Complaint Review: Kids.com

Having attended classes in the past, even working with a Casting Agent for a tv show that was being filmed here, they even recommend to stay away from any "site, business, or individual" who charges fees upfront in order to "get you jobs".

She even stated that anyone who sells you on the idea that you must spend $$$ just to get a decent photograph and resume typed up, is a bunch of BS. She herself will accept POLAROIDS if need be. And that any reputable talent agency would only charge a fee if its to fill out paperwork or obtain sides or casting scripts from the production company involved (some scripts need to paid for ) and all their fees would come out of the commission made from the job they got the individual.

Yes, take the advice of others here, not the PHOTOGRAPHERS who of course , have a stake and continue the scam that these companies like kids.com promote.

I can thank websites like this that saved me lots of money. I have found that if an agency wants to charge you upfront for anything, be it photographs, or their website: run away. I've talked to drama teachers that say an agency should never charge unless they find work for you. Any agency that does charge for anything is not legitimate. So I stand with Patrick and Mark in telling everyone to stay away from companies that want your money right away and use pressure sales tactics. I was one of the lucky ones to get most of my money back. Most others aren't as fortunate as me.

Liz,

No, my daughter is not working yet. And the only reason is because we have not taken the pictures of her yet for her portfolio. Our only expense here is that we have to take the pictures ourselves (or have a photographer do it) and print up some photo resumes for the agency. Maybe $50 in all if we do the pics ourselves.

Once we do that, I am sure that some assignments will come her way. This particular agency only represents about a dozen kids her age, and she will be only one of two redheads.

The place that ripped us off has over 1200 kids listed on their website with absolutely no information listed about each child. No way an advertiser or scout is going to sort through all that mess to find talent.

One last thing I find interesting about the justourkids.com website. They have a link called "Important Information" with a paragraph that talks about consumer complaint websites, and not to trust everything you read on the net. The way it was written, I am sure it was directed mainly towards RipOff Report. I find that hillarious! Any company that has to put a disclaimer on their site (like "we are not a cult", look up Gentle Wind Project) to me means they are the ones with something to hide.

Why don't you hear about the $700 in fees in the letter they mail you? Why, because if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it is a duck.

These guys are as bad as the "Your poem has been choose for our next publication."

If you photogs are on the up an up, point us to somewhere other then kids.com where we can see your work.

Cheats, thieves and liars.

Patrick,

Just a point of information, I am not an employee of Kids.com. I am one of many photographers that they recommend (keyword here is recommend). Kids.com only wants high quality digital photos for the website.

BTW is your daughter working yet?

Liz,

You can debate me all you want on this issue, but I firmly stand by the following statement:

"ANY talent agency/marketing group that charges fees up front is not legit."

A true talent agency makes their money by getting their talent paying jobs, from which they take their commission. And they don't require that you get headshots from "only certain photographers".

As a matter of fact, don't even bother replying to me. I have heard enough BS from places like Kids.com to last me a lifetime. Suffice it to say I know how your operation works, and you will never be able to convince me otherwise.

Patrick,

Since you have not dealt with Kids.com, then you really don't know the story. They have provided work for many children who would not have had the chance if they weren't on the web. Most agents throw the photos in a drawer and that's the end of it. They have so many kids that the only ones who work are the ones with parents who constantly call. With Kids.com, agents like Funny Face and Models Management can go to the web, search for the kids they need, then call Kids.com with the info.

We deal with models and actors who are with Kids.com and a lot who have their own agents and guess what? The ones who are with Kids.com are the ones who are working. The others are just spinning their wheels.

Years ago there was an agent in NYC named Marge McDermott who had a very busy office. She had thousands of kids, but not all of them worked. She was pre-internet and she took on kids that she thought would make it, but most didn't. She was a smart lady who knew you needed the numbers to make it work and it did, for her and the kids. Kids.com is really the same thing only updated to serve their clients in a more efficient way by posting the photos of the web for all to see. Note that for security reasons Kids.com uses file numbers to protect the children from predators. They screen all requests for work before sending a child to an audition.

Liz,

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you. While I have not had any dealings with Kids.com, I have had experience with a similar company with the same MO.

Here's a news flash for you: ANY talent marketing company that charges fees up front is a rip-off. Why? Because reputable talent AGENTS (not marketing companies) only charge fees AFTER they have gotten you work.

And don't presume to tell me that the fees are for photographs and web marketing. That is a lot of hooey. A real agency will accept your photos free of charge. Professional headshots and resumes are best, but for kids under 6, all you need are regular pictures. Hell, you can even use an instant camera, take the film to Wal-Mart for processing, and submit those.

Web marketing? How many reputable ad agencies or talent scouts even look at your website? According to some of the ones I've spoken with here, they wouldn't even think of going to places like Kids.com to look for talent, as they are aware of the type of business you're in (to only make money, that is).

How do I know all this? Because I too was scammed by a company just like Kids.com. But thanks to the RipOff Report, I was able to get my money back from them ($685) and was put in touch with a reputable Talent Agent in Phoenix. We sent them some pictures, and they have agreed to represent our daughter. We are currently working on getting some assignments through them. And they will get paid when our daughter collects for any assignments.

Places like Kids.com fill parents heads with false dreams of stardom for their children, only to part them with their hard-earned money for services that are rarely as advertised.

To all those aspiring models and actors out there, if a company requires a fee for their service with no guarantee for work, run don't walk away.

I'm a PPA Certified Photograpoher and have worked with Kids.com for 3 years and can tell you first hand that they are not a scam or a rip-off. They provide many opportunities for work for a lot of children. Unfortunately, not all the children will actually work and Kids.com has no control over that aspect. They can send children on auditions, but then it is up to the child to perform to the customer's expectations for them to secure the job. The fee that kid.com charges to be posted on the website in minimal by today's standards for web links. It breaks down to about $120 per year ($10 per month). I spend ten times that a year for all my web links, so this is a bargain for anyone trying to promote their child for acting and/or modeling.

The children come in for new photos for the website every 6 months since kids change so much as they are growing up. We love it when they come in and they have copies of their latest jobs to show us. So you see we do know first hand that these children are working as a result of being on Kids.com.

I think the real problem here is "sour grapes" on the part of the person who complained because their child was not called or failed at an audition. As a business person, we know that you can't please everyone, but to post a rip-off report when the company in question has done no wrong is very unfair. This person should talk directly to the Kids.com management to try and resolve any issue they may have with this service.

Kids.com makes no promises other than they post their child's photo on the web for agents/corporations to view for possible work and do their best to get auditions for the children. They are very honest and up front about their business.