Complaint Review: World Tefl Association - Hong Kong Central

SAME MAN, SAME PLAN ...caveat emptor...

Several reviews about TEFL – International, iTEFL, Eenglish, solicited responses from the organisation. I managed to see the content of a few before they were contested but they follow a storyline very similar to mine. 

There is one common denominator, Mr Jimmy Crangle who are indisputably linked to any number of organisations such as TEFL Limited, World TEFL Association, International TEFL Association (ITO) or the ventures of each, such as Teach Abroad Thailand. The legal entities are registered in different jurisdictions across the world.

Mr Crangle predictably objected to reviews and filed objections; some reviews were taken down with the objections still visible. Factually demonstrated below, with references to publicly available information extracted from the company registries of the UK, Hong Kong and Thailand, also by his own admission, Mr Crangle was/ is the key individual, acting either in controlling shareholder and / or executive capacity in several organisations/ ventures accountable for failed TEFL franchises.

The methodology is as follows.

 1) Mr Crangle used or still uses different company entities registered in different country jurisdictions. In my case (precise extract from the TEFL License Agreement) “… The World TEFL Association (WTA) Is a Subsidiary of TEFL Limited Registered in Hong Kong, Company Number: 1648199. Skye Properties (Thailand) Co, Ltd is an authorized subsidiary of the WTA..." It is not clear what the status of WTA is, perhaps Mr Crangle can clarify.

2) It should be noted that Mr Crangle is also the Director of Skye Properties Ltd, registered in the UK, company number SC465215, Glasgow and that TEFL Limited registered in Hong Kong is known as Skye Holdings Limited with effect from 22 November 2013.

3) Mr Crangle contracts with unsuspecting entrepreneurs, the franchisee pays a license fee (in my case US$18,952.50) and contractually commits to uphold a minimum spend to enable on-line marketing. The franchisor (Mr Crangle) guarantees a minimum turnover, failing which, the franchisor (Mr Crangle) is contractually bound to refund the license fee.

4) In my case, a Money Back Guarantee was offered. Verbatim extract from the TEFL License Agreement reads: “…. 4.1 If you follow our instructions, maintain the minimum agreed monthly marketing spend and document your progress, and you do not generate a turnover of at least USD$50,000 in your first year of trading, we will buy back your TEFL license at 100% of the value you paid….”, The ONLY conditions were to follow their instructions (WHICH I DID); and maintaining the minimum agreed monthly marketing spend (WHICH I DID).

5) In my case, turnover was $0. I repeat, not a single sale registered at all under the expert guidance of Mr Jimmy Crangle who by his own account is an online marketing expert.

6) On 21 September 2015 Mr Crangle explained all the problems encountered and then proceeds to provide personal assurances, (verbatim extract from his letter). “… So bluntly, we need to make this work or we need to give you and all the other franchisees a refund. I will get back to you on or before the 14th of November 2015 with a new marketing plan…” I NEVER received a new plan; in fact, I presented a plan in March 2016 that would use the franchise fee refund as working capital for a new focused direct marketing campaign – no reaction

7) Mr Crangle then, seemingly unable to honour the guarantee, starts delaying tactics (verbatim extract of notes), on 21 April 2016 14:43 “…  Hi Pieter, Thank you for your email. I need to get a release date from our head office and i hope to have this soon. I will let you know as soon as I can give you a definite date Let me know if you have any questions and I will be happy to assist you. Very best regards Debbie McLean Support Team....” No release date was ever advised.

8) Mr Crangle was reminded about the refund, and I also alerted him to negative consumer reports about the contracting entity WTA that became public on Ripoffreport.

9) Mr Crangle then introduces contractual machinations and legal complexities and I received the following assurance, this time from TEFL Support International TEFL Organization (ITO) on 29 December 2017 09:06 (verbatim extract): “… Hi Pieter and thank you for your email. I can assure you that all is in good order. As per the franchise agreement, we need to find a buyer for you. Our lawyer will send you a settlement agreement in the new year for you to sign and authorise the re-sale of your TEFL Licence. Let me know if you have any questions and I will be happy to assist you. Very best regards Amy - Support Team International TEFL Organization (ITO)….”

10) I inquired about the specific reference to the contractual clause “…per the franchise agreement…”  that was invoked in email dated 29 December 2017 above (no such clause exists in my contract).

11) I again followed up, and in February 2018 requested the contact details of the lawyer to engage directly (lawyer details were never provided);

12) Not a single Dollar was ever refunded despite assurances since 2015. I was flatly ignored from February 2018 and, despite corresponding with Mr Crangle in a civil and cordial manner, his personal assurances came to nothing.

13) I made several attempts to contact Mr Crangle to no avail. I posted an entry on a Facebook page “Teach Abroad Thailand” (a Facebook group for TEFL trainees, the same place where I attended TEFL franchise training) to inquire about the whereabouts of Mr Crangle and Jane Openshaw and I was pointed to Linkedin by someone. However, my post (screen shot available) was swiftly removed and thereafter the page was closed for new entries (screen shot available). Jimmy Crangle and Jane Openshaw are the administrators (screen shot available).

14) I eventually managed to contact Mr Crangle and during October 2019 afforded him an opportunity to demonstrate goodwill. At first Mr Crangle made no attempt to personally acknowledge receipt or to engage with me and thereafter offered to call me if I provide phone numbers (he clearly did not pay attention to my communication as my invitation days before that he call me provided three telephone numbers). Mr Crangle was also contacted via Whatsapp, messages were delivered and read. Predictably no commitment emerged from Mr Crangle.

15) The narratives around Mr Crangle all have a similar thread of rich guarantees, failure, employing delaying tactics, invoking non-existent contractual complexities, broken promises; - all sadly conducted by THE SAME MAN, Jimmy Crangle, who shamelessly and repeatedly persist in  inducing THE SAME PLAN that guarantees losses and hardship on an unsuspecting entrepreneurial world.

16) Mr Crangle would do well to stop threatening legal action and inference to "attack groups” orchestrated by “competitors”. Such claims are disingenuous and merely attempts to divert attention from his conduct and obligations.

17) The failure of TEFL franchises clearly has been rife and losses suffered by franchisees are extensive. Mr Crangle demonstrates no intention to honour any contractual guarantees. Mr Crangle would do well to do the honourable thing, contact all franchisee’s (I can assist Mr Crangle as he gave me a list of references who bought franchises from him prior to me buying my franchise in 2014). Judging by the entries on Trustpilot and other sites and the list in my possession, Mr Crangle can expect an avalanche and no number of lawyers will be of any use any longer.

18) This is the first time ever I am going public on Mr Crangle (in fact it is the first time in my life), and I made every effort to avoid this all along. Mr Crangle was given an abundance of fair opportunities to honour his word. It is a BREACH of TRUST unparalleled in my entire life. (Not breach of contract, Mr Crangle duly demonstrated years ago that a contract with him is meaningless. And in business losses can happen but the conduct of Mr Crangle factually elucidated above, is reprehensible in the extreme).

19) I am forthwith committed to support any person or group that will assure that Mr Jimmy Crangle honour his obligations in my personal capacity and/ or as part of a group of people affected by this travesty.