Topic: Amerithai Education International, Suratthani

[Alliecat]

Beware of Amerithai!

Surat Thani is a wonderful place to live and work as it is close to the islands in the gulf of Thailand and the Adaman coast BUT steer clear of Amerithai Education International.? My husband and accepted jobs here in Surat Thani while we were still job hunting in Bangkok.? We did an over the phone interview and he told us he was a 28 year old American from Ohio who had started a successful school employing teachers for in-house classes and within the public schools around town.? We came down to check it out and meet and decide from there.? Well, upon meeting **name removed** we were a little hesitant to sign a contract because his manner was somewhat high strung, slightly abraisive and outrightly verbally abusive towards his girlfriend.? It was also quite obvious he liked to tell tales of the tallest sort (about members of staff, too!).? ?However, we really liked the area and we are here to teach and explore not to become best friends with our boss, so we decided to go against our first impression and accept.? We started december 1st, 2005.

For the first two weeks things were on the up and up for the most part although I was REALLY struggling with my classes (5 hours a day at a public school with classes of 55-60 6year olds and no Thai assistant - I had no voice left at the end of the first week).? I had requested some help or a few classes of older kids just to make the day a little less stressfull and I was promised both.?

When we were not paid with the rest of the teachers on the 15th of December we came to **name removed** and he said he always held back the first two weeks pay until contract completion or after notice was given and the month was served.? We had to wait until after Xmas to receive HALF of the months pay.? Big deal?? It gets worse.

By the end of six weeks I had still received no help with my class situation as none of the other teachers, including **name removed** wanted to trade older better behaved kids for my guys and I'd had just about enough of **name removed**'s tall tales and prejudice comments about Thais and whatever else.? Maybe another teacher would not have minded these classes but I left good money in Korea to TEACH in a country I like better and 60 kids is entertaining not teaching.? Each to his own.? My husband was quite happy at
the school he'd been placed at (30 kids to a class ages 8-13) so we dercided that I would respectfully tender my two weeks in keeping with the terms of the contract and then I would look for something else.
I gave notice? on the 18th of January.

My husband and I celebrated our one year anniversary on the 22nd of January of this year and everyone at Amerithai knew we were heading to Koh Phangan? to celebrate it at a romantic spot in Ban Tai.? Well oddly enough the owner scheduled a mandatory staff meeting on Sunday January 22nd.? All those "not in attendance would be terminated".? We were 2 of 5 teachers not present and yet we were the only teachers terminated.? Under our contract both employee and employer were obligated to give 2 weeks if the other party was not in breech of contract, and there was nothing in the contract about mandatory staff meetings on Sundays, but we were told never to come back.?

He was also thoughful enough to call our landlord and try to have us evicted!? The landlord, a kindly Thai gentleman thought that was really funny, thank goodness!

 But what about our money?

There was the matter of the first two weeks that he held back and a matter of 19/31 days of a 24000B/month salary.? He refused to pay us.? We were advised to go to the tourist police so we did.?

This is the part where we admit we were REALLY naive...stupid and under-researched.

Though they were very sympathetic, the police could do very little to help us as we were still in Thailand on tourist visas and really we had been working illegally.? I happily told the police that? "Oh, yes our paper work is in processing but we're still on our three month probation until the end of February."? Huh?? **name removed**? told us that it was standard procedure to put teachers on probation for 3 months before getting the non-immigrant "B" , teacher's license, and work permit? because of the expense to the employer if it didn't work out.? He also said that as long as we had signed a contract and the proper papers were filled out? and ready if asked to be seen that we were OK.? The other teachers told us that it was the same for them so we didn't really question this.? Now I see who the 3 months probation benefits!? (**Name removed** took taxes and "Employee Savings Fund Payments" off our earnings despite the fact we were not registered!)

We were able to retrieve only a fraction of what was owed to us because he had lent us a few things for our home and the police used this as a bargining chip, thank them!?

A few days later a dear friend and co-worker met the same fate as us but this time the police made a trip down to the school as it was starting to seem REALLY fishy.? Especially after she told them about the? "life experience degrees " from Warren Harding Online University ( the bosses dad in Ohio answering a phone and the boss printing fake degrees!) that Amerithai offers to SELL to the teacher they hire without proper qualifications.? My friend received none of the money that she was owed despite the gallant efforts on the part of the tourist police who were none to impressed with Mr. **name removed**'s smug attitude or his refusal to remove an American flag he was flying ouside the school.

