Carlyle And Associates; Philips-Carlyle International HUGE fees for tiny results. KEEP YOUR MONEY. IT WILL BE BETTER SPENT Omaha Nebraska

Theresa:

You had written to ask me what was the satisfactory conclusion to my problem with BHA. I say it was satisfactory because I only ended up losing $1250.00. I consider getting back $3250.00 to be a very good out come. How did I do it? I took them through small claims court. They even went to the point of sueing me or as they say, a counter suit.

The judge worked the best deal he could for me under the circumstances. He new as well as I did that they were doing a number on me. Don't think that the BBB will help or even the Govenor General. These folks are legal and they know it. It takes many complaints (hundreds) to get the Gov. Gen. involved. The BBB sold me out in a heart beat. Good luck with your case, I know what you are experiencing. So do thousands of others.

PS
If you do go to court be sure to take some supports. They will pull out all the stops to discredit you.

It is important that Carole Tipton's history be recorded so as folks are searching to research her company/companies, they are realizing her path from start to finish in the "career development"industry.

A. Carole Tipton used to work for BERNARD HALDANE & ASSOCIATES (go ahead and search the web looking for BERNARD HALDANE to see what sort of operation BH runs...)

B. IN 1998, Carole Tipton left BH to start her own company, possibly part of a franchise (single company, local branches like McDonald's) called PHILLIPS-CARLYLE INTERNATIONAL.
Carole Tipton/PCI was sued by BH because she trucked out of BH with all their marketing tools. The infamous 3" binder filled with the Day-Long Marketing Seminar information, the "blue sky" job questions, the "self assessment" survey, the "85% of jobs are not published" hook, etc. SHE LOST THIS LAWSUIT!
Apparently, she just took the "tools" and techniques BH used to sucker their clients and opened her own company. BH took exception to this, sued Carole Tipton/PCI and won.

C.In 2002, Carole changed the name of her company to CARLYLE AND ASSOCIATES. She did NOT however, change her tactics.

D. In 2003, the name CAREER CONNECT INC, now appears on her communications to clients.

It is clear that Carole Tipton is not sincerely in the business of helping others develop skills in order to secure their "dream" or "blue sky" job. Just like Bernard Haldane, she is apparently in the business of recruiting clients and at best, providing them with a mediocre resume, an overstated "Career Marketing Seminar" day.

My hope is now that she has opened under CAREER CONNECT, that she never gets money from any clients because sites like this one exist and her pedigree is now clearly visible.

BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE!

CAROLE TIPTON (formerly of Bernard Haldane & Associates), most recently of Phillips/Carlyle International; Carlyle & Associates has apparently renamed her bogus career development business CAREER CONNECT. (Do not confuse this with a legitmate FREE career development service in Virginia(www.careerconnect.state.va.us)).

DON'T BE FOOLED! She has changed her company's name but I guarantee she has not changed her business practices.

These practices are to promise access to exclusive job listings and key decision making people within the company, which "bypass the HR department." They back this up with impressive looking studies done by Harvard University and the US Department of Labor which reinforce what Carlyle&Associates/Career Connect hammer constantly...that 60-75% of jobs are not advertized and these are the jobs they will help you find.

What really happens, after you pay $4000 (up front) is you get a weak day long career marketing seminar...you learn to be on time and to dress appropriately for interviews AND better yet, you create your own business card to hand out during your networking...Hold on...I thought THEY already had key contacts throughout many local business and industries. You get a lengthy outdated list of job sites available on the internet.

After the fact, I learned the local community college offers development seminars, resume writing, and interview skills classes.
SAME SONG DIFFERENT DANCE...
KEEP YOUR HARD EARNED $$$ OUT OF CAROLE TIPTON'S JUKEBOX!

Today 4 clients of Carlyle&Associates (aka Phillips/Carlyle International; Career Concepts)went to the C&A offices in Omaha NE. A local investigative reporter accompanied us to document the results of our visit.

SURPRISE! I had received no notification from Carlyle&Associates but the nameplate was removed from their office door and the office was dark and empty of any furniture. The vacuum cleaner marks were still plainly visible on the carpet. This was only two weeks after I had my attorney send a letter dated April 18, 2003 to Ms. Carole Tipton, requesting a full refund of my fee for services promised but not received.

One client and the reporter went to the office next door which coincidentally was the office of an attorney who had performed services for C&A to inquire about C&A. I was not privy to the conversation but perhaps the client who spoke with them could update this site.

More and more C&A demonstrates their unwillingness to work to resolve these complaints of over 30 clients who spent $2500-$4500 each for access to unpublished career positions. Now they are just running. I hope they have not moved to only put down roots somewhere else, possibly under another name to begin their scam again.

If you are considering investing thousands of dollars with any career development agency, BE SURE to ask specifically and GET IT IN WRITING, if CAROLE TIPTON is any way involved with that company. She is also involved in CAREER CONCEPTS. If the name CAROLE TIPTON is in any way affiliated with the company, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN out the door. Any 'verbal' promises...GET IT IN WRITING and have both sign the document...even if it is just a plain sheet of paper. Get it in writing, get it signed & dated.

I discovered that the local community college has day long career development seminars for those who need help developing more advanced skills to secure a job out of the minimum wage grind. Also, resume writing is taught. Monster.com and other career search internet businesses will write a mid-career, professional resumes for under $300. College grads or entry level prospects pay about $150 for a resume.

SAVE YOUR MONEY! DON'T GET SCAMMED LIKE OVER 30 OF CARLYLE'S CLIENTS. DON'T THINK YOU ARE IMMUNE! WE ARE ALL COLLEGE EDUCATED, SOME WITH MASTERS' DEGREES AND THE PRESENTATION IS SLICK. Your best bet is to STAY AWAY!!

Update #1: BBB "Response"

The BBB considers this matter closed because Carlyle & Associates regurgitated their standard defense of "we are not an employment agency" and "it is the client's responsibility to maintain contact with their counselor."

Update #2: Attorney Review of Contract

My attorney's opinion after review of my contract, C&A's website, and my experience is that it any refund or award would be eaten up by my legal fees. I have requested he write a letter to C&A, with a copy to me, requesting a refund.

I have also sent all my documentation of my experiences plus any records I had in writing to the Nebraska Attorney General's office.

The only "response" from C&A was copy of a letter they sent to the BBB addressing my BBB complaint.

I will update this site as I get responses from C&A...or a refund.