International TEFL Organization provides no information on its website about who owns or runs the company.
The company’s website footer suggests the International TEFL Organization has been around since 2002.
International TEFL Organization’s website domain however was only registered last September.
Alexa only started recording traffic to International TEFL Organization’s website in March.
International TEFL Organization’s private domain registration provides no information about its owner.
Images used on International TEFL Organization’s website are stock photos. Also I’m pretty sure the testimonial videos are stolen from other companies.
Three testimonial videos are presented. The footage is heavily edited and make no specific reference to International TEFL Organization.
In an attempt to appear legitimate, International TEFL Organization provides two corporate address on their website; one in the UK and one in Singapore.
The UK address belongs to ServCorp, a virtual office address merchant. The Singapore address belongs to Regus, another virtual office address merchant.
Needless to say neither address has anything to do with International TEFL Organization.
As always, if an MLM company is not openly upfront about who is running or owns it, think long and hard about joining and/or handing over any money.
International TEFL Organization’s Products
International TEFL Organization market a TEFL course.
Fully Accredited, Professional TEFL/TESOL 120-Hour Certificate.
Accepted and trusted by thousands of organisations worldwide, our certificates are a global mark of excellence that help you start and develop your career, and open doors to exciting employment opportunities.
“TEFL” stands for “Teaching English as a Foreign Language”. A TEFL certificate is a prerequisite to teach English in a number of non-English speaking countries.
On International TEFL Organization’s MLM website, the company sells it TEFL course for $297.
The listed price on its public-facing homepage with different branding is $197.
Dunno what’s going on there.
International TEFL Organization’s Compensation Plan
International TEFL Organization affiliates pay $24,500 (Franchise tier) or $49,500 (Master tier) to sign up.
Commissions are paid on the sale of $297 TEFL courses and affiliate recruitment.
TEFL Course Commissions
International TEFL Organization affiliates earn a 90% commission rate on TEFL course sales.
This is 90% of whatever the commission received by International TEFL Organization is.
Note that the commission amount is not disclosed.
Recruitment Commissions
International TEFL Organization affiliates earn commissions on recruitment of new affiliates.
- Master tier affiliates earn a $5000 commission per affiliate recruited
- Master tier affiliates earn a $10,000 commission per affiliate recruited
Residual Commissions
International TEFL Organization pays residual commissions down two levels of recruitment (unilevel):
- level 1 (personal sales and recruited affiliates) – 90%
- level 2 – 30%
It should be noted that these figures don’t add up (90% + 30% = 120%).
I believe the residual 30% commission is paid as a match of the 90% paid on level 1.
That is if someone you recruit makes a sale or recruits an affiliate, they get their 90% cut and you get 10% of that.
This would have to be paid out of International TEFL Organization’s 10% cut.
Also it’s not clear if residual commissions are paid on affiliate membership fees or just the $297 course.
Both the Franchise and Master affiliate memberships include the $297 TEFL course.
Joining International TEFL Organization
International TEFL Organization affiliate membership is available at two price-points:
- Franchise – $24,500 and then $97 a month
- Master – $49,500 and then $97 month
The only difference between the two tiers is income potential.
Conclusion
First things first; you should absolutely not be handing over $24,500 or $49,500 to randoms on the internet pretending to operate out of virtual offices.
With respect to International TEFL Organization’s MLM opportunity, there’s nothing to praise here.
The course itself sounds alright. I did a TEFL course myself back in the 2000s and I remember paying about the same.
It took me a few days and there was a video component towards the end (I had to demo a class from memory).
That said I’d done my research on the company and was confident I was getting what I paid for.
All fees, including affiliate and training payments, are non-refundable under any circumstances. There are no exceptions.
International TEFL Organization’s “no refunds” refund policy is a red flag you shouldn’t ignore.
Apart from being in violation of most country’s consumer laws, again you shouldn’t be handing over tens of thousands of dollars to randoms over the internet – openly telling you refunds are off the table, “no exceptions”.
This just screams scam.
As an MLM opportunity there is an attempt to encourage retail…
Notice: At least 70% of your revenue must come from retail (Course) sales, and not from recruiting other affiliates.
Anything less than 70% of retail sales could be considered an illegal Ponzi/Pyramid scheme in most countries.
We will terminate your affiliate licence if you are unable or unwilling to comply with this condition, with no refund.
…but considering the mighty imbalance between commissions paid on a $297 course vs. $5000 or $10,000 on per recruited affiliate, it sounds like an excuse not to pay.
“You recruited three affiliates and earned $30,000?
Yeah look we’re not paying you because you didn’t earn $21,000 in TEFL course commissions. Remember, no refunds.”
International TEFL Organization also expect you to spend at least $500 a month on marketing, so that’s an ongoing expense to consider.
Funnily enough, International TEFL Organization seem to be in denial about offering an MLM opportunity.
This affiliate program consists of an ethical, two-tier commission system, and there are no up-line or downline members.
Online Education Business Disclosure: We do NOT offer, promote or associate with, or will ever be involved with, any get-rich-quick program, MLM, cryptocurrency scheme, or anything similar.
Only getting paid on your own sales is non-MLM. Paying down two levels is MLM.
Also you’re getting paid a percentage of sales generated by those you recruit. Those affiliates are literally your downline.
Representing people are buying into a franchise also brings franchise law into play in jurisdictions that have them.
One last point I want to touch on is a run down timer on International TEFL Organization’s website, representing “applications (have) closed”.
You can still very much sign up so I’m not sure what that’s about (artificial scarcity marketing funnel gone wrong?).
Adding everything up if you’re looking to do a TEFL course, look elsewhere.
This is the first time I’ve seen TEFL bundled with MLM. While it could be an interesting concept (margins probably aren’t worth it though), International TEFL Organization is a great example of how not to do it.
The company’s anonymous owners come off as shady scammers. Avoid.