hear from them again, and your lesson plans are now being used by Chinese teachers. The bitch who does this is about 36 years old and her name is Alina. She did rthis to me and two other FTs that I know of.
ReplyDeleteHello, I was working at Golden kids school in Weifang, Shandong province. The school is great and facilities are modern. Just be careful about the contract. The director come from Taiwan and she don't care about the school, kids and foreigners. She don't want to paid overtime and she try to put that into volunteer activities. She is mean even with Chinese teachers who are doing an amazing job. You don't have summer vacation, no sick leave and if you cannot come to school for some reason, she will retrieve 3 days of salary for one day. I don't know what's happening into other schools in Beigin, Shanghai and Shenzhen but they don't want us to communicate with them. She don,t respect the contract and refuse to paid the overtime because she get a bonus on every saving money from the school.
ReplyDeleteThis was received from K.T. Cox moments ago and is posted below in its entirety without editing... Since it is long it has to be posted in parts, but it is very much worth reading.
ReplyDeletePART ONE:
I'm having trouble posting my story on your website. I don't know why. But please publish this for me, its very important.
Teacher learns a lesson: The trafficking of foreign ESL teachers in China
K.T. Cox
It was not until Christmas that I fully realized I was one of many foreign teachers being scammed in Beijing, China. A dream of going to China with the pure intentions of teaching English while exploring another culture has turned into an expensive nightmare.
Prior to coming to China I was promised 5000RMB [or US$800 (RMB is Chinese currency) each month at an ESL school, a visa, a free apartment, and airfare to get home through an agency called ChinaESL, organized by Rebecca Tang. If you Google search her agency, you will find there is nothing negative being said about this company. She has links to Dave’s ESL cafe (one of the most popular foreign teacher employment websites worldwide) and I talked to plenty of people who have done ESL teaching in China and loved it. With all the information I could find at that time, I made my decision to head to China, a dream of mine since I was young.
Upon arrival in China I was forced to sign an additional contract by Rebecca Tang, who said she needed to remove 2000RMB [US$320] from the first three paychecks as a deposit. This left me to survive on 3000RMB [US$480] each month, then after I would receive my promised salary of 5000RMB. There were several other cited stipulations in the contract, such as "If Party B shows the contract to anyone, Party A has the right to cancel Party B’s visa, put her on the blacklist, and charge 20,000RMB [US$3,200]." There were many other clauses that included seemingly ridiculous fees, but she told me if I didn’t sign the contract I’d have to pay 20,000RMB as a penalty. Since I didn’t know anyone in China, had no place to live (as this meeting took place in Tang’s home), and could barely speak the language, I felt I had no choice but to sign it—though I knew something didn’t feel right.
While much of my China adventure has been a wonderful experience—learning a new language, visiting the Great Wall and ancient temples, working with brilliant students, and falling in love with a brilliant British poet from Cardiff—I tried to hide the fact that I’ve been struggling financially. Every email and blog post featured only the highlights and positive aspects of my time here to comfort the worried concerns of friends and family back home in Olympia, Washington.
PART TWO:
ReplyDeleteI cannot share how I came about the truth as a means to respect privacy, but Tang has been doing the same thing to many other people. At Web International English where I worked, over 60% of the foreign teachers are employed through Rebecca through out all the Web Centers in Beijing. Rebecca also has connections to kindergartens and middle schools, and is screwing over everyone a little differently. In my case, the school I was working at was paying me 15,800RMB and Tang was leaving me with only 3000RMB, keeping the rest for herself. After talking to the police, the Public Services bureau, the US embassy, and Web Headquarters, I found there is absolutely nothing that can be done. I sat in an interrogation room on three separate occasions--one for 2 hours, one for 4 hours and one for almost 6 while my boss was helping me to translate what the police were saying. The school is being fined and I (was) going to be fined, even though I provided evidence that it was Rebecca’s fault for bringing me over here illegally, insisting that I needed an F visa.
They also wrote the transcripts by hand rather than filming the conversation or voice recording it, and they forced me to sign the transcripts even though they did not accurately represent what was said in the interrogation. Rebecca Tang has connections to the head of police and she has a close relationship with the head of the Entry/Exit department of the Public Services Bureau; she knew specific details about the interrogation that nobody else could have known unless someone was acting as a spy for her. I know this sounds frightening, but its absolutely true. She even knew what day I was leaving the country, and her assistant and my landlord barged in to my apartment demanding that I paid bills for the entire time I was there. Also, the morning I was preparing to leave, she had someone pose as a police officer to harass me and insist that I give my flight information. I knew better of course, and told them to f*** off. Her assistant even showed up to take pictures of my now empty room so they can lease it to someone else—I hope that person is not you.
The only chance I could stand at fighting her would be to take her to court, but I’d have to hire a lawyer, which I could not afford. No matter what, the system is set up so foreign teachers will lose even though several China Labor Laws are being broken.
Rebecca Tang has been running this scam for 8 years and will continue to do it to unsuspecting foreigners. In addition to her connections to the police and the PSB, she also has connections to the government; nobody can stop her. The only way we can prevent this from happening is to tell stories like these, and I sincerely hope you will pass this around.
PART THREE:
ReplyDeleteI’ve spent the past 2 weeks saying good-bye to my friends, my students, my colleagues and my boyfriend who I’m still in love with. Additionally, Rebecca kept my last paycheck that was supposed to be paid on Jan. 25; every cent. I’m completely broke.
