Aspiring model duped by “platforms” promising easy route to fashion world

JLORNA

sourcrates wrote: »

Well I am certainly no expert when it comes to fashion photography, I just happened to see the watchdog report the other week, so my response is based on that, it’s a common scam, also repeated in the double glazing industry, massive discount if you sign up today, wait till tomorrow, the deal may have ended, utter rubbish.

OP all contracts have to have a cooling down period when you can change your mind, a contract that did not have such a clause would be deemed unfair in consumer law.

The fact they have told you you cannot cancel again sets alarm bells ringing, your local trading standards should be advised of this.

Yes there was no cooling off period, I was just told that it had to be paid regardless. They ran no credit check, what if for some reasons my circumstances changed? I am going to trading standards tomorrow but I owe the next €172 payment UK next on the 1st of the month. I know another guy who has messaged me about this who had the same problem and he’s already ended the direct debit to them, but because I know how contracts work I don’t want to cancel the direct debit if this would ruin my great credit rating I have. I’m 23 and worked years to get my credit rating very good. I won’t get my money back as I have had products off them but the price of these mediocre photographs and what they’ve done isn’t ANY better than I could of done myself but they’ve made me believe it would be to a better standards. I don’t want to lose ANYMORE money than I already have which is just under £500. This would cover what they’ve done and more if you ask me, for the quality etc, I just want out of this ASAP so I can put them thousands towards something better

Candyapple

JLORNA wrote: »

I could but honestly all it says isn’t what it isn’t I’m paying for and that fact it cannot be cancelled and it must be paid in full within 12 months

Why are you so reluctant to post up the terms & conditions of your contract? If you don't, then none of us can properly help you.

JLORNA

Brock_and_Roll wrote: »

Its clearly a lucrative operation - a casual search of the internet reveals dozens of people who feel scammed.

It would appear that at least some of these people have been successful in getting their money back via their credit card providers.

If you have not paid yet (or not much) and have a Direct Debit in place for future payments I WOULD CANCEL THIS NOW. Not something I would normally recommend but there seems to be enough evidence out there that these companies are unlikely sue you and if they did, unlikely to be successful.

You’re right - I’ve never had this problem before but because of their several company names which I’ve just discovered unfortunately I thought they were legit. Especially with the branding they used. I obviously am very naive but I thought this to be a good opportunity and hasn’t been explained in full what would be done in return but from what I’ve got it’s just not priced right and I AMA being ripped off I feel like and I know other people have been in this situation before

JLORNA

Brock_and_Roll wrote: »

Its clearly a lucrative operation - a casual search of the internet reveals dozens of people who feel scammed.

It would appear that at least some of these people have been successful in getting their money back via their credit card providers.

If you have not paid yet (or not much) and have a Direct Debit in place for future payments I WOULD CANCEL THIS NOW. Not something I would normally recommend but there seems to be enough evidence out there that these companies are unlikely sue you and if they did, unlikely to be successful.

Candyapple wrote: »

Why are you so reluctant to post up the terms & conditions of your contract? If you don't, then none of us can properly help you.

As you can probably appreciate now I am very reluctant on what I should and shouldn’t do. The only information I’m looking for on here is if someone has been thrOugh this before and what they did to resolve it. The contract has my details on it so I don’t want to post the contract. To see the contract yourself physically wouldn’t give you any further information than I have. I want to deal with this myself I’m just wanting advise maybe from someone in a similar situation or know someone who has

gaz_moose

just blank out your details before you post the contract up.
id listen to the people on here and save yourself the £2000.

sourcrates

JLORNA wrote: »

As you can probably appreciate now I am very reluctant on what I should and shouldn’t do. The only information I’m looking for on here is if someone has been thrOugh this before and what they did to resolve it. The contract has my details on it so I don’t want to post the contract. To see the contract yourself physically wouldn’t give you any further information than I have. I want to deal with this myself I’m just wanting advise maybe from someone in a similar situation or know someone who has

You should certainly not pay them anymore money, your contract is probably not worth the paper it’s written on, it’s most likely something put together on a home computer.

You could also contact BBC watchdog and explain you think you’ve also been a victim of a similar scam to what they aired the other week, it may help it may not.

JLORNA

sourcrates wrote: »

You should certainly not pay them anymore money, your contract is not worth the paper it’s written on, it’s most likely something put together on a home computer.

You could also contact BBC watchdog and explain you think you’ve also been a victim of a similar scam to what they aired the other week, it may help it may not.

Thank you so much for your advice

seashore22

JLORNA wrote: »

Thank you so much for your advice

Another piece of advice - don't throw good money after bad and seek out another company offering to make you Britain's Next Top Model (for a price). It sounds like you have used companies like this before, although maybe slightly less obviously a scam. Honestly, if you are model material they will either find you or a reputable model agency will put you on their books and pay YOU. Don't pay them.

parking_question_chap

JLORNA wrote: »

At the end of the shoot, I was placed into a room with a lady who talked money and different packages for me to get. I took what I thought was the best package for my money for £2,500 which I had to decide there and then on the day or the photos would be gone and I couldn’t do it any longer and was told I cannot cancel this when entering a contract. Since then I have feel the images I received from the studio are nothing more than mediocre to say the least and the products I have received are of a basic measure and do not give me any more of a benefit into the modelling world and isn’t any better of a product I couldn’t of done myself.

If that didnt set off alarm bells then nothing would.

wesleyad

I think this would be best moved to the consumer rights board. I'm a little concerned the OP is getting some advice which I don't believe is correct (and could be costly) and there are some experts on that board.

There is no cooling off period if the contract is non distance (which appears to the the case here). You need to look into this very carefully before cancelling your payments. When you sign anything on premises you lose pretty much all your rights.

These company's are very good scammers, but they are very careful to steer to the right side of the law.