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Please watchout for modelling egency, apple modelling agency, offering you a chance to go and have a photographic shoot with metro photography in london. . . It is a scam. Once you get there they will not let you wait inside the studio if you are abit early, they will tell you to come back at the right time, and whilst you are outside, they go through your luggage, without asking your permission, then they will tell you that you need a new portfolio, which has to be less than 4 months old (My new one was done nov, 2014) , which has to be done by them, and they expect you to pay £500 for the new portfolio. They offered me a chance to sign up with apple models, but i declined. I have been modelling since 2004, all i can say is that this company is running a scam, and if you are a teenager. . . Please do think carefully. . . Dont, please dont part with any money. Thankyou. Jenna.
Hi, thanks, Kelley 121, for your comment, Yes, in my opinion, Apple Models, and Metro Studio, should be avoided...Red Alert...Danger...Watch Out...Avoid Apple Models, And Metro Photography Studio...unless you enjoy the risk of con_artists making a complete joke of you. I am now glad to say that I have been signed up with a new bona_fida modelling agency...and not letting these jokers, like Metro, and Apple Models, treat me like some joke they want to play around with. Good luck to all the other new models out there, as along as you seek the legit agencies, you will avoid the 2 fakes mentioned above.. Jenna.
No contact has tried to be made with myself, by Apple Models, or Metro, and now that I am signed to a legit agency, I do not want to even initiate contact with the 2 agencies listed above.I only came on here to warn people, through experience of my own, that not all agencies are legit, and that they are here to take your money away from you, for instance, A modelling agency which is truly interested in You, and who wants to sign you up, will never ask for money, infact they will invest in you, not the other way around. I have a photo shoot with La Redoute, in August, which I have just been signed up for, and I cant wait, and my advice to all my other fellow models, is to say Dont stop following Your Dreams!. Jenna
Guys, please shop around first when trying out modelling agencies...take your time, and don't, I stress. dont be pushed into anything. Do your research, and take your time. Just think it through, before you say Yes, and part with your money! Remember, it is they, who are investing You, not the other way around!. Ok, guys, good luck. :) Jenna.
Please, do as much research as you can on any modelling agency that that you approach, check their reviews, talk to people about them, and only part with money, when you are 100% certain that what they are offering is legit, I would be especially cautious of any claims made by Apple Models, and Metro Photography, stating they will provide you work, after they first get the fee they are looking for, whether its for a Portfolio etc. Don't part with your money too soon, think it through. Thanks. Jenna.
Hi Trilu, You need to get in contact with the following: Hope it helps. Jenna.
1 ) Action Fraud. www.actionfraud.police.uk/
2) Trading Standards
3) C.A.B
he C.A.B would be able to give you legal advice on the matter...try not to worry, stay calm, and think positive. If you stay positive, good things come out of staying positive! Goodluck. Stay upbeat. Yours, Jenna
To A.Moorland, hi, its Jenna, did you manage to get incontact with someone from the Organisations I mentioned? Jenna.
To Trilu, , hi, its Jenna, did you manage to get incontact with someone from the Organisations I mentioned? Jenna.
Get intouch with C.A.B .again, and Trading Standards, And even the Media. Jenna Wade
Dont back down, thats what they want. keep at them, C.A.B will fight yr cause. Kind regards, Jenna.
albamodel.info/...They are known as the Modelling Agency Watchdog. Kind regards, Jenna.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Hi, my daughter has been invited in for the initial photo shoot as she has "the right look " think I will dodge this now after reading all the comments . Any advice on how i can find a legit company ?
Many thanks M
on 17/12/15 I went to London after my recent application for apple models. I wouldn't say they are a scam but they are misleading and conseal the truth. They make getting into the industry sound like its a piece of cake, whislt also telling you that it takes hard work. I don't know how t fuly explaian that but the way they do this is so perfect that it misleads you but yet you cant complain because they also give you enough truthful information. If you fail to acknowledge all of these red flags on the internet like I do, after you finish your shoot and they say yiu have been sucesful they will say the same thing to you that they say to everyone. " we aim to get at least 30 pictures out of the 120 you have taken today, your son however managed to get 50-60 which is amazing for a first shoot.
