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Original poster

Child modelling - Should I ask for refund?

225 replies

greenbean789 · 19/04/2016 12:27

Yesterday I did something irrational and impulsive, which is not like me at all. I paid £710 to a child modelling agency on the spot, and I never even had any aspirations for my children to be models. I don't know what happened to me.
I saw this ad on Facebook last week about child modelling and sent some pictures of my 2 DSs.
The next day I received emails from the agency saying that they are interested, and I should book an assessment session urgently, and that I have a priority (stupid me, thinking that it was due to my DC being super-cute).
I duly booked, excited, and yesterday had the photo-shoot. After the photo-session I was congratulated, saying my DC have great potential and the agency wants to sign them up. It all sounded like it was a big success for all of us, being chosen out of many people, bla- bla, etc.
All I needed to do was to buy one-off copyright.
I was then given a list of options, and I offered my card on the spot to pay. I had some warning bells ringing, but wilfully silenced them.
My husband is very upset that I had fallen for a scam. It the contract I signed there is a clause saying there is no refund.
I don't know what to do, to fight them and try to get the money back ( will have to read up on trading regulations for that) or wait that some offers will materialise and I can earn the money back. (They gave me a list of 14 other agencies to contact and some pictures). Do you have any experience of working with modelling agencies? Can you share your stories?
I know I was beyond stupid and vain, and maybe deserve it, but I did not even have all the money needed and used some from my overdraft .

OP posts:
Sixpencenonethericher · 22/04/2016 13:24

Was it blackberry model agency ?

sooperdooper · 22/04/2016 13:29

I always thought it was widely known that any modelling agency that asks for payment for their services is a scam - any decent agency won't charge you a penny to be on their books or for test shots

You won't get your money back, it was a naive mistake to make :(

lougle · 22/04/2016 13:46

£714 is £595 + 20% VAT and as they charged you for a service they have to add VAT. I agree it's a lot for the service you received but as you could have walked away after the photoshoot without buying the prints, then the assessment was still 'free', as they claimed.

AnotherEffingOrangeRevel · 22/04/2016 13:47

OP, this does sound really unfortunate, and there's no point in beating yourself up about it too much. People make mistakes. Scams work because the best ones are cleverly designed to exploit certain very human tendencies (to trust people who seem trustworthy; to recognise our own children's beauty, etc.). It doesn't mean anything bad about you.

Can you explain why you're not telling us the name of the company? I realise you have no obligation to do so, but by giving a name you could a) help to expose the scam to protect others, b) possibly get others to come forward (if you do so as a group you might be more likely to be successful in getting anything back), and c) put to bed any suggestions that you really are just looking for other people to share their stories (journalist style....).

Waltermittythesequel · 22/04/2016 13:52

I don't know if it's the same thing though.

Oh I think they were awful but illegal and awful aren't the same thing.

JuxtapositionRecords · 22/04/2016 14:40

It's not the same as the builder thing because you DID decide to use them and got their 'service'. You also paid for it! You could and should have just said no.

I don't understand why you won't name them to stop others falling in the trap. I guarantee you won't see a penny back or any work offers so what's the worry in naming them?

JSarah · 22/04/2016 15:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
greenbean789 · 22/04/2016 16:22

Ok, here it goes, the link. I was hoping that by giving them time to reply I was giving them a chance to prove they are legitimate business, but three emails went unanswered and ignored, got shouted at and abused by phone, so I think it is a proof in itself. The agency uses multiple sites in different towns, so beware!

www.modelagency.uk.com

OP posts:
Sixpencenonethericher · 22/04/2016 16:33

I think they might be blackberry new name , they had us as well same as you last year

Sixpencenonethericher · 22/04/2016 16:34

I think that might be blackberry under a different name we were conned out of the same amount last year

Original poster
greenbean789 · 22/04/2016 16:36

Sixpencenonethericher, what did you do when you got conned?

OP posts:
Sixpencenonethericher · 22/04/2016 16:40

Pretty much everything you did but they wouldn't give anything back at all but we were totally sucked in they really are brilliant at conning people I'm so gullible that no one was suprised about me but my dh is far more savvy and he fell for it too
When your in there and they tell you they want to sign your dd you just get sucked in

Sixpencenonethericher · 22/04/2016 16:43

They told us the same about being a priority and coming the next day

Waltermittythesequel · 22/04/2016 16:46

Is your little one going to be on their website like those other kids?

JSarah · 22/04/2016 16:50

I think it's weird their faces are all over the site Hmm

For my kids' agency, you have to contact them with company details to even get a login to look...

Arfarfanarf · 22/04/2016 17:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JuxtapositionRecords · 22/04/2016 17:29

They were the people that wrote the blog post up thread about mumsnet. Amazing that people who make their living ripping people off can judge others.

Original poster
greenbean789 · 22/04/2016 17:44

JSarah, thank you!, your experience of working with proper agencies gives a real insight into the industry. For lots of unsuspecting people like me it is easy to be misled if you don't know any better.
Waltermiltersequel, I hope not, I told them I do not want their services.

OP posts:
VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon · 22/04/2016 18:02

Want to hire a model then please browse our models and contact us with the model name you would like more details on. Alternatively please feel free to post a job casting here and our team will help you find the model you need

Well apart from being shockingly bad grammar, this sentence strongly implies that they supply models.

eternalopt · 22/04/2016 19:24

Does the contract list what the fees are for? Perhaps if it was for a service you no longer require you could argue for some back, but if it's listed as a copyright fee alone, you're screwed. Are the pictures at least worth having?

BMW6 · 22/04/2016 19:34

Trading standards?

IWantMyMumSheWouldBeProud · 22/04/2016 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Waltermittythesequel · 22/04/2016 20:46

I hope not, too.

They seem very dodgy indeed.

Good luck with it.

JuxtapositionRecords · 22/04/2016 20:52

*Today 18:02 VinceNoirLovesHowardMoon

Want to hire a model then please browse our models and contact us with the model name you would like more details on. Alternatively please feel free to post a job casting here and our team will help you find the model you need

Well apart from being shockingly bad grammar, this sentence strongly implies that they supply models.*

An actul agent would have contacts and work hard to get you jobs. Sticking a photo on a website and saying 'contact us' isn't an agent and certainly doesn't justify their extortionate 'fees'. It's a good cover website though to reel more people in.

Potatoface2 · 22/04/2016 21:18

Did they also used to be called Talent Management....another load of scum buckets!

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