Fred Alam - Below The Line - Fosters Australia - Divine Image Ripoff, Deceptive conduct and lies, unprofessional and made excuses on why he had not paid us for the work that we did. Sydney, New South Wales Australia

Below the Line is a promotional company that is outsourced by Fosters Australia. I first came to Below the Line over a month ago. It seemed quite credible as we were issued with gear and were always in contact with the State Manager.

My first worries was when I filled in my first Payment Invoice. I had read on a myspace account of someone who was owed $6000 by them. I didn't think that it would be logical for that person to continue working as the debt grew to that large amount.

My first invoice was sent away and I thought that all would be fine and I would be paid within the next few days. Three days had gone past and I started to get worried, as Christmas was getting closer and I had not received my money.

I phoned the owner Fred Alam and he assured me that I would get the money by the next monday or Tuesday. He said that he had sent away the invoices to the bank and it was the banks fault.

The next Wednesday I had still not received the money so I phoned my bank and they told me they had no record of it ever coming in or going to come in. I phoned Fred back and requested a receipt from my invoice and to trace the money that he sent. He told me to wait till tomorrow and if it hadn't come in by then, then he would fax it to me.

The next morning it was in my bank. I thought, well I have been paid then that's ok..so I kept working. At the moment I am waiting on my second pay...a month later and it still hasn't come in, I also have another Invoice to send him to get my third pay (pay is fortnightly). I have tried to contact Fred but the Head Office number they were using is disconnected, and he is not answering his cellphone.

I did an Australian Business Number search and Fred has a few of these numbers, under different alias. Also on our payment sheet that we fill out all the details of his company are wrong e.g address, telephone number. I believe that I have found his correct address on the ABN search but am not 100% sure as he has so many different ABN numbers with different details and most of them are active.

At least a dozen of the girls who also work with me have contacted me complaining that they too haven't been paid. It is also my understanding that Fred is also running a competition company called Divine Image that is outsourced by Foster's competition; Lion Nathan Brewery. This is indicated because Fred Alam has an ABN number as well associated with Divine Image.

I asked Fred about this and he denied it, saying he worked for them three years ago, this doesn't explain why his ABN with them is still active. I have worked for Divine Image once because I was asked to by Below the Line, and they also have not paid me for my work, and are not replying to my emails. Below the Line does not have a websit, but divine image does, which is Divineimage.com.au

Basically I am trying to warn any Australian or Travellers, if they get the chance to work for Below the Line or Divine Image, do not unless you would like to work for charity. Which makes me think, what is Fred doing with the money that Foster's pays him??Back pocket??

Anonymous
Melbourne
Australia