This has been the most emotionally draining experience I’ve had in my short life. And I can suspect people will say as they read this; "you should have taken more precautions," "done more research on the company," "not have signed the contract," or "there are people that are poor and have nothing, you shouldn’t complain." I can name more things about the better choices I "should" have made, and maybe my problem is relatively small to what others have suffered, but that does not justify the fact that this agent conned me and countless others into signing a contract that resulted in her stealing thousands while breaking Chinese labor laws. We were brought here to work illegally and we are traded like cattle. Many teachers working here cannot find decent paying jobs elsewhere, came here for a chance to teach and offer a service to people who want to improve their English. If you are a newly graduated young female in her early twenties traveling alone and trying to pay off debts from student loans and assorted bills, maybe you’d understand the full effect of this. And hopefully learn from it. See: tips on agent scams. Nobody deserves to be victimized or mistreated or taken advantage of. Period.
Now I won’t deny that the American justice system is far from perfect, and this story does not glorify any "fair" decisions the United States has made—as murderers and child molesters can get off on technicalities, and big corporate powers will pay fees that amount to a light slap on the wrist in the big scheme of their evil doings—but rather how easy it is for a foreigner to be victimized abroad. Additionally this story does not presume to characterize the general population of Chinese people. In fact, I received overwhelming support from my students, my friends, my boss and even had officials from three different schools offer to help me get the proper visa to be employed legally and offer a better wage. If I weren’t under the thumb of this wicked agent--who was controlling my bank account, my apartment, and had connections to powerful people who could potentially give me even more trouble--I would have been happy to accept. The fact is, I needed to be home with my friends and family to recover from what happened. I will return to China someday, but on my own terms and with much more awareness.
PART FOUR: So, I approached my final days in Beijing simply knowing in my heart that I was right and that nothing could break my spirit...and then the impossible happened: I was invited to come to the police station once more to assess the fines for my offense of working here illegally under Tang’s supervision. The police apparently felt sorry for me and think this situation is unfair. They disapprove of Tang’s relationship with their boss, so they have devised a plan for me to escape: they submitted a request to reduce my fine in order to delay my paperwork process so I could leave the country without paying, as I’ve provided sufficient evidence that this offense was not my fault and due to Tang’s manipulation. They also said they would ensure my safety at the airport, and their boss would have to let my case go. I was in complete shock. Apparently this sort of thing never happens; to foreigners, to Chinese citizens, to people that are poor and powerless, to people that fought the system without proper legal defense. I have no idea why I was lucky, or why this ending turned out the way it did. It was a small victory compared to the grand scheme of ChinaESL’s evil doings, but any victory is worth celebrating.
ReplyDeleteNow, this is a rare victory. The truth is no matter where you go in the world, a stupid piece of paper can rip apart people that love each other, can disenchant your dream of making the world a better place and (in cases far worse than mine) consume everything you have—everything but one—to quote my beloved: "If you know in your heart that you are right, nothing can touch you." Best wishes to anyone who aspires the same dream. May this story be helpful and eye-opening.
Tips for avoiding overseas teaching scams and teacher trafficking: 1.) Do research at the countries embassy about decent living wages.2.) Have a lawyer review your contract to ensure it is in accordance with the country labor laws.3.) Make connections with citizens within the country before you go; ask if they’ve heard reviews on the business. You won’t always find bad reviews on companies just by internet research. Signs of bad agents:
1. They ask for money up front.
2. They use post office boxes, instead of office addresses.
3. They make promises of employment and guarantees of refunds.
4. They charge fees for giving you a job lead.
5. They pressure you and encourage you to make a decision too quickly.
6. They make you pay for your own visa and flight and don’t compensate you; a good business will offer that because you are doing them a service. Helpful cites to review if you want to teach in China: ChinaForeignTeachersUnion.org
NOTE FROM MODERATOR: Rebecca Tang has been on our blacklist (and many others) since 2010 along with 187 other individuals, some of whom are even worse. Although the CFTU does not advise anyone to use an agent, we urge you to use the above "Agent Reply Letter" if you decide to try your luck with a recruiter/agent.
Although the CFTU does not have any official affiliation with the old CTA group, we think their web site is worthy of your visit since we agree with much oh what they say at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ChinaScamBusters.com
I want to thank you guys for all the tedious work required to collect and sort all this information, especially the photos of the black hat agents. This is by far the best China school and agent blacklist I have seen in years. Keep up the good and stay out of harm's way. For sure this website is making a lot of people nervous and pissed off.
ReplyDeleteThis complaint was just received From D.L. of the U.K. now residing in Guangdong province concerning Shane English and its Principal who wants 25,000 rmb to provide a release letter. Here are the details...
ReplyDeletePART ONE:
I would like to bring to your attention a matter of urgency in regards to the Shane English registered school: Pingyang Quishi School, No.357 Middle xing'ao Road Aojiang, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China.
In this document I will outline the wrongdoings of this organisation and its key members.
Principle John: Zhuang Guo Xiang / Foreign Manager: Neil Mackenzie (British Citizen)
1. Reasons for exiting the company
2. Threats for exiting
3. Extortion: Letter of release
4. Incorrect handling of employees
1. Reasons for exiting the company
During my first few months of working with the company I had several disagreements with my assistant. During this time period I had several meetings with the management staff in order to resolve any conflict within the workplace. The situation progressively worsened, up unto a point where the colleague was using abusive language directly at me during my classes. Due to no action being taken; the verbal abuse turmoiled into an assault on my person. The assault was witnessed by my fellow colleagues during school hours in the corridor of the school building.
After making a formal complaint of the incident to Principle John (Zhuang Guo Xiang) I was told by my Principle that I must continue to work as normal until he reached a decision. However, this decision was never reached and I was expected to continue working in an abusive environment.
