Complaint Review: RL Stevens & Associates Inc. - Columbus Ohio

Please read to the bottom of this post.

I too was mislead by R.L. Stevens.  I wish it wasn't true because I think of myself as a pretty smart person.  I started my job search approximately 2 years ago. I first got to RLS by a Career Builder posting of a position for an SVP of Sales and Marketing. When I viewed the post, it was the ad for RLS and I thought maybe I could use REAL help since I was not successful to that point on my own.   

In my meeting with the sales consultant, I was told of their success rate (98% placed). I was told they would rework my resume with the key words properly placed to get my resume traction even with the automated resume systems used by many of the top firms to screen applications to find the right people. I was told that they have access to jobs that are not ever or seldom posted and subsequently to people at high levels who where the decision-makers for hires.   I was also told that THEY would market me to the unlisted postings and give me access to their prior placements of RLS, giving me access that is not had by other job seekers. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? 

Then came the initial fee - $6,800.  I couldn't afford that at the time but said that I would stay in touch while I tried to put the funds together.  Then came the second offer - $5,500.  Then a third $4,475 and finally, a buy it now and final offer of $3,475.  That is when it happened.  I bought the services based on getting all of the services provided for $6,800 for now only $3,500.  That was great...how smart I am to have waited.

I wrote a check for the entire amount and was assigned a representative to help me.  He hadn't been there long but was an HR guy that had worked for multi-million dollar firms.  He seemed to know his stuff as well and I had no complaint with him.  However, when I explained that I was promised all of these services listed above, he could offer only a nervous looking smile in response.  To his credit, he did not try to excuse the sales devises used to allure me.  He actually seemed visibly upset that they did that.  Like I said...he is new to RLS and maybe doesn't know all of the things they do to bring in clients.  I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt; one time.

I thought that based on his vast experience, though not giving me what was promised, could likely help me find a position commensurate with my 25 + years executive and operations experience.  Further, I had already paid for the services in advance and felt as though they should at least be given an opportunity to help me in my career. 

The personality tests only confirmed what I already knew about myself. The wants and needs assessment in reference to my job search only confirmed what I already knew about that as well.  So far, no assistance is being offered.  Then came the resume re-write.  OK, this was an improvement over my prior resume...at least it looks better. This is a service that can be done for $200 to $400 almost everywhere.

One problem though, after posting the new resume....no more calls than I had with my crappy one. (Still not getting the help I paid for) So, here we are 5 months later and not one call for an interview.  While my resume clearly looks better (I think), no one else seems to think so. 

I am currently in conversations with a Customer Service person after talking with the SVP of RLS in northern Ohio, but I have little hope of getting the refund I asked for or the services as promised at the point of sale. 

This story is much more involved than what I have written herein but it is the cliff notes, which sound a lot like many of the complaints registered on this site dating back some as far as 10 years. 

Here is what I am preparing to do....I wish to compile all of the complaints from the past five years specifically and have them merged into a possible single action against this firm and others that operate like it.  After we have this comprised I will bring the information to my attorney, who I already have on retainer, and file an action in behalf of us all.  I believe that the strength of the case here is in the numbers. 

If you don't think that RLS should be able to walk away without recompense for their fraudulant actions, join the fight to stop this shameless conduct.  Recent history has shown that many corporate entities are taking advantage of the little guy with impunity.  I don't know what the outcome will be but look at the all of the others just found on this site...we all have one thing in common: we needed a job and we got taken. 

Let's send a message to these scam artists that we will not just lay down and take a loss.  Please respond ASAP as we want to get this going.