 LATEST NEWS
Scouting SCAM warning
Beware of attending scouting scams in hotels & online.
Model & Scouting scams - setting up in Hotels & on the Internet promising a free photo shoot.
Alba has in the past received hundreds of calls from people of all ages who have been conned out of varying sums between £120 -£249 per person or per child by so called casting and scouting agencies which advertise in local free papers stating they are going to be in a town on a certain date. These agencies perform their casting seminars in different towns in various areas throughout the whole of the UK and constantly change their trading names.
They will advertise for anyone aged 0 to 70 years of age and for anyone interested in any type of modelling or entertainment work.
Eager members of the public of ALL ages are convinced into parting with money up front to be represented by that particular scouting/casting agency. The promise is that the scouting company will take some pictures to help find the hopeful at least one agency which will offer the hopeful a contract. The promise is that if the applicant does not receive the offer of a contract from any agency within a set period of time the money paid will be refunded.
Sounds too good to be true and frankly it is !
Sadly -the double sting comes when the applicant, having already paid a large sum of money up front to the scouting company, is then offered contracts by other agencies, however, those agencies are connected with or have a commissin deal with the same persons running the seminar.
Having got the victim the offer from associated agencies, the casting company has on paper then met the terms of the contract signed by the victim when parting with their money- and so the victim is not entitled to get a refund.
BY LAW ( 6/04/08) you should be given a 7 DAY cooling off preiod, befroe ANY money s taken frm you in cash, cheque or card - We just say don't go !
Instead apply only to ALBA recommended agencies. If you cannot be bothered to look up the list on the site and send the pictures, then you should not be considering modelling in the first place !
You also need to be aware that internet scouting scams that previal in 2007 and say they are offering a free photo shoot and then charge you £50 by card. If someone came to your front door and suggested they are a casting company and you you give them a deposit for £50 for a free photo shoot would you hand them over your card and pay this ???
NO !!
So don't do it online or by phone if they contact you !
IF you did fall for this - YOU HAVE the RIGHT to CANCEL within 7 days of giving your card details under the distance Selling regs - call Trading Standards
Snapshots are all you need to send to agencies to see if they want you or your child. Why pay a fee for someone to find you an agency when we have genuine agencies placed here on the A list page for your to see and print off for free ?
I find it very sad to have to tell people that they have been stung. Many people have paid large sums of money for more than one child or teenager which they could have saved if they had come to Alba in the first place.
Question... When is a sham not a sham ???
NEVER - Here is a classic below for you to see and please note that having taken on hundreds of hopefuls over each weekend in hotels Wannabee lasted less that 1year !
Question...
Do you wannabee so much that you will fall for it time and time again ?
the scammers hope YOU do !
Well the directors of Regardez/Rondevous are delighted that Wannabees have set up in competition to them; so much so, the directors Brian Evans & Mark Vella are now passing unsuspecting babies, children and teenagers; through their unsuspecting parents - to Wannabee, the director of which is TRACEY WATERS, (as at 6/11/06).
It really works out so well for Brian & Mark to have a competitor in the same building you see... Because Brian and Mark charge unsuspecting members of the public £180, just to - walk down the corridor and hand unsuspecting members of the publics details - to Tracy..
Now I am sure Brian & Mark would not like the public to know - about their latest little weeze to fleece the public; but I think the public deserve to know the truth; don't you?
Of course Brian, Mark and Tracy have the governments blessing for this scam; and also Trading Standards too; and even the Office of Fair Tradings... Because you see it is perfectly legal; or is it?
Now Brian & Mark have closed down Regardez Ltd, and those who stood little chance of work - after paying money to Brian & Mark; now stand no chance. They thought their new venture with Wannabee; was a new 'vehicle' - to getting round DTI pending changes to agency regulations...
Wannabee talk about the "zest for getting the job done"; what job is that - is it the taking of up-front fees?
Wannabee Profile Casting, who had close links with Regardez and Rondevous, run by Brian & Mark; has now stated the following on their website:
"We are sorry to have to inform you but due to the unforseeable circumstances Wannabee Profile Casting find that it is no longer able to continue. With clients not wanting to pay agency fees the company has found itself greatly in the red even though providing work for a majority of its members."
Well what a surprise; especially since both Rondevous & Regardez have also closed down...
If only we could believe that statement, that they had supposedly provided most people with work???
And...
If they were SO successful; why are they now closing down???
Click on this letter, to enlarge it:
|
