alex s. google search. teach china podtravelandteach

T N. thanks for the heads up, alex. did you have personal experience with them?

alex s. yes. i am actually still in china, well in the uk now on a holiday. been out there a year now, speaking the language and enjoying teaching. it was very very serious what happened before with them. most sites are closed down that report them as they threaten them with legal action. this happend on a lonley planet forum, very revealing.

T N. wow. well thanks for letting us know. i think more people overseas are using sitejabber now so this is helpful!

alex s. http://www.ripoffreport.com/teachers/english-internationa/english-international-the-tru-f8e83.htm

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2161463

garantee they will deny this, but the truth will come out. their website is pretty much the same as before, just alot more attractive. i am sure as soon as the old teachers here about this they will do the same again. : battle online claiming to be satisfied teachers,( he used his girlfriends name before and email address), close down as many sites exposing them with legal action)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2161463

http://www.ripoffreport.com/teachers/english-internationa/english-international-the-tru-f8e83.htm

and this one seem to stick by us all. they are a complete joke of a company, cannot believe they are doing this again.

alex s. just don't want anybody else to go through what myself and the original group of teachers went through last year. all the while they get very rich from us. damaging the schools and peoples lives.

ross t. Thankyou Alex. Yes, i remember looking to do this last year. They were advertised on every job site in the UK. Last years reports scared the hell out of me and my partner. I thought they would be related. Will look into this further. Thanks again.

ross t. http://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/havefunteaching.co.uk

vicky a. I have just been informed by one of our successful candidate’s who’s going out to china, about some forums.

Just to put the record straight, here at Pod Travel and Teach we have never used any other names or companies. We have always been and always will be known as POD Travel & Teach. We have been going since 2007 where we have been working with Chinese educational clients and been placing people from other companies throughout the world.

It has only been since September that we have now the full knowledge that we can select the right clients to work with in China, as well as selecting the right committed and mature clients in the UK.

We had originally placed around only 35 people for a trial period of up to 3 months at a time. This has only been done to ensure that we can cope on a much larger scale as we are now looking for 75 people to go out in the February & March period just after the Chinese New Year. We offer full Visa costs as well as return airfare refunds to people who complete a 12 month term. We don’t offer nor guarantee any refunds if someone does a only a 6 month term, as this differentiates the genuine and committed candidates from the rest.

As a company we never charge a single penny for our cultural exchange programs. The vast majority of the companies that work in this field always charge a high one off fee, or some kind of application fee. Since we don’t charge these fees that others do, it has made us very successful in what we do. This I would imagine makes a lot of people jealous, hence the unfair comments. Furthermore people would say that if you don’t charge any fees to the applicants then how do you make your money. Well each Chinese client that we place people at, have an annual budget fund and that’s where we get our fees from; the Chinese companies that we work with.

People who aren’t always successful in their application with us or someone from other competition that might be writing all these unfair comments. It might be even young kids pretending to be several people writing these comments. In the end truth always prevails.

At the same time any small, medium, or large company, whether it’s M&S, Virgin Atlantic, or Thomas Cook aren’t perfect, I would be the first person to say that any ones perfect.

Always remember that you should never pay any money for a cultural exchange program abroad whether it’s in France, Japan, South Korea, or China.

Vicky At Pod Travel & Teach – and we don’t go by any other names.

alex s. Vicky, blatlently Billy and the crew. Batley.? You may be able to fool some people but as you say, in the end the truth prevails. Anyone going to china with this company should contact the chinese
consulate in manchester on 020-72994049. The schools pay the agency 1000 uk pound plus. You will recieve 400 or less. This is while you will be working on a tourist visa. These tourist visas last 3 months and nothing in china is stable, recently visa's would only last 30 days due to the asian games. (Vicky, seen you posting on other forums as potential employees and happy customers. I can see right through those lies, same writing style as last year). Ok, so you guys down in the office will yet again be chasing forums ending in you changing your n ame again !! I will be reporting you to the police once i have the support of the other people you seriously mistreated last year. £400, 4000rmb is a joke of a salary in china. Where will you be placing people this time? not in shenzhen? what is your chinese address? ay, happy chinese new year to you vic.

alex s. waiting for, "lets go for the experience" "money is not important" "some people have teething issues" "we are not there to babysit people" and finaly " i wont lie to you"

alex s. "We have been going since 2007 where we have been working with Chinese educational clients and been placing people from other companies throughout the world" could you plese give me the details of these "other companies throughout the world"? be nice to contact them enquiring about pod travel and teach, put peoples minds to rest.