The pictures were awful, I could not have got any job with those photos (bare in mind I do evaluate myself harshly in everything I do). Also the make up was rubbish, maybe its because I am a boy but they literally spent no time doing my make up. On one instance the lady took a brush swept it either side of my forhead once and said I was ready for the shoot.
DONT DO THIS< DONT LET TH FACT THAT IT IS IN CENTRAL LONDON ALSO MAKE YOU THINK THIS IS LEGIT. INFACT ITS NOT THAT ITS NOT LEGIT BUT THEY MISLEAD YOU INTO THINKING YOU HAVEA BETTER CHANCE THAN YOU DO.
My advice do a lot of practise before you go to your first ever test shoot (unlike me) once you feel ready go elsewhere for this test shoot, after doing extensive research into the agency you are going into.
unfortunately I saw all this comments after I went to the shooting appointment and pay a lot of money, please help me on what to do, I need my money back! Gina
Hi Plusize,
as Jenna said, get immediately in touch with the Citizen Advice Bureau and report the fact to ActionFraud UK.
Follow every piece of advice CAB will give you.
Their help has been fundamental to me.
Hi,
i was also a victim of apple model. Their service while I was there @ Metro Photography was so professional and friendly. But when it came to the end they made me feel as if i had no choice but to purchase the portfolio. It was not until my partners friend told me that they are scam artists. This had me so broken especially for the fact I had to call around for money as they made me feel like i had no choice. I have cancelled all direct debit and cancelled my card so they cant get any more money from me.
What do I do need in regards to getting my money back?
I'm off to London with my son next weekend watch this space we are looking forward to opportunity to get in a studio and see how images look and if my son enjoys, we have no intention of parting with anything remotely as much as what I'm reading, max I'm willing to part with £250-£300 cash for a flash copy of all the images or walking away
I'm having the same problem, guys and girls.
Same reaction from all the staff.
I took a photoshoot yesterday, and then I've been forced by Sara to sign for the webfolio.
Kay answered me with the same link that she attached to Trilu's mail.
I've already sent an enquiry to the closest C.A.B. and I'm waiting for their answer, because I paid with card and want the refund.
Do you have any other useful advice?
I'm just an Italian student, and I don't know all the tricks about the UK laws.
Thank you so much.
Arianna
Thank you so much for the reply M.morland!
Contact citizens advice or which legal .They will advise you that if felt misled or pressurised into signing this contract you have a legal right to cancel . They will give you advise of how to proceed . Do not feel intimidated by this Kay person .Apple models / metro are in the wrong . They are using scare tactics, they cannot take any action at all against you for cancelling this contract . Did you pay by credit card? If so contact them .
Thank you Jenna for your reply! I have a reply from kay, but i do not know how to interpret it. Here is what he says :
Please see the link below which will confirm our cancelation policy we will expect you to fulfil your commitments to the contract as I'm sure you would expect the same from us.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/changed-your-mind/changing-your-mind-about-something-youve-bought/
I've read over and over again, i don't know what to think. the contract will be cancelled or not?
hi guys, i'm in the same situation as you. I told kay that i want a refund and that i don't want the product and the service provided by metro photography anymore. Before this, i send him an email in which i explained the hole situation (why i want to cancel the contract and why i want a refund) and in reply, he didn't even try to convince me that i'm in good hands and that i don't need to worry or something like this, he didn't even protect the quality of the product or of the service provided. He only said that i can't get a refund and that the contract can't be canceled. can you please give me a hint of what should i do further or how should i proceed? it would be a blast!
Please contact citizens advice bureau or which legal . They will advise you on how to get your money back .If you felt pressurised or misled by Apple models / Metro photography then the law is there to protect you, even though you have signed their contract. It will take a few weeks, but please do not give up. Some woman called Kay will send you threatening emails from Metro trying to scare you but do not feel intimidated. Keep a record of all correspondence with them and use recorded delivery. You can take them to a small claims court to get your money back, but get advice on how to proceed. If you paid by credit card, contact them and explain everything . I managed to get all my deposit and instalments back and cancelled the contract as my credit card company helped me . Which legal and citizens advice were really helpful too . Please do not let them get away with taking your money .
