Experts The Image

Review: I am filing a complaint against the overall business practices of the owner of this organization, [redacted]. He is a scam artist who is very talented at squeezing thousands of dollars from those who do not have that kind of money to give. The scam begins with him requesting an "audition" to be in a fashion show. Once the "models" are chosen he then gives them a pamphlet with large amounts of money on it, but says, "not to worry, and to ignore the money, because it is about the opportunity," an opportunity which he neglects to mention does not exist. He then proceeds to issue contracts, which he neither gives the models an opportunity to read, nor does he provide each signatory with a copy of the agreement once signed. He instead rushes the hopeful models through the signing process and verbally assaults and abuses those who attempt to take the time to go over the documents, saying that "they are too cheap to invest in themselves and their future." Once the contract is signed, he then states up front that each model must "sell" tickets for the show and must also pay fees and provide his/her own clothing. All of which is kept a closely guarded secret until after the contract is signed. Additionally, his version of "selling" tickets is not "selling" in its traditional notion. He expects these young hopefuls to spend upwards of $700-$1500 each on purchasing tickets from him and then selling them, to sell "if they can." Moreover, once the contract is signed he then threatens to sue each model for tickets that are not purchased, and threatens to add additional (arbitrary) monetary fees to those who cannot come up with the money on his unreasonable time schedule.

If asked, and many did ask, he would say that we are paying for his expertise and knowledge in the fashion industry, and for his training. However, I can attest that I did not receive any training from him as he spent nearly every moment of the practices collecting money and verbally abusing/dismissing those who could not pay. What little training I did receive, came from the "assistants" he had coordinating on his behalf (none of which knew much about modeling as I know because I talked to many of them and asked about their experience, and after only two practices [redacted] approached me about working as one of his assistants as well).

However, the biggest insult of the entire scheme is the fashion show itself. It takes place in a small theater with poor lighting, and after spending upwards of $1000-$2000 each on our own hair, and our own clothing (all generally tightly controlled by any fashion designer running a legitimate operation) we are paraded out in front of a small audience of our family and friends who could afford to attend. There was no opportunity, as he had promised in order to get us to sign the contract, there were no talent scouts, as he had claimed there would be to bait us into the horrendous experience. And the worst of it all, was that the few garments he did provide in an attempt to make his role seem more legit, of those few, they all were stained, tattered, fraying, and smelled of the sweat and dissappointment of all the models from whom he had stolen money in the past.Desired Settlement: I know that it may seem that I am simply bitter, but in truth I was willing to walk away from the entire experience and call it a huge monetary mistake from the onset. The only reason I didnt do so is because my little sister, who's dream it is to be a model, begged me to do it with her. I paid nearly $1000 in fees to **. [redacted] for this hollow lie of an experience, and I watched my poor mother struggle to do the same. However throughout it all I could not walk away simply because my little sister believed in it enough to have her heart broken had I done the right thing and walked away.

I believe that the only honest resolution to this would be to shut down his operation or at least take a thorough look into his practices. I can say that at minimum in this scheme that there is something fishy on an accounting level as all payments must be made in cash, and there are never any receipts provided for these payments. He has found a way to take advantage of vulnerable hopefuls who, in many cases desperately need affirmation (it seemed to be how he chose his models), and in doing so he takes from them their dignity, their money, and gives them nothing in return.

I hope that upon reading this you are compelled to take action against him. I fully stand by all claims that I have made, and will assist in any way possible in an investigation into his practices.

Consumer

Response:

Good Afternoon,