Complaint Review: ICON Modeling Agency Toronto

In July 2015, my 18 year old son was signed with ICON Model Agency in Toronto.  At this meeting the agent Riz was asked us to pay upfront a fee of $700.00 for a session with a photgrapher to build my sons portfolio.  As a parent I asked if we could read the contract before signing, but the agent Riz, pressured us not to.  I unfortunately signed, and lost my $700.00.

My son attended his scheduled appointment with a "professional Photographer" and completed his photo shoot.  After a month, we finally phoned to see if they were completed.  We attended the agency in Toronto and picked up the comp cards. The photos were very amateurish and cheap looking.  When my son went in to the office to pick up the photos, Riz the agent tried to hit him for more money claiming for administrative fees.  He declined.

Months went by, no phone calls, no modeling jobs and not even a "go see".  I called and asked why there was no more contact with them.  Riz claimed that my son almost got a job, but someone else beat him who had a better portfolio.  

It has been almost a year, and we have not heard anything from this agency.  Nothing!  I feel it is the responsibility of an agency to at least try to promote their models.  A contract is between two people, not one sided.  This agency does nothing for the model, once they have received your money.  

If you look at their ICON Face Page, I noticed they took down the ability to comment.  Before taking down the comment section, other models were commenting on this agency with negative comments.  Their solution to hide the negative comments were to remove the ability to comment.  

I also noticed that they use many pictures of international models to promote their business from European countries to promote ICON Model Agency Toronto on their web site and social media pages i.e. Instgram, Twitter and Facebook. However, these models are not with the Toronto Icon Modeling agency they are with European ICON agencies. 

As a parent, I am asking you to not repeat my mistake.  I should have known better, and went with my gut feeling when I first met with ICON Model Agency in Toronto.  ICON Modeling Agency has been previously sited for unprofessional business practices, and unfortunately they have have continued to do so.  

Mr. Henry Craig