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Report: #899045

Complaint Review: Phaze 2 - Long Island City New York

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: AnonymousActor — New York United States of America
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  • Phaze 2 22-19 41st Ave, Queens, NY 11101 Long Island City, New York United States of America

Phaze 2 Phaze2, Phaze 2 Models, Phaze 2 Talent, ScoutBooth Lying and Manipulating Parents and Young Actors To Sell Outrageously Over Priced Head Shots and Website Membership Long Island City, New York

*REBUTTAL Individual responds: Come on Now Phaze 2!!!!

*REBUTTAL Individual responds: Response for mr belemonte

*General Comment: Unsure

*REBUTTAL Owner of company: Please do not claim you are a legitimate and recordable company

*UPDATE Employee: Phaze2 Stands by Our Model and Our Business

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They pull in people from malls with their "scouts," but these are not actual talent scouts. They flatter you by telling you that you or your child could be a model or an actor.

They then send you to talk to an "agent" who, in reality, is not an agent at all but a salesperson. That salesperson will tell you that their company will "market and promote you for what you can realistically do." They will feign insider knowledge of the entertainment industry, claim they discovered the models on random magazine pages, and their offices may be decorated with snapshots of themselves with various celebrities. But do not be fooled!  

They have one goal: To sell you the most expensive package of head shots they can talk you into. 

A google search for headshot photographers in NYC will immediately show that the average actor's head shots cost around $500, give or take. The packages Phaze 2 will try to sell you are no better quality, no greater quantity, and they range from $800 to $2000. 

They will try to sell these insanely overpriced photos by convincing you that once you sign their contract and take the pictures, those images will then be uploaded to their Phaze3 website. This website is supposedly viewed by industry professionals, casting directors, and agents who will see your face and hire you for a job. They will never say who these industry professionals are. They will never say what shows or movies they are casting for. You will never see this website. You will just be pressured into thinking that this is your Big Opportunity to be discovered and become a star. And they will not accept head shots taken taken by anyone else, naturally. You MUST buy their overpriced ones.

If you agree, they will hand you a long contract with a lot of fine print that protects them from ever having to make good on any of the promises they have just made you. It also states that to have your photos uploaded to the Phaze3 website, you have to pay for a monthly membership, which is something they will not make any mention of before you buy those photos. The membership is not cheap.

All in all, everything they are selling you is a ripoff. If asked they will explain that by "what you can realistically do" they mean that with no training, connections, or resume you are only fit for catalogue modeling and background acting. Neither of which pay well, if at all. So do not believe them when they say that they know people who've payed for college that way. They take advantage of people who want to be famous (who doesn't?) and know nothing about the entertainment industry.

If you or your child are serious about acting/modeling, save your money and ignore these manipulative liars. Get head shots from a professional head shot photographer anywhere in NYC. Take some acting classes. Subscribe to Backstage. Do some mailings to agencies. All of that will be cheaper and more likely to get you into the business than Phaze 2 will ever be.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 06/18/2012 08:06 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/phaze-2/long-island-city-new-york-11101/phaze-2-phaze2-phaze-2-models-phaze-2-talent-scoutbooth-lying-and-manipulating-parents-899045. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
2Consumer
3Employee/Owner

#5 REBUTTAL Individual responds

Come on Now Phaze 2!!!!

AUTHOR: Gregory Belmonte - ()

POSTED: Friday, March 15, 2013

      I will never forget my experience with your company. I've become so much smarter about scams and BS businesses because of you. As I recall, YOU insisted on having a photo shoot as soon as possible. You claim that my kids are perfect and you must get their portraits done as soon as possible. Shame on you and your bs charm and persistence. After countless times to reach you and phone number changes, I personally spoke with you to follow through with the refund. You apologized and said you would take care of it. You didnt. Luckily the credit card company disputed the purchase. I hope your enjoying your diamond watch and sports car you so dearly love with money from families you scammed them from. Anyone who reads this, BEWARE. Search for a legitimate. modeling company that asks for little or no money.

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#4 REBUTTAL Individual responds

Response for mr belemonte

AUTHOR: Agent - ()

POSTED: Thursday, March 14, 2013

If my memory recalls , you actually received a PHOTOSHOOT from us and was provided with our services for you to claim that is absolutely rediculous , we have givin you plenty of chance to take your time and wait awhile before shooting but your wife wanted it quickly ! So I'm sorry sure but blame should not be on us . our company prides ourselves and the work we do for our clients . And I don't appreciate you . Slandering our company when not even going thru management

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#3 General Comment

Unsure

AUTHOR: GOD IS GOOD! - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, March 09, 2013

I was also approached in a mall, went through the steps paid 1250.00 at Phaze 2. I went home and read this report and 2 others. I chose to cancel photo shoot and get my money back. Scam or not scam im unsure because i didnt follow through but i can say this company had my money back in my account that same day! So i am happy for that. 

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#2 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Please do not claim you are a legitimate and recordable company

AUTHOR: Gregory Belmonte - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, January 25, 2013

Dear employer of Phaze2,

     I was one of your recent suckers who foolishly went forward and gave our credit card upfront. Once I started to do the research and spoke to friends and family, we realized we were getting into something that sounded like a scam. The one thing that was skeptical when we walked into your office floor and it's totally empty with a stereo and a few desks and computers, it totally looks like they are ready to pick up and run.
     I read your "contract" and we had three days to cancel. So we did. We went to the post office, had a letter of cancellation notarized, called phaze2 and gave them the heads-up. They answered their phone and a receptionist said just send the letter and we'll cancel your account and refund the money. Today January 25th, 2 months later, their phone is disconnected and still no refund. Total scam. I am not one to sit still about it. I am filing a case against your company and getting channel 7 news to investigate. I have already spoken with channel 7 and I'm not the only one apparently. I'm glad they are taking it seriously and I hope everyone who falls for the false charm of this company reads this and runs before they are knee deep in BS. refund our money phaze2. We legally complied with your contract.

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#1 UPDATE Employee

Phaze2 Stands by Our Model and Our Business

AUTHOR: Kristina - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, June 21, 2012

Phaze2 has reviewed the complaint posted and we would like to take this opportunity to respond to the claims stated. The poster has no knowledge of our business and did not utilize our services.

Phaze2 is not a modeling or talent agency. Phaze2 scouts and develops potential models or talent, helping them to gain access to reputable modeling and talent agencies worldwide; the agents and the agencies who have worked with us are listed in great detail on our website.

Phaze2 rejects this and any attempts to discredit Phaze2. We have some of the most respected talent scouts in the modeling industry, including some who were scouted and worked extensively in runway, print, Broadway, music, TV and film, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the vast reach of our network. We have spent over twenty years building relationships with models, talent and agents.

Phaze2 only uses and displays photos of models and talent that we have scouted.

Phaze2 takes any and all false allegations against us seriously and encourages Ripoff Report to review the validity of this complaint/post.

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