50% of the first month's fees will be given to us (agents) as commission.
Looks familiar? Have you tried em' out or wished to do so before?
If you've ever been 'seduced' by such job posts, as a student, housewife or simply an extra income seeker, let me share some experience with you.
Somewhere last year, I came across a tuition job offer and applied for it.
So I sent my profile through email and this UNKNOWN lady who claims to be the agent contacted me through phone calls and smses to confirm my availability and gave me the phone number of the Parents to get the address and fix the time.
So all by myself, I went to this address and started teaching the kids. (Not advisable to be followed) The first 2 classes were fine.. Until this lady started texting me telling me deadlines to bank in the 50% commission. It was just the beginning of the first month and I have yet to get my salary, so I told her to wait for the parents to pay me. But she insisted that it's the rules for me to pay them first with my own money and claims that every other tuition agents does that. In shock I was but having no money, I told her I really can't squeeze anything out and you just gotta wait for my first pay cheque.
So I went on teaching for the next few weeks and took a break when the kids and their family decided to go for a vacation. There were hiccups here and there in my teaching for the few weeks cause my car broke down a couple of times and I was in the midst of trading it. In short - Transport problem.
So I waited for the parents to call me again when they're back but no news was heard. There and then I thought they weren't pleased with my teaching and all the hiccups so they decided to cancel me and feeling bad for not performing well, I did not had the guts to ask for the money.
Until one day..... Miss-Unknown-Lady gave me a call again and asked for the commission. So I told her I'm still waiting for the parents to ring me up and I didn't receive my pay cheque yet. Then the next minute, my phone rang again, this time the parents telling me that Miss-Unknown-Lady has been asking them for money.
The parents explained their case that back then, Miss-Unknown-Lady actually contacted them behind my back and asked them to bank in my salary directly to them and told them that they will replace me with a better tutor. Being unsatisfied with the service, the parents just wanted to terminate it and refused to pay for what they were not satisfied with. They also explained that I was the 3rd tutor that has been sent by this agency. They did not understood the frequent changes of tutor when the first 2 were doing a great job. So I explained to them how the relationship between me and Miss-Unknown-Lady work and we finally understood that us tutors were being replaced frequently and Miss-Unknown-Lady has been earning all the 50% commission from everyone.
Bottom line for my experience - You teach, earn 50% of what you are supposed to, give away 50% as commission and lose the job.
I'm not concluding that all agencies are bad, perhaps you've some pleasant experiences, do feel free to comment and share!
But as a side note, some little things to ponder about is..
- Is it really safe to 'work for' someone that you never met before, or even get to know their full name?
- Is it safe to go into a stranger's house to teach? (I'm lucky enough to not be human-trafficked!)
- Is it really reliable? Or is it a 'scam' like mine?
Again, there may be good and trustworthy agencies out there. I may be the unlucky one this time. So just becareful and good luck!
