- Report: #84318
Complaint Review: Kids.com - Chicago Illinois
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Kids.com
www.justourkids.com Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
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Kids.com child model ripoff Chicago Illinois
I just wanted to thank all the people who put their horror stories about this company on-line. I received the same letter in the mail, that Kids.com was interested in viewing my children. I had an appointment to see them at their Chicago office on March 23, 2004. I had a bad feeling about the whole thing, as I have never been really interested in having my kids model. But the extra money for collage savings sounded too good to be true.
I am so glad I investigated this further. I went to the B.B.B. and Kids.com was in "good standings" however it had, had 13 complaints filed in the last year. That sent up the first red flag. I also checked out Kids.com's web-sight www.justourkids.com and found that there weren't as many kids on it as you might think and alot of the pictures were duplicates. (Hmmmmm) Odd for a modeling company with my childs best interests at heart to have the same picture of him/her listed in two or three different age groups! Then I found this sight...WOW!!! I called right away to cancel my appointment. I have 4 children, a girl, a boy and a set of twins. Would that have ment I had to pay $595 X 4? I would really be broke!
Thanks again for saving me the trip :)
Lori
Hoffman, Illinois
U.S.A.
I am so glad I investigated this further. I went to the B.B.B. and Kids.com was in "good standings" however it had, had 13 complaints filed in the last year. That sent up the first red flag. I also checked out Kids.com's web-sight www.justourkids.com and found that there weren't as many kids on it as you might think and alot of the pictures were duplicates. (Hmmmmm) Odd for a modeling company with my childs best interests at heart to have the same picture of him/her listed in two or three different age groups! Then I found this sight...WOW!!! I called right away to cancel my appointment. I have 4 children, a girl, a boy and a set of twins. Would that have ment I had to pay $595 X 4? I would really be broke!
Thanks again for saving me the trip :)
Lori
Hoffman, Illinois
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Mark
Chicago,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Kids.com Chicago: Unlicensed, Illegal Private Employment Agency
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, December 09, 2004
The correct response to a company breaking the laws in Illinois is to file a complaint with the state agency responsible for enforcing the laws in Illinois--in this case, the Illinois Department of Labor. Kids.com Chicago is a private employment agency. It is a private agency which attempts to get kids employment as models or actors by booking or placing them. But it does not have a private employment agency license. The Illinois Department of Labor, which enforces the Illinois Private Employment Agencies Act, says on their website: "An agency license is required to engage "for gain or profit" in the business of securing or attempting to secure employment for persons seeking employment, or attempting to secure employees for employers (including "applicant paid" fee agencies, "domestic services" agencies, theatrical agencies, and all agencies that recommend individuals for placement who are under the age of 18 or who do not have a high school diploma)." Kids.com is an agency that for profit recommends individuals for placement who are under the age of 18. It is a modeling agency for kids, and it only deals with kids. All of the individuals they recommend for placement are under the age of 18. It's "Kids.com." Therefore Kids.com Chicago is 100% illegal. They cannot do any business or charge any fees without an employment agency license. Any and all business they have done in Chicago was illegal. Any and all fees taken by Kids.com in Chicago were therefore taken illegally. They had no legal right to take your money. Therefore you have a right to take your money back. To get your money back, file a complaint with the Department of Labor. Make sure you specifically complain about Kids.com being an unlicensed, illegal Private Employment Agency, unauthorized to enter contractual agreements with you, unauthorized to charge you any fees. With your complaint include your contract (proof of Kids.com's illegal business) and receipt (more proof of Kids.com's illegal business). Illinois Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Division/Private Employment Agency Section 160 N. LaSalle Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 793-2810