This left me no choice but to tend my resignation with immediate effect. I resigned on Friday the 25th of October, 2012.
(The full incident log of the verbal abuse, meetings and assault is available upon request)
2. Threats for exiting
Upon exiting the company I was issued with the following threats from the Foreign Manager of the Shane English Pingyang Quishi School: British Citizen, Neil Mackenzie:
a) A refusal of payment for the last month of work.
b) Cancellation of certificates and current visa.
c) Place me upon a blacklist which will mean that I cannot work in China for the next 5 years.
d) I could be arrested and escorted out of china.
Payment was indeed withheld for my last month of pay with the company. In regards to the threat (2b) Principle John specifically requested that I give him my passport, because he needed it to cancel the visa. I denied this request. In relation to the threat (2d) I was told by Neil Mackenzie that, in the past Principle John has given false information to the police force in order to have teachers detained. This was just another tool in this schools arsenal in order to instil fear in a blind attempt to make me stay with the company.
PART TWO:
ReplyDelete3. Extortion: Letter of release
As many foreigners are aware, in order to legally work in China at any other school, one must obtain their letter of release.
For the first few months I was told that I was being punished for leaving the company and that I must wait a few months before I receive my letter of release. Unknowingly I was being deceived, and I was not ever likely to receive my letter of release. So, I pursued the company in order to obtain the letter, but I was greeted with a shocking request.
I was told via one of Johns subordinates that in order to obtain this letter, I must pay him directly, in excess of 25,000 RMB. This was when I sought out the advice of the CFTU (Chinese Foreign Teachers Union), who upon contact with John noted that John did not deny the attempted extortion of money for the release letter, but rather confirmed it by stating, “Talk to Neil”.
I left the company on Friday the 25th of October, 2012. Yet I am still without my letter of release. The company have had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing by law and send me my letter, but still refuse to do so unless I pay them.
4. Incorrect handling of employees
Throughout my short time at the school (5 months) I witnessed a number of ill-dealings in regards to foreign teachers. I myself was told to enter China on an L visa and that the Z visa would then be obtained upon arrival.
I researched this and asked for advice from my recruiter (Footprints Recruiting) whom told me that this is somewhat normal, and is named a, ‘Visa Run’.
During the period before obtaining a legal working visa, the school demand that you work on an L visa or the working visa will not be applied for. The school tell their teachers that this is normal procedure and tell them not to worry about it, whilst the teachers are unknowingly breaking the law.
Some teachers (like myself) after a few months obtain a legal working visa. Others however, do not. These teachers never receive one and therefore throughout their entire duration of stay, work illegally due to the false premise of the company, fronted by friendly foreign face Neil Mackenzie.
The latter was the case for South African Teacher: Jenny (pseudo-name). This resulted in Jenny having to leave China; which was entirely due to the continuous mistreatment and the unremitting false promises from the company.
It is of huge importance that this school be investigated immediately in order to stop other foreign workers from being exploited, being forced to unknowingly work illegally and then be threatened and extorted upon exit.
Kind regards,
D.L.
MODERATORS NOTE: The CFTU confirms that Principal John was called by a CFTU volunteer pretending to be the "uncle" of the victim back in the U.K. The uncle agreed to send the 25,000 rmb and asked for wiring instructions. Principal John referred the "uncle" to "Talk with Neil" referring to Neil McKenzie.
ReplyDeleteThe above complaints are typical of the abuse foreign teachers are subjected to in China, and until this abuse subsides we will vigorously do our best to expose it.
http://open.salon.com/blog/china_business_central/2013/01/30/china_foreign_teachers_union_exposes_extortion_by_principals
hello
ReplyDeleteMy name is Troy. I am from the USA. I recieved an email from Denise to contact this agency to report a school doing illegal activity. I have been working at a school in shenzhen called MARON school. It is a preschool. ages 3 to 5. I have been teaching there since Feb 5th of 2012. I have finished my 1 year contract, but the school did not do their part of the contract. They promised in the contract that everything was legal and that they would help with a work visa. I asked several times about the work visa but they still didnt get me one. I never agreed to break any chinese law and the contract clearly states that everything is legal and honest. They also forced me to work overtime which in my contract states that i would be paid overtime. I then had to get another tourist visa with my own money and time which they said would be leagal to work with which I later found out was not true. They then cut my days to half days and only paid for half a day and even cheat on those wages. They even threatened to call the police on me and get me deported if i complain about my pay or complain to a government agency. They also stated that they have the chinese police paid off in all 11 districts where they have schools to help them with thir illegal activity including deporting teachers so they don't have to pay them. I want to report the main office in Shangmeilin district as well as their other 10 branches. There are many African teachers who are literally slaves in the schools. This problem is well beyond the local police districts that they have been paying off. Please contact me as soon as possible and let me know what to do to proceed.
Sincerely,
Troy
cell 13369911214
You know, I do feel for abused teachers here - I'll say that straight out. I have been there myself many a time. But I have been clicking on the links to read some of the experiences, and I swear some of these 'teachers' are illiterate. Poor spelling, grammar, word choice, punctuation. I kind of wonder whether the schools are getting scammed as well...
ReplyDeleteSome of these people have also said things to make me doubt their stories. Things that just don't add up. I'm sorry, Moderators, but if you want to make this site credible, you need to vet the stories before posting them. Example - one guy with terrible writing skills said he stayed at a school for 5 years despite terrible abuse because it was in proximity to the city where his wife worked. There are thousands and thousands of jobs for 'teachers' in China and this guy (who was at a university) couldn't find a job in the city where is wife lived? Something wrong with that story.
