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Starbizz Models & Talent, Starbiz Wilhelmina, Starbiz Entertainment RIPOFF! RIPOFF! RIPOFF! UNRELIABLE! FRAUD! Scottsdale Arizona
I also recently became a victim to the likes of Bruce Romberg and his fellow employee's.
For a long time I have been told that I should get my daughter into modeling. While driving one day I heard a commercial about a chance to your child into modeling. I of course called and got the date and went down there.
So I took my daughter there and it was her turn, we went into Melette's office and she sat her on a chair turned the video camera on and got her picture and that was it. We were handed a packet with a time to call back.
I called back and they actually told me that Melette would give me a call me back. She later did and she said, that they want her and when can I come back down there. I went back down there the next day and were told that we needed to pay $685 for 1 Photo Shoot, Disk of Photos and complete marketing including website. Also on the paper it stated that they would get one guaranteed commercial print appearance or Television appearance for experience and exposure and the Submittal of Headshots to Wilhelmina Kids and other top agencies, we agreed and continued on. We payed and were very excited about it.
Don't fall for Melette's bragging about your child. She said that my daughter was beautiful and she was going to be bigand she can see her making it to Vegas. Any parent is going to fall for that and get really excited!! We did!!
In July she did the photo shoot for a clothing ad and we recieved the disk of pictures. We also recieved copies of the ad she did, not what I expected it to be but, it was a start.
In Oct. my husband got a call from Heidi saying that they wanted my daughter for a commercial for a Toy Store in Scottsdale. She stated that she would get paid $50-$100, it could be more if there was a speaking part. So we showed up on Nov. 3rd filmed the commercial and we were told that we would get a call back from Heidi on when the commercial would air.
I ended up having to call them back and when I asked when the commercial was going to air I was told, "Oh, it is airing tomorrow and 2 other days between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on the Lifetime Channel and TLC Channel. I never once saw the commercial, not once!! It was very disappointing!!
I got a copy of the commercial on disk and still to this date I have not recieved a check for my daughter being in the commercial. I have called and spoke to Heidi numerous times and was told that it was being sent out at the end of Jan. Well it is Feb. 16 and I have still not recieved it. I called her yesterday Feb. 15 and she was suprised that we haven't recieved it and would talk to Bruce cause, he wasn't there at the time and would call me back. I haven't heard back from them and I am very upset with the fact that they are talking advantage of children like this.
I am in the process of filing complaints with a few companies and also I am going to go to the news stations and do the same with them. I just hope that other people will do more investigating before doing anything with this company. Don't let your children be taken advantage of!!!
All I really want out of this is my money back. I wish that I could speak to other people that are going through the same thing with this company and we could fight them together! I am not giving up and I am going to do what it takes to just get there name out there and let people know that they are nothing but a big FRAUD!!
Shameka
Chandler, Arizona
U.S.A.
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2 Updates & Rebuttals
Leticia
Anytown,Other,
U.S.A.
I am glad that your daughter got what was owed.
#3Consumer Comment
Sat, February 18, 2006
But at the same time I really do not think that the company was the problem here.
I may well be the USPS. As you mentioned when you called, they were shocked that you hadn't received the payment yet, but that she would talk to Bruce and call you back.
Remember though he was gone for the day. She probably talked to him this morning. (Owners, managers sometimes have a big problem with employees calling them at home, on cells etc, unless it's an emergency dealing with life or death. I once had one chew me out because I called and the store wasn't on fire.)
So maybe she was going to talk to him when he came in.
they got your daughter into a commercial, they didn't overcharge you for the shoot you payed for and even gave you a CD of it.
Have you read the other RORs about companies that charge over $1000 for that shoot, they get no CD of it and their child gets no work.
Also to your statement any parent would get excited over that. Sorry I know that I wouldn't and my husband wouldn't (probably due to our stubborn natures.)
Shameka
Chandler,Arizona,
U.S.A.
They Finally Paid My Daughter!!!
#3Author of original report
Sat, February 18, 2006
Well, after I filed a report yesterday stating how I felt about Starbizz, guess what I recieved in the mail today. I recieved a check for the commercial my daughter did for them. I am still very upset with the fact that it has taken this long and no one was giving me the answers I have been looking for.
For all of you out there that are wanting to get your children in the model and talent business, PLEASE be very careful and really look into the company that you are looking into going with!! I am just glad that my daughter got what she earned. I know from now on I will be very careful with who I choose to do business with when it comes to my daughters. Nobody is going to take advantage of them and I hope that you don't let them take advantage of yours!!!!