Any teachers just started with Education Experts?

Hi guys,

I've been in KSA for the past 3 years, the first two years I spent with Education Experts in Dammam. The recruitment process was similar to many as described above.

I was invited to an interview in London (the office was then near Old Street station), had a short discussion and then was asked to sign a contract. I was asked to pay the VISA fee (£500) and leave them my passport and passport pictures with them. The following week I was asked to complete my medical examination. 5 weeks later I was asked to confirm flights and was refunded my VISA payment in my first monthly salary.

My cousin applied with the same company a year later, and experienced a similar fiasco as many of you are experiencing. He waited nearly 9 months, before being offered a contract with another company. After many weeks of continuously pestering Education Experts (ringing 2/3 times a day) he received his VISA refund before leaving for KSA.

My experience of the company branch in KSA has been a disappointing one. The smallest things were made difficult, such as obtaining exit visa's, housing allowance (we weren't allowed housing allowance in Dammam, unless we were with family even though this was promised in contract), transport allowance and leaving the country (the ordeal lasted nearly 5 weeks). There was also many instances of delayed payment.

Luckily, I came to KSA alone therefore making these difficulties bearable, however other teachers with families must have had an extremely difficult time. I have now returned to KSA with another company, and things have been going smoothly thus far. No petty problems, the company lets us keep both our passport and Iqamah at all times and have allowed us multiple exit VISA's.

If you guys have any other questions about anything mentioned above, please let me know.

M.

Hi, which company are you with now?

ICEAT.

I worked for edex as a teacher and recruiter. ..and i no the problems that u guys have with them....there r other companies out there which are far more capable in delivering as promised.

Agreed.

The only reason many initially go with EdEx is that their entry requirements are extremely low. Last year, we had 3/4 female teachers in our building that were hired without even an TEFL/CELTA.

I guess its a decent alternative if you're struggling to get your foot in the door.

I think no one should waste their time with Edex. If we report them as fraud to banks can banks return the money?

I'm being considered for a position with Edex and wanted to know more about whether I should pursue it or look elsewhere. Is the company shady? I have read some of the responses in this thread and I wanted to know if it still applies today?

I finally got my refund! If you threaten to go to the police long enough they return it to you eventually!

naz1sh wrote:

I finally got my refund! If you threaten to go to the police long enough they return it to you eventually!

hi there, were u coming to ksa for job?

Hi I have been waiting for 6 months and I still have not had my medical - I think everyone should claim a refund asap I also heard that there are only two people left in their new office which is located in Liverpool street station now. Everyone else has left. So unprofessional with more and more lies - I also checked companies house for information on them and apparently the director ***********  resigned in dec 2014 so does this mean only R****** is working there?! Odd.....

I am going to report Edu Exp to Action Fraud her in the UK and need all your support guys to speak with one voice. Will you back me?????.
If we report our concern to Action Fraud as a group they will take us seriously.
Please let me know what you think

Action Fraud number 0300 123 2040
Website: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk

Huntersbar wrote:

I am going to report Edu Exp to Action Fraud her in the UK and need all your support guys to speak with one voice. Will you back me?????.
If we report our concern to Action Fraud as a group they will take us seriously.
Please let me know what you think

Action Fraud number 0300 123 2040
Website: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk

Is it any surprise that Edex has not been paying their teachers here at PNU? As I've said before, stay faaaaar awwaaaaay from Edex!

ReadyFreddy, you seem to have a gripe with Edex but don't let that persuade you to tell lies just because you're angry.  All the Edex teachers have been paid on time and in full for many months now and at no point have Edex 'not been paying their teachers'.  When you lie like this you persuade people not to come and they lose out on a good salary for no reason, except that they listened to your bitterness.  What's more, their future colleagues need them to come.  Much as I like the money for overtime, (6000 sar extra per month), at some point we all get tired.

Hi solidsaudifacts. I'm glad your experience with Edex has been okay!

I was contacted by Edex and found them to be very bizarre. They offered me the job without any questions or any interview, and the salary was very low, even with a Master's and experience. 

