Hello I am a 69 years young retiree from Australia, well educated and with time on my hands. I went to a school here in Jomtien to volunteer to teach English. Was informed I,d need a TEFL cert. A local company advertizing their TEFL course approved by MOE said they had a course starting on 22/9 and for 23000 b I could have my cert on  the 26th, another foolish old farang got scammed.  After I started the course the TRUTH came out,at the end of the week I would only have a TRAINING cert, to get " The Guaranteed Job and Work Permit " I would need to do 80 hours teaching; then go to Laos for type b visa ( approx 8000 b with travel ), then go to Chonburi for a work permit, ( 3000 b ). AND none of this could be done until November because the schools were on Hols. They also stated that the good schools required a Degree and as I don,t have one I should go to Kao Saan Rd and get one.. I asked for my money back; NO WAY. I went to the paper and and informed them of the

 fraud; they said go away, they were a good client...I went to the Police, they were sympathetic;they rang the company and they were told to tell me that if I went back and paid another 57000 b I could have my cert. on the spot, no training or teaching invoved. The Police told me I should get a LAWYER. Question. Does MOE certify these people ?. Do they know that they are giving Certs. to people that can barely speak English , there was a Turkish person in my class ? Can other well meaning farangs be warned ? Is there a way to help Thais to speak english ? Garth Carter

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