"Since we don’t charge these fees that others do, it has made us very successful in what we do" how do you know you are successful when you are only just these days sending people out?

anonymous a. they did - send people to shenzhen - they claim to have shut the site down - but have not

anonymous a. so report them to everybody - both chinese and British and interpol

christ b. How did it go with trading standard when you reported them, had they had previous reports? Was looking at working for this company. Also will call tomorrow, was no answer last week friday when i called.

Ross P. I reported them back in September last year, they took down some details but nothing really seemed to come of it. I think because the company ceased to exist around August last year and Billy and Adam had gone to ground it would have been difficult to do much. But if this company are the same people then definitely one to avoid.

alex s. Hi Rachel. Looks like you will find out the hard way. Please contact the chinese consulate in manchester, enquire about working on a tourist visa. It is very easy to teach in china. Are you happy going to the other side of the world on a 12 month contract. It is a long way from home to find that you have any problems. Which without a doubt you will. I suggest you read into these reports alot more than you have, check with the embassies also. Waiting for POD to repply to this thread http://forums.gumtree.com/viewtopic_f_29_t_394729_wwwpodtravelandteachcouk_scam .

It is a year away from the uk, working illegally, all the while you will be paid very little. The school will pay POD £1000, you will recieve much less. The training is inadiquate, i strongly suggest you read more into these reports, and the law on teaching in china. If you are caught you will b e punished. Its not the UK out there. Anyway, wish you all the best.

Take care.
:)

alex s. And who would want to sabotage this company if it was all legit? Theres alot of info there that any intelligent person would be able to put together and know something is not right. Did they say where in china you will be going?

alex s. I know its you, nice pic.. :)

alex s. They are advertised on just about every job site in the uk. They are after quantity, not qualitiy in their teachers. One reason, bung you in a school, working 'ILLEGALLY' Please could you ask for their chinese address, (real one). They must have one as to train you to the high standards they claim. Please reread their website again, carefully, it absolutly stink. Even little thing like the spelling of the currency "reminbi", it is actually renminbi. ren meaning people. Rachel, please please research teaching in china. Ask yourself why they have just appeared advertised from glasgow to london in every job site, newspaper. I have also reported them to trading standards today, and been intouch with BBC scotland who were investigating the last year before they vanished.

:)

Rachel A. I don't know. I really don't. I do intend to find out. And there's no way my parents would let me go if they didn't think it was legit at all. My dad's going to come with me to Batley to check it out with me. He wants to be sure, as do I. You could be wrong, as could I.
And yeah, there's stuff that could make an "intelligent person" doubt that it's real or whatever. But there's also stuff that makes me wonder if the people who are slagging them off are being real.
I do intend to find out everything before flying to the other side of the world. I'm not that stupid. Even if I don't come into your "intelligent person" category :P

And I don't get what you mean, you know it's me? And thanks, I loved that plastic wig haha :)

Rachel A. Thanks for the concern. But, don't worry. I won't be going anywhere until I am completely sure.

alex s. so you got the job without a face to face interview. What did they ask you on the phone interview.?

alex s. "Unless you have proof (and it would appear that you don't), maybe you should rethink posting on every website where this company is mentioned."

Proof is everywhere, research it. READ what people have wrote concerning the law, how people were treated before. The family that ran English International were from Batley, which is now where their office is based. Last year they had an office in Leeds city centre. Why on earth would people like myself be on these forum, they cannot and must not be allowed to do this again, and i assure you they wont.

T N. Rachel,
Often people are angry enough about a bad experience that they will only write that one review. It's more common than not.
I'm glad you'll do your research before jumping into it.
I also don't get the "I know it's you" comment.
Best of luck,
T.

Rachel A. No, I understand entirely what you are saying. I really do.
And I am reading and researching. But, it just seems to be the same people who have been commenting saying exactly the same things. Maybe I just don't want to believe what I'm reading because this whole China thing is what I want after having a terrible two years. It just seems like the break I need. Maybe it's that. I don't know. But like I say, I do intend to find out.

And, still not getting the "I know it's you" comment :P

alex s. Tran, last year it became very very personal with many people like myself. They cannot and must not be allowed to do this again. Similar posts on forums happened last year with people claiming to be who they were not, two different names posted exactly the same post last year. same writing style, comments etc. I know they spend time in the office doing this. Why would Rachel go through the trouble of regestering to this site and uploading a pic just to comment like she did?
If am sorry if i am wrong Rachel, please do not take offence.

alex s. if i am wrong then i am sorry Rachel.. :)

T N. to Rachel's credit, she did give it a Meh rating... Alex, have any suggestions as to other places to look into?

