Model agency uk- scam !

[Laylay100]

On Monday I went to take my son to w8 studios.
They say on their website they do not charge for joining. They fail to mention you cannot join without buying the 'copy rights' to the test shoot they do.
They then lie after and say you bought the portfolio off a different company and it has nothing to do with them.
Please do not use this company
Google model agency uk reviews
Awful people tried to intimate me outside their office when I warned mums about the scam. I managed to save 5 mums before they falsely called the police- who were very supportive of me and told me to seek advice from their fraud unit and these types of agency are everywhere and dodge the law by using a third party.
m0del agency or model agency - all the same. Please do not be fooled. A proper modelling agency will not take your money until they have secured you a job.
Awful people, no morals what so ever.
It's heart breaking to see kid being told they will defiantly be getting jobs if their parents pay out- only to be left without anything.
They are all over the uk so please remember a proper modelling agency will not ask you for hundreds of pounds and actually have companies they deal with (they couldn't name one).

Yeah it’s likely to be a scam. Agencies don’t approach and ask for money.
You submit your photos to them. If they want you to join their may be an admin fee to load onto website but that’s the only cost you have.
Look on Facebook at the Parents of Child Models UK group. Loads of advice in there.

Summary: use common sense and judgement. If it sounds too good it probably is.

Thank you. I was 99% sure it was. I have read loads of reviews but not for this company in particular. I suppose they change their name regularly so you can’t find negative reviews. Hate hate hate scammers. Xx

Another red flag with MB for me was that he would upvote ("Like"?) salacious comments about his pictures instead of deleting or condemning them: unprofessional.

Hey! Was this in central London called Modelcentral.co ? Not far from Sainsbury’s ?

Model Central is absolutely a scam. The group have been operating under different company names over a few years all over the UK with fake names for their "team" members with German connections. Previously Manchester, Marylebone now Oxford Circus. Creativestudiogroup.co.uk, Creative Studio Group Manchester, Model Group London, Modelcentral.co
They are selling fake efolio or online portfolios or model books for children and teens which cost 1000's of pounds and must be payable on the spot, of course non of this information is given upfront by the person who invites you to the photoshoot. It always starts with a £50 deposit.

Is the models kit a scam?

Hi - did you find anything out about Models Kit? I’ve been asked for £100 deposit for a photo shoot & I’m a little apprehensive…

I'm a seasoned photographer, I work with agencies all the time -
GOLDEN RULE - If anyone want's money from you, it's a scam. Agencies don't charge. The only time they will charge is when they take an admin fee of no more than £150 which comes out of the balance of your first job so you'd never pay out of money you haven't earned. Pictures are free, everyone knows a photographer, reputable agencies DO NOT charge for photos, they usually ask you to submit them.

I saw an ad the other day for model Central and a guy called Antoine rang me. Asked for 50 deposit although I have asked how much photos will be to go on books. If it's 1000s then will be a no and how can tbey charge that much when they don't even get them castings

I’m with @Fabaunt here. How old is your son? I find the motivations behind child modelling very confusing. Where does the money go - to you or in a savings account for your child? Surely the children themselves don’t exactly love doing it.

They will basically charge you for taking photos and offer it to you as a portfolio. Do not part with money. It will be a dead end. They will tell you to pay for the portfolio otherwise they delete it straightaway. You will not get any paid photoshoots through them. Please be wary and don’t get sucked in. Tehre are no signs outside and they let you in through a shady back door. No proof of identity checks. I was initially told it was a free consultation but they then rope you in to pay £800.

“I am still trying to get my £50 from Caitlin.”

So you did fall for their scam. 🙂