Topic: EF/English First Thailand

[Aitchbomb]

Plus ca change...

EF franchisees do what they want 'cos they were misinformed at the get go, sold something they didnt understand, unsupported, and then given the shaft when they complained. I don't blame them, but it doesnt do the students any good.

How many EFs are left in Thailand? It was 12 when I left...

[Jon]

Plus ca change...

EF franchisees do what they want 'cos they were misinformed at the get go, sold something they didnt understand, unsupported, and then given the shaft when they complained. I don't blame them, but it doesnt do the students any good.

How many EFs are left in Thailand? It was 12 when I left...

Down to 6 now. I believe the current Indonesian management closed a few earlier this year (Ready to sell again?) and EF Chiang Mai was locked out by his landlord.

This link will take you to their website:

http://www.englishfirst.co.th/englishfirst/schools/schoolname/default.aspx

[Jon]

update on the court case

EF's representative tried to withdraw the case before the investigation of evidence and witnesses begun. This was blocked. EF's representative presented to court documents he said were the contracts between EF and his (the one HE sold to a 3rd party) franchise. The document was dated June 2004; however the company named as the franchisee didn't exist until October 2004. Of course there will be a criminal complaint made but the defendant (former EF DOS) wants to use the subpoena powers of this court to obtain more documents. EF's representative is craping himself. He could still walk away from the case but then he can be sued more easily for bringing a false case against the former DOS.

Update on EF in Chiang Mai

EF’s representative signed a termination of franchise contract with EF on October 15th 2006 which took affect November 1st 2006. On October 15th EF’s representative wasn’t authorized to terminate the contract as he had already sold the owning company (DSS Educated Co. Ltd.) of the franchise to a 4th party. This leaves the door open to this 4th party to sue EF for damages.

In addition the EF brand is being used in Chaing Mai still - this is without the authority of EF. For example, Regina Coeli School, Pimandek School plus some others.

Fun fun fun!

[orientalphoenix]

Would "EF's representative" be this guy "K...."?  I'm still working at P... school , as are two other Tefl teachers, under the supposed auspices of EF, until the end of this term. P... school say they've had a lot of problems with EF (presumably K...who is the guy who comes to the school and who emails us from outside Thailand --Indonesia??- concerning pay etc), and K... says he's had a lot of problems with P... school.  The two other teachers have been offered contracts at the school , but full time, not part time, and at what might be reduced wages. K... ( if indeed it is him...) states that he is going to leave EF in March as he is fed up with them and seems to have plans to start up again on his own in May. He says that he has three schools already who will need teachers, and has asked me to work for him....................hmmmmmmm. Any comments, further information, etc, would be very much appreciated.

Glad I found this thread, it's difficult to make decisions unless one has the full picture!

orientalphoenix

[Jon]

the guy's name is Thammasak (maybe someone calls him Khun Thammasak) hence the K

the country manager was/is an Indonesian woman named Mimi

the regional manager (Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia) is an Indonesian woman named Arleta

The only school he's connected to that begins with P is Pimandek - at the beginning of this academic year he planned to open an EP at this school, unfortunately this is illegal without the approval of the MoE. I hope my postings on this board had some contribution to the fact they quickly dropped/forgot this acronym.

This is all in CM though.

[orientalphoenix]

Jon -- thanks for your reply --- that's helpful stuff. I'll keep posting as this develops. Fascinating........

orientalphoenix

[Jon]

UPDATE

After 2 years a copy of a certain contract from EF in Bangkok has finally been obtained. It required a court subpoena eventually after a police letter and a personal request to EF had been refused. It now will be clear to Chiang Mai Civil Court that the contract used by EF’s representative to base his case to sue the former DOS is fake/false. The next court date is May 15th and then it will be announced to the court.

An interesting aside to this is that EF Bangkok also sent to Chiang Mai Civil Court a copy of their franchise contract termination document between EF’s representative’s company and EF. It is dated October 15th, 2006. However, at this time EF’s representative had already sold his company and was not authorized to sign any termination for the EF franchise in Chiang Mai. I guess the new owners are quite entitled to sue EF; and maybe EF’s signatories, to that contract, may face criminal action as they have terminated a franchise without the owner's consent or knowledge.

[Jon]

The latest court date was postponed from the 15th May to 4th September. This was EF's Representative's last opportunity to interview witnesses in Bangkok before the case returns to CM. The defence cannot introduce evidence or interview its own witnesses until the plaintiff finishes, but must finish its own investigation before November 2007.

The ex-country manager (Thai female) of EF was interviewed by the plaintiff's solicitor. She contradicted the contract EF previously provided to the court by stating that there was a verbal contract between EF and EF's representative in CM that overrode the actual paper contract (signed and stamped by EF). In total she contradicted 5 contracts and documents presented to the court by the defendant (ex-EF DOS) by saying either there was a verbal contract that overrode the contract, or that she had never seen the document before. She sounded silly! It's strongly believed that the brother of the ex-country manager has a company that sells lubricants to the EF Chiang Mai representative's father's bicycle manufacturing company!

The defendant has subpoenaed the current EF management to attend court on September 17th and answer questions. I will report the results.

[bluefalang]

very interesting. thanks for the update.

[Jon]

No representative of EF's Thai Head Office responded to the supboena. A message was sent to the court stating that the responsible person(s) were not in the country.

Another supboena will be sent.

[Aitchbomb]

Any update on this yet? I'd hate to see English farce get away with it.

[zippy]

No representative of EF's Thai Head Office responded to the supboena. A message was sent to the court stating that the responsible person(s) were not in the country.

Another supboena will be sent.

All of the responsible people have either left the company or are  now based in Indonesia if I am not mistaken

[Jon]

This is what my solicitor told me:

This is what my solicitor told me:

There are levels/stages of sopboena. The first one that EF responded to with a dismissive message to the court is more of a request. If this is unsuccessful, the court will issue a subpoena that insists and not invites. If this subpoena isn't responded to, the court will issue an arrest warrant for any persons found at the registered office. EF is a registered business in Thailand and the subpoena is sent to their registered office, it requests the person responsible to attend court. It can be anyone. The excuse 'not in the country' won't work. The next date is set for mid October.

I'll let you know what happens.

[Jon]

October 16th

EF sent a Thai female to court to answer the subpoena. She announced she is responsible for accounts and documents for EF Thailand.

She confirmed to the court that there has only ever been one contract (terminated 12 months ago) between EF and their Chiang Mai franchisee.

The Chiang Mai franchisee submitted to the court two other contracts:

1) Himself and EF

2) A company he said he owned and EF. This company hadn't been set up at the time it was supposed to be effective and is the centre of the only fraud charge against him so far. There will be more.

EF stated clearly both contracts never existed.

EF's previous country manager (see Post from Sept 8th) said they did.

It appears the current EF management is more honest than their previous country manager.

EF's franchisee again said to the court he would like to withdraw the case as a gift to the King.

The objective is to use this case, and the opportunity it gives to interview witnesses and view documents, to provide the ammunition needed to nail this bastard.

The case now returns to CM and the investigation should be concluded by late November

[retiredstillteaching]

Izzis this the same English First that is the Official English Language Provider to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the same EF that operates in China as well as in some other countries?