LEWISTON — An unlicensed body piercing school has students crying foul after spending thousands of dollars — some of it public money — and getting less than what they were promised.

In February, the owner of Professional Piercers of Maine in Lewiston and Ocean Blue Tattoo of Old Orchard Beach, James Bernard, was sent a letter from the Maine Department of Education stating, “In offering this apprenticeship for payment you are out of compliance with the Maine Department of Education Rules for the Licensing of the Privately Owned Business, Trade and Technical Schools, 05-071 CMR 147.”

Bernard was told in the letter he must terminate his educational program immediately. As of Monday, Bernard’s website still announces, “We also have 8½ years of experience in teaching our private piercing program. We’re always looking to educate new students, so feel free to drop in for more information.”

Mercy Caron of Auburn found herself dropping in for information on what she hoped would be a lucrative career as a body piercer.

Caron met with Bernard and a contract was drawn up. Bernard offered a grant of $5,000 toward the $10,000 tuition. The contract outlined that any certifications and licenses would be paid for by Professional Piercers of Maine.

The remaining $5,000 would come from the CareerCenter in Lewiston where Caron was a client. In documents from the CareerCenter signed by Bill Ingram, a disbursement of $5,000 to Professional Piercers of Maine was logged to the unlicensed program for “tuition.”

Maine Department of Labor Director of Communications Julie Rabinowitz said, “On-the-job training requires a written curriculum and a written agreement among the client, counselor and employer which states the hourly wage, responsibility for workers’ compensation coverage and any other conditions of employment.”

Caron said she was never shown a written curriculum. In the contract among Caron, the CareerCenter and Bernard, a list of classes was provided, including microbiology, virology, bacteriology, ethics and legalities. Caron said she was not provided with any such instruction.

The contract Caron received from Professional Piercers of Maine said, “All cost for books, DVDs, training manual, certifications and first state licenses paid by Professional Piercers of Maine.”

“I worked at JB’s shop for nine months and completed 947 hours of the 1,600 I needed in order to finish my training for him,” Caron said, “(Bernard) was supposed to be there to teach me, but that was never the case.”

What about the training manual, books and DVDs?

Caron said the only material she received was the syllabus outlining what she was supposed to be taught.

Caron said she was, “Getting tired of having customers come in frustrated and there was nothing I could do to help them because I didn’t have enough training yet,” she said. “Sometimes, people would be waiting up to a half hour for (Bernard) to show up.”

Caron said she was left alone in the shop for extended periods of time while Bernard went out to run errands or go out with his girlfriend, leaving her to ask impatient customers to wait for his return. When Bernard was in the shop, Caron said she still received no training.

“It wasn’t my job to watch over the shop while everyone else was gone,” Caron said, “but I did anyway — with no complaints. He was supposed to be there to teach me, but that was never the case.”

Out of her 947 hours of training, Caron said she performed only a handful of piercings and change-outs and when she confronted Bernard about her license, he said he couldn’t afford it.

Kimberly Roy handed over $10,000 to Bernard for what she was told was an 18-month training program that would end with her license and all applicable certifications. In reality, Roy claims she was used as a cleaning lady; only observing piercings for her first year.

“After the 18 months, he kept delaying my license, saying he needed the cash to do it,” Roy said. “Instead of making money, I basically watched his shop and kept it clean while he went out to lunch.”

When she finally did make money, Roy said it was hardly enough to pay for a baby-sitter.

“There would be plenty of days where all piercings were on credit cards and he would have his own cash in hand and make his employees wait a few days for their share,” Roy said.

While working at McDonald’s, Becky Johnson gave Bernard $2,500 for her training in hopes of bringing home more money for her family. Johnson said the remainder of the $5,000 would be earned through piercings, both as a student and eventually as a licensed piercer.

In turn, Bernard promised Johnson her license and a position at his shop. Once she received her license, Johnson said Bernard promised her 50 percent of the money from her piercings.

A contract was drawn up and when Johnson asked for her copy, she said Bernard’s response was, “I will get that to you later, I have to go somewhere.” After a week of learning sterile setups, Johnson said she was left in the shop with Roy.

“(Bernard) was never in the shop,” Johnson said. “(Bernard) showed at the end of the day to take the money out of the register and then he would be gone just as quick as he came in.”

Johnson eventually finished her training and got her license but said she had no idea how much money she still owed Bernard.

“(Bernard) would never write me up receipts when asked and still did not have the copy of my contract I asked for many times,” Johnson said.

Working at the Old Orchard Beach shop a couple days a week, it was a scene Johnson said she knew all too well: Bernard was not around.

“(Bernard) would only come into the shop to take money out of the register,” she said.

Johnson’s boyfriend and eventual husband worked as a tattoo artist at the Old Orchard Beach shop as well, and they thought it would be nice to work together a couple days a week. She also worked enough to pay Bernard the full $5,000 tuition.

Johnson said that most evenings Bernard would hand her $50 for the day and tell her that her training wasn’t over. By her estimation, Johnson said she should have been making over $300 for a 14-hour day of around 25 piercings.

“There was never a trace of the day before earnings,” Johnson said. “Once the season ended, I had again asked for copies of the work I did through the season and copies of the contract and receipts for my payments so I could add this to my taxes.”

Once again, Johnson said, there were promises but no receipts or contract was forthcoming.

Johnson’s boyfriend had no problem confronting Bernard about money or his treatment of Johnson, she said. When Bernard told Johnson however, that she could stay on in his Lewiston shop if she left her outspoken boyfriend, she said she had enough.

“I was quite appalled by this. Again, I asked for all the copies of my paperwork from the beginning,” Johnson said, “(Bernard) said he didn’t have any of it.”

Bernard has ignored numerous attempts to reach him for comment.

dmcintire@sunjournal.com

Letter from Maine Department of Education to James Bernard