I really wish I hadn't entered and "won" this competition

[Quarky]

It was my birthday and I was a bit tipsy. I looked on Facebook briefly and this competition came up for a "confidence building burlesque photo shoot". At that moment in time it sounded fun, and I knew someone who had had it done so I entered.

A couple of days later I got a phone call from a woman from the photo company saying I'd won. In my sober sensible state I wasn't at all surprised because that's how they find customers, but I still thought it might be fun. The woman asked for a £50 refundable deposit to secure the booking. She said to bring about 3 sets of underwear. Ok I thought, I'll go for it and see how it is. I went out that weekend and bought a couple of nice bra sets and a corset, which are all really nice and sexy so I'm glad about that.

I went along to the shoot and a young woman did my make up. I don't usually get things like this done, my hair and make up is usually kept really natural. When she had finished and I looked in the mirror I looked like a man in drag I really didn't like it, my eyebrows were so dark and thick, it just wasn't me.

Then I went to the photo studio and to be honest I just felt awkward the whole time. The woman doing my photos called me a milf and kept making fun of my accent, which didn't really do much for my confidence. When the photo shoot was over she gave me the price list for buying photos at my viewing appointment, which is this weekend. Oh my God I could not believe the prices! I know that generally these things are expensive and I was prepared to part with about £200 for my photos on a USB perhaps. Boy was I wrong. They charge £400 just for one A3 framed photo. If I wanted an album with 30 photos it's £1295. If I wanted a USB stick with just 10 pictures it is £600! They do packages ranging from £1200 to £2100. That is crazy money and I can't afford anything like that, even with the pay monthly scheme. Christmas is coming and I have a family to buy presents for. Money isn't exactly tight, but it is still precious and I am not prepared to pay such an extortionate amount for photos of myself in my undies. Like I say, I would consider buying if they were more reasonably priced but I have better things to spend our hard earned money on, like a family holiday.

When I think about it, it's almost cruel what they do. It's like taking a child into a sweatshop and saying look at all these delicious sweeties, and here's 1p for you to spend.

I'm dreading going to the viewing as they will try to make me buy and there's just no way. I have to go along in order to get my £50 deposit back. I never envisaged anything like this when I entered the competition, and I really wish I hadn't bothered. They phoned me up today to confirm the viewing appointment and ask me what I was going to do with my photos, obviously presuming I'm going to buy. CFs.

I'll be a lot wiser in future and stay away from these so called competitions.

I forgot to say in my original post, as soon as I got home I ran upstairs and washed all the make up off before my parents could see me as they were babysitting for us. My dad said to DH "jeez it must be bad". That did make me laugh.

So you can claim at least £25 back by stating, as Snowflake suggested, that you have no intention of attending the viewing. But I would get my Jack Russell head on and argue blue until I got my full £50 back.

There were no terms and conditions I paid by debit card over the phone. God I'm an idiot and I'm embarrassed about being duped, but like I say, I had no idea the photos would be quite so expensive. If they try and bully me I will fight back, honestly I'm a bitch when I'm feeling threatened.

I can't believe these scams are still around, they're completely unconscionable. So sorry this happened to you OP.

At least they didn't pretend to be a modelling agency and say they'd get you loads of work as soon as you'd paid for your portfolio...

I went along to one of these photo shoots as a uni student. They plastered too much make up on me and backcombed my hair which I’d asked them not to do as my hair doesnt react well to being backcombed. Thankfully the photo shoot wasn’t a lingerie one it was fully clothed or I would never have done it.

I went back for the viewing with the 2 friends who had also had it done and we sat through 2 1/2 hours of hard sell after about 10 minutes viewing the actual photos. I chose the 4 prints that were included in the package and then refused to order any more; was given a link to view them (and show my family and friends to encourage them to buy as well - I threw the sheet of paper in a bin on my way home!!

About 6 months or so of desperate emails then they gave up contacting me trying to sell me ever more ridiculous packages. And then about 4 years later I got a letter telling me I had forfeited my eight to order any photoshop and they were destroying my file without any further warning!!

I have done a shoot like this, not an underwear one but the same trowel on the make up and try to pressure you to spend loads. My top tip is to start taking the piss out of yourself in the photos immediately. I was with a friend and we just laughed so much that the lady doing it didn’t even try to do us the hard sell. Brief your husband and make loads of comments about WI calendars and smell the fart expressions and they will give up on you fast.

