Complaint Review: InterFace Talent Network

Bsiegel@nj.interfacenetwork.com,
 fbravo@nj.interfacenetwork.com

Hi Brett,

Here is email correspondence sent to Franklin Bravo within 4 business days of being in his office on Saturday July 7, 2012.

You'll notice although we feel he purposely left critical information out and misrepresented to us what we were getting in order to make a sale, we originally gave him the benefit of the doubt in the correspondence below.

He never responded, but we were continually called and pressured by various customer service reps to reschedule.

This is terrible customer service. All we ask is that our hard earned money be returned. It is no loss to Interface as we cancelled more than 36 hours before the schedule appointment. No services were rendered to us. Interface had plenty of time to cancel any photographer booking.

Unless our money is refunded completely, we will pursue litigation. In addition we will continue to warn people and let the King of Prussia mall recruiters and other potential mall victims know to avoid Interface at all costs. We will let them know how time consuming and what a financial loss this was. We will work with other Interface victims and help them through the legal battles necessary to get their hard earned money back from Interface and it's untrustworthy business practices.

Please refund the money, then at least we can tell people Interface is honorable enough to do that.

Thank you,
Josiah Kuenzi

from:  Josiah K**** (((email redacted)))
to:  fbravo@nj.interfacenetwork.com
cc: Tiffany K**** ((((email redacted))) 
date: Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 9:53 AM
Franklin,
We have not heard back from you but instead continue to be harassed on the phone by a different person each day from Interface telling us our money will not be refunded.

Please advise.

Thank you.
Josiah

On Thu, Jul 12, 2012 at 11:04 PM, Josiah K**** ((((email redacted)))
wrote:
>
> Hi Franklin,
>
> It was a pleasure meeting you last week, and we liked your interaction with the children. Unfortunately we need to cancel our plans to work with Interface. We misunderstood your explanation and thought marketing and website was included as you stated there would be monthly reports on the status of the marketing and website efforts. This clearly is not included when we read the fine print in the contract. We only have $1400 as I stated and you were able to get the pictures to $1450 which we appreciate, but due to the increased expenses we cannot afford this with 3 children at up to $360 per month. We cannot afford even $15 a month extra ontop of the extra gas and travel expenses. We had no idea the minimum order of composite cards for our 3 children would be an additional $675  (4.50X50X3)
>
> We also are extremely uncomfortable with the F- rating from the Better Business Bureau and the recent complaints filed there. Most conerning is the current litigation against InterFace and Roman Vintfeld especially the government actions and NJ State Attorney General's  suit against them.
>
> We are serious about getting into this industry, but the problems and poor business practices of InterFACE and the confusion already, this is definitely not the company we will be working with.
>
> Please see the attached letter that was sent by certified mail. I wish you the best and if you find another talent marketing firm or modeling agency with an A+ BBB rating we would still like to work with you.
>
> Thank you
> Josiah K****


On Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 10:11 PM, Citi Cards <citicards@info.citibank.com>
wrote:
>
>   Cardmember: Josiah M K****
>   Account Ending In: 4784
>   Member Since: 2012
>
> Add citicards@info.citibank.com to your address book to ensure delivery.
>
>
> ACCOUNT NUMBER: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-4784
>
>  Dear Josiah M K****:

Why we're writing you 

This is a billing dispute update on your Citi ThankYou 

3 Preferred account for the following transaction:
>
>  o   INTERFACE NJ 732-993-4220E BRUNSWICK  NJ
>  o   07/07/2012
>  o   $1,450.00

I went to the Framingham, Ma location, brought two forms of ID, neither one a credit card and spoke to the Marketing Director. In one hour, I did not feel pressured, rushed or guilty. At any moment, I could have walked away. I found her to be very realistic about my daughter's chances. Nothing was promised, or guaranteed. I don't have any expectations of my daughter being an overnight sensation and like with anything, it does take time to get results.

I am familiar with modeling agencies and this is not a modeling agency. They do a lot of photos and there are expenses attached to that, nothing in life is free.

Everyone always thinks their child is going to be 'the one' and when they aren't, they are pissed off. If you wanted a resume written by a professional, you might pay 100 bucks or more for a service like that. Would you hold your resume writer hostage because you didn't get a job? This is the same thing on a different level.

You have to be proactive as a parent. If you want your child to model then you have to find other outlets also. Go directly to Modeling Agencies, send in head shots, network with other moms, etc. The entertainment business is tricky. They want a brown eyed child with one freckle in just the right spot. They might look through 100s of photos to find that kid.

If you don't have money to spend, my advice is to walk away. I think a lot of parents think their kid is going to land a Disney Show. This is like the lottery. Many people will play but only one or two people ever win. That's the business.

I work in a similar industry and it works very similar. I have a job for a candidate. If that candidate doesn't return my calls in a timely manner or can't drop everything to go to a job interview or can't make up a decision or doesn't wear a suit to the interview, why would I want to work with them? I wouldn't, I have 10 other candidates waiting to take his place. It would be unreasonable for this candidate to come back to me whining about how I didn't get them a job.

If you are sharp and reasonable about your chances and you are prompt in getting back with your director, you will more than likely get jobs to take your kids to. In some cases you might only get free clothes for your troubles. The more work your child completes through this firm, the more chances you have of getting an agent who can get you those 'dreams' you envision. This firm is just a step on the stepping stone to finding success, you have to do your work too.

Hope this helps provide a different persepective. I mean no disrespect to this poster because I am sure every experience is different and there are unethical directors just like there are unethical recruiters. Do your homework, make a decision based on what you hear, see and can afford, ask questions. Only spend the money if you can 'loose' 1k, 2k without it making you homeless.