Beware of IMZ: A Costly Lesson in Poor Service and Lack of Professionalism

If you're considering relocating to New Zealand, I highly recommend utilizing the NZ immigration Facebook groups for guidance rather than spending your hard-earned money on IMZ. You can find the necessary steps and reliable resources through credible immigration websites and online forums. Regrettably, we initially believed that IMZ was one of the most reputable and trustworthy agencies to help us with our immigration journey. Our experience began with a video consultation with Dominique Mundell, their South African consultant/manager, who explained that my husband would need to be the primary applicant in the process, as he would be responsible for securing employment, while I, a qualified teacher, would join him on his spousal visa and then seek employment myself. This approach was deemed the most appropriate, so we proceeded with the paperwork and made payments accordingly. We were thorough, gathering all necessary documents within two weeks, and my husband secured a job independently. The hiring company then proceeded with the job token application. My husband was informed that he could sponsor me, and I would need to take an English test, though I had already been exempted. What we were unaware of, however, was that the job token application has a higher success rate when submitted in September rather than March—a fact we later learned from a former employee when we encountered a setback. Unfortunately, the job token application was rejected due to the hiring company incorrectly completing the form. Despite repeated requests for assistance from IMZ’s Danny Wang, he only intervened after the application had been declined. Throughout this period, he insisted on communicating via email, even though he was based in New Zealand, it seemed he wasn’t interested in telecommunication. As a result, we had invested R100,000 in this process—having sold cars and made extensive preparations—only to be left in the lurch. When my husband reached out to Dominique Mundell for clarification, we were told that this situation could have been avoided had I been the primary applicant, rather than my husband, citing complications with my teaching certification—a claim that turned out to be false, as I had completed that process within two weeks. After 6 to 8 months of frustration and poor communication, we realized we could no longer work with a company that had allowed us to “slip through the cracks.” Our experience made it clear that IMZ is merely a company that responds to inquiries and claims to have worked tirelessly on your case. When we requested a refund and expressed our lack of trust in the process, IMZ acted quickly to provide advice and attempt to diffuse the situation. They told us that the refund process would take 60 days for an audit. An audit, for work that had been barely done. Aime Hudson, the IMZ manager from New Zealand, reached out with a “redemption plan”—60 days later. At that point, we had already moved on with our lives, purchased a new car, and unpacked. If they truly had done everything, they could to assist us, why offer a redemption plan? It’s now been around 85 days, and our refund is still under review. I have consulted with a lawyer, the NZ Advisory Authority, and several ex-employees, and have reached out to the company’s owner, Sean, with no response. Moreover, two other couples who paid for IMZ’s services have been waiting for over 14 months with no progress. While some may be in a financial position to absorb the loss, I do not condone such exploitation. Based on my own research and conversations with former employees, this seems to be a recurring issue. In my interactions with Aimee, there was a consistent tendency to deflect responsibility, often twisting my statements. For instance, when I mentioned the lack of response, she retorted, “So you’re saying you didn’t have the patience to wait for our assistance?” IMZ continually shifted the blame, despite us persistently asking for guidance and clarification on next steps. If you're looking for a business that profits from preying on people's hopes and dreams, perhaps assisting with immigration is the right route for them. However, if you value your time, money, and aspirations, I strongly advise against using IMZ. If anyone would like further insight into our experience, I am more than willing to share our communications with IMZ and provide any contact details you may need. I am fully aware that IMZ may respond to my review and attempt to present examples of our experience. I will continue to provide additional documentation and evidence as necessary until they acknowledge their lack of professionalism and offer appropriate financial restitution. Despite my efforts to resolve this matter privately, I have received no satisfactory response from them.