On learning that this company is on a mass recruitment drive in the UK things need to be said. Myself and up to 50 other british nationals were recruited by a company known as English International, later changing their name to Havefunteaching. On arriving in china we were given no training, well, would be a lie to claim they knew what they were doing, 3 days in an office with Billy, a young man "fresh from mcdonalds". Then we were handed over to his business partner and basically forced to sign a contract, what - with the culture shock and the trust we unfortunatly had in this company. We were then placed in our schools and not paid for the first two months.
Some people were paid as little as 250 pounds for a months work. The schools had no idea what was happening and they were paing our agent 1000 pounds plus. There was a large western population in the city where they origianally founded themselves and people soon learnt how much they were been treated. It was not long before people were leaving, but what to do without their airfare and visa cash as it was stated by the company it would be refunded on completion of the 12 month contract?
People were stuck and forced to find alternative employment which without the support of the western community out the would have been even harder than it was. People began posting on forums and urging people back home not to fall for this scam, many people seriously distressed. One young girl was told "china is a big country and people go missing all the time". Another was threatend by a knife by a chinese business partner. I will not state all the stories on them here, it will take too long. Some refrences to this are :-
http://www.usaconsumercomplaints.com/teachers/english-internationa/english-international-the-tru-f8e83.htm
http://www.usaconsumercomplaints.com/directory/English-International.aspx
Once you are working you will be on a 3 month tourist visa, which means you have to travel to Hong kong to renew this besides the fact you will be working ILLEGALLY.
This is deffinetly the same company, just a name change and a more attractive website, most likley paid for by some of the 20000 Uk pounds they stole from their chinese business partner, Lucas. Who had connections with some very undesirable chinese nationals who he threatened he would use against anyone who spoke out of this opporation.
Podtravelandteach are 100% not to be trusted, i cannot believe they are doing this again. Please research or even contact the chinese consulate in manchester on 020-72994049.
It really is something to be taken seriously what they are doing out there. They can give you all the promises they can here in the uk but once out there your on your own. There is a reason why TEFL's and training are in place, speak to i-i about this. "teach abroad, no experience, don't pay us a penny" deffo something wrong there.
I believe this time they will send people to remote places, away from the cities to keep people apart. I have been in china well over a year now and know the ins and outs of the whole opporation.
Stay clear.
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