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i had been on the models direct website a few weeks back and they seemd pretty ligit, i then spoke to the woman called "Emma" on the phone and she seemd lovely she then spoke to my mother and she had said they dont normally call people before the pannel has judged, then a week later she said i had been accepted and she would send me some leaflets out. 2weeks ago She sent me the terms and conditions out and also the payment details, which was a 3year contract for £128 i didnt sign anything as then i started to get a bit wary, today i got a phone call and i didnt answer my phone so they sent me a text saying to get intouch asap about my 3year contract and payment details. they seem a bit too eager to get the money, i would advise anyone whos wanting to go with them to not as i have heard they are only after money.

Hey Girls,

I'm adding to the queries of modelling companies! My son Connor has supposedly been accepted onto the books of an agency called 'Babyshak' who are by all accounts quite a reputable company.

They have however asked for a £90 admin fee to set up a website etc for him, and they will even do professional shots of him for £20 which is quite cheap...BUT I am a bit wary of giving them any money! However, there are other reputable firms that ask the same thing...anyway I am not sure what to do.

Any ideas?!

Thanks, Emma.

Hi Emma, the only reputable company ive heard of is Eurokids and Adults. A girl I work with has had work out of them but same again I think you have to pay upfront.

http://www.eka-agency.com/

Im not sure where abouts in the country you are and if this would be in your area?

x x

they are a big con, i sent in my pictures of my son and they phoned straight away saying how gorgeous etc he was they then phoned me almost daily saying that they could get lots of work. i left it and they then offered me a discount and said they really wanted him and so i did and guess what...... not one phone call since they took my money.. stay away from models direct....

Hi, Just registered after reading all this about Models Direct, My daughter has been registered for 13 months, has never had any work, yes, she is a good looking kid, but so are thousands/millions of others, Models Direct seem as though if you are guilible, no, perhaps that is the wrong word, professionally successful, with sufficient spare cash, then £128 is less than half a days salary for most, therefore, seems a pitance. We now belong to 'starnow.co.uk' Yes they charge but only £3.95 a month and there is no tied in contract and you can cancel at any time, we have had a couple of jobs, modeling at the end of the day is a vast market, its your look that has to be required, as parents we all believe our child is that special one. Keep an open mind and a tight reign on that debit card and if its going to happen it will without spending vast amounts money

gosh am i glad i read all this. def wont be going with models direct , i been researchin about this contraqct fee issue and i read sumwhere that any good model agency a proper one doesnt charge you for anything until u get jobs , thats a proper model agency so dont be fooled everyone else. i have applied for a few for my son , and the best iv come across is euro kids who dont charge anything like a contract fee ,and you organise a photo shoot with them which in turn they dont make u pay for. am in process of booking a photo shoot , wil see if any hidden charges come up and let you all know. but i think they are genuine. xx

Hi Cresta,

I had a friend who was registered with Euro Kids and she did get work through them so I would say go with them.

My BIL who registered with models direct has had no work what so ever.

Vicky

NEVER EVER SIGN UP WITH MODELS DIRECT!I was lucky I found out it was a scam before I sent them money,they promised me the world told me that I was being put forward to a panel of judges and called me when i got accepted saying I had to pay them the money within 4 weeks otherwise my place would be given to someone else,they called again today a lady called Mandy who started arguing with me because i said i was no longer interested,i told her i had an offer from an agency who I DO NOT have to pay any money too,they invest in me,she started shouting at me telling me that could not possibly make any money which shows how much they actually know about the modelling industry,ANY REPRUTABLE AGENCY take commission usually between 10 - 20 percent off of your paid assignments!THESES PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON WATCHOG for scamming people go to albas website they have a list of reputable agencies!

Hi i just read this thread and joined to warn others! i had the same experiance with models direct .... the phone call from a lovely lady...... the acceptance email...... and the 'click here to pay for 3 years contract' i am so glad i listened to my partner saying it was a scam to have to pay a model agency or i wouldnt have done any research and found this!!!! Thanks all for the warning! Vicki ps i just hope others dont fall for the scam like i nearly did.

For anyone wanting to know all about 'Models Direct' click:

http://models-direct.blogspot.com

It makes interesting reading...

Best

Clive

hi i sent them photos of my daughter and they said the same ol and said come along and have photos taken etc aetc for a cost!!!! they kept ringing me like sales people! I had to be very blunt in the end and tell em where to go!!! I had rung a "proper" modelling agency and they told me any agency asking for any money do not touch with a barge pole!!! you are not guarunteed work for your child and they are basically a scam. I got my daughter into another agency that didnt charge or make any big pormises! do not touch anyone that charges you for photos!!!

oh my god im so glad i read this post i applied for my little girl lola who is coming on 8 months and was so excited when they said how impressed the panel were with her in front of the camera and how pretty she was. since then i have been getting loads of calls, text and emails saying how interested they are and £128 for 3 years its a very good deal.

today i got an email saying they will give her sponsership saying how it will now only cost £80 for 3 years.

so i was googling some info on them and came across this forum. im so glad i have read it.

is there any agencies out there that dont charge or a genuine?

love Dee xxx

Just wanted to add to the thread,
speaking from experience in modelling,
No modelling agency makes you pay up front for anything, if they want you and know they can make money out of you they will sign you up, THEN take a %/comission from your work,
some say you need to pay so much so they can do you photo's/portfolio..this isn't really true as you can get a portfolio done with a really good professional photographer that specialises in this area for a fraction of what they charge.. then you can take this along to a reputable agency..
Stay away from newspaper ads claiming to be agencies,
We have to protect out lil ones in this day and age.

Emma. x

Please please please don't pay up front money to join agencies. No matter what they call it! administration fee, joining fee etc.....they just want your money!!! Real agencies only take models with potential and take commission from their work....Models direct might find the occassional model work but they will take commission from that. Overall, they're not worth joining, its a scam and a half. To avoid scams, ask questions, see a list of A-list companies go to http://www.albamodelinformation.com/
This website names and shames scamming agencies like 'The Blue rooms' photography studio in London and The modelling agency 'Models Direct'

We registerd our daughter last friday with this company and just last night i decided to do a search of them, i was utterly amazed with the results!! So many parents have been scammed by this lot. It says in their T&Cs that they will not bank any monies untill 7 days after payment has been made, luckily enough we sent payment last friday mso it has been 7 days today. I sent an email to them last night to confirm that i wanted to cancel the contract before it bacame binding, i recieved an email from them stating that i had to make the request in writing, which they will not get now untill Monday or Tues!! But i will still be OK as i cancelled within the 7 day period?? I feel so bad for being conned by this bunch of shysters and will be reporting them to the relevent authorities I am so mad for letting this happen to me and my little girl, she is only 4 years old and we have been telling her that she is going to be a model PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!!!!!!