I have personally spoken with 3 other teacher who came before us and add to that my husband, friend and I makes 6 people with the same complaints about the same school and it's owner.? Who knows what has gone down over the last 3 years that he's been in business!

Interesting final development...A few days ago a met his now former head teacher and biggest supporter on the street.? He and his wife are opening a guesthouse in town.? I asked him how he will balance that with his very demanding job at Amerithai and he smiled before telling me how he had just quit.? ?He is to date still owed money.

Apparently **name removed** used what little money the school had left to pay their teachers and rent(business gets slow in a small town when you have a bad reputation) and used it to return to America for a trip.? Now no one is sure when or even if the owner will return and everything has been left for his poor girlfriend to deal with!? What a gentleman.? Of the few teachers remaining, according to the former head teacher, some have been working the last 6 weeks without pay!?

I am compelled to write this daunting tale because I would hate for anyone to suffer what we did.? We spent all our savings waiting for the new semester to start and for steady work to become available.? We love Surat Thani but we almost had to leave town , our home, and all the things we bought for it because Amerithai's rep is so bad that no one wants to touch you after you've worked for them...they're afraid Mr.**name removed** will cause trouble out of revenge and spite if they hire you!?

Another teacher quit and went to work for Super English and Amerithai's owner called the police to report that this teacher had hit a child which was of course not true and no child came forward but the teacher said it was pretty scary being arrested and questioned.? He was later let go by Super English because they couldn't deal with things like that disrupting the school even though they knew they were losing a great teacher.

A couple of weeks ago someone threw a rock through the front window of Amerithai and that must have taken some calculation because there is quite a gate in front of the property.? Now that may not have had anything to do with anything but it makes you wonder.

Amerithai has an ad on Ajarn right now offering 4 teaching positions to individuals whose attitudes are "more important than experience or qualifications". Hmm...I wonder why?? Shame on them!

[hero]

Continue by all means - no names though please (It's in the rules y'know )

[Uncle Che]

I need to make a few phone calls on this to be sure, but I remember hearing similar complaints about this agency.

[Alliecat]

 You might even try the tourist police themselves as they are really helpful.? The chief handled our cases personally and his name is Kong.? ?All statements taken by the Surat Thani tourist police have been sent to the US embassy in Bangkok.?

[Bangkok Phil]

Hi Allie cat,

I know nothing about the owner of Amerithai apart from the small amount of e-mail correspondence that he and I have had and the fact that he once did an ajarn.com hotseat interview (it's still there on-line for those who want to read it)

You contacted me a while back with the account of your story Allie (similar to the above or the same as - sorry I really can't remember it all) and I did forward your complaints to the owner himself. Credit where it's due but he did reply to me with a VERY detailed account of his side of the story. Whether it's true or not I don't know? - I'm not taking sides here - but he certainly went to a lot of trouble with his reply. Unfortunately the reply has long since been deleted so you'll have to take my word I'm afraid. Hopefully the school owner kept a copy and he can post it on here if and when he ever returns to Thailand.

My purpose for contacting the owner of Amerithai initially on your behalf was because they are fairly regular advertisers on the ajarn board and the owner, as I've said already, has an ajarn hot-seat interview on-line.

You state in your post
"I am compelled to write this daunting tale because I would hate for anyone to suffer what we did.  We spent all our savings waiting for the new semester to start and for steady work to become available"

Forgive me if I'm a little hazy here but I seem to remember from the owner of Amerithai's detailed reply that you actually jumped ship (for want of a better expression) and got another job. Didn't the owner of the new school in fact accompany you to the police station when all the negotiation and complaining was going on? It's just something that stuck in my mind.

[hero]

She gave two weeks notice, was dismissed four days later and is still owed money!  Seems her husband was dismissed for being her husband and is still owed money.

he certainly went to a lot of trouble with his reply

 

Didn't the owner of the new school in fact accompany you to the police station when all the negotiation and complaining was going on?

Even if true, it doesn't really change the bottom line, does it?  He's in America and hasn't paid his staff!

