Complaint Review: Carolyn's Model & Talent Agency - Internet
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- Author Not Confirmed
- Carolyn's Model & Talent Agency Internet United States of America
- Phone: 9055428885
- Web: www.carolynsonline.com
- Category: Modeling Agencies
Carolyn's Model & Talent Agency Carolyn's Kids Excessive Registration Fees for nothing. Internet
*Consumer Comment: Client at Carolyn's Kids
*Consumer Comment: The Truth about Carolynskids
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I paid over $300 dollars to Carolyn's kids for a registration fee for them to represent my baby who was a few months old at the time for up to 3 years. It took almost a year before I heard from them for a booking. My child was not used for the shoot, but you are supposed to be paid anyhow. Carolyn's says it could take up to 3 months to be paid. It's just over 3 months now and I'm still waiting.
Another woman in the waiting room who had her child booked for a shoot as well that day, said the agency charges 50 cents for each voucher (the piece of paper you get signed with the money amount earned for the day). I didn't know this at the time I registered my child, but it begs the question: What is the $300 dollar registration fee for, if you have to turn around and pay 50 cents for a voucher (carbon copy receipt) everytime you get work. I don't think that Carolyn's kids is a reputable agency. They appear to be making a lot of money off of new overzealous parents who would like to see their babies in print ads/commercials.
I've heard that client's don't book children who are at the age of 2 and many agencies won't take your child in until they are 3. So, I'm thinking $300 was a rather excessive fee to lock in for 3 years, when it seems unlikely a toddler who is 2 or nearing the age of 2 will get any work.
At the time I signed my child up, the talent scout was trying to get me to sign a contract to model as well, and told me about prices for pictures taken by their photographer. From what I understand about this business, an agency is not supposed to be supplying you with a photographer or taking money for photos to give to a photographer. I later called Ford Model and Talent, which is recognized around the world as a top agency to ask them how new talent go about getting portfolio pictures taken. She said you have pictures taken by a photographer they can match you with but you don't pay the agent anything. The photographers are trying to establish themselves in the business, so it is sort of a trade off. You may not end up paying anything, but printing your pictures. You don't need a portfolio to start with. A portfolio will showcase you work when you get it.
She also said she never heard of Carolyn's Model & Talent or Carolyn's Kids before. She told me to check out http://www.amisontario.com/
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 07/28/2011 01:28 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/carolyns-model-talent-agency/internet/carolyns-model-talent-agency-carolyns-kids-excessive-registration-fees-for-nothing-in-757718. 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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#2 Consumer Comment
Client at Carolyn's Kids
AUTHOR: diesel12001 - ()
SUBMITTED: Sunday, November 24, 2013
I don't know what the OP is taking about. My daughter is a client at Carolyn's Kids. When we first went there I did not feel rushed to sign any contract or hand over any money. We had an appointment at another agency that day and the reresentative we saw gave us the contract to look over at home and asked that we contact them after our appointment at the other agency.
The staff was pleasent and after we decided to go ahead with this agency, she informed us of a charge for admin fees and for a photography session, I informed the representative that my daughter had professional pictures done two weeks proir and she said "send the pictures over, we'll use those." All in all, I found the staff pleasent, I felt I was really given as much time as nessecary to make up my mind and I felt the agent was sincere.
My final thoughts are: I felt I was well taken care of and I'm glad I went with this agency, my daughter really liked the agent. I payed $200 for the year in admin fees and I feel this is a nominal charge, it she doesn't get any calls in the year, we won't renew. I do understand charging though, I'm sure the agency does not make a fortune with kids and a lot of the commissions can be eaten up with phone calls and postage. I think I made the right desicion, only time will tell I guess.
#1 Consumer Comment
The Truth about Carolynskids
AUTHOR: stanley25 - (Canada)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, October 19, 2011
We went to an open call today at Carolyns Kids. The staff are nice, but regardless of what any of the pro-Carolyns' have written - the baby program is a scam. First of all, they obviously don't have many people doing the math when you figure they say they only take 4 children of each age category at any given time - yet they sign up on average 10 to 12 babies per week - that is 500 to 600 new clients a year who they say they 'protect'.
When I brought this to their attention, they could not give me an answer. Secondly, my wife was a professional model in Toronto in the 80's, and she knows what to look for and what questions to ask. The Carolyns' rep made no sense in
answering the questions my wife answered her a about the industry, and when my wife told her that an agency is not supposed to charge an admin fee the girl literally started sweating and rambling on about studios charging fees and them being charged to the agency and then you having these charges taken from your cheque. Not in the real world!
Finally, not ONE baby was really looked at and none of the parents were interviewed. They just asked for $300 and handed you a one page 'contract' to hand back with your $300! EVERY one who had $300 was a new client. EVERY ONE!
The topper was when we said we would think about it and they said we had to give them the 300 today or they may have to give our babies 'spot' to someone else and we would have to come back again and start over. My wife said, 'if we send the money or call in our credit card number in 3 days - you only do open calls once a week so how will any other baby get our daughters' 'spot'. At that, they suddenly thought of a way to fax in the contract when we called in the number.
What a complete scam! I know there are people who have found success with them and my hats off to them - but the hundreds of people who are paying fees are what is carrying this agency.
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