Smith's School of English in Japan

[Scotty]

Hey B.C. Is it liable or fact that Mark intentionally sets out to get customers money by deception as opposed to correct business protocol?

Scotty

[computerguy]

Mark Smith has received money from me for making an investment in Japan real estate. I have given him this money in good faith and he seems like a nice guy. Whilst I was aware of his Smith's School of English franchise operation, I was not made aware by him of the extent of the anti Smith sentiment out there.

I guess what my reason for posting here comes down to is, Is my investment in real estate here in Japan with Mark Smith and myself for that matter going to be subject to the same things that all these forums are describing happened to Smith's School of English and its investors.

I have some minor complaints about the way he is dealing with me but so far I wouldn't say the relationship is under pressure.

I followed a sites recommendations to these links,

Has anyone set up their own English language school? - Japan Forum

Let's Japan.org :: The site devoted to debunking eikaiwa

Franchise Fraud in Japan

The Smith Institute of Applied Extortion (tefltrade.blog-city.com)

English Teaching Franchises in Japan 2- UsingEnglish.com

Many people have put a great deal of time and effort into helping others see how Mark Smith operates. I don't see other schools come under this level of criticism and peoples complaints seem consistantly aimed at him which makes it all so believable.

The information on these forums is opening my eyes to how he works and what motivates it but is my money safe with his real estate enterprise - Real Estate Investments in Japan ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for this opportunity to share information aacircle.com.au

[gfell]

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

I also ask for posts not to contain opinions about Marks personal life or his family. Your co-operation is much appreciated.

Thank you.

[computerguy]

Yes admin, understood.

This is the business I am questioning now,

Real Estate Investments in Japan

It seems this is a much newer thing for Mark Smith. The Smith's School Of English franchise operation is about 6 years old and the Real Estate Investments in Japan is more like 3 or 4. This is reading between the lines and from what other people have said and therefore only my opinion. What Mark Smith has told me is different.

I will keep quiet now and study what replies come in on this forum.

Administration, thank you for the support.

[Scotty]

Nothing personal and all supported by facts.

Regarding your investment.

Ensure you keep all paperwork and correspondences as a customer.

Ensure your contract regarding your investment (worked out with professional counsel) is tight, and will stand up in court in the country you wish it to be recognised.

Ensure that you have the financial and time resources to pursue your interest through legal channels. ie a good rule of thumb in Japan would be 20,000USD spare to pay for a decent legal representative to

a. Translate and
b. Present within Japan your case

your contract with relation to the pertinent laws in Japan (which I also recommend you know)

Apart from that, good luck and best wishes.


Scotty

[cool ice]

And never relinquish too much control. Keep some cards up your sleeve. Just because his school is as it is, doesn't mean the real estate business is the same. Just beware and don't give up control of things.

[Scotty]

Also, I would like to apologise if any words that have been typed by myself have included personal and unsubstantiated emotional affects upon Mark Smiths' family.

There is nothing at all that they have ever done out of ethical or business standards which are of question.

If any more exist within my posts, please let me know and I'll have it removed and edited asap.

Thanks again,

Scotty

[Scotty]

詐欺が悪いですね。

スミス英会話がね。。。。



p.s. To the moderators.

Regarding ISP address. What is the policy of this site regarding the public display of ISP addresses?

Thanks for your time,

Scotty

[Scotty]

These are the facts maam. Eye witness first accounts.


Visa xxxxx Perpetrated by Smith's School of English

Mark Smith, on the blog, "SmithWatch"

Smith's School of English Watch :: Creating Awareness of SSE's Lies, Fraud, Scams, & Commercial Cult-Like Behavior
, admits that he has committed Visa xxxx

. Here's part of his entry under the alias, "Curious in Japan" IP address 218.224.54.162 (This entry can be found on the SmithWatch blog page,

"So Who is Mark John Smith?"):


__________________________________________________ ___________________________________

Another entry on the same blog told by Scott , former CEO of Smith's School of English and victim of the Smiths' scams, relates the following story as evidence that Mark and xxxx Smith sold Visas:

"January 2004. Kyobashi Head Office, Smith's School of English Japan.