Check out this website revealing the truth about Maple Leaf International School in TEDA, Tianjin. This company is a corrupt organization that takes advantage of its foreign and domestic employees.
ReplyDeletehttp://mapleleafinternationalschool.blogspot.ca/
I worked for TOP International English in Sui Hua until the start of February this year. I had many problems with this school, however the one that stands out the most is them illegally fining me 6000 yuan, and threatening to put me on a Chinese government blacklist if I didn't pay it.
ReplyDeleteThe school has an illegal contract with a middle school here, a contract that I was not allowed to see or even told about until they fined me. In November I walked out of one of my classes there because the students regular teacher had left me alone with his 65 students and a student threw a pencil at me. I went back to the staffroom at that middle school.
Two-and-half months later, the school I worked for fined me 6000 yuan for that. They told me that the reasons they could do that were in the contract I didn't know about and couldn't see and couldn't show a lawyer. I know I couldn't show it to a lawyer because I asked to and they refused.
The principle's name is Shang Cui and her English name is Wendy. She and her husband, Bi Le, whose English name is Bill were the ones who threatened me and she is the one who fined me that 6000 yuan.
They also ended my contract early and didn't give me one month's notice or one month's salary in lieu of one month's pay.
I also rented my own apartment here, with my contract stating that if I did so the school would pay me a three thousand six hundred yuan traffic allowance upon completion of the contract. They did not pay me this allowance. They also didn't even bother to give a reason this time, just flat refused to pay it.
I would suggest to teachers who are contacted by this school to give it a wide berth.
Could someone inform me if gradutes2china are genuine please? Also, i know some people are against agencies but are there actually any reputable ones? If so, to apply for the Z visa do i need to send my passport details from this end to the company in China?
ReplyDeleteRegards.
Nathan.
Hi Nathan,
ReplyDeleteIf you are not a memeber you need to just visit our blacklist above and search for yourself. If you have any good or bad experiences with a school please share them here with all of us. Also everyone reading this should remember that we do not answer specific requests about a school inquiry - we are too busy dealing with complaints and investigations. This is why the above list is here. Use it if you have doubts. Our whitelist is now compiled and is available to members. Part I of the two-part list will be published for the public in the next 3-5 days.
Okay, thanks. Will do.
DeleteThe below complaint was received from Canadian Martin Doherty who asked us to post it as a warning to others about American Kids Language School. We recently wrote to their Principal on behalf of Martin but are still awaiting a reply. We will keep you posted here. And now Martin's unedited complaint:
ReplyDeleteTeachers – Parents – Stay Clear Hangzhou American Kids Language Training School
Address: Room1019, Building B, Highlong Plaza, Shanyin Rd, Xiaoshan
District, Hangzhou
Postal Code: 311203
Tel: 0571-82825211
Fax: 0571-82825212
English Name of owner: Kathleen Hong :
cell: 1866-818-8699
email: kathleenhong@126.com
skype: kathleenhongmei
DETAILS: I recorded this conversation on my phone for record with a meeting with the school and me - as usually they often spoke to each other in Chinese before they responded to my questions. The school was not properly managed and after pointing out many flaws in their school system that required improvement, they immediately presented a list of 100% totally false accusations of me, (such as asking the parents to buy me gifts, or treating the children in an improper manner, etc.)
The tape recording is available to the public, and will be posted on various public media outlets across China and Internationally, in the expat community and Chinese parent community .. also in Chinese. As a result:
1. The school refused to pay my last month’s salary
2. They did not agree to 8 weeks payment in lieu of termination letter.
3. They would not give me the copy of the signed contract.
4. They showed me papers where they admitted they had forged my signature on them, which claims I owe them money. (I have a copy of this paper)
In Addition: * They also used very unethical and manipulative sales techniques on both the parents and the children while doing demos.
For example, when the children were separated from the parents for any period of time, they would promise the children gifts if they told their mother they wanted to learn English there.
* They also used pirated copies of a very well know English Teaching software. In fact, they would put their school stamp over the top of the brand name logo of the software.
* They used & advertised their Chinese School name under a franchise name they had formally lost their license to.
* Much of their material had very bad and incorrect grammar, and there was no real set standards.
* If there was ever a child with issues, such as learning challenges or was "hitting" in class, you were told to ignore them and not say anything to the parents as it was important the parents renewed their membership.
* Most of their computers and software did not work properly and all had illegal copies (unlicensed) copies of software on them.
* The school also employed another "American" western teacher who was mentally unstable and would suddenly, and without warning start yelling and cursing and accuse people of of speaking about him, and would then walk out of the school.
He also would often comment that his phone was tapped, people were following him and that people would go into his apartment when he was not there.
We just received this email from "AC" who returned to Australia after teaching in China. We get perhaps 200 emails like this every month...
ReplyDeleteSubject: World International English Nantong
From: Anthony C**** <******@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Mar 30, 2013 12:32 am
To: abuse@ChinaForeignTeachersUnion.org
Hello , I have recently returned to Sydney broke after being completely conned by this school.
Not only did they ignore the contract they gave work that I should have had to unqualified , illegal teachers not having the Z visa.
Why don't the police ever check these private training schools for illegal teachers who are NOT native speakers and are not legal? The students pay very large amounts for substandard teaching
I commenced work early February 2013 after signing the contract late January 2012 incurring considerable travel and hotel expenses.
I have read another complaint from a teacher who quit in August last year who stated that they have a racket whereby they withhold salary so they can invest the salary money.
They said they wouldn't sign the contract until March 10th meaning that they would withhold my salary from February to April 10th leaving me with no income forcing me to return to Australia broke.