I don't work for Edex, so I don't have any gripes with them, thankfully. However, I do know people who have problems with Edex and haven't gotten paid for several cycles. I stand by that. Each case is different.

It's great that you get paid for overtime. Edex & SBC salaries are lower anyway, so the overtime must help. 

I personally know 5 teachers who work 9 hours a day several days a week (7:30-4:30) and don't get one extra riyal. Sounds crazy, but it's true. Perhaps you're in a different program or situation?

Glad it's working out for you!

You come across like J.......... the liar and deceiver who promised me several times to return my deposit for the last 5 month, he never did.

I’d advise any potential teacher to stay away, far away from this fraudster swindler cheat.
I would challenge him to be man enough and face me, he knows he can’t do this.

I second solidsaudifacts, EdEx has a lot of issues but they have actually paid on time these past couple of months and sometimes earlier than that.

readyfreddy you shouldn't talk about something that you have no clear knowledge about. Personally I prefer when advice comes from someone who is actually currently working for that company.

I have had an aweful experience with EduExperts too! They promissed a career in Saudi but a few months ago it all fell through. I am still waiting for my refund!

naz1sh how did you get your refund? I have been chasing them and Love Tefl but no luck as yet.
Thanks,

I haven't got my refund yet, but I'm taking them to court. I also informed the Fraud Agency in the UK about them, you many need to do the same.

they offered me a job and would like to know if you like it?

do they take your passport and leave you with a residency permit on a single entry visa? keeping you in the country?
Salary good?
any news  - please

thank you!!
susan

Do they work your maximum hours - 48 a week - 6 days which they are allowed?

Susan

it says in the contract with EdEx the law allows to work an employee 48 hours a week over six days.
nice yeah?
i don't think i'll accept their contract - anyone agree??

Susan

My advice is:

Keep away from them

thank you for weighing in

Education Experts are no more. 

If you check Companies House online, you will see that Education Experts London Limited were dissolved as a Company on 9th June 2015. 

The separate company Education Experts Company Limited  is evidently gone too, because there is this Gazette Notice of 21/04/2015:  "The Register of Companies gives Notice that unless cause is shown to the contrary, at the expiration of three months from the above date the name of EDUCATION EXPERTS COMPANY LIMITED will be struck off the register and the company will be dissolved".

So in seven days from my typing this on 14th July, they will be dissolved.  Unless someone pulls a rabbit out of the hat fast.  In which case I will find out who, and try to get my £500 from that person.  It is more than likely that they will just let it be dissolved, and avoid paying debts.

As for Education Experts Manchester, they appear not to have ever been a separate company, just a trading name of Education Experts Company Limited.

Last week I went along in person to the 69 Old Broad Street address to hand in my refund form. When I previously sent it some months ago to their former address, it came back undelivered as they had moved within a couple of days of me speaking to the guy on the phone - naturally he didn't tell me they were moving.

I spoke to the nice lady on the reception desk of the 69 Old Broad Street office building, as I could not see Edu Experts listed on the board.  She told me they had left quite some time ago, without leaving a forwarding address.  I remarked "That seems typical of them".  Rolling her eyes she replied "Yes, you could say that..."

Thanks very much dboyce, please keep us updated. As for me,  I'll presue J to the end of the world to get my money back.

Just wondering if you tried to call J number, because I tried several times but no answer.

Huntersbar, I don't think it will do any good to pursue J.  Your contact was with a company, not with J as an individual. 

Your only possibility might be to go to the Small Claims Court immediately, before 21st July, and file a claim against the company before it is dissoloved (assuming your contract is with the comapny that still has a week to live, not the one that was dissolved on 9th June - check your form).  Yout claim might then have some standing when the comapny is dissolved on 21st July.  But I doubt it. 

On a personal rather than a legal level, I suppose if you make enough of a nuisence of yourself with J yu might stand some chance, but I  don;t really think so, and it would probably be best to check your legal position  first.

I think I've kinda written off my £500.

Thanks dboyce,  I've already claimed through the court,  let us what they can do!!!

