UK Models
Complaint 366674 Details

UK Models are scam artists. My 3 year old daughter went for a photo shoot in February and it was absolutely a great experience for her. Hair/make up great, make up artist and photographer great. It was written clearly in print that photos start at £50 but the more you buy the less you pay as they don't sell them individually. We waited a while then we were called into the office to view the pictures. They were good but we didn't really get given the time to go through them thoroughly. We were told that our daughter had the potential to do catalogue and tv and that she was great but she needed a portfolio and we were shown the black portfolio folder and told she should have 10 touched up images in the portfolio and rest should be untouched. We were told she could earn between £300 - £1000 a day and that they could help sign her up with an agency and offer support for 12 months after. We were also told she would have her own website as that was the only way she could get booked. We were then shown the packages. Cheapest one was £1599 She tried to sell us the gold package for the silver package priced at over £2000. I explained we had were at maximum limit with our credit cards, it wouldn't be wise as we couldn't afford it and we were told we would easily make it back once our daughter was modelling. We literally had a few minutes to discuss it and we both felt pressured. I agreed to the bronze package and monthly payments of £93 and some change a month. I used my own initiative and googled top child agencies and my daughter was signed to 2 agencies that are top child UK modelling agencies. We were told children the age of 3 need to update their pictures every 6 months as they change quickly and kids don't require a portfolio or a website as you only get booked through a Booker via an agency and that natural pictures are the Best as the client gets to see the child natural and free of make up or hair products. Also an agency will book a child in at a studio at a discounted rate and give you free images. So I googled UK Models and found out we had been scammed, pressured to sign a contract, mis sold a product that would no longer be valid in 9 month's time and the only support they give is a printed a4 sheet of Model agency names. We were misled. I emailed UK models and the 1st two email addresses provided bounced back as the domain didn't exist, I called 2 of the numbers provided but could not get through just a voicemail but I eventually emailed them and a few days later Sihana refused to refund me my deposit but instead offered me £200 off and that I should sign now and not the matter any further. I explained I was mis sold and that any genuine company would not have misrepresented themselves especially to the general public who know nothing about the industry. I got my deposit back from my Bank and monthly payment cancelled and my credit card company is also investigating. I told Sihana on the phone a few days ago that I will no longer pay anything and that they should take me to court where both parties can present their evidence and we'll let a judge decide just like the banks who mis sold PPI and are now having to pay customers back. Hope this review helps others. Please BEWARE!