Distephano
17 August 2007, 04:24
Hey all, I'm on here because of some shady things that happened while I was applying for a job as a Security Guard at a company from Toronto, Ontario. I won't name the company as I'm not sure if it is legal too heh.
Anyways, I submitted a resume to a company which provides security services and is based in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) sometime in July. Now roughly 2 weeks after I submitted this resume I got a call back from someone from Human Resources at this company. Let's say his name is "John". Anyways, during the first phone conversation John stated something along the lines of: "... if everything goes well we will get you to fill out some forms, also we will need a copy of your birth certificate, SIN number, and Passport." Now I was told that I would have to provide those pieces of identification for background checks, and considering this was a security company I found that understandable.
Now I couldn't find my birth certificate that day, so I asked him if a Passport would be alright and somehow I brought along my Passport as well. I recall asking John if it mattered that it was outdated as it was my Passport from when I was a baby, possibly 1-2 years old. (I'm 18 now btw). He said that it wasn't a problem.
Anyways, I get down there for the interview and after some questioning and review of my resume he gives me some forms to fill out. The forms included the actual application of employment forms to the company, as well as Government forms which I would have to fill out to receive my License. The license, I was told, costs $90.00 CAD. I ended up only filling out the Licensing forms for some reason, can't remember why, and while I was doing this John took my SIN Card, Outdated Passport, and my G1 Ontario Driver's License to photocopy. Somehow we agreed to fill out the application of employment forms another day, two days later if I recall correctly. Further to this I needed to bring my Birth Certificate because I could not find it at the time.
So I go back two days later to finish the rest of the forms and present my Birth Certificate. When I get there I start to fill out the application of employment forms. During this time another man comes into the room and waits for his interview. (Not sure why I had to mention this) While I am filling out these forms John goes and makes a photocopy of my Birth Certificate. When he returns he proceeds to start interviewing this other guy. After he is done with him and I am done with my forms he takes them and tells me that he will take a photo of me for, if I remember correctly, my identification card. John comes back with a Polaroid camera and takes a picture of me from my shoulders up. John then said, "We look forward to working with you." and that if I don't receive a call from them in 6 days to call me back. I was told 6 days because John said that it was the average number of days it took for the Government to send them my license.
Six days pass without a call and I call the company. I am unable to reach John so I decide that I will call another day. Anyways, about 2 weeks went by without a word from the company. Somewhere within those 2 weeks I called and left a message on John's answering machine. I also called about 2-3 times before that asking for John and either getting the "he isn't in at the moment......... I'm not sure when he will be back" response or being forwarded to his answering machine.
Finally I received a call from the company two days ago on the 14th of August. A man who's name I can't remember tells me that my license has arrived and that I can come by and pick it up whenever. Anyways, I was busy that day and the day after so I went today to pick it up. When I get there the headquarters is closed so I call the company. For some reason my call was directly forwarded to a man who introduced himself as "Jack" (not his real name) I can't remember but I am 80% sure that it is the same guy who called me and told me my License had arrived. After I told him who I was and that I was at their Headquarters to pick up my License our conversation went something like this:
Jack: You know what we currently aren't hiring anymore Security Officers.
Me: Oh...
Jack: Are you seeking employment elsewhere? There are other security companies I know of, ******** Security is one of them, I know some of our guys now work there. You should call them and tell them that Jack told you to call.
Me: Sure... So is it possible that you could mail my License to me?
Jack: It is of no use because your License was obtained through our company, which means that you can't just take it with you anywhere. We will just send your License back to the Ministry.
Me: Ah ok... and what about my Licensing Fee?
Jack: Ohh right, ****.. we'll get back to you on that.
End of conversation. (Said "Bye" of course, he didn't just hang up)
I am aware that I really should have been more forward and asked more questions, but this all came to me after the conversation happened... Pretty stupid of me.
Now it really isn't the $90.00 CAD Licensing Fee that bothers me, though I did some research and it says on a Government website that the License only costs $80.00 CAD. What bothers me is that the man who interviewed me told me that they would "look forward to working with me" and that now I was told that they aren't hiring anymore Officers, and the fact that they have copies of my Driver's License, SIN Card, Birth Certificate, an outdated Passport and finally a PICTURE of me.
I was hoping someone could give their opinion on these events. Is it possible that my identity could be stolen with these documents and my picture? I know it may sound paranoid... but I imagine that my outdated Passport could be forged and updated with the picture that they took of me. I can imagine that there are possibly hundreds of people from China (I'm Chinese btw) who want to get into Canada but cannot for some reason or another. This whole situation has gotten me really paranoid, any thoughts and suggestions of what, if any, course of action I should take now would be greatly appreciated!