At this time, I was working at the Head Office as (mentee/general manager/profit share teacher/flyers manager etc etc). Mark came in early to work (1200ish, very rare) all excited. He showed me a internet website (gaijinpot.com) which had recently started a thread on Smith's School of English, from a poster called 'Sidereal'.

He showed me (at the time only a few postings) and with one from a person named 'Traviss'. I asked him if he was Traviss, as it seemed pretty obvious to me that it was. He said yes.

The thread continued to grow, Mark pretending to be various characters, in order to clear the Smiths School of English name.

I was at that time in my major contemplation stage of what I was doing at Smith's School of English. My business education was going nowhere, I was working from 700am to 10pm 5days a week and 1000am to 7pm on Saturdays.

Mark pointed at the computer screen at the time, and told me about Paul H and Smithwatch. He said they were inconsequential gaijins in the community 'out there' that were jealous of his success.

I thought, "Ok, but why would you need to jump on as 'Traviss' to try to alter the thread?". Mark guessed this was what I was thinking, and assured me that he was too famous to use his real name on such a small thread.

"Other posters are immature" Mark said.

Bit by bit, things started to get more stinky and uncomfortable for me. Right about this time, I met a few 'ex-franchisees' still in Osaka. They assured me that I was becoming the public face, for what was a 'one man band snakeoil sales outfit'. I became embarrassed and angry at the same time. Mark couldn't answer any of my questions properly. His stories always changed, and he even forgot sometimes which stories he told which people.

Where was my 1,000,000 yen education?

Where was my > 500,000 yen/month Kyobashi Profit Share Salary?

Why was I working such long hours?

Why was I selling for this company, when the owner hadn't even paid me (general manager, PST, of Smith's School of English)?

Why was I encouraged by Mark to not take potential customers anywhere near Shinsaibashi?

Why was I embarrassed to say to some people that I worked for Mark Smith?

Why was Mark using 'William Wiseman' 'Traviss' and numerous other names on the threads?

Why was Mark using the name 'William Wiseman' as a schoolbroker?

Why was Mark exceedingly reluctant to use the train?

Why did he lie to so many people as a business owner in Japan?

Why did he have me pretend to a Fukushima Private school owner that I knew 'William Wiseman'? (she became a 'friends of Smith' member). This means, she needed VISA taken care of, she met 'William Wiseman' (MARK SMITH) on the net, and 'William' told her that "for some money, and a monthly fee, she could continue to operate as a private school".

She came to Smiths, met xxxx and myself (Mark was slinking around the lobby pretending to be busy, but listening and watching). She signed the contract, paid her money, kept her private school, and got her VISA from 'William Wiseman'....Mark Smith.

Funniest thing is, she even talked to 'William' on the phone. (Mark Smith). He met her in the foyer at Smiths, and he was in a mini-panic about whether or not she would recognise his voice. She didn't, Mark got his money, she got her VISA, and kept her school, without becoming a franchisee.

Mark went on the roof to celebrate after she 'signed'. He couldn't believe that he'd pulled it off. He was so happy, like a kid with a new bike. 'William Wiseman'. Classic. Mark Smith sold a VISA, as a different person, using UGEN GAISHA SUMISU EIKAIWA.

[Signed,]
Scott
ex mentee, ex general manager, ex customer of Smith's School of English Japan...(2,600,000yen owed, and certainly not the only one as you can see from this site)"

[Niko]

Originally Posted by Scotty

p.s. To the moderators.

Regarding ISP address. What is the policy of this site regarding the public display of ISP addresses?

We don't and will never display IP addresses. We are here to encourage freedom of speech and the sharing of knowledge. Some members go by aliases hence we respect their privacy and never share member info with 3rd parties.