People hoping to begin a new career in tourism have spoken of their frustration after claiming a promised tour guide role in Paisley never materialised.
Several applicants say they believed they had secured positions with Haggis Waggon Tours after meeting the company's founder at a local jobs fair earlier this year. According to those involved, they were offered work quickly and were later asked to provide personal information, including proof of identity and bank details.
However, concerns reportedly began to emerge during what was described as a training session around Paisley. Participants said they expected to see company vehicles and offices, but instead questioned whether the business was operating as presented.
One applicant said they later discovered the address previously listed as the company's Paisley headquarters was not occupied by the business. The address has since been removed from the website and replaced with an Edinburgh location.
The company's founder has disputed several of the allegations. He told BBC Scotland that formal interviews were not part of the recruitment process because training was intended to help potential staff decide whether the role suited them. He also said the incorrect Paisley address had been added to the website in error.
Further concerns arose when a planned day of tour shadowing reportedly failed to go ahead after applicants waited for transport that never arrived. Some questioned whether promotional images of the company's coaches were genuine, suggesting they appeared to have been created using artificial intelligence.
The founder maintains that the coaches do exist and said AI-generated images were used because the fleet was still being prepared with company branding.
Some applicants say they invested considerable time researching Scottish history and preparing for the role before concluding that the opportunity would not proceed. Others have since returned to job hunting and expressed worries about the personal information they had already supplied during the recruitment process.
The investigation also found there is no Companies House listing for Haggis Waggon Tours itself. However, the founder has previously been linked to another travel business which has since been dissolved. Online reviews connected to that company included complaints about cancelled tours and refund issues.
The Department for Work and Pensions said it was sorry to hear about the experiences described by the jobseekers and confirmed it is considering additional measures when working with employers attending recruitment events.
VisitScotland also confirmed that Haggis Waggon Tours is not an official partner, despite previous branding displayed on the company's website suggesting otherwise. Tripadvisor likewise confirmed the business had not received the award that had previously been referenced on its site.
Renfrewshire Council has advised anyone with concerns about a business to seek guidance from Advice Direct Scotland through the national consumer advice service.
This story is based on reporting by BBC Scotland. Anyone wishing to read the full investigation can do so on the BBC News website.