Rachel A. The reason I found these sites is because I wanted to know more myself about the company. And I'm torn on what to believe.
I still don't understand. I mean, do you think I'm one of these people who is trying to con people?

alex s. enough of these forums, igetting no where. currently in the process of contacting the other people from last year. Get together to contact trading standards and also the authorities in china. Any info from anyone about their 'real' chinese address would be much appreciated.

alex s. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2161463&page=3

only one of many, alot of people here giving good details of the law and working/teaching in china and how this company will be taking advantage.

T N. okay, now you're talking crazy, alex, and not really answering our questions. i think you meant to paste those last two comments elsewhere.

alex s. It is the same company, same recruitment drive as before, same website just different name. Also, as last years misfortunate people will know, they were from Batley, which is where the office is based.

alex s. no just here.

alex s. did not see your question till after i posted last comment, thought it would be rude not to reply. :)

Ross P. Just thought i'd add my two cents here. I have read reports that his company are the same as a company called English International. If they are, and I speak as some one who went to China last year, STAY WELL CLEAR!!! People were forced to work illegally and were ripped off in terms of wages. Visa and working laws are very strict in China and if you are caught working on a tourist visa, (as everyone was) you are in serious trouble. I called up this company today to see for myself what they are like. I cant be sure they are the same as English International based on one phone call, but they sound just as dodgy. The girl I spoke to said THEY SEND YOU ON A TOURIST VISA! When I challenged her on this she got her colleague "Jason" to assure me she meant a work visa. Are you really sure you want to fly half way around the world with a company like this??? I didn't properly research English International before I worked with them last year and it came back to haunt me, I really wouldn't wish an experience like that on anyone.

alex s. Rachel = POD travel and teach. why else would you be so bothered with defending them, have you nothing better to do. and i have made other posts, last year on the havefunteaching forum. I guess most people have only just registered here at sitejabber to report this scam, just like you felt the need to to post you comment. 1st time i have been scammed like that and i never been so angry !! People need to know. Your sat down in the office thinking of ways to battle on these forums, just like last year! Rachel, let billy know he is a very bad boy and his day will come.

Thanks Ross. now i think i'm spending too much time on this forum, just so riled up that the cycle has started again. Reported them to trading standards today, i know it is them

Rachel A. Look, regardless of what you think about the company, I'm just a 21 year old girl who happened to come across the chance to apply with these people. I came across this website when I was looking into it more, like I said earlier. I also said earlier that maybe I don't want to believe what I'm reading. I don't know.
I live in South Wales, have never even been to Batley and very rarely even leave my home town. Tell me how I can prove to you I'm not some scammer and I will.

This is another thing that makes me doubt what you're saying. You're so quick to jump to the assumption that I'm some random person sat in some random office, pretending to be somebody I'm not.

I've already told you that I plan to investigate more before signing anything and making any final decisions. I am so not getting where you're getting the idea I'm some fake person. Lol, it's so ridiculous.

T N. Yikes, Rachel, better for us to just stop and put this to rest. Good luck to all!

Bobby K. Tough call on this one, but I think alex may on to something. He is basically saying that he believes that this company is a sham and that anyone saying good things about it must also be part of that scam. In any case, I will toss my 2 cents in that the majority of these work abroad programs are scams and if you want to find this type of work do yourself a favor and go through a local university as they have the connections needed for this type of work. Too many scams online to be safe. Kudos to Alex on this one.

alex s. Rachel, hehe, in your updated profile "find me online at facebook.com", what's your id? your pic looks completly different now, and you look very aged for 21. Michael Pearson was your name last year, exactly the same, mel preston too. :) never left your home town, go to china with these guys? early in the morning jumping at the chance to defend yourself on a forum in which all you have had is a phone interview with these scammers. Why bother? shows who you really are if you ask me.I am here writing this as i was scammed by them.

Rachel A. My facebook ID is www.facebook.com/rach.andrews
Add me as a friend and check out what I've been up to since I joined 2/3 years ago.
You should feel like a right $#*!head about this. Because you are wrong.
My name last year was Rachel Andrews. And the year before that. And the 19 years before that.
You're actually starting to really piss me off now.
Alex, I came online after having been out last night and had an email saying you'd replied, so I replied. What is the harm in that?
And, if you payed attention, you would have noticed I haven't been defending them for the last couple of posts.
You seem like a total arrogant $#*! in all honesty.
Yeah, my picture looks different because the first one is about 4/5 years old. This one is much more recent. And I'm always getting told I look older than my age.

