Barbizon Modeling / Barbizon International
Reviews and Complaints

I am a guidance counselor at a high school in Texas that lets Barbizon personnel come in and discuss a range of topics and am a bit puzzled by your outrage. There is no secret that in return for providing this service for our students we allow them to solicit names of interested students. The important thing is that, in three years, we have not received a single complaint which would seem to indicate that their sales practices must be reasonably professional. We have also confirmed the validity of the College Scholarship and found the program as represented. All in all, the relationship has be mutually beneficial.

My neice has been signed with barbizon and they said she has a great unique look because she has natural red hair, naturally straigh teeth and now all they want is 2100.00 to teach her how to walk, put on makeup and do her hair...

*** i can do that for free.

there are noooooo guarentees ofjobs, if they were a modeling agency they would do your hair makeup and clothes...and pay you..my friend is a pro photographer who has shot covers of seventeen and other mags...he said its all