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  • Report:  #604713

Complaint Review: New Faces Development Center - Internet

Reported By:
Loraine - South Hampton, New York, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:

New Faces Development Center
25 Woodbury Rd., Hicksville Internet, United States of America
Phone:
(516) 822-4208
Web:
www.newfacesdc.com
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good? What's this?

I was approached at the Roosevelt Field mall by a young lady who told me all the girls I was with were model material and that I should consider having them become models. All she needed was my number and that soon after I would be called to schedule an appointment for my daughter to meet with a with a representative from New Faces Development Center. She lied and said that it was all completely free and once I made it to the appointment I would get all the details I needed. A few days later I got a call from someone at New Faces Development Center who talked fast and needed to schedule an appointment as soon as possible because it was a busy period and it was imperative I acted fast. I made the appointment the very same day and battled traffic to get to the Hicksville location tugging along my daughter who was really tired following a long day at school. Once I was there the office was full of people and bright lights and staff shooting in and out of offices. It looked like a Hollywood setting. After waiting about half an hour, I was approached by a fast talking slick salesperson named Scott and he swept us into his office where he began to show us binders with slew of pictures of other children who made it "big" thanks to New Faces Development Center and occasionally stopped to catch his breath and comment on how beautiful my daughter was and how "she had the look" that would take her to the stars in the modeling business. He then conveniently slipped under my nose picture package options and after I got over the initial shock of the costs he went on to tell me about the comp pictures charges and before I knew it, I was looking at a $1500 price tag for something that was originally completely free. He stepped out of the office to let me think it over and quickly advised me that there were cameras recording our converstation and that the business was completely legit. He claimed that New Faces Development Center helped thousands of young people make it into magazines, commercials and movies. When he came back into the office I reasoned with him and asked if he could offer a better picture package, something more economical. He immediately became agitated and reminded me I was planning my daughter's future and a little investment now would take her career to the moon and back...because after all...he reminded me again that my daughter "had the look." I told him I couldn't pay all that money at that very moment and if he gave me a week I would be able to come back with the full payment. He reminded me that I had an American Express card (which by the way was a prerequisite. I was told to bring to our appointment; a credit card along with valid picture ID and both parents had to be present). I emphatically told Scott that I would come back within a week to pay the full amount. He quickly told me he wouldn't keep my paperwork on file and if I didn't pay for the entire package then and there my one in a life time opportunity was gone. I was appalled. Right then and there I smelled the scam. I quickly told him that the person that called me to set up the appointment advised me that the process was completely free...Scott rebutted by saying "What do you think? That we are going to tell everyone we call upfront that they have to pay money to get into the business?" I told him "No Thanks" and he tore my application in half and hastily got up from his cushy leather swivel chair and held his office door opened and said, "We are done here" he waited for my daughter and I to collect our belongings and leave.

Beware! This man named Scott and all those other slimy scam artists working at New Faces Development Center can care less during these challenging economic times whether or not you have two nickles to rub together because they're focused on stealing those from you too.

If you had a bad experience with New Faces Development Center file a complaint with the Attorney General for the State of New York. For more information about the claims filed against New Faces Development Center, view the Better Bureau report.

New Faces Development Center is not affiliated with NewFaces.com (a truly legit, most respected online talent agency since 1995)

Loraine, Suffolk County New York

 

 

 



1 Updates & Rebuttals

anonymous

flushing,
New York,
United States of America
Claiming your refund

#2Consumer Suggestion

Sun, May 30, 2010

On March 2010, I was also approached by a teenage scout from Queens Center Mall like everyone else by the New Faces Developement Center, who thought my daughter was model material. They called me up and asked for me to come to their area of location which was at Hicksville Long Island. My husband and I saw many people and felt this is a business that is in high demand for models. Mecca H approached us and asked for us to settle down while she explained the options of a lucrative career in modeling for my child. She was very good in manipulation and explanation in how she had thank you cards from clients. We were suckered in and paid 850 for 2 photo shoots. I then went home and we were confused. I looked through the contract and was in dismay and in shock because I was scammed. Right away I cancelled and did not go for the second shoot. I want all parents to read what I am suggesting how to get your money back because I did and here are the ways:

1) Make sure you follow the 3 day cancellation with certified letter and return receipt with signature. Please notorize your letter and make a copy of that letter. Write on the receipt New Faces Development Center refund. Also e-mail them the same letter you sent in the certified letter and fax as well.

2) Call them a few days later and ask if they received the letter and also contact your credit card company or bank. Document the times, days and a detailed conversation in a small notebook.

3) Keep all documents what you sent and what you received, make sure you also e-mail, fax and keep all telephone records for proofs of contact with them. They do not respond to e-mails but you will have a copy of the sent e-mail that you can print out.

4) Call them everyday and ask what is going on regarding your refund.

5) They may call and inform you that you will receive a small percentage of the full amount that you have paid, which happened to me. They told me that I will receive only 150 out of 850. I had a huge argument with Mecca and ended up talking to Deidra who was known as a refunding manager. We had a very unsettling argument and at the end when I told them I would go to the media that was then she promised my entire refund after 30 days. I drafted a verbal agreement letter of the conversation I had with Diedra and again faxed, certified and emailed that verbal agreement letter.

6) After 30 days I called them again and demanded my money. It took them a week to process my full refund.

7) I have been completely traumatized by this experience and feel that they should be sued. They took pictures of my child which I have never seen or know what happened to it. They have been in trouble and continue to do this to other innocent people. 

To all parents and to all caregivers, please do not give up, let your voices be heard and let others know that they should contact the Attorney General. FTC, Consumer Fraud, and any senators who should know what is going on is a scam and pyschologically crushing of dreams!!!!   

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