Model agency scam

Hermione_Granger

wordsfan wrote: »

The scam is they claimed to be a model agency NOT a photo studio,

I don't see how they could make it much clearer that they are a photographic studio offering the service of preparing aspiring models for a photo shoot and then taking the photographs.

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Book an appointment
To book an appointment with us you will need to pay a studio booking deposit of £50 to secure your slot in our calendar.

Once at the studio you will go through a photo shoot, lasting between an hour and an hour and a half.

Etc
Etc.

In fact, the only reference to a model agency that I could find was that they refer customers to a modelling agency:

Packages start from £299 for a starter portfolio of 5 retouched images, including copyright, and our Agency Referral Service

Matty36

Yep. Dont see no scam here. From what I know, you need to have a portfolio to get into modelling. This is like a CV equivalent to the modelling agency. Your daughter then uses this to help her get into the actual modelling agencies with said portfolio.

Only scam would be if they dont supply a portfolio or supply a half arsed portfolio.

Did they give you a time & date to go back in?

soolin

OP, if your daughter is easily persuaded into things and goes ahead with this PLEASE go with her! The opening gambit has no hard sell at all, you read the terms, see the likely costs and decide in your own time whether to go ahead.As above though the hard sell is when you get there and with packages going up from £299 to over £3000 this could be costly if your daughter is not firm enough, they are very clear that she decides there and then whether to buy or not.

If she goes on her own and bearing in mind she has already made one decision you are not comfortable with, is she likely to fall for hard pressure to sign up for things she can't afford? Get someone to go with her and stick to her like glue.

[Deleted User]

Hermione_Granger wrote: »

I don't see how they could make it much clearer that they are a photographic studio offering the service of preparing aspiring models for a photo shoot and then taking the photographs.

Etc
Etc.

In fact, the only reference to a model agency that I could find was that they refer customers to a modelling agency:

Book an appointment
To book an appointment with us you will need to pay a studio booking deposit of £50 to secure your slot in our calendar.

Given the above does that mean they only pay £50 up front and the balance at the end of the session? Is the £50 refundable if they cancel before hand?

If the answer to both is yes then I can't see why the OP has anything to worry about (this time anyway).

Edit: for the OP, cancel the hotel obviously if you're not going.

soolin

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Edit: for the OP, cancel the hotel obviously if you're not going.

I suspect that like most hotel bookings nowadays it will be non refundable, however, in light of other costs wasting a single night in a hotel might be a lucky escape.

Gleeful

The work on their gallery ranges from poor to ok

No reputable agency will charge you for a portfolio up front. Most will do testing, some will take the charge out of your first pay packet.

There will be hard sell at the end of it

If your daughter is genuinely wanting to start a career in modelling, approach local photographers for 'time for' shoots

Feel free to PM me if you want links to sites to find local photographers.

mattyprice4004

Is a financial institution not answering the phone immediately at 10PM on a Friday really that useless?

[Deleted User]

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Is a financial institution not answering the phone immediately at 10PM on a Friday really that useless?

I think they were referring to the photo shoot company.

What exactly they think their bank would do anyway I have no idea despite the sadly typical use of the word 'scam' in the thread title.

Ectophile

soolin wrote: »

I suspect that like most hotel bookings nowadays it will be non refundable, however, in light of other costs wasting a single night in a hotel might be a lucky escape.

Why waste the night. See if there are is anything going on that evening - a night out at the theatre, perhaps.