MELBOURNE, Australia - TelAve -- A startup founder has issued a formal public warning regarding the conduct of Lance Harvie, the operator of RuntimeRec, a recruitment agency focused on the Australian market and operating from Malaysia. The incident involves an unpaid recruitment referral, breach of agreement, and pattern-level behavior that undermines trust in the recruitment profession.

According to the founder, Harvie reached out personally requesting help in sourcing a qualified salesperson. The founder referred to Gareth Sampson, a highly suitable candidate. Harvie agreed—via voice notes and written confirmation—to pay a 10% finder's fee if the candidate was hired.

The hire was made.

Immediately after, Harvie blocked the founder on all platforms—including WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and email—without making the agreed payment or even acknowledging the referral.

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"We didn't have a formal contract—but this wasn't speculative," the founder explained. "This was a recruiter reaching out to me for help. I responded in good faith. He gave his word—clearly, multiple times."

A Pattern That Can't Be Ignored

What began as a one-off breach of trust now appears to reflect a broader pattern in Harvie's operating style.

"He's polite and responsive when it comes to clients—because they pay him. But behind the curtain, he walks over everyone else. Partners, internal team, referral sources—if you're not the one writing the check, you're disposable to him."

This behavior raises red flags not just about one unpaid referral, but about the overall ethics and culture behind RuntimeRec.

The founder's message is clear:

"Recruiters are supposed to embody trust. If they only behave with integrity when money is on the line—and discard people the moment it's not—it's not just bad business. It's toxic leadership."

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Evidence and Documentation Available

The founder has retained full documentation of the agreement and Harvie's actions, including:

• Voice note confirmation of payment terms
  
  
• Written message agreement
  
  
• Screenshots of referral and communication trail
  
  
• Timeline of the hire and subsequent blocks
  
  

Anyone considering a relationship with Lance Harvie or RuntimeRec is encouraged to review the timeline and reach out for verification.

Industry Notice

This press release serves as a cautionary signal to founders, startup hiring managers, and consultants who may engage with RuntimeRec.

If a recruiter only honors agreements with clients—but disrespects everyone else who helps build the engine—that's not someone you want in your hiring pipeline.

Learn more:
http://b2bgrowth.systems