I thought the new China was determined to wipe out corruption.When will they clean up the Teaching business and get rid of the cowboy owners of these Training centres?
For Anthony C: We here at the CFTU are doing our best to expose all the "cowboys" you mention but there are hubdreds. When people like you help with your horror stories, it makes our job easier, so keep them coming and post them here as a warning. If we receive three or more complaints about the same school that are verifiable, we will add that school to our blacklist.
ReplyDeleteBTW... we received this email below from Joseph who gave us permission to share it with you. As soon as he provides us more details and contact info on the people who cheated him, we will try to interced on his behalf. This is very typical of the 2 dozen complaints we receive every day.
ReplyDelete- DF
JOSEPH COMPLAINT PART I
To Whom It May Concern,
> I am writing to inform you of my recent experience with Australian International Education Program Management Center (aka. Beijing Tianqi Bowen Education Consulting Co. Ltd.) located at room 6006, International Exchange Center, No. 1, Dingfuzhang Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing. In November 2012, I was contacted by a female recruiter who said she worked for a school in Beijing. She explained to me that the school she worked for had locations all over China. After a short interview, she said that she wanted to extend an offer to me, and that she would be preparing the contract. A few days later, she contacted me regarding a "better" position at one of their schools in Lianyungang, and that the school needed me immediately.
>
> As it would be impossible to quickly get a Z visa, they had me obtain an F visa, instead. I was able to get an F visa within 48 hours, and within a week, I was headed to Beijing. When I arrived in Beijing, I was picked up at the airport by the female recruiter, a driver and another woman who worked for the company named Tracy Liu. The driver took me to the a hotel located on a school's campus. The recruiter represented the campus as belonging to the company she represented.the next day I was put on a plane to Lianyungang. When I arrived in Lianyungang, I was taken to company provided housing and left to settle in. The next morning, I was picked up and taken to HuaJie Bi-lingual School in GanYu. I was immediately told to teach classes without the opportunity to create a lesson plan or review the school's text.
>
> Later, I was finally given a contract to sign between myself and Australian International Education Program Management Center. I immediately inquired as to why I would be signing a contract with an agency rather than an educational institution. I further inquired as to why the agency was misrepresented as a an actual educational institution having several school throughout China. The TA told me that the recruiter must have meant that they have contracts with schools throughout China.
>
> I was later told that during the Winter Break, I would need to return to the US to obtain a Z visa and that the company would pay for my transportation costs. As I prepared to travel back to the US, I was given a second contract to sign with the school. The TA told me that the contract was just for visa purposes. It turns out that Australian International Education Consulting Co. Ltd. does not have a license to hire foreign experts.
(Scroll down for Part II)
Joseph's Complaint Part II...
ReplyDelete>
> While I was in the US the company failed to pay me wages earned from the period before I left. When I inquired as to why, Tracy Liu told me that "the boss will pay you your salary when you return". I let her know that this was a breach of the terms of the contract, as I am to be be paid on the tenth of every month, and that by the express terms of the contract, I now had the right to terminate the contract.
>
> When I returned to Beijing, Tracy placed another contract in front of me which would extend the contract period for another year. I said that I was not pleased with the terms, and that I would be happy to negotiate extending the contract at a future date. Tracy then told me that "the boss said that he cannot pay you until you sign the contract". At that point, I became furious. I told her that she was resulting to extortion to induce me to sign the contract. I said that I would go directly to the embassy. She caught me at the elevator as I tried to leave and paid me a portion of what I was due. She said the rest would be paid when I arrived in Liamyungang.
>
> When I arrived in Lianungang, I tried to settle back into my normal teaching routine, but the intimation tactics had finally gotten to me. I provided Tracy with written notice of my decision to terminate the contract for breach. My written notice read in relevant part: Paragraph 3 of the contract provides: (The company) shall pay (employee's) salary as scheduled. The Contract Term provides that: the salary will be paid on the 10th of each month. My salary was due on February 10th. However, it was not paid until the 20th of March. Under the section Revision, Cancellation and Termination of the Contract (page 5; paragraph 2) an employee has the right to terminate the contract for the company's failure to pay as scheduled. Given recent developments, I'm hereby exercising my right to terminate the contract effective April 1st.
>
> On March 31, Tracy, her boss, Mr. Wang and four others came to the flat in which I lived and demanded that I pay them RMB 20,000. They claimed that I now owed them a breach penalty of RMB 5000, RMB 5000 for the electric and water bills, RMB 5000 for my visa fees and RMB 5000 for their cost of bringing in another teacher on short notice. They also ordered me put of the flat immediately.
>
> Although they said on numerous occasions that I would be provided a letter of recommendation shortly via text or email messages, they verbally state that they will not "release" it until I pay them RMB 22,000. The amount has now seemingly increased.
>
> Further, they never obtained my residence permit or foreign expert certificate. Thus, I will now have to leave China shortly unless I can obtain the documents for my new employer.
>
> Any assistance in this urgent matter will be greatly appreciated.
>
> Best regards,
> Joseph
Perhaps I'm going to fast here, but a quick warning about http://www.rayenglish.com/ .
ReplyDeleteI saw a posting I was interested in, and I figured I would ask additional information about the school. I sent them an e-mail through their on-line form. My e-mail was straight forward: I would like more information about the position advertised: How many hours per week, is housing provided or is it an additional allocation, a typical schedule and holidays.
I never attached a copy of my resume.
They reply a lengthy e-mail, including this magic sentence: ''After reviewing your CV, I am delighted to tell you that you have passed the first stage of our application process and we would now like to forward your application to our partner schools.'' Amazing! They reviewed my resume! They are now asking for copies of my passport, diplomas, reference letters and a picture!
