FLORIDA-BASED JOB ADS DRAW VA. INVESTIGATION

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 29, 1992                   TAG: 9202290229
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLYNE H. McWILLIAMS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
FLORIDA-BASED JOB ADS DRAW VA. INVESTIGATION
The Virginia Department of Commerce said Friday it is investigating two Florida-based companies that are running employment advertising in Virginia newspapers.
Dave Dick, an administrator with the department's employment agency program, said the state is looking into Network Resources Agency Inc., identified in the ads as NPS, and International Placement Specialist, or IPS.
The major question is whether the companies are employment agencies and, if so, whether they have licenses to operate in the state. The evaluations will take about two weeks, he said.
Dick said his department had not received any formal complaints against the companies but had taken about three phone calls about their advertising.
Both have advertised in the Roanoke Times & World-News, giving Florida telephone numbers.
NPS said it requires clients to pay nonrefundable retainer fees of $350 in advance. That fee, a company spokeswoman said, is for "materials and services," including resume and marketing materials preparation, and interview counseling.
If the agency rejects an applicant, the fee is refunded within seven business days, the spokeswoman said. The company also charges a placement fee of 3 percent of the client's first-year salary.
Virginia law prohibits employment agencies from charging registration fees or collecting payment in advance. State law defines an employment agency as one that advertises to help find or direct someone to employment and charges a fee for the service.
"The principle is, if a person is looking for a job and forking over money - and if they're unemployed, it could be the last of their money," Dick said.
"We do not knowingly accept any ad that violates the law," said Marilyn Evans, manager of classified advertising for the Roanoke Times & World-News. "If we find that these ads are violating the law, we will not publish them in the future."
Dick said his advice to consumers is to read contracts before signing and to be wary of outfits that ask for money up front. "The only thing I can say to people is, be careful," he said.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB