To Whom It May Concern: Bernard Haldane Associates contacted me by e-mail and offered assistance with my job search. When I went to their office, I was told that there were several companies in town that were looking for people like me. Their "Vice President of Client Services" looked on his computer screen and claimed that there were openings at Eli Lilly & Co., Dow Agra, Inc, and others that were offering in excess of $150, 000 per year for someone with my qualifications. I was very excited! This gentleman told me that if I wasn't satisfied with their program they would "give me my money back". He went on to say that even if I completed the program, got a job, and was completely satisfied, but still wanted my money back that they would "give me my money back" - even though that is not what their contract states. This gave me a sense of security to go ahead and pay the high fees (over $6, 300). They never gave me access to their on-line services that were promised (which required an authorization code that they never gave to me). My first two "counselors" either quit or got fired within a couple of weeks of my starting to work with them. They never even completed my resume by the time I stopped participating in their "program". Finally, their "program" consisted very simply of common sense advice as to how to approach potential employers, and an updated resume. There was nothing of any real value there.

I quit the program because I found a job on my own, with absolutely no help from Haldane (which now goes by the name of BH Careers International) - this was a job I applied to before talking to Haldane. I completed 45% of their so-called "program". So, in fairness, I only asked for a refund of the 55% of the course that I did not complete. Contrary to what they told me during their sales pitch, they refused to give me a dime back! After I complained to the Better Business Bureau, the State Attorney General's office, and the Federal Trade Commission, Haldane offered to give me about half of the "fair" refund I had asked for. And they only agreed to do that if I would agree to sign another contract forfeiting my constitutional right to free speech regarding my experience with them.

They told me I would have to send a written retraction of anything negative I had said to anyone about them, and that I would have to prevent my family members from speaking negatively about them, also! I refused their offer, and now am exercising my right to speak out about this terrible company.