Is it too early for a loud siren and red lights?
Any-how, seeing as they advertise the name of the school and general location, it was easy for me to contact their HR department directly requiring information about the employment opportunity, that being said, it's lucky I'm fluent in Chinese and have lived in China for several years. I will post any updates coming from the school and recruitment agency as they come in.
Again, beware of Ray English, they claim to be foreign owned, but they're not exactly running it foreign style.
Beware of a school in Jiangdu, Yangzhou called Lucky Kids Kindergarten. From the start the 'recruiter' starts to take advantage. Here are some of the issues I encountered.
ReplyDelete- School is not in Yangzhou, it's in Jiangdu which is a district at 45 minutes away from Yangzhou city. This is the countryside for the Chinese.
- The 'gentleman' who hired me asked me to bring Baby Milk Powder over when I was moving over. I later found out that if I'd been caught, I was actually smuggling this stuff into China. This product is sold at a much higher price on the black market..
- When I asked about getting help sourcing Madarin Chinese lessons, it was refused. When I asked about getting a language exchange set up, I was told that I was breaking my contract... This is despite the fact that nobody in the school speaks English.
- You will be responsible for around 1000 students, who you'll see about once a week.
- There is no language assistant in the kindergarten for your lessons. When I asked about getting one, I was politely dismissed. Later on in the year, the school complained because the children were not speaking enough English...
- They kept changing the duration of our holidays. In their recent advertisment for this years teachers, they've offered 2 weeks holidays. We got 4 weeks. Please note that the Chinese have specific holidays and you are entitled to these too.
- They introduced a financial penalty system for the following; arriving to work late, leaving work early, being sick, or not turning up. This is despite the fact that you have to commute at least an hour between schools and you are responsible for sourcing your own transport.
- You will be based in schools not affiliated to the Kindergarten. Your employer retains a large proportion of the money earned from this.
- The Kindergarten also recruits 'volunteers'. These volunteers have to 'make up' their hours in external schools.
The situation got so bad in this school, I left unannounced. I raised a number of issues on several occasions which went ignored.
Please be careful of this school.
We just received this complaint from "Peter" who authorized us to share it online with you all concerning:
ReplyDeleteHK Sunbow Foreign Language Kindergarten, Chikan District, Zhanjiang City, Guandong province. The principal's last name is Mrs. Long, she was dismissed last March.
PART I
"I arrived in China last August and was interviewed by a certain Linda (a crook) whose office is located at a kindergarten in Luohu District, Shenzhen (give me a couple of days, I will retreive the exact location) .
In October she introduced me to her "friend" surnamed Liang, who is the owner of HK Sunbow Foreign Language Kindergarten located in Zhanjiang, Guandong (www.hksunbow.com). I was offered 6000 RMB (miserable, I know) at first, plus accommodation and sponsored F visa (forget about Z visa). I was able to negotiate a little bit, and eventually we agreed upon 7000 yuan a month. I was given my schedule prior to my departure, and it looked OK on the paper. However, when I arrived I had to deal with a completely different situation! I was forced to teach every Wednesday an extra hour for which the parents were charged additionally. Plus, the owner informed me that she had "some friends" in a nearby primary school, and that I must teach some of its students an extra hour every Sunday! Sure, no extra payment had been offered. I revolted, and eventually the principal rescheduled that class. I was charged for "absenteeism" on the grounds that I didn't show up for that class twice. They wouldn't accept my explanation that our written agreement (I cannot call that Chinglish thing a contract) grants me two days off which fall on weekend.
I was obliged to give a demo lesson on another occasion on Sunday for free as well. Again, there was nothing about it in our "contract". Speaking about the "contract", which itself is a joke. Interesting enough, the school principal, who turned out to be a crazy woman certainly suffering from hysteria, signed that piece of paper in Chinese with her (supposedly) real Chinese name - Long. I have no idea what Mei had told her when we arrived at the kindergarten; perhaps the principal was convinced that I would do anything and accept all the terms and conditions which were not specified, but I'm hundred percent sure she never understood what exactly did she signed - she speaks no English.
That had made Ms. Long extremely angry. Once the principal realized she cannot manipulate me, she ordered the accountant to deduct my salary on each and every occasion - the days I was officially sick, for instance (I went to the Central people's hospital of Zhanjiang several times). Yes, sometimes you get sick, because you have 12 classes a day!
PART II (Sunbow Complaint From Peter)
ReplyDelete"What pissed me off the most was how they treated their only foreign teacher days before the Chinese New Year. I was sitting there with the air-ticket to the Philippines in my hand, waiting when Ms. Liang would end giving those wonderful speeches at the teachers room. She knew I was about to leave and I needed to rush to the long-distance bus station. And it was the accountant who told me that I cannot leave unless I return my apartment keys to them. I mentioned that they have got at least 3 other keys from the apartment, and what for heavens sake the keys have to do with my paycheck?? I was leaving just for vacation, bringing with me just a small suitcase (I was not thinking of quitting my job back then).
The terror happened when I came back to Shenzhen 21 days later. I was told that "I can come back to the kindergarten anytime" to pick up my keys. A day later - that I should notify the principal in advance. And finally that I should report to work on February 24th. Forget about my payday on 15th! They never mentioned they owed me my wages as if I worked last January for free. They just wanted me to resume working on the 24th of February, that's it. Nice? More was yet to be discovered.
I arrived in Zhanjiang giving them a 12-hours notice, and got my keys back after waiting for 8 hours at the gate. No salary had been transferred to my account, though. And when only 100 yuan left in my pocket I came to the school when it was full of newcomers and in the middle of the crowd declared that if not given money I would call the police right away. It worked, but only 60%. After getting a miserable amount of money I left Zhanjiang for good. They knew the police would do nothing as I worked illegally, and I knew that 60% is better than nothing.
