Job seekers say perfume company scammed them
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- A group of hungry job seekers say they were scammed out of money and time by a Federal Way fragrance distributor.
Three women desperate for work thought they'd found their dream job when they saw an online ad calling for office assistants. The jobs, which paid $18 an hour with vacation time and benefits, were being offered by a Federal Way company called Taylor and Co.
When Rhonda Durrer and Ferren Shirazi were hired by the company, they say they were nearly guaranteed big bucks.
"They asked us what we wanted to do with our incomes, saying like, 'You guys are going to make so much money. What do you guys plan on doing with it?'" Shirazi said.
But Shriazi said she never saw a dime.
The women say red flags went up after that office assistant job turned into a push to sell perfume to their family and friends. On top of that, the women say they were pressured to hand over $10 each for a new hire background check.
Shirazi even handed over her debit card for the background check, and she was shocked when days later she noticed that Taylor and Co. had charged money to the card without her authorization.
"When I called and told them, they said it must be a mistake," she said.
Fed up, Shirazi turned to the KOMO 4 Problems Solvers for help.
"They need to be stopped," she said. "They really need to be stopped. And I contacted you guys because this needs to end."
In an effort to learn more about the company, a Problem Solvers intern named Christine responded to the same ad and went undercover to listen to the company's pitch.
On her first day of training, Christine said she and 20 other new hires were hit up for that $10 background check and pushed to compete to sell the most perfume.
"She said you will make money based on the perfume you are able to sell," Christine said.
Eager to succeed, Janet Herrera sold 45 perfume orders in one night. She said she gave every penny to Taylor and Co.
"They got $1,100 from me," she said.
Although Herrera sold 45 bottles, she claims Taylor and Co only gave her seven. A month and a half later, she's still waiting for the rest.
"I sold this to my friends and family who trust me," she said, "and now they're mad at me."
Herrera insists she was told the perfumes were all brand name originals, but the company order form lists "brand name scents," and the fine print indicates they're knock-offs.
She hasn't made a penny, and what's even worse is that Herrera said she attended unpaid mandatory training for the past seven weeks.
State law says if you're hired, an employer must pay for all training hours.
"We will look at their case, investigate and if they are owed wages we will work on collecting them," said Liz Smith of the Department of Labor and Industries.
After reporting the company to Smith, the Problem Solvers confronted Taylor and Co. owner Andrew Shelleck.
Shelleck said his company isn't scamming anyone and nobody was ever forced to stay there. He insists he's done nothing wrong and is the victim of disgruntled employees who are hurling false accusations at him.
He also said the trio of woman who contacted the Problem Solvers weren't paid because he doesn't consider them employees until after they complete their training.
That practice could land Shelleck in hot water with the state, because Herrera's paperwork says she's an employee. Even if she didn't have the paperwork, Smith said verbal agreements also make you an official employee.
"In our state, oral agreements are valid," Smith said.
Rhonda Durrer never got paid, either. She said she quit on her second day of work when the company didn't pass her smell test.
"I just don't understand how this can be out there and nothing's being done," Durrer said.
All three women have now filed complaints with Labor and Industries and are hoping to finally get paid for that training. And it might not be a lost cause. Smith said last year the state returned more than $2 million in wages that were owed to employees.
Ten days ago Shelleck promised to he'd give Herrera her $1,100, but she said she has yet to see a dime.
Three women desperate for work thought they'd found their dream job when they saw an online ad calling for office assistants. The jobs, which paid $18 an hour with vacation time and benefits, were being offered by a Federal Way company called Taylor and Co.
When Rhonda Durrer and Ferren Shirazi were hired by the company, they say they were nearly guaranteed big bucks.
"They asked us what we wanted to do with our incomes, saying like, 'You guys are going to make so much money. What do you guys plan on doing with it?'" Shirazi said.
But Shriazi said she never saw a dime.
The women say red flags went up after that office assistant job turned into a push to sell perfume to their family and friends. On top of that, the women say they were pressured to hand over $10 each for a new hire background check.
Shirazi even handed over her debit card for the background check, and she was shocked when days later she noticed that Taylor and Co. had charged money to the card without her authorization.
"When I called and told them, they said it must be a mistake," she said.
Fed up, Shirazi turned to the KOMO 4 Problems Solvers for help.
"They need to be stopped," she said. "They really need to be stopped. And I contacted you guys because this needs to end."
In an effort to learn more about the company, a Problem Solvers intern named Christine responded to the same ad and went undercover to listen to the company's pitch.
On her first day of training, Christine said she and 20 other new hires were hit up for that $10 background check and pushed to compete to sell the most perfume.
"She said you will make money based on the perfume you are able to sell," Christine said.
Eager to succeed, Janet Herrera sold 45 perfume orders in one night. She said she gave every penny to Taylor and Co.
"They got $1,100 from me," she said.
Although Herrera sold 45 bottles, she claims Taylor and Co only gave her seven. A month and a half later, she's still waiting for the rest.
"I sold this to my friends and family who trust me," she said, "and now they're mad at me."
Herrera insists she was told the perfumes were all brand name originals, but the company order form lists "brand name scents," and the fine print indicates they're knock-offs.
She hasn't made a penny, and what's even worse is that Herrera said she attended unpaid mandatory training for the past seven weeks.
State law says if you're hired, an employer must pay for all training hours.
"We will look at their case, investigate and if they are owed wages we will work on collecting them," said Liz Smith of the Department of Labor and Industries.
After reporting the company to Smith, the Problem Solvers confronted Taylor and Co. owner Andrew Shelleck.
Shelleck said his company isn't scamming anyone and nobody was ever forced to stay there. He insists he's done nothing wrong and is the victim of disgruntled employees who are hurling false accusations at him.
He also said the trio of woman who contacted the Problem Solvers weren't paid because he doesn't consider them employees until after they complete their training.
That practice could land Shelleck in hot water with the state, because Herrera's paperwork says she's an employee. Even if she didn't have the paperwork, Smith said verbal agreements also make you an official employee.
"In our state, oral agreements are valid," Smith said.
Rhonda Durrer never got paid, either. She said she quit on her second day of work when the company didn't pass her smell test.
"I just don't understand how this can be out there and nothing's being done," Durrer said.
All three women have now filed complaints with Labor and Industries and are hoping to finally get paid for that training. And it might not be a lost cause. Smith said last year the state returned more than $2 million in wages that were owed to employees.
Ten days ago Shelleck promised to he'd give Herrera her $1,100, but she said she has yet to see a dime.
