Complaint Review: Cornerstone Career Partners - Oakville Ontario

Bill wins long fight for refund TheSpec.com - Business - Bill wins long fight for refund ACTION LINE See http://www.thespec.com/article/560239 Al MacRury The Hamilton Spectator (May 5, 2009) The long wait is over. Bill Harse has won his battle with the former operator of a now defunct career counselling agency. But some careers don't last this long. "I received my money ($2,849) last week, in the form of a money order issued by the Ontario Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services," Harse recently told us. In 2006, the Stoney Creek resident had visited an Oakville career counselling firm named Cornerstone and paid an upfront fee for its services. If the firm did not secure him employment within a year, his money was supposed to be refunded. If it did secure him employment, Harse would pay an additional $2,440. That's a lot of cash when you're out of work and you need to support your family. The year came and went and Harse says he was never referred to a single job interview. When he asked for the return of his money, as his contract with Cornerstone (6316352 Canada Inc.) specified, operator John Gardner told him his company was no longer in business. Instead, Harse was referred to a recruiting company operating on the same floor of the same office building. The RJK Group of Companies (6316361 Canada Inc.) collected its fees from any firm or client that hired employees such as Harse. Gardner claimed he was the general manager of the new company, though later he would be identified as a "silent partner." Within months, RJK was also out of business, evicted from its offices for failure to pay its rent. Employees would later tell Action Line they were owed their paycheques. Harse filed a complaint with the ministry. The ministry tried to contact Gardner, but received no response. Charges were subsequently laid against Gardner and both corporations for violating Ontario's Consumer Protection Act. On July 21, 2008, Gardner pleaded guilty in Hamilton small claims court to one count of failure to return Harse's money and was given 90 days to forward a certified cheque to the ministry. Ninety days came and went and Gardner said he couldn't refund Harse's money because he was having trouble finding a job himself. He was granted a further extension and eventually paid the ministry, and the ministry paid Harse. Employers take note: Harse is a determined, yet patient fellow.

Bill wins long fight for refund TheSpec.com - Business - Bill wins long fight for refund ACTION LINE See http://www.thespec.com/article/560239 Al MacRury The Hamilton Spectator (May 5, 2009) The long wait is over. Bill Harse has won his battle with the former operator of a now defunct career counselling agency. But some careers don't last this long. "I received my money ($2,849) last week, in the form of a money order issued by the Ontario Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services," Harse recently told us. In 2006, the Stoney Creek resident had visited an Oakville career counselling firm named Cornerstone and paid an upfront fee for its services. If the firm did not secure him employment within a year, his money was supposed to be refunded. If it did secure him employment, Harse would pay an additional $2,440. That's a lot of cash when you're out of work and you need to support your family. The year came and went and Harse says he was never referred to a single job interview. When he asked for the return of his money, as his contract with Cornerstone (6316352 Canada Inc.) specified, operator John Gardner told him his company was no longer in business. Instead, Harse was referred to a recruiting company operating on the same floor of the same office building. The RJK Group of Companies (6316361 Canada Inc.) collected its fees from any firm or client that hired employees such as Harse. Gardner claimed he was the general manager of the new company, though later he would be identified as a "silent partner." Within months, RJK was also out of business, evicted from its offices for failure to pay its rent. Employees would later tell Action Line they were owed their paycheques. Harse filed a complaint with the ministry. The ministry tried to contact Gardner, but received no response. Charges were subsequently laid against Gardner and both corporations for violating Ontario's Consumer Protection Act. On July 21, 2008, Gardner pleaded guilty in Hamilton small claims court to one count of failure to return Harse's money and was given 90 days to forward a certified cheque to the ministry. Ninety days came and went and Gardner said he couldn't refund Harse's money because he was having trouble finding a job himself. He was granted a further extension and eventually paid the ministry, and the ministry paid Harse. Employers take note: Harse is a determined, yet patient fellow.