@Rememberfluffthecat was your shoot in the greater Manchester area? I won similar and it was a genuine win from a young company run by two sisters. I had a great time with my sister at the shoot and the pictures were amazing. I'll never look as good again, so I bought the lot in an album. It was pricey but worth it. I felt no pressure at all, but then it was a genuine new business running a genuine competition.

Just go and get your 50 quid back. I've done a similar thing, (but fully clothed, NOT a sexy shoot) and it was quite fun looking at the pictures on screen. You can absolutely say no to buying any. I bought a couple on CD, which they sent through the post (first off sending me someone else's shots by mistake, which made me laugh!!) . I went with my SIL who didn't buy any, then a year later she was contacted to say they were going to delete them and if she wanted any now they were basically free. If you don't buy any they will definitely call you up again later to see if they can change your mind (and at far lower prices.).

BTW, it was a genuine company, not a scam. There really was no issue to say no.

Pixifoto did this to me. The guy phoned me up to say I’d won a competition and would get an A4 print for free of my baby. The very same guy (very distinguishable voice) at the studio swore blind he knew nothing about this. Silly tit had left me a message which I played back to him. Anyway OP just say no thanks no thanks no thanks until you get your deposit back and forget all about it.

Why don't you walk in, put your phone on the table and say " I'm recording this for some research I'm doing for an article, I hope you don't mind but I have to inform you". They might give you the £50 to get rid of you! Turn the tables on them. Ha.

Definitely a scam and I am sorry you were taken in.

I would never go back if it was me, and I doubt you will get your £50 back.

Good luck though.

A few years ago at the balloon fiesta a company were selling photo shoots and a photo for a tenner. We signed up and went along and did the shoot. Then went back for the ‘hard sell’ we were skint so it was easy to just say no sorrry we just want our free photo (even though we loved the photos we couldn’t afford £100 for one let alone more.

Then a year later they rang to say they were deleting the photos from the system and we could have them all digitally for £60 which actually was a brill price. We then got some printed and bought frames.

There were no terms and conditions

Well no; if they put what the deal really is in writing, hardly anyone would turn up. The T&Cs will soon appear if you go, though, and they'll all be in the scammers' favour

Don't feel bad about this; you're not the first to be caught and you won't be the last. But that £50 was never "refundable" ... it was used to pay a talentless "make up artist" and some fool who fancied themselves with a camera. That way they cover their costs and the hoped-for profit comes from a hard sell on the photos themselves

If you won a competition why are you expected to pay? It is obviously a scam. I would write of the £50 to experience and block them on my phone. You won't make that mistake again and so you have learned something and you have kindly warned us and reminded us we all need to be on our guard. Don't punish yourself as it is an easy mistake to make. Enjoy new underwear.

How dreadful, OP. Haven't read the whole thread, but maybe this guidance below helps you?

www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/promotional-marketing-competitions.html

If so I think you can report to the Advertising Standards Authority via their website.

Ring them up and tell them you work for the BBC and You were an undercover reporter exposing these scams. Ask for a refund to be sorted over the phone as you have no intention of buying.

Scammers

At least they didn't pretend to be a modelling agency and say they'd get you loads of work as soon as you'd paid for your portfolio

If OP goes, she'll probably find that's Part B of the script

You know - the "we supply the leading modelling agencies" which follows just after she refuses the photos for the second time ...

I’ve won loads of competitions and I’ve never, ever paid anything for my prize

That's vile.

I did once win a genuine photo shoot with a local photographer which included one printed photo, although when I explained what I actually needed, we did a deal for a half-price USB stick with half a dozen shots on it. It was great. No deposit, no pressure.

I model part time and there was a request on f/b from one of these companies. Apparently they needed a ‘model’ for promo shoots to use for their website.
I contacted them asking how much they were paying the model and saying I would be interested. They told me I would need to pay £50 and this would be deducted from the cost when I brought my photos at the end!
I had to explain to them that they had put the call out asking for a model, it was ridiculous to expect me to pay!
They still tried to persuade me to come in to ‘boost my confidence’. My confidence is doing quite nicely in its own thanks - I don’t need toplay someone a load of money to feel better about myself!

What bit did you "win" if you've had to pay a deposit and have to pay for the photos? I mean it's obviously a scam but what was the price described as, when none of it is free?

I can't believe people pay this amount of money for photos and on payment plans too!

Turn up to get your £50 back and buy fuck all. When they get arsey, make a fuss and say you'll tell the truth about them on fb, Twitter etc. I hate people getting ripped off like this!