You're not even reading what I'm writing properly. I didn't say I've never left my home town did I? No I didn't. What I said was "I live in South Wales, have never even been to Batley and very rarely even leave my home town."
I also partly explained my reason for wanting to go in the first place "Maybe I just don't want to believe what I'm reading because this whole China thing is what I want after having a terrible two years. It just seems like the break I need. Maybe it's that. I don't know."

Since the first time I've posted on here, I have said I could be wrong. I'm unsure. So I don't get why you're acting like such an $#*!.

alex s. bless, why even rise to this. :)

alex s. take care and all the best in finding employment. :)

Rachel A. Thanks Bobby. I never said I was sure he was lying. I said I could be wrong, as could he.
But to be honest, accusing me of pretending to be some guy and some girl is a little insulting. I've already said I intend to check this company out more before I make any decisions. I don't understand how he's come to the conclusion that I'm some however-old-guy.

Rachel A. Well, I've read elsewhere that people who are saying things like this are people who got fired for doing stuff wrong. And, that what they did is unthinkable. So how can we be sure that you're not some dirty paedophile?
I mean, if we're just jumping to assumptions on who people really are...

alex s. wow, oh my, grow up, don't take too much offence love. do your research!!

Rachel A. Oh, hit a sore spot did we?

alex s. ????

alex s. come on, this is getting interesting?

alex s. get a life, take seriously all of the reports and the law as to teaching in china. why nare you even here?

Rachel A. If you don't believe me, why are you so interested?

alex s. could we have some refrences to some reports please Rachel A.

alex s. this is getting rediculas, you deserve to work for this company!! suit yourself.. :)

Rachel A. This is getting ridiculous? Coming from you?
You confuse me, I swear.
How many times have you said you've been done posting on here? Yet, here you are...still doing it.

alex s. you frustrate me into keep replying. ah, well. forums arn't enough to deal with this issue. Rachel, grow up. why are you so concerned with this forum and this company? actually, don't answer that.

Rachel A. Yes, well you frustrate me too. I don't care what you're saying about the company anymore. I've said from the start that either one of us could be wrong.
It's just that you're accusing me of lying for a start. I hate liars. And accusing me of being a man. I hate (the vast majority of) men lol.
You asked for my facebook ID so I could prove you wrong. Yet, you've not added me. So how can you still sit there (wherever it is you're sitting) and say it?

Tom Y. not gonna lie... i applied for them... you've both shat me up, oh.. that was my add on facebook btw... tbh i were just doing it to keep track of all this :-\

Ross P. Just logged in to my hotmail and seen 25 updates for this thread, I was hoping it would be more poeple with some info on this POD travel and teach company however it just seems to have descended into a slanging match between Alex and Rachel. All I will say is Rachel and Tom Y is that I think you should do a little more reaearch on this company before signing on the dotted line with them. I did no research at all on English International before I went out to china last year, only whilst there did I realise exactly what was going on, I wish I'd found out whilst sitting in the comfort of my bedroom in the uk, not whilst working illegally in China! Peace, and happy travelling.

Rachel A. Ross, Hi.
I've said I plan to research more before I sign anything. And that I won't be going anywhere until I know it is totally legit. The reason I was getting so pissed off with Alex is because he wouldn't believe me when I said I was one of these people who are trying to con others. We spoke briefly on facebook and he now knows I'm who I say I am.
What I do want to know is how come you think this company is the same and English International? Do you know this for a fact? If there is some proof, could you be so kind as to show me please? This would save me the hassle of a 4 (or more) hour drive to the office.
Thank you.

Ross P. Hi there Rachel.

I think (but am not certain) that this is the same company for several reasons...

. They are based in the same part of the company as English International, who were based in Leeds.

. They are offering pretty much exactly the same package ( same length of contract, same crappy wage, same T's and C's and English International were offering.)

When I rang them yesterday the girl I spoke to said they send their teachers over on tourist visa's. If you are planning to work in China you MUST get your working visa before you go as an employer needs to sponsor your visa application which you need to do before you leave for china. (Perhaps google this to check for yourself.

. What makes me most sure though is that I responded to somebody on another forum yesterday who's son had been accepted with this company and was having concerns. She told me the staff at POD Travel used EXACTLY the same lines they used on me when I went to see English International for my interview. ie "our staff are not here to babysit anyone" and that they were flakey on the subject of a TEFL being offered.