[hero]

I should add that it seems to be par for the course here that when an employee/employer relationship breaks down, then the employee is left out of pocket.  Whatever the dispute that arises and no matter how begrudgingly any work was carried out, people should be paid for the work they have done.  The fact that it seems to be a way of life for Thai people doesn't make it right, while in this light one can understand (but not forgive) Thai bosses' atitudes here, from farang management I reckon it's very low - it very raraely happens back at home, even in the black market!

So, Mr **name removed** from Amerithai Education International, it appears that there may be another side to this story, care to come here and explain?

[Alliecat]

I'm sure Amerithai's owner (co-owner really as his Thai girlfriend is part owner and unwilling silent partner so to speak) went to great lengths to give a very convincing side to the story...he certainly has a lot more to lose (and gain for that matter) than I do.  I can always pack up, move out and start anew somewhere else.  Not so easy for as he claims on his website  "one the largest schools in Surat Thani".  Oh,  Mr. **name removed** could sell milk to a cow!

Look, my husband and I are free and clear of the troubles that came with associating with this guy or, more correctly, came of pissing this guy off.  And no we DID NOT jump ship and my bank account could attest to that!    He did not take kindly to having to answer to the police (which I encourage you to contact as an impartial observer at least) twice in a few weeks.  That said,  I take a great risk in stirring up this hornets nest but I can not stand by and watch this guy fleece teacher after teacher. 

Don't listen to me.  Do a little reading between the lines.  Check out how often he has posted positions  on job boards and compare that to how many positions he has maintained.  It's the same schools just going through new teachers!  Look on the website at  the staff profiles for goodness sakes!  lol!  My gal pal that I spoke of earlier who went through the same song and dance is still on the website as an instructor!  She's in Australia!  ( Off the record:*** ******* and she has given permission to me to give you her email *****@gmail.com)  And the head teacher/assisstant director?  I told you he quit.  I'm pretty sure the others have gone because the positions are on the job board and I've heard they are angry about not being paid.  Once again he desperately needs teachers?   Teachers without qualification are a lot less likely to go running to the cops even if they have a Warren G. Harding job cuz both parties know it's a fake, but that's just a thought.

I'm sorry to say but the our boy from Amerithai is quite the smooth talker...it's what he does.  I can tell you that he is a practiced liar and unscrupulous businessman.  Many  of the things in his personal profile are absolutely false "Pit Bull Syndicate"? No such club.  Not to mention that the TEFL certificate course he offers that is accredited by the Warren G. Harding University (of which he is the owner).  Please, try to find this university online or sign up for one of these TEFL courses...ask Amerithai for some info! lol. I've also been unable to find any record of this Amerithai International Investigations in Bangkok...what is it? 
And try as I might I can not find this Surat Thani Emergency Rescue Group unless **name removed** has taken up diving there is nothing remotely close to that in name.  We do have a fire department and a police station but I don't think he's signed up just yet. 

I don't mean to throw stones here, I'm just a little frustrated that someone who, by his own verifiable actions and words, has shown himself to be a devious and deceitful person and yet he's setting up to do it again.

I hope he never comes back from America.  Surat Thani is nicer and safer without him.  As for Amerithai,  it does have a chance to become a good outfit if left in the capable hands of the Thai co-owner. 
Anyway....
Cheers have a nice weekend!

[oil_fan_abroad]

Wow really glad this thread was made. I am a former employee of AmeriThai and also had a lot of problems with the owner. I am a solo traveller and as well accepted the job from bkk. I was as well skeptical about accepting the position once I met owner, but was low on money from travelling and love being around and working with kids so didnt let owners mannerisms and political views stand in my way. He claims to have a relationship like a family with all his staff members, and I confronted him on this once, saying its not like any family ive ever know. Constantly talking about employees behind their backs to one another trying to find out as much gossip as possible...very unproffesional. I was there when alliecat gave her two weeks notice and I was the one the owner came to and offered me all her husbands work plus my own for 11,000 baht under the table extra.

I dont have a degree and told owner that at the start, which according to him my TEFL was good enough to become completely legal. After a couple months and still no visa run (Owner had all my documents adn I thought the paperwork was in process) I questioned him to see if this month I could go to Malaysia. Sure enough it was a negative. I was then told I would need a degree for my visa and owner would buy me one if I gave him 5,000 baht. This was too dodgy for me and by this point things at work were going really bad and I simply said no. I am a very honest person and just flat out refused to buy a degree.