Great! Let us know what happens......

hi
I have had the same issue, and i wanted to get my money back. Me and my wife were both wanted to get Job teaching abroad - Thus paid £1000 total.
I started Edex from October, and J made me in a circle - promising that i will get the job on December. Anyway on March i had enough - and wanted a refund. I completed the refund, and J said he will refund within 3 months. From June i was expecting a refund. I phoned him, no response. i emailed him, he responded and said he will refund it on 12 June. But no avail. From that date i had no contact from Education Experts email or phone. I really feel hopeless!
i have tired emailing:
Mr. Osamah Mannaa
Personnel Manager
***
Mr. Muneir Ghaleb
International Personnel  Specialist
***
Mr. Amine Cherfa
International Personnel  Specialist

***
Mr. Fuad Binjahlan
Administrator

***

However Mr. Muneir Ghaleb emailed me each time. He copied what i said to sends this to J. But still no response from J.

Please let me know whats happening - and what i can do
thanks

Muhsin001 I'm sorry to hear about the £1000 you and your wife paid, and the trouble you have had in trying to get it back.

According to Companies House records online, J Wells ceased serving as a Director of Education Experts Company Limited on 1st December 2014.  I don't know whether he left the company altogether then, or just ceased serving as a Director.  I guess he probably saw the way things were going.

EDUCATION EXPERTS COMPANY LTD Company number 08819892 was scheduled to be dissolved as a company yesterday.  I expect it happened.   Companies House documents for this company are online here: beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08819892/filing-history

Their other company, Education Experts London Limited was dissolved on 9th June 2015.

I don't have any legal background, so I don't know what the legalities would be of trying to recover debts from a dissolved company.  The chances would be remote, I think.  It would need to be established whether the company had any assets at all, and then which creditors had what claims on those assets. 

You would really need to get legal advice on this, but I am afraid I don't hold out much hope for your £1000.  If you do find out a way to proceed, it would be very helpful if you'd post it here!

I'm really sorry to hear about your troubles,  I have the same problem with ED.

I contacted the police Action Frud, they can only do something if enough people complain about J and EDX.  If that ever happened J & EDX will be tried in court and maybe forced to pay.

I guess we may do something,  if we make enough noise collectively. But then again I have my doubts about the justice system.

Huntersbar, you mentioned in Post #227 that you "have already claimed through the court".

Can you tell us what process you went through?  What court?

When a business is a Limited Company, as the two Education Experts companies were, this means that the financial liability of the Company's Directors is limited in the event of things going wrong. 

Since the legal entities with which we had contracts -  Education Experts Company Limited and Education Experts London Limited - don't now exist, there is no legal entity to sue, as far as I can see.

I doubt very much if either of the Companies has any assets listed, so there will be nothing with which to repay debts.

Former Directors of either of the companies will not be personally liable for company debts, as far as I know.

It would be necessary to get precise legal advice on this matter, I think.  That's why I am interested to hear about the Court process you refer to above, Huntersbar.

You have to go through the small claims court.  I'm not sure this applicable to non British citizen. 

It's very easy, you can do it online for small fee. I logged the claim against both J & his company.

I applied a while back, I'd a reply to say they're dealing with my claim.  As I said before,  I'm not holding my breath,  but I'm sure I'll cross path with EDX or James one day.

That's very interesting Huntersbar; thank you for sharing.  Please let us know any outcome!

How do I get my money back?

Yes I will join you. They owe me money too.

dawnwallen, if you read further up this thread, you will see that the Education Experts companies no longer exist.  I think that unfortunately there is very little likelihood of recovering your money.  Maybe in due course huntersbar will tell us if he/she has any joy with the Small Claims Court.  I am afraid I doubt it though.

Thanks. Are you working in Saudi or going to?

dawnwallen, I am currently working in Saudi, but nothing to do with Education Experts (though one of my teaching colleagues had work through them in the past).  As I type, I'm home on holiday for the Eid break.

Thanks for sharing. I'm really keen to know if anyone or yourself has had any dealings or knows much about Adwaarabia.