I can't be 100% sure these are the same people, but I have suspicions which I think are well founded.

How you wish to proceed from here is up to you I guess.

Hope this helps, Ross.

Ross P. By the way, sorry for the amount of typo's in that last post, I meant to say the same past of the "country" not company! Really should proof read before posting.

Ross P. Crap, a typo whilst saying sorry for typo's. I give up lol.

Paladin A. Hmm, well this is certainly turned into an interesting thread!

I think we all need to respectthe following:
* Rachel should be assumed to be who she says she is until proven otherwise and she's just trying to check these guys out
* Alex's concerns are echoed elsehwere and it should be assumed that he genuinely wants to warn people about a company he beleives is suspect

Nothing wrong with any of that and we should try and help establish the facts and respect everyone's right to have an opinion in the absence of those facts.

On that note, I'll go and establish some of those afrementioned facts and then post back later this evening...

Paladin A. I can vouch for Rachel A: I have checked that she is who she says she is.
Can those giving here a hard time lay off her now please and focus on the real question - are Pod (GB) a company Rachel should deal with...

Paladin A. Well, I did a bit more digging and I cannot find any proof of a link between Pod and English International. The directors and shareholders are different and there are no common addresses or other links. So unless someone can post some hard evidence, we should not say the two are the same and Rachel and others should feel free to check them out. Please check that they do not issue tourist visas though and please post back details of your experiences and/or concerns.

Ross P. Well when I rang them the other day the rather dippy girl who answered the phone told me they DO issue you with a tourist visa! I also had a response to a post I put on another forum from a woman who's son was travelling out with this lot, she was concerned about whether they were a good company to go with. She said when asked what support would be available out there to staff she was told "our staff are not there to babysit anyone". Anyone who dealt with English International will find that saying familier!!

Susan D. trust me then as a mother then!! my sons out there 6600 miles away without a true work visa !! just a visitors visa

adam w. your a bigger fool than you can imagine sweetheart you go and find out i was a lucky one who landed at a good school but for the rest of them well you are about to find out no mercy on you people who dont listen are ignorant big lesson for you

ross t. http://forums.gumtree.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=394729
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/review/index.pl?noframes;read=35758;expand=1

reports from current pod teachers @ http://www.eslcafe.com/discussion/dz1/index.cgi?read=1408952488


His passport refers to him as BILAL ISMAIL SONI, born 13 January 1985. His passport number is 458659196, issued by UKPA on 21 April 2006.
　　
　　He ran an English organisation called English International, from Leeds in Yorkshire, England. The company attracted English people to come to China to teach English, mainly at Kindergarten level.
　　
　　As part of the enticement to come to China, foreign teachers were promised, upon completing their 6 month contract: Half their airfare refunded; the entire cost of their travel visa; the entire cost of hotel accommodation while training; two full weeks paid leave and an entire refund of the private taxi fare from Shenzhen Airport to the hotel where training took place.
　　
　　With Mr Soni, having disappeared, none of the foreign teachers seems able to get the money rightfully owed to them. This amounts to an average 1,000 GBP per person.
　　
　　In addition to the money he owes to foreign teachers, he has also cheated many Chinese people who have invested money in property to accommodate the foreign teachers and who will now not get this money refunded.
　　
　　As I have explained, this person has left a lot of people, both Chinese and foreign, extremely unhappy and any assistance you can give in tracking this person down and bringing him to justice would be gratefully appreciated.

Susan D. total cost for us his parents to participate in this 'so called' job, including vaccinations of which the company had assured him he didnt need and his doctor told him he most certainly did, health insurance, flights 2 x 1 way tickets, visa arriving in a china hols envelope, daily accom. food and travel= £3000. his wage 0.00

scam e. scam says scam

anon y. i know him

anoymous a. http://forums.gumtree.com/viewtopic_f_29_t_394729_wwwpodtravelandteachcouk_scam

anoymous a. new info is posted on this gumtree forum more often than anywhere else - I say this because I know they are still trying to recruit anyone who wishes to apply should visit the gumtree forum link above and please we need their current english mobile numbers - lend a helping hand and post their new numbers up - thankyou for your assistance :)

anoymous a. wtf - sorry blokes don't wear perfume mate - and ps: don't put phishing scams up here - they're not appreciated ta

anoymous a. lol - anyone who falls for that one is fing stupid nice try though ;)

anoymous a. propositioned by a perfume store what next?

The s. I no who he is