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I swear on everything that this man Rick Okada hit on me whenever I called about the course. I was talking to my son (who is one years old), and I called him "baby" and Rick said, "yes, sweetheart, are you talkin to me, baby?" I just shrugged it off and went on about information on the course. Then he started asking personal questions about my life and about me and my husband, if I was happy, what I looked like, etc. Then he told me to call him whenever I got my course work in, and we would talk. I just thought I had gotten a weirdo....but now it just creeps me out!

I knew it. IT was too good to be true and yet, as an unemployed person looking for a fresh start, I took the bait.  

After the second try, I failed the test because I used the "BACK" button. This threw all of my answers off. When I asked about this, they said I should have remembered the instructor's warning during the on-line class. WOW, using the "BACK" button is standard with all Internet operations. I could, of course, pay $50 and take the test a third time.

My total score is 79! They failed to tell me I needed to have my trades people WRITE in about my and their experiences with me. Who would have known??

Of course by now, my time to apply is expired and with one point shy of 80 - no hope.

Anyone, and I hope there are a lot of you out there - I'd truly like to approach this as a class action. It is a SCAM, and should be stopped. Has anyone communicated with HGTV about this company?

Thanks for all the comments, people! My wife was thinking about enrolling, but then the stuff on the web-page looked suspicious to me, like:

- Flashing photos of the happy people who successfully finished the course
- Oh! And if you click play, they are even going to talk to you! Trying their best testify how great is to shell out $1000... Looks like bunch of sales persons to me.
- Apart from happy faces, they offer lame curriculum, but they do give out "stuff" such as books, tools, business cards and badges. Nice things to make you feel you're really doing something.

"Hmmm... People who really have to offer real value normally don't do things like that", I thought, "this don't look right..."

Then I looked up the Net. As much as I'm angry at these thieves, I'm sorry for you guys, but I also thank you 'cause without this message board I might have fell for it...

BTW, here are two links that attempt to prove it's a scam:

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/05/21/ther ... rs-big-promise/

http://www.sequenceinc.com/fraudfiles/2009/06 ... g-questionable/

I just recently received my course materials and so far have only paid a $250.00 deposit. Supposedly the balance is not due until Sept. 10,2009 and after everything I have jsut read I have no intention of paying the rest. I am truly sorry for all of you that have lost the entire $997.00 and I so appreciate all the information you all have shared. I had my doubts from the beginning, knowing that they could very easily come up with any excuse to keep from having to honor their commitment to hire. I only came across this blog because I was having a problem signing into the registration site. I am so thankful now that I did. I am a single mom struggling to make ends meet and was so hopeful to have found a way to make some real money doing something I enjoy. i guess I will never see that $250.00 again. If anyone comes up with a way to get our money back please count me in. My email address is pittsport@aol.com Good luck and god bless

Hi

The same thing happened to me. I worked so hard and put so much time into this couse. Got great grades on the 7 lessons but failed the test. My time ran out. I got my acredidation with a 75 average but I am ineligible for employment.

Some of the people want to start a class action against Haverhill and get our money back.  If you are interested please e-mail vitalforces@mac.com.

LuLu

Can everyone who is interested in pursuing this to get their money back join the facebook group "Haverhill Staging Students"? Would that be an easier way to keep in touch?

Hi

I think that is a good way to get people on board. I will do it.

LuLu

I'm mad, ashamed and broke! (I wish to God I had seen this blog before signing up with Haverhill!  I now hate the name Haverhill and wish I'd never heard of them!  I've just spent 7 mos. of my life, floating myself financially, jumping through all of their "hoops", working my tail off to show my talents, get everything done on their time frame, passing their timed test (which I've never seen the likes of before) only to find out that they have No full time or part time employment to offer, only independent contracting @ $24 hr. paid only when you're actually in a home and no guaranteed hours. (they've got themselves covered legally to make changes along the way as long as they offer some type of employment) I waited almost 3 wks. for the phone interview after the test only to find this out and then was told that the NEXT thing I had to do was get an FBI background check done on myself and go get all my finger prints done and pay for this which would take another 4 wks. to complete! (my employment would be based on this checking out ok) Why did they wait till then to mention this??  (stall, stall, more hoops)  Plus you are also required to set up your own liability insurance, which I found out about at this time as well.  I've spent sooooo much money and time chasing after my dream and now I don't trust these people and don't like the way they run their business.  It's a small virtual company swamped with dealing with people like me making a killing while they watch us run out of money, time and desire!! I could write a book about this experience of being "conned"!!  I too thought they were legit based on their connection with HGTV.  Now I am unable to go off on my own in this business thanks to Haverhill sucking me dry!  Stay clear of this company!