The end.
P.S. After a few days Linda sent me a text message quite cynically stating that the "contract" she crafted for the school means nothing as I am "illegal". As if I were a complete idiot not able to figure it out myself :-) What she didn't mentioned, is that her fake contract automatically makes HER activities illegal as well."
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Admin
> Sent: 04/21/13 06:46 AM
> To: Peter
> Subject: RE: Blacklisted or Not?
I have been blacklisted from a school I was at for 4 months in Dushanzi. I left on November 1 because she promised me so much stuff and money and never came through on it. Actually she borrowed the local college's paperwork to hire me and do my visa and residence permit through the college. I left for English First in Jinzhou. My boss told me I am on the blacklist and my residence permit ends Aug 1 but my contract here is until Nov 1. He said I can apply for a business visa. I want to continue to work in China after my contract here ends but I have no idea what route to take. Can someone please help me out on this? My current boss is telling me to lose my passport in the process of him applying for me a business visa and so the new passport would have a new number and it wouldn't match up on the computer. He said I could then get a new work visa. It sounds fishy to me and doesn't sound like it will work. Thanks for any help!
ReplyDeleteThis email was just received and we are posting it as a warning to all...
ReplyDeleteGreetings Denise,
My name is Jorge. This information is accurate, due to that I experienced it from this school. They treated me with disrespect and very inappropriately. I worked for them full time. They promised they were going to give me a work visa. I worked and every month there were delays. I found out they don't qualify to provide work visas to foreigners. I left and acquired a real school, and I am working with a work visa. Kid's MBA didn't provide a work permit, no medical exam, and the necessary documents to process a work visa. They kept sending me to Hong Kong to get different visas to stay in China so they can get the work visa for me. But this school doesn't qualify to employ foreigners, and I left because it's illegal and I didn't want to disobey or violate China laws. They have been paying me late every month and when I left, they were suppose to pay me my last month's salary of 12,600 rmb they didn't pay me. I posted this situation on Weibo, as well as the SAFEA in Beijing.
The schools information as follows:
Shanghai Kid's MBA Young American English School Address: Minhang District, Shanghai Qibao Qixin 2927, No. 158, Lane :4006530560-2
Nanjing Longjiang Campus: pasture gate 101 Main Street, Wenhui Building, 11th Floor, C baby hotline 025 -83,215,55
Ma'anshan branch address unknown. It's located in One City Mall, located beside Walmart. 3rd floor.
Yushan East Road
Yushan, Ma'anshan, Anhui, China
I believe that the owners name is William ZiXu
ANy word on the cambridge international institute in Shenzhen? I got offered a job there
ReplyDeleteAnother Expat Teacher Extortion Attempt - Reported here with the authorization of Teacher Reyes... PART I
ReplyDelete-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Extortion complaint
From: Joseph Reyes
Date: Mon, April 01, 2013 5:49 pm
To: "admin@chinaforeignteachersunion.org"
To Whom It May Concern,
> I am writing to inform you of my recent experience with Australian International Education Program Management Center (aka. Beijing Tianqi Bowen Education Consulting Co. Ltd.) located at room 6006, International Exchange Center, No. 1, Dingfuzhang Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing. In November 2012, I was contacted by a female recruiter who said she worked for a school in Beijing. She explained to me that the school she worked for had locations all over China. After a short interview, she said that she wanted to extend an offer to me, and that she would be preparing the contract. A few days later, she contacted me regarding a "better" position at one of their schools in Lianyungang, and that the school needed me immediately.
> As it would be impossible to quickly get a Z visa, they had me obtain an F visa, instead. I was able to get an F visa within 48 hours, and within a week, I was headed to Beijing. When I arrived in Beijing, I was picked up at the airport by the female recruiter, a driver and another woman who worked for the company named Tracy Liu. The driver took me to the a hotel located on a school's campus. The recruiter represented the campus as belonging to the company she represented.the next day I was put on a plane to Lianyungang. When I arrived in Lianyungang, I was taken to company provided housing and left to settle in. The next morning, I was picked up and taken to HuaJie Bi-lingual School in GanYu. I was immediately told to teach classes without the opportunity to create a lesson plan or review the school's text.
>
> Later, I was finally given a contract to sign between myself and Australian International Education Program Management Center. I immediately inquired as to why I would be signing a contract with an agency rather than an educational institution. I further inquired as to why the agency was misrepresented as a an actual educational institution having several school throughout China. The TA told me that the recruiter must have meant that they have contracts with schools throughout China.
>
REYES EXTORTION COMPLAINT - PART II
ReplyDelete> I was later told that during the Winter Break, I would need to return to the US to obtain a Z visa and that the company would pay for my transportation costs. As I prepared to travel back to the US, I was given a second contract to sign with the school. The TA told me that the contract was just for visa purposes. It turns out that Australian International Education Consulting Co. Ltd. does not have a license to hire foreign experts.
>
> While I was in the US the company failed to pay me wages earned from the period before I left. When I inquired as to why, Tracy Liu told me that "the boss will pay you your salary when you return". I let her know that this was a breach of the terms of the contract, as I am to be be paid on the tenth of every month, and that by the express terms of the contract, I now had the right to terminate the contract.
