Been rather busy lately, but I'll take this time to share this
ordeal I've been through.
It all started with an innocent sms from a friend (A) I used to
know. He started the conversation asking questions about which isp
is better and how to configure wireless network. Being a nice
person, I gave him a brief comparison to let him decide and offered
to help him with the wireless configurations.
Soon, he drifted away from this excuse he used to strike up the
conversation and said he has something that would be useful for my
future and would like to introduce it to me. He claimed that it
will only take a short while and no harm listening. I was
ambivalent at that time and didnt really reply him directly. Then
another person (B) whom I know from the same place as this friend
messaged me too, saying that it had been a while since we last met
and suggested meeting each other over a cup of coffee.
I wasnt close to these two people and didnt really want to meet up,
but I gave in anyway as I didnt want to be mean and unsociable. The
place was of course Raffles Place. I was puzzled initially why of
all places they wanted to go there but I just went along
anyway.
Met up with them, went to LPS and sat down. They talked about the
past for a while before this other guy B started talking all the
crap about foreign talents, outsourcing and how nowadays you cant
get a stable job. He also mentioned how soft skills, which are not
taught in schools are important in the workplace. I started to get
irritated by all the crap he was talking and suspected there was a
motive behind it. Then he said he and A are working in this company
and are earning as they are learning these skills and invited me to
come over for a look.
I didnt really want to go, but again didnt want to be rude in
rejecting them so I just tagged along. No prizes for guessing where
I ended up, at a place located so convinently close by. On that
day, there were a lot of people and there was an event being held,
some pageant or something and it was pretty crowded. They even had
food catered. Then they showed me around and introduced me to the
courses that they are going through.
They then made me sit down to begin their brainwashing sessions,
person after person wearing those black suits came and talked about
the usual stuff people who have been through it would know. The
standard procedure I guess. Scribbling on A4 paper and then tearing
them up at the end. They will probably ask the victim what they
wanted to pursue in life or in further education and then match it
with one of their guy in black suits. "Hey this guy is also
studying in ______ or from ______. He can tell you more about it.
Then this guy will tell you biased things about this ________ to
sow seeds of doubts in your mind about getting a proper job or the
rewards of going through the further studies on this subject.
Then they will show you a biased selection of newspaper articles
with titles like "Degree = less earning power", "Singaporeans
ill-prepared for sudden job loss", "Sorry you are over-qualified"
to make you doubt that going through further education and getting
qualifications is the right path for you to take in life. They will
also mention about grabbing opportunities that present themselves
and how this agent saved himself because he joined cause his family
went broke and him working in NTI is pulling in all the money to
feed his family or how this agent's parents suddenly got cancer or
something and need money and lucky he joined this company. They
will also create scenarios about you, like lets say tomorrow your
parents got this fatal disease and all the bad stuff and you need
money, then ask are you prepared for it. All of this is to make you
fear the uncertainties of life and make you see how financially
strapped you are in dealing with these crisis.
After which they will introduce their so called business plans.
Throughout they will never mention MLM or network marketing or that
you are supposed to sell products or 'education'. They will just
briefly mention about how you can introduce this to your friends
and you can get a comission and then paint rosy pictures of 5-digit
income into your head.
I went there at around 10-11pm and they made me go without lunch
and continuously brainwashing till 3,4pm. Fatigue got the better of
me as I had just fulfilled a tiring day of duties at my workplace.
I didnt really understand their binary crap or what I was supposed
to do. I was looking for an opportunity to get out of there in a
polite manner but of course, with so many people crowding around
you, keep telling you about these stuff over and over again, that
opportunity never presented itself.
It was dumb of me, but I just signed up based on trust. I wasnt
really interested in the binary money stuff but just thought that
at least the courses are worth something as I can see A and B being
more outspoken in their verbal presentation. (But now I can see how
powerful money is to be able to change one's personality.)
All I got for a few thousand dollars was a clear file with their
rubbish papers inside and a notebook. It was only after I signed
under A and paid that they put in the word "Network Marketing" into
the picture, and I got to know that the people who are going to
teach in these courses are those agents themselves. Then they made
me do this 8 reasons why I joined NTI. I didnt do it as I was too
tired. This is probably something they get you to do to shoot
yourself in the leg should you decide to quit or have doubts over
what you are doing. They will just take the reasons you said you
joined NTI for and shoot you in the leg. I felt cheated, but I was
already very tired so I just went home dazed and sad.
When I recovered slightly, I visited the websites and fought out
that I was supposed to sell aroma therapy stuff and other werid
crap. WTH. I messaged my friend to request for a refund and the
manager called me to go down to settle it. When I went down, my
manager was nowhere in sight, my upline A was busying psychoing
another person and B talked to me. I tried my best to resist all
the crap and demanded for a refund, but in the end they got more
people to argue that the reasons I gave will not be able to get my
refund. Then B just suddenly left for his "lesson" and they just
left me there. With so many gangsters against just one me, it was a
losing battle so I left.
The next few days, I just happened to surf around and found this
place. Thats when I got to know the holy refund form that is so
hard to grab! With some friends, I bypassed the gangsters and went
straight for it. Not long after, B called with a threatening voice
and asked why I didnt trash things out with him before going for a
refund. Well, there's nothing to trash it out over, all that's
coming out of him is trash and I'm sick of him.
Even if NTI were not a fraud, their customer service definitely
sucks. Just for the stupid interview, I made some wasted trips only
to be told the person responsible for my refund was not available
even though we had an appointment.
They stated that I would receive a letter regarding the results of
the interview in a week, but till today it has been more than a
week or two and I received nothing. Guess they are too poor to even
spend 25 cents to send a letter.
There goes my money. Being the thrifty type, its sure is
heartbreaking to see the money I saved so hard being cheated away.
Leading a meager life and forgoing all the entertainment just to
save up for further education and now a significant portion of it
is conned. I was just so dumb to let them get to me.
Looking a this forum, NTI has been around for some time, its been a
pity I hadnt heard of this dumb company before and was mislead by
its errant agents. I hope people reading this will make aware to
their friends the existence of such companies and warn them to stay
alert.
Yes NTI is a business. Its a business where you are self-employed.
Your work is to sell your relationships/friendships and those who
trust you. Cash them in for money. Network Marketing. Market your
network of friends to NTI for a measly comission.
I'm grateful to my friend who spent time and money to accompany me
down for the refund procedure. It sure is heartwarming to know that
there are still people around who genuinely care for their friends
and not cash them in as prospects for money.