July 24, 2008
The Month of the Cons
Seriously, what has the world become? 3 days ago, I got a call from a telemarketer who tried to get my credit card details discreetly. a day before that, my mom got a call from the typical china lady “do you speak mandrin, we are from XXX doing a survey etc…” for the third time.
Yesterday, I was told that the 100-200k grant application that we were trying to secure is nothing but a deliberate con job. I did warn my senior management the moment these consultant who were introduced by a so-called-company-friend, because I did not trust this “company friend”, lets call him J (sorry to all my other friends whos name start with J, not referring to any of you guys). J has been in and out of many industry, from selling heavy machineries, to selling companies. Yes, J is a salesman, 60 year old salesman.
I haven’t seen J for almost 5 years, and two weeks ago, he came knocking after gotten news that the company were looking for some financing for further business expansion. All I had to do was to ask one simple question pertaining on the category and program that our grant falls under, he could not give a straight answer, instead gave the most typical inside job story. I was quick to dismiss J, but the senior management did give him the benefit of the doubt but assured me and said”allow him enough rope and he’ll hang himself”. And he did hung himself after arranging 3 meetings with the so called inside man who could get the grant for us for a small after service fee when the grant is approved. I was lucky I wasn’t in for the that final meeting or I might have lost my cool and verbally assaulted them when the terms were changed to upfront fee of 10k, no longer after service and definitely not small. Fucking liars.
I’ve applied for government grant and loans. Applying for them is remarkably cheap, I only have to pay for the form. Loans require colletrol in form of fixed deposit with the required amount set by the finance company upon approval. Of course, provided I have the time to burn to follow up on the tedious progress, otherwise, might as well hire someone to do it, henceforth, consultants.
Thank you, Jasper, for wasting my time.
