CV writing service dispute

jsdhs

Hi, Not sure if this is the best place to post but here goes.
I am currently seeking a new contract and one of the agencies online had a link for a CV review service. I sent my CV off and got back what was a comprehensive review, it looked professional so I thought I would spend the money and have my CV professionally written. I also paid extra for a Linkedin page review that would be done at the end.I was told that a writer would be chosen who best matched my work.
The first draft ( I get 2 reviews in a tight timescale) took my 6 page highly experienced senior management CV and reduced it to 2 pages of incomprehensible garbage, sentences had been merged to create nonsense, serious experience and professional qualifications had been missed and the university attended was listed with its location and next to it they asked for the location suggesting they do not recognise some UK cities. The draft was clearly not written by someone who had an inkling of the position, role, level, industry etc Key information requested by the company was not included or wrongly quoted to my detriment.
The service included a cover letter which again was clearly not written by anyone with any basic understanding of the positions I would be applying for.
I immediately wrote to the company expressing my extreme disappointment and pointing out that to correct what was written I would effectively have to re-write my CV myself and send it back. I would have effectively ended up coaching the writer and basically teaching them to write CVs.
I thought some more and wrote again requesting a full refund, I did this within the 14 day cooling off period that applies to goods and services. My thinking behind this is that seeing what they have written so far I have no confidence in them ever producing a document that would be close to what I expect as a professional service. I have since had an offer of a small percentage which I am not mindful to accept.
I paid via Paypal using a credit card, I have taken it up with the credit card who asked for very little information and have closed the enquiry very quickly with the charge remaining on the account. I am waiting for their letter as to what their position is.

I would appreciate any feedback from the forums. Particularly as to whether this comes under paypal or my credit card and if the 14 days cooling off period would still apply being as they delivered a draft.

Thanks in advance

Tigsteroonie

What do the company's terms and conditions say about satisfaction with the service and options for refund?

[Deleted User]

6 pages really does need to be reduced though, far too long for a CV.

TELLIT01

I agree a 6 page CV is 4 pages too long and needed to be reduced to something far more manageable. Back in the days when I used to be involved in recruitment, a CV that length probably wouldn't have even been read. Assumption being, that if somebody can't be more concise and waffle free in the CV what would they be like in the workplace.
To the specific of the CV writing service, what are their T&Cs? Were to provide them with details of the job you are applying for, and they would tailor the existing CV to fit the role, or were they simply to reduce your generic CV to a more manageable size?
When I was made redundant quite a few years ago, the company had a comprehensive severance package which covered things like interview techniques, CV preparation and a professionally prepared CV. Shortly after leaving I was contacted by a CV writing company who offered an initial free check, and it should come as no surprise that they claimed that my current CV was basically rubbish and they would rewrite for a fat fee. I declined.

Any CV writing service can only do a job effectively if they know you, your work background, and the job(s) you are applying for. Did you have that much contact with them?

Exodi

So as said above, 6 pages is way too long - 1-2 is the accepted standard (maximum).

Secondly in regards to claiming for your CC provider/PayPal - I'd imagine this product (like a lot of digital products) requires you to waive your rights to refund.

Reason being, there would otherwise be nothing stopping every consumer purchasing this product, receiving the goods (content) and requesting a refund whilst still retaining the goods (content). The goods will also be personalised and would typically be exempt from refund like other personalised goods.

I know that's not what you're doing but I'd imagine that's how the CC/PayPal will see it, and what the provider will argue.

I googled 'CV writing service' and the terms of the first website I clicked on.

Cancellation & Returns Policy:

The service provided by PROVIDOR are goods 'made to consumer's specifications or clearly personalised'. It is for this reason that our services are exempt

jsdhs

Cancellation policies should not effect your statutory rights and the service/product provided are not as advertised.

As for the length of CV, perfectly normal in my line of work and as for not getting read a lot of the time they are filtered automatically via keywords. I have spoken to many HR department, recruitment agencies and project managers over time as I work on projects and therefore change positions quite often so therefore a longer CV is the norm for the industry. Interestingly enough the critique they produced had no reference to the length of the CV provided

The "effort" put forward was nonsense, I was promised I would be matched with someone who suited the role, this clearly did not happen.

