English course

English course

From Kompas

In May, we scanned the ads in the paper for a suitable English
course. After several inquiries, we chose the American Language
Council (ALC). Roni Harlan of the institute presented us with the
bill on the same day. We settled half the amount -- Rp 350,000 --
by check, leaving a balance of Rp 300,000.

Roni Harlan came back in the afternoon, saying that the
teacher, a native speaker, preferred to be paid in cash. We were
made to settle the full amount before the course started. We duly
paid in hard cash (receipt attached).

After that, Roni Harlan sent us a teacher, who turned out not
to be a native speaker (the names of the native speaking teachers
Mr. Paul/Mr. Yansen proved to be invented names). Nonetheless, we
went along with all that.

After the first lesson, however, our teacher informed us that
he had not been paid one cent yet by Roni Harlan. What was even
more disconcerting was the discovery that our teacher was not on
the teaching staff of ALC. Roni Harlan approached our teacher
for reasons of wanting to take up an English course himself.

We then realized that we had been conned. We contacted Roni
Harlan again at the number 5604371 but were told that it was a
boarding place and that the culprit had moved out (the person who
answered our call was a Mr. Alvin, the owner of the place).

We would like to warn anyone who is looking for an English
teacher to be careful before making a choice of the many English
courses advertised in the paper.

Name and address

known to editor