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Shirshak2000
February 1, 2011
Employment on false promises of lucrative career
Software Pundits recruited me showing lucrative salary and savings potential in US. They promised me successful long term settlement in US. They sent me to US on 26th March 2008 on B1 visa . The salary was to be paid in Indian rupees till I am on B1 and then in US dollars once I get H1B status. They never cleared the things beforehand that I may have to come back if I don't get project within 4 months and also they never told that the US job market is bad. They had told me before departure that the client company is already informed and waiting for me to join. But after going there, I realised there was no client waiting and their marketing persons will market me. I did not get a single interview call in the first 2 months. In the third month, I could get to attend only 2 client interviews. The interviews went well but luck did not favor me. In the 4th month, again, no interview happened. Then Kondal (Partner in the company) told me to go back to India and that I would be again called back when market improves. He even promised me to help in getting job in India upon my return. But since my return to India on August 2, 2008, I did not hear from US office or Bangalore office of Software Pundits. Some other candidates also faced the same fate. Now, I had paid Rs. 75000 to Software Pundits Company as a refundable deposit which was to be refunded in the 13th month from the day of landing in US. I kept waiting for co.'s call till May 2009 but they did not care to call me. Kondal and Durga bring people for their benefits and when the candidate does not get project, they dump him back. In my case, they dumped me giving me airfare only upto Mumbai while I arranged travel from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on my own. Kondal never cared to call me on phone to know if I reached safely or not. They never cared to know if I have got job or I am facing financial difficulties without job in India. I left well paying job in India as Tech Architect to pursue career in USA just believing Software Pundits and these people treated me like dumped vegetable. They did not even pay me Employment Allowance for 4 months saying that I did not complete 6 months with them. The employment agreement simply says that the allowance part is payable every 3 months without any condition of project or employment. The truth is they sent me back when they thought that they could not help me get project in US and that too in just a short period of 4 months. When a person whatsoever capable he may be, finds it difficult to get job in India in recession times, how can we expect to get project in just 4 months in US in recession times? At the time of sending back, Kondal said he has many contacts in Banglore and Mumbai and promised to get me job in India. But they never cared to call back. Rashmi called once when I started fuming and requested my resume saying that there is one opportunity. After I sent the resume, not once they cared to reply back. About Employement Allowance, the agreement just says that it is payable after the first 6 months on quarterly basis. So I am eligible to get it after 6 months even if I have come back. But these people are now saying it depends on project availability. They even did not hand me the H1 notice of action and upon asking for it, they demanded a letter saying that all dues with them is settled and they are now not responsible for settling me in US. What a selfish attitude these people have! If I don't get my deposit and Employment Allowance, I am going to go to court. Lastly when I again sent mail to Kondal, he replied that he is now not responsible to answer me. Is this what I have got after taking the risk to go to US in bad times? I remained unemployed for 10 months after coming back to India and only I know how I have suffered mentally and how I have carried out my family's expenses. I am married, having 2 children and also dependent parents. I used to believe Durga and Kondal are good at heart, but now I believe they did just for their selfish purpose and dumped me when they could not find me beneficial to them. About technical capabilities, Software Pundits people had me go thru online exams and also conducted a third party interview in US. I have passed out brilliantly in those exams and interview. But it was their bad marketing which did not help me to get project . Sudhir, who was marketing me, initially for a month, never could secure even a single vendor call for me. He could not even understand what specific technology I am looking for project. He will get requirements in flash and SQL reporting service which is not my skillset. And he will shout if I did not pick up the phone in US office due to some engagements. In the last 1 month also I did not get even a single vendor call. I just had two client interviews in the whole of 4 months and I was nearly 80 percent successful in both the interviews. It was only the matter of luck that they went for someone having more skillset than me, or perhaps with US experience, which I did not possess. So its not my fault that I did not get project. These people now say I will not get employment allowance (Rs. 33000 per month) for 4 months simply because I did not complete 6 months. I have suffered big financial and career loss by believing in Software Pundits and coming to US. What SWP people spend after the candidate is nothing compared to the financial and career loss I have suffered. Rashmi was negotiating for refundable deposit with me since January 2008 and then she left the co. Joycee, the immigration person, had agreed to have the deposit refunded on phone since 6 months ago. Since that time, there is no communication from Joyce as to when I will get the deposit. There was also the agreement to hand over me my H1 notice of action and experience letter. No action till now. So I have now decided to post this long email of my sufferings on every blog or website regarding Software Pundits that I come across so that Indian community comes to know what these people's real face is.
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