Sorry for the length of this post heh..
Anyways, I submitted a resume to a company which provides security services and is based in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) sometime in July. Now roughly 2 weeks after I submitted this resume I got a call back from someone from Human Resources at this company. Let's say his name is "John". Anyways, during the first phone conversation John stated something along the lines of: "... if everything goes well we will get you to fill out some forms, also we will need a copy of your birth certificate, SIN number, and Passport." Now I was told that I would have to provide those pieces of identification for background checks, and considering this was a security company I found that understandable.
Now I couldn't find my birth certificate that day, so I asked him if a Passport would be alright and somehow I brought along my Passport as well. I recall asking John if it mattered that it was outdated as it was my Passport from when I was a baby, possibly 1-2 years old. (I'm 18 now btw). He said that it wasn't a problem.
Anyways, I get down there for the interview and after some questioning and review of my resume he gives me some forms to fill out. The forms included the actual application of employment forms to the company, as well as Government forms which I would have to fill out to receive my License. The license, I was told, costs $90.00 CAD. I ended up only filling out the Licensing forms for some reason, can't remember why, and while I was doing this John took my SIN Card, Outdated Passport, and my G1 Ontario Driver's License to photocopy. Somehow we agreed to fill out the application of employment forms another day, two days later if I recall correctly. Further to this I needed to bring my Birth Certificate because I could not find it at the time.
So I go back two days later to finish the rest of the forms and present my Birth Certificate. When I get there I start to fill out the application of employment forms. During this time another man comes into the room and waits for his interview. (Not sure why I had to mention this) While I am filling out these forms John goes and makes a photocopy of my Birth Certificate. When he returns he proceeds to start interviewing this other guy. After he is done with him and I am done with my forms he takes them and tells me that he will take a photo of me for, if I remember correctly, my identification card. John comes back with a Polaroid camera and takes a picture of me from my shoulders up. John then said, "We look forward to working with you." and that if I don't receive a call from them in 6 days to call me back. I was told 6 days because John said that it was the average number of days it took for the Government to send them my license.
Six days pass without a call and I call the company. I am unable to reach John so I decide that I will call another day. Anyways, about 2 weeks went by without a word from the company. Somewhere within those 2 weeks I called and left a message on John's answering machine. I also called about 2-3 times before that asking for John and either getting the "he isn't in at the moment......... I'm not sure when he will be back" response or being forwarded to his answering machine.
Finally I received a call from the company two days ago on the 14th of August. A man who's name I can't remember tells me that my license has arrived and that I can come by and pick it up whenever. Anyways, I was busy that day and the day after so I went today to pick it up. When I get there the headquarters is closed so I call the company. For some reason my call was directly forwarded to a man who introduced himself as "Jack" (not his real name) I can't remember but I am 80% sure that it is the same guy who called me and told me my License had arrived. After I told him who I was and that I was at their Headquarters to pick up my License our conversation went something like this:
Jack: You know what we currently aren't hiring anymore Security Officers.
Me: Oh...
Jack: Are you seeking employment elsewhere? There are other security companies I know of, ******** Security is one of them, I know some of our guys now work there. You should call them and tell them that Jack told you to call.
Me: Sure... So is it possible that you could mail my License to me?
Jack: It is of no use because your License was obtained through our company, which means that you can't just take it with you anywhere. We will just send your License back to the Ministry.
Me: Ah ok... and what about my Licensing Fee?
Jack: Ohh right, ****.. we'll get back to you on that.
End of conversation. (Said "Bye" of course, he didn't just hang up)
I am aware that I really should have been more forward and asked more questions, but this all came to me after the conversation happened... Pretty stupid of me.
Now it really isn't the $90.00 CAD Licensing Fee that bothers me, though I did some research and it says on a Government website that the License only costs $80.00 CAD. What bothers me is that the man who interviewed me told me that they would "look forward to working with me" and that now I was told that they aren't hiring anymore Officers, and the fact that they have copies of my Driver's License, SIN Card, Birth Certificate, an outdated Passport and finally a PICTURE of me.
I was hoping someone could give their opinion on these events. Is it possible that my identity could be stolen with these documents and my picture? I know it may sound paranoid... but I imagine that my outdated Passport could be forged and updated with the picture that they took of me. I can imagine that there are possibly hundreds of people from China (I'm Chinese btw) who want to get into Canada but cannot for some reason or another. This whole situation has gotten me really paranoid, any thoughts and suggestions of what, if any, course of action I should take now would be greatly appreciated!
Sorry for the length of this post heh..