Submit complaints to the Oregon Attorney General, since they have an address there. Please. Here is a link to the complaint form:

http://www.doj.state.or.us/finfraud/engexplanation.shtml

You can't even spell course correctly!!!!!  You expect anyone to believe your passed the "coarse" when you can't spell it!!!!!

Congratulations Poppy Speaches! I think I will be going in the same direction as you. Start my own business. I signed up in June 2009 when I saw the advertisement on HGTV after I was let go from my employeer. Because it was on HGTV I thought they were reputable.I am finding that they are not!

I have not taken the test yet and feel that I too will not get a passing grade. So I must consider this a learning experience. I am angered to know that I too thought this would be a great opportunity to get hired to do what I love doing and I am great at staging. I am currently looking at other training companies such as Decorate-Redecorate.com, they look like they offer a great program with alot to back them up. I also saw that they are will to offer 50% off to Haverhill students.  Good luck to you!

I notice that the company sold in June 09, wonder if it will be different?

Regarding a refund.....You only get a refund if they decide NOT to hire you. First you must become 'eligible' for employment. That means you must get at least an 80% overall grade PLUS a passing grade on your exam which is a 66% or 20/30. (Does that 66% and 20/30 confuse anyone else besides me?) By the way, when I first spoke with Haverhill prior signing up in March of '09, I was told I needed an overall grade of 80% to become eligible for hire. Nothing was ever said to me about the additional passing grade of the 66% or 20/30 on the test. I got an overall grade of 83% however, I have been told I am not eligible for employment because I did not get a passing grade on the test hummm......OK, so I will go on with what you need to do. Achieve those necessary grades and one becomes 'eligible' for employment. Now keep in mind you must apply for employment before your six month deadline. See page 138 in your, Home Staging Re-Design Guide Book, where it tells you what you need. I will copy it right here for you to read. Quote: "Graduate agrees to work diligently with instructor to assist in their job placement with Haverhill Home Staging Services, Inc., including but not limited to resume / portfolio preparation, self-inquiry, research, letter of introduction, cover letter, resume, reference letters, photo and interviews." Now I do not know as yet, if all that information needs to be submitted prior the six month deadline, but it does state one must become eligible for employment and 'apply' before your six month deadline. Good luck to all of us who are working so hard on this course trying to get in the field we love! At the moment I am communicating with Haverhill regarding their statement about my achieving an overall grade of 83% being enough to qaulify me for employment.

Hi:

Have you had any response from them yet? I am thinking about filing a complaint to them.

Never paid for this course. Glad I investigated first. Obviously your a plant to post this. Not even a good one. You are not believable. Sorry

Sounds like you were one of their token 20 when they first started out. When these poors folks can not even get their phone calls returned then it sounds like a scam to me. As I professional, alot of red flags pop up  when there are these type of irresponsible business practices and no full public diclosure as to the sucess rate. It the success rate is legidimately that low, then that is a reflection of their poor instructional course. NObody is qualified to pass a test. Not worth the money.

Attn: All victims of Haverhill Home Staging.

How many of you have contacted the netwrks that advertise this scam like HGTV? This effects their reputation as well. I know that Haverhill pays for the air time, but they can refuse their business if it could affect their own reputation as well. I would also write to the other companies that also advertise on these same networks with your concerns.
In fact, you could even possibly boycot all businesses that advertise
on these same networks until the said networks stop airing Haverhill ads. Consumers these days have to be very proactive in order to prevent others from suffering the same losses and having crooked businesses profit at he expense of the innocent consumer.

Hi

I am going to do what you suggested

Thanks for getting the word out. Is there a home staging program that you would recommend?

WOW!. Your story is MY story.  What a bunch of bull this F*****g company is.  Everything you described happened to me.  Stall, stall, stall is the name of the game.  The people at the office are insanely RUDE, and totally NOT helpful.  There is so much that is wrong about this course it's crazy. PLEASE, NOBODY WASTE YOUR MONEY OR YOUR TIME. They state in the first page of the booklet that this course will prepare you to be an "employee". Oh really? Well i was informed that Haverhill does not have any employees. They only "contract" you out- another misleading fact. Also, the course does not take "less than 4 weeks" as stated in the HGTV commercial. Actually, after my 10 emails, 30 phone calls and 8 un-returned phone messages, it took me 10 months to get the offer. And frankly they were probably sick of me calling and just sent me the offer, as i later found out none of my personal references were called, but were somehow miraculously "approved", yet they gave me a hell of a time with my work references, one of which i had to call for HER since she didn't know how to use a switch board when calling someone at an office. Duh!  After reading the bull they call "income opportunity agreement," I ran for the hills. I'd be embarrassed to work for a company like this.