We have also been scamed by this company, they put a lot of pressure on to purchase the photos, which in the end we did spending £750 which we could not afford, not wanting to let our daughter down, they basically told her that if we did not take the photos we would be letting her down and the whole day would have been a complete waste of time, I asked if I could go away and figure out finances out to see if I could afford it and they told me all photos would be destroyed that day if we did not purchase there and then, I contacted Apple models when we returned home and they emailed me a list of other agency's to contact ( which we could of found our selfs on line) and have heard nothing else, once they have your money the our no longer intrested in you, We have been well and truly ripped off!
Yes I have been tricked also with the same patter. All the links they have sent to us (modelling agency's ), are out of the 'catchment area' you have to be in a certain mile radius to be considered. I have also found that the agency's. I contacted myself not recommended by Apple models say they do not want any professional photos only head shot and full body length selfies ! I have rang Apple models several time they do not reply back . I'm disgusted and very disappointed especially for my 15 year old son .
Please be aware Apple models are a scam they send you to London for a shoot they tell you that Apple models wants you then try and sell you a portfolio if you don't buy one then Apple models don't want you. It's just a scam for you to buy photos.
I am also in dispute with this scam company apple models/metro photography with my young daughter . They lie from the start, telling you that they want you to attend a test shoot, which they are willing to pay for as they are sure to get money back from commission made . Following test shoot they get you to see a ' model adviser ' who will then tell you that your daughter has what it takes, build their dreams up . Then comes the bombshell of the portfolio that they tell you you are obliged to buy as they have paid for the test shoot . You are told you have to purchase there and then. Yes, you can walk away, but then you feel pressurised and do not want to let your child down .
You are told a strictly no cancellation policy, any legit company will give you 30 days to consider, you do not need a portfolio to join a modelling agency, even though they say they will not give your details to any agencies until you have paid for your portfolio .
Apple models used to be known as form / mint models/ neptune studios and were exposed on BBC s Rip off Britain a couple of years ago, links to this are easy to find, Please google Lambeth trading standards who recieved over a hundred complaints following this .
Please take my advice and stay away from this company. All you are is a portfolio sale to them .
'
I am currently in dispute with this company I took my 8 year old daughter the pics were lovely but the pressure and patter was terrible. We will destroy your images unless you part with your cash now! You can imagine my daughters heartbroken face. I paid a deposit after being asked to phone someone for all the money! They said they never get as many good shots its the best she had seen in 6 months think they use that one alot, they told us we need to sort out work commitments as things will happen quickly. However later away from the pressure and on reflection my daughter was worried it would interfere with her dance commitments so i tried to cancel the next day and get my money back. ( we worried needlessly as no work materialises from what I've read).
They had other ideas I referred to the cooling off period which they try and deny I then said keep what money you have £200 and send prints to the value they are still trying to make their own law.
I have no experience with the industry however I am no push over and if thry want a fight they've got one. My daughter wanted to try it but thankfully doesn't seem to bothered either way which is just as well but how disgusting to fo this kind of thing to anyone but a child!
I have sent a number of links about the law and the poor reviews and will be seeking legal advise today!
I had the same experience, ended up paying 200 pound also, I've asked for photos off that worth and was told I wasn't allowed till the full balance was paid, even though an Italian guy that sat with me at the computer to show me the finished product give me some off my images free. Did you get any further with yoyr case if so what was the outcome ?
If you feel misled by this company and have evidence to the effect then contact me. One of our employees was similarly 'scammed' and is now commencing proceedings in the County Court. The money claimed is not just limited to financial loss, but can also cover distress, inconvenience, and loss of opportunity. kbishop@arkbound.com
Apple model have cheated many of their customers saying that that they'll be getting many contracts but the fact is they just call you to do portfolio shoots and nothing else. Fro Metro studio, later your portfolio will be sent to Apple Model and they'll keep making you nuts. PLEASE AVOIDE APPLE MODEL AND METRO STUDIO..