Starbizz Models & Talent ripoff, shady, scam artists, alluring, fakes Scottsdale Arizona

I recently heard the ad for Starbizz on the local radio station that I trust in and thought---"heck ya my daughter has what it takes to be a gerber baby". Everyone who meets her has said how beautiful she is and a few people have actually said she could be a gerber baby. I called and set up an appointment on Oct 11th and was told it would be around 30-45 mins.

WRONG!!!! The appointment lasted no more than 3 minutes. After being called into the office they took a picture of my daughter (which I'm still trying to figure out why because they asked us to bring a picture in as well). Malette(spelling) said they needed to see how well my child looked on camera. I'm wondering if they use your child's picture they took and no one has caught on.

Well she told me that they were looking for a baby to be in a local clothing catelog. She then gave me a packet, which she didn't go over with me and told me to call back at the time it says to find out if my daughter had been chosen. After leaving the office I opened up the packet to find out that a photo shoot was required and would cost $685 dollars. I showed my husband and we both had a good chuckle.

I called back at the time and was told they hadn't chosen yet to leave my number and they would get back with me. I called again shortly after and they still had not made a decision. I began to wonder if they made notes to see who called to find out who was really interested then decided because they called me back well after the time they asked me to call them. She then called me an hour later and said that my daughter has been chosen and that we needed to set up a time to go over the paperwork the following day and talk about my financial responsiblity. I asked her what that meant and she said we would have to pay the photo shoot money. I told her I didn't have that kind of money and she said we had to come up with at least half of it. I told her I would see what I could do and we set a time to met the next day.

I spoke to my husband and told him our daughter had been chosen and what was going to happen the next day. We went through different scenerio's of how we were going to come up with the money. After talking to several different people, they all said the same thing--"if they really want your child they will pay for her photo's to be taken". I then went on the Better Business Bureau to check the company out.

I called Malette back the next day and left a voice mail to tell her I needed to speak with her before our meeting. She did not return my call until after our meeting should have been. I told her that I couldn't understand how a legitamate business could expect someone to come up with this amount of money in less than 24 hours and that I checked her out on the BBB. I saw a quote from the actor's guild and it said: According to the Screen Actors Guild's website sag.org: "Legitimate talent agencies do not charge a fee payable in advance for registering you, for resumes, for public relations services, for screen tests, for photographs, for acting lessons, or for many other services used to separate you from your money. If you are signed as a client by a legitimate talent agency, you will pay nothing until you work and then 10 percent of your earnings as a performer, but nothing in advance." She tried telling me that that pertained only to an agent and they weren't. (ummmm okay) I told her we didn't have the money and that why they couldn't take it out of the first job since she was alreay chosen and she said they didn't do that. I told her I didn't have the money and she said well does that mean I need to replace her and I said yes.

I'm sooooo glad I didn't get pulled into this because it is now 3 days after I almost went in and paid money I didn't have and I found this website. I really hope enough people can get word of mouth around and put this place out of business. They don't deserve to be working with children.

Amy
Gilbert, Arizona
U.S.A.