Transcontinental Talent, Wilhelmina Scouting Network Non-payment of payroll, worker status questionable Orlando Florida

I worked for an office in Florida with WSN, TCT Talent. I started as a scout. The next week the scout director and a Talent Executive (TE) resigned. That weekend there was a scout meeting during which it was announced that TE positions were available. I applied and was promoted. Then a trainer guy from corporate came to revise the office operations. The office director got fed up and quit. I later found out she had not been paid for two pay periods, as well as the Talent Coordinator.
The Talent Coordinator had resigned and left the following week.

During that week, the electric company called to say the light bill had not been paid.

I stuck around, hoping that the guy from corporate would iron out things. While he was there, I had some questions from potential talent that were wondering about all of the negative press. The corporate representative informed me that the online reports were from people who didn't get what they wanted in terms of modeling jobs, and that it was a lot of drama and exaggeration, and that the bad apple employees involved with fraudulent activities had been extricated from the company after it was taken over by Lou Perlman. He even encouraged me to look at the online reports!

There were a whole stack of scout checks issued by Corporate that they told us to hold and not distribute due to insufficient funds.

Then another nearby office closed. The staff was supposed to come to our office. Only two decided to remain, the director and one T.E. After not getting paid, and several attempts to get Corporate to issue payroll, we all resigned and the office is now abandoned. The director of the other office that had closed told me it was actually and eviction due to four months non-payment of rent by the franchise owners. They still have personal belongings and talent materials there they cannot access. I was told they had had consistent payroll problems prior to the USTC office closures. The photographers had not been paid either, I was told. The guy from Corporate never told me any of this, I had to find out after he had already left to return to Corporate.

As far as what this company provides to talent, I have heard complaints that most of the jobs are promotional gigs such as serving promotional food markets at supermarkets, or reality show auditions that are basically open calls.

I am still fighting for my money. They owe me for about 200 dollars, a ridiculous amount for working up to 10 hours a day IN THE OFFICE.

-A disgruntled former "independent contractor" - the IRS employee status of which could easily be challenged.

Chelsea
West Palm Beach, Florida
U.S.A.