I was under so much stress, I was pulled out of teaching my classes on more than one occasion so Owner could use my mobile phone so he could ring other employees who he thought wouldnt answer if the caller ID said his number. I was constantly put in the middle and was tired of it. My teaching wasnt at its highest level because of all the 'political' stuff that was going on within the school and I simply didnt feel comfortable around it.

To end a long story I as well quit...Without notice because I saw what happened when you do give notice. And to make matters worse i was " an illegal worker" so even if I did give notice he could of used that against me. I got the police involved as well because I wanted to make it formal what was going on at this school. Surat Thani tourist police were very helpful, and after a few threats from owner I just left (once it was all told to the police of course)

I met a couple other former employees of AmeriThai who had problems but just didnt come out with them and I kinda wish they did for my sake and obviously the sake of many others. Feel free to ask any questions I dont mind supporting my claims.

[oil_fan_abroad]

I know nothing about the owner of Amerithai apart from the small amount of e-mail correspondence that he and I have had

Bangkok Phil, for someone you dont know, you re sure going through a lot of trouble on his behalf. I'm sure if you met him in person it might be a different story, or perhaps he'd act like he's a saint so he can continue looking that way on ajarn.com . I would be happy to support claims against the owner of AmeriThai, so feel free to direct some my way. Dont dismiss Allie cats accounts so quickly.

[NukeThemSlowly]

Some people are fond of saying there are two sides to every story; that may be the case, however, if the two sides are totally different that means one of them is probably a lie.  Opening poster sounds earnest and consistent, and the shenanigans he/she mentions are certainly common ones here.  There is added credibility from the additional posters who have negative experiences with the school.

[Bangkok Phil]

I know nothing about the owner of Amerithai apart from the small amount of e-mail correspondence that he and I have had

Bangkok Phil, for someone you dont know, you re sure going through a lot of trouble on his behalf.

A lot of trouble on his behalf? I've made a couple of posts. Two out of the fifty-odd posts I have on this board.
Things are not looking good for Amerithai on this thread but why does my 'sitting on the fence until I hear further evidence' seem to rub so many people up the wrong way? Even the admin of this website contacted me to offer support and say that they didn't understand why.

[anyonefortennis]

I'd have to agree with BP, who was after all just detailing the correspondence he has had with Mr. Amerithai. Strange that the fact BP was compelled to forward Allie's email to Amerithai in the first place doesn't seem to have been acknowledged anywhere.

As difficult as it maybe to teach (entertain) a class of 55-60 screaming kids in a Thai government school, over here that is what is expected and is the norm unless you have an EP or MEP class, so I don?t think the school can be held to account for this particular issue. Yes, perhaps they promised help, but maybe none of the other teachers were willing to swap their cushy little numbers, or perhaps he thought things would settle down, who knows?

He does sound like a right shark and it sounds as if his school should be avoided, but personally I would?ve found it a lot easier to sympathise with Allie in the first place if the opening post hadn?t read like a Dickens novel. Anyway, I hope Allie has a much better experience during the rest of her stay in Thailand.

[Bangkok Phil]

Thanks man. I just find many of the posts and attitudes a little odd.
If someone says to you 'don't work in Bangkok - it's a shithole' then you don't immediately abandon all plans you ever had to settle and work in the capital. You seek out a few more opinions or you go see for yourself. But when someone posts on the board that XYZ language school cheats its teachers it's a cue for many people (not all) to march to the castle brandishing nooses and pitchforks. I just find it rather odd and wonder how many teachers get into trouble with schools because they don't listen or analyze the true situation.

[goo]

Can I come out in support of BP also? Waiting for further evidence of wrong doing on a school is indeed a very mature and rational way to act. I don't know the bloke (BP), never had any dealings with him, don't know the school in question either but just because someone allows adverts on their site from this school and suggests that there may be another side to the story isn't enough to jump on him and virtually (pun intended) beat the crap out of him.

A bit of rational, impartial thought is often a really good thing, kinda balances the perspective. There may well be s great deal of bad practice happening at this school, the evidence is certainly leaning that way, but that is still no excuse for crucifying someone for wanting more evidence.