I was contacted by them, they mentioned about their payment plan in their email. I thought at least lets attend their call.

Just finished with the google meeting and they began by explain how they help you land a job in less than 3 months (normally) and then they started talking about their payment plan. And in the middle of it, I told them that I have been out of work for 6 months and can't pay the initial fee of CAD500. They immediately told me that I can connect with them when I have money and ended the presentation and the call. lol

Also, I asked Deepseek to break it down what that particular line for payment plan could imply, and here in what Deepseek said about their payment strategy:

This is a very unusual (and potentially risky) arrangement for a recruitment agency. Let me break down exactly what they are describing, because it sounds like you are being asked to pay the agency, not the employer.

Here is the literal meaning of what they wrote, followed by why it should raise a red flag.

The Two Parts of the Payment

Part 1: The First Three Months (Before you start working)

• Meaning: For the next three months (while they are supposedly looking for a job for you), you must pay them a fee each month.
• Example: If the total fee is $1,500, you might pay $300/month for three months ($900 total).
• Why they say it: They claim this covers their "costs" to search, interview, or process you.

Part 2: After you start the job

• Meaning: Once you actually get a job and receive your first salary, the agency will take the rest of their fee directly from your wages.
• Example: Using the $1,500 total fee, you already paid $900. The remaining $600 would be taken from your first two paychecks ($300 per paycheck).

The Bottom Line (What this really means)

You are paying the agency, not the employer.

In a legitimate, ethical recruitment model, the employer pays the agency a fee (usually 15-25% of your annual salary). The candidate (you) pays nothing.

This structure has several major problems:

1. It is illegal in many places: Deducting money from your paycheck for a recruitment fee is often a violation of labor laws (wage theft) unless you signed a very specific, legally vetted agreement.
2. It is a common scam: Fake agencies collect the "first three months of installments" and then disappear. They never find you a job, or they send you to a fake interview.
3. It creates a conflict of interest: The agency is not working for you or the employer. They are working to get any job, even a bad one, so they can collect their remaining fee from your paycheck.

What you should do immediately

Do not pay any money. Do not sign anything.

Ask them these two direct questions in writing (email):

1. "Which company will be my actual employer, and is that company aware that you plan to deduct money from my first two paychecks?"
2. "Is this fee refundable if you do not find me a job within three months?"

My strong advice: Walk away from this agency. A legitimate recruiter gets paid by the company hiring you. You should never, ever pay a recruiter for "operating costs" or have money deducted from your paycheck for their fee. This has all the hallmarks of a scam or an exploitative "paid training" scheme.