Complaint Review: Industry Model & Talent Studios

I just moved to the New Jersey area and I was visiting the mall. Keep in mind that I just had brain surgery a month and a half ago and I am still having some symptoms, AND I have a lot of medical bills to pay off. A girl approached me from the Industry Model & Talent booth and told me I had the exact look they were looking for! She had me fill out a little sheet with my phone number, etc. I was really excited. She talked about being on TV and how she had met all these celebrities. I was really excited and thought WOW, this would be great if I could book a few jobs and pay off my bills from surgery!

Come to find out, since they actually offered me a job to work FOR them as a scout, that they get paid on how many people they bring in, and if they don't get a certain amount every hour, they get money taken out of their paycheck! So I guess I really didn't have the "look" they wanted, everyone does!

Anyway, before I found that out...I got a call the next day to come to their "studio" in Edgewater for an interview with the "director". What's funny to me is how they have so many directors at this company. There were lots of attractive young women working and a lot of people walking around so it seemed legitimate!
I was called in for my "interview" and immediatley told that I had such a great look, etc. Which they tell everyone, and I am "so photogenic". They have magazines all over the table where they claim that "their" models were featured in.

They kept talking about no cost to me, until they said I would need to take professional pictures. Now any legitimate company gives you the option to have your pictures taken anywhere and review them, this company does not.

They pressure you immediatley into signing a contract with them for a photoshoot and the prices range from $500 to $1500!!! That's outrageous. That is ONLY for the photoshoot itself! You have to provide your own outfits, etc. THEN you have to pay for the 3 of 4 photos they choose which can cost another $500! AND pay for the "marketing materials". Any legitimate company will pay for your photoshoot and materials themselves because they feel that you are an asset. Also, a company that is scouting in the mall is a scam, it means they do not have enough business with their models and need to scam other people for money.

This company makes money off the photoshoots. They try to act like a modeling marketing company to get you jobs, but in tiny print on the photoshoot contract it says THE COMPANY IS NOT OBLIGATED TO MARKET YOUR PHOTOS TO ANYONE.

I called the next day, which I thought by law I had 3 days by law to cancel any contract, and ask that they do not charge my credit card, I will not be doing the photoshoot due to medical reasons. My doctor advised me to to start this type of work, especially with a photoshoot due to the flashing lights and my eye sensitivity currently after surgery.

They were very rude and said they have a NO REFUND policy for a photoshoot that I didn't even attend! They charged my credit card $1350!!! I am 20 years old, trying to finish school after having a serious brain surgery, can't work yet, and they are going to keep my money? They are sick!!!

Anyone who works for this company should be ashamed of themselves. I don't care who signed what, if they cancel their photoshoot and do not do it, they should not be charged for a picture package they did not receive!
There is a $100 "cancellation fee" for cancelling the photoshoot within 7 days when they schedule your shoots for the next few days, they pressure you into coming within a few days so if you decide to cancel, you can't!

The MOST I should have to pay is $100 for cancelling...there is NO reason I should be stuck paying $1350 for a photoshoot that I did not do!

PLEASE DON'T BE FOOLED BY THEM. DO YOUR RESEARCH ON HERE! FORMER EMPLOYEES HAVE MADE RIP OFF REPORTS ABOUT THEM! Google modeling agency scams and see the tips on what is a scam! Everything described is what Industry Model &Talent will do. They are sick people overcharging people for photoshoots, that is how they make money, not booking jobs! They don't even make money for "jobs they book" so why would they get you one anyway. Think, each person that signs up and pays $1000 for pictures, when they have pressuring scouts in the mall signing people up off commission, they are making a lot of money from this!!

God will have is vengence on them.
They are all sick!

PLEASE DON'T BE FOOLED!!!

I would love to picket them, or help anyone else that has been scammed! I am fighting with my bank to get a fraud charge back. They were supposed to "HOLD" my credit card, not charge it!

Angry-J
Central, New Jersey
U.S.A.