Exodi

jsdhs wrote: »

Cancellation policies should not effect your statutory rights and the service/product provided are not as advertised.

As for the length of CV, perfectly normal in my line of work and as for not getting read a lot of the time they are filtered automatically via keywords. I have spoken to many HR department, recruitment agencies and project managers over time as I work on projects and therefore change positions quite often so therefore a longer CV is the norm for the industry. Interestingly enough the critique they produced had no reference to the length of the CV provided

The "effort" put forward was nonsense, I was promised I would be matched with someone who suited the role, this clearly did not happen.

I'm siding with you on this, I'm just preparing you for the inevitable issues you'll face.

I'm confused about your comment regarding cancellation policies effecting your statutory rights - you do not have a statutory right to a refund of a personalised item without cause (for obvious reasons). You are entitled to a refund if the item is faulty, which you'll have to evidence.

If your personal experience is that a 6 page CV is acceptable in your industry then run with it. Personally I have both directly and indirectly recruited and considered a fair amount of CV's, and a 6 page CV would make me roll my eyes on a good day. In fact you'll find a general consensus of this in the majority of industries, unless you're a vampire and are 1,000+ years old, I can't think of how you'd fill 6 pages without waffling.

I think your last point was sadly just sales spiel. It would almost certainly be Greg on his apprenticeship copying and pasting from "MASTER TEMPLATE - ENGINEERING CV".

lincroft1710

This really should be in "Consumer Rights" rather than "Employment"

jonnygee2

The draft was clearly not written by someone who had an inkling of the position, role, level, industry etc

You are a senior manager in a specialised industry. Sorry to be blunt but did it not occur to you that people with with knowledge and experience at your level, in your specific industry, were unlikely to be working for online CV writing services?

jsdhs

I have posted this elsewhere but it has been suggested I put it here.

I am currently seeking a new contract and one of the agencies online had a link for a CV review service. I sent my CV off and got back what was a comprehensive review, it looked professional so I thought I would spend the money and have my CV professionally written. I also paid extra for a Linkedin page review that would be done at the end.I was told that a writer would be chosen who best matched my work.
The first draft ( I get 2 reviews in a tight timescale) took my 6 page highly experienced senior management CV and reduced it to 2 pages of incomprehensible garbage, sentences had been merged to create nonsense, serious experience and professional qualifications had been missed and the university attended was listed with its location and next to it they asked for the location suggesting they do not recognise some UK cities. The draft was clearly not written by someone who had an inkling of the position, role, level, industry etc Key information requested by the company was not included or wrongly quoted to my detriment.
The service included a cover letter which again was clearly not written by anyone with any basic understanding of the positions I would be applying for.
I immediately wrote to the company expressing my extreme disappointment and pointing out that to correct what was written I would effectively have to re-write my CV myself and send it back. I would have effectively ended up coaching the writer and basically teaching them to write CVs.
I thought some more and wrote again requesting a full refund, I did this within the 14 day cooling off period that applies to goods and services. My thinking behind this is that seeing what they have written so far I have no confidence in them ever producing a document that would be close to what I expect as a professional service. I have since had an offer of a small percentage which I am not mindful to accept.
I paid via Paypal using a credit card, I have taken it up with the credit card who asked for very little information and have closed the enquiry very quickly with the charge remaining on the account. I am waiting for their letter as to what their position is.

I would appreciate any feedback from the forums. Particularly as to whether this comes under paypal or my credit card and if the 14 days cooling off period would still apply being as they delivered a draft.

Thanks in advance

Tigsteroonie

Could you answer the question I asked on your other thread:

What did the terms & conditions say about satisfaction / dissatisfaction with the product and refunds? (as in, the particular T&C for the company that you chose]

As somebody else mentioned, bespoke/personalised goods and services tend to be exempt.