Alicija
Chicago,#2Consumer Comment
Mon, March 22, 2010
I am one of Chicago Top Models clients. They are not a scam agency. I have been with them for about a week, and I can't believe that already I am auditioning for a beauty, fashion/hair show for top hair products like Matrix, Redkin, and Paul Mitchell. I have three jobs booked for the American Beauty Show. I had no clue things would happen this fast. I'm so happy that I came to Chicago Top Model first.
Allison
Crystal Lake,#3
Tue, September 15, 2009
In
late March or early April I responded to an Ad placed in the newspaper. The ad indicated Chicago Top Models
were looking for movie extras and models for both print and commercial. I spoke with Dee and he asked if I had
previous experience or a portfolio.
I indicated that I did not.
He said I would have to schedule an appointment with him, which I
did.
When
I arrived, Dee indicated that I had a great look and he was surprised I had not
pursued this before.
He then said he would like me to do a "test shoot," which I
agreed to do. That cost me
$110. At the time, I wanted to
believe him and doing commercials or being a movie extra seemed like an awesome
job. I have wanted to model since
I was very young and never pursued it.
About
2 weeks later I was scheduled to have another meeting with Dee. Dee then said to me he thought I would
be great and would like to take me on as one of their models. The catch? I needed to have composite cards in order for them to submit
me for any castings. The price was
$600. Again, foolishly I agreed.
To
date, I have not received my comp cards which I paid for in May. I was told they would take
approximately 6 -8 weeks but that I would be informed of any auditions in the
meantime.
I
contacted Chicago Top Models on numerous occasions to inquire about my
cards. I was told repeatedly they
had a problem with the printer and that people who had paid for their cards in
March still had not received them.
I have an e-mail verifying that.
Yesterday I call again to inquire about my cards and was told they were
not in yet. Today I received a
phone call from the Marie who is the president of the company. She told me my cards had arrived.
I
live in the NW suburbs about 60 miles from their location and asked if they would
mail my cards to me, especially considering the delay and inconvenience. When she refused I was so upset I asked
for the name of her registered agent or attorney. She hung up on me.
I have looked on the BBB website and Chicago Top Models has an
"f" rating.
I
have only one time received a call from Chicago Top Models about an audition
and that was after I complained to them.
They post numerous ads on craigslist stating that they have
opportunities available right now.
There are also numerous reports on ripoffreport.com. I have done everything I can to get
them to mail me my cards and they refuse.
Nowhere does their paperwork indicate I must pick my cards up in person
and considering the delay in getting my card, you would think they could just
mail them. She has refused to
provide a reason why she will not mail them.
As
a side note, I have been pursuing my modeling career with some luck. Yesterday I told by a high profile
photographer I auditioned with, that my pictures were awful, poor quality and I
look far better in real life.
These type of photos should make me look better than I do in real life,
not worse. That was not the first
time I heard that about the pictures.
I would love a refund but the contract does not provide for that. At this point I merely want my comp cards so I can move on. I would also like others to know about my experience. I am a single mother and a professional. I lost my job in March and frankly should not have spent the money for my cards but I thought "sometimes you have to spend money to make money." I realize now that is untrue and I was a sucker.
-->
In
late March or early April I responded to an Ad placed in the newspaper. The ad indicated Chicago Top Models
were looking for movie extras and models for both print and commercial. I spoke with Dee and he asked if I had
previous experience or a portfolio.
I indicated that I did not.
He said I would have to schedule an appointment with him, which I
did.
When
I arrived, Dee indicated that I had a great look and he was surprised I had not
pursued this before.
He then said he would like me to do a "test shoot," which I
agreed to do. That cost me
$110. At the time, I wanted to
believe him and doing commercials or being a movie extra seemed like an awesome
job. I have wanted to model since
I was very young and never pursued it.
About
2 weeks later I was scheduled to have another meeting with Dee. Dee then said to me he thought I would
be great and would like to take me on as one of their models. The catch? I needed to have composite cards in order for them to submit
me for any castings. The price was
$600. Again, foolishly I agreed.
To
date, I have not received my comp cards which I paid for in May. I was told they would take
approximately 6 -8 weeks but that I would be informed of any auditions in the
meantime.
I
contacted Chicago Top Models on numerous occasions to inquire about my
cards. I was told repeatedly they
had a problem with the printer and that people who had paid for their cards in
March still had not received them.
I have an e-mail verifying that.
Yesterday I call again to inquire about my cards and was told they were
not in yet. Today I received a
phone call from the Marie who is the president of the company. She told me my cards had arrived.
I
live in the NW suburbs about 60 miles from their location and asked if they would
mail my cards to me, especially considering the delay and inconvenience. When she refused I was so upset I asked
for the name of her registered agent or attorney. She hung up on me.
I have looked on the BBB website and Chicago Top Models has an
"f" rating.
I
have only one time received a call from Chicago Top Models about an audition
and that was after I complained to them.
They post numerous ads on craigslist stating that they have
opportunities available right now.
There are also numerous reports on ripoffreport.com. I have done everything I can to get
them to mail me my cards and they refuse.
Nowhere does their paperwork indicate I must pick my cards up in person
and considering the delay in getting my card, you would think they could just
mail them. She has refused to
provide a reason why she will not mail them.
As
a side note, I have been pursuing my modeling career with some luck. Yesterday I told by a high profile
photographer I auditioned with, that my pictures were awful, poor quality and I
look far better in real life.
These type of photos should make me look better than I do in real life,
not worse. That was not the first
time I heard that about the pictures.
I would love a refund but the contract does not provide for that. At this point I merely want my comp cards so I can move on. I would also like others to know about my experience. I am a single mother and a professional. I lost my job in March and frankly should not have spent the money for my cards but I thought "sometimes you have to spend money to make money." I realize now that is untrue and I was a sucker.
Allison
Crystal Lake,#4Author of original report
Wed, August 05, 2009
When DEE set me up for my "shoot" with their "photographer" he talked me into getting a make up artist who charged me $90 to do my make-up (that is a lot of money for a make up artist) and she told me that Dee was hanging out at her house when she got home the day before...so I see they are friends. If you could have seen this girl when she walked in...OMG. Her make up look horrible. I'm not sure she was even a professional. The other thing, check out their website. It's a joke. You can't even post your resume or any additional pictures and plus if you try to look up possible gigs there is nothing listed. This is the biggest and oldest scam in the book. How do these people look at themselves in the mirror everyday knowing that they are basically stealing money from people? And it gets better, I found a listing on craigslist for Chicago Top Models and so I responded saying that I am one of your models, if you have opportunities why hasn't anyone ever called me? So some woman calls me a couple days later, Marie. She has a heavy accent and tells me that Dee will contact me about submitting myself for the new Twilight movie. I got a call the next day and some girl told me to email my information to this email address. It was a g-mail account and I almost think they just set up a fake g-mail account to try to get me to think I was actually submitting myself for a gig. I bet that was BS too! Ha