>
> When I returned to Beijing, Tracy placed another contract in front of me which would extend the contract period for another year. I said that I was not pleased with the terms, and that I would be happy to negotiate extending the contract at a future date. Tracy then told me that "the boss said that he cannot pay you until you sign the contract". At that point, I became furious. I told her that she was resulting to extortion to induce me to sign the contract. I said that I would go directly to the embassy. She caught me at the elevator as I tried to leave and paid me a portion of what I was due. She said the rest would be paid when I arrived in Liamyungang.
>
> When I arrived in Lianungang, I tried to settle back into my normal teaching routine, but the intimation tactics had finally gotten to me. I provided Tracy with written notice of my decision to terminate the contract for breach. My written notice read in relevant part: Paragraph 3 of the contract provides: (The company) shall pay (employee's) salary as scheduled. The Contract Term provides that: the salary will be paid on the 10th of each month. My salary was due on February 10th. However, it was not paid until the 20th of March. Under the section Revision, Cancellation and Termination of the Contract (page 5; paragraph 2) an employee has the right to terminate the contract for the company's failure to pay as scheduled. Given recent developments, I'm hereby exercising my right to terminate the contract effective April 1st.
>
> On March 31, Tracy, her boss, Mr. Wang and four others came to the flat in which I lived and demanded that I pay them RMB 20,000. They claimed that I now owed them a breach penalty of RMB 5000, RMB 5000 for the electric and water bills, RMB 5000 for my visa fees and RMB 5000 for their cost of bringing in another teacher on short notice. They also ordered me put of the flat immediately.
>
> Although they said on numerous occasions that I would be provided a letter of recommendation shortly via text or email messages, they verbally state that they will not "release" it until I pay them RMB 22,000. The amount has now seemingly increased.
>
> Further, they never obtained my residence permit or foreign expert certificate. Thus, I will now have to leave China shortly unless I can obtain the documents for my new employer.
>
> Any assistance in this urgent matter will be greatly appreciated.
>
> Best regards,
> Joseph
PHOTOS OF THE ACCUSED CAN BE FOUND ABOVE AND AT WWW.CHINAFOREIGNTEACHERSUNION.COM
FOLLOW REGARDING REYES EXTORTION COMPLAINT...
ReplyDeleteFrom:
Joseph Reyes
Date: Wed, May 29, 2013 2:02 pm
To: Admin
Hello Denise,
Since our last communication, my situation in China has gone from bad to worse. I took a job at Web International English in Suzhou-Taicang. Abbey, at Web, told me that she could help me with my visa situation. (Recall that I entered on a Z visa and left my previous employer.) she also advised me that Web had a RMB 2000 housing allowance, and that the company would advance me the entire housing cost. From the moment I arrived in Taicang, everything I was promised when I interviewed was immediately taken off the table. For example,the housing allowance of RMB 2000 was mysteriously lowered to RMB 1500, which isn't enough to cover a decent apartment in Taicang. Next, Abbey began asking me how much money I had in my account. I asked her why she needed to know. She advised me that Web would only loan me the amount IT would determine I'd need. I made the mistake of telling her how much I had. Abbey told me Web would only advance me RMB 2000 for housing, which was roughly one month's rent. I asked her "how am I going to eat during this time?" She then allowed me to keep RMB 1500 to get me through the next 32 days. Ultimately, the lack of personal funds had a snowball effect. The HR manager claimed that my visa didn't expire until June. I advised her that she was misreading the visa, and that a Z visa tolls from the date of entry. She insisted that I didn't know what I was talking about, and eventually botched my working Z visa. on 30 hours notice, I was sent to HK for a tourist visa. I thought about going to the US, but David, the center director, told me not to worry as Web would cover the cost of the tourist visa. So, they initially covered the airfare, and told me to bring back my receipts for reimbursement. No one booked me a room, so I ended up overpaying for one night. The hotel couldn't accommodate me for a second night. I had to spend every last cent I had to get a tourist visa, and when I returned to Taicang, not only did Abbey, Cherry and David refuse to reimburse me, but they charged me for the airfare. The following month, they tried to send me back to HK for his Z visa without any of the required paperwork. When I asked about the paperwork, they said they would mail it to me. I then advised them that I wouldn't get on the plane unless the company advanced me the costs of the trip, as per the contract they are supposed to cover all cost associated with getting a Z visa. The HR manager, Cherry, refused and told me that I been paid RMB 4300 so I should have at least RMB 3000 remaining to spend on this trip. She added that after I exhausted all of my personal funds she'd consider loaning me additional funds as she saw fit. To make a bad situation worse, I ended up sleeping in the HK airport and was later stranded in Shanghai as the trains stopped running. Neither Abbey nor Cherry would assist him in finding a hotel room in Shanghai despite my numerous messages. At approximately 4 am, I was robbed by several men in Shanghai. I tried to call Abbey, but she didn't answer. I sent her a text message advising her of the incident, and Abbey got upset with me for getting robbed. She wrote "even kid know how to care for self." Never did anyone in the office ask me if he was ok, or offer to go with me to the hospital. Abbey then tried to write me up for taking the day off when I returned to recover from my injuries. At a meeting, she tried to fine me for taking the day off, at which point, I quit. Thereafter, Abbey and Cherry insisted that I owed the company money and that they would keep the pay owed. Further, they added that I was to leave the apartment in a week because they were demanding the rent money from the landlady. In any other country, this would be criminal. However, it seems to be another day in China.
Please help.
Best regards,
Joseph
UPDATE: The CFTU contacted the Webb Suzhou School by email on May 10th. We received no reply. We then contacted the home office of Web English by telephone and was told that their legal representative would get back to us. That was three weeks ago. Since we have had no response and and since Web ENglish in Suzhou has already received two other unresolved complaints, we have added them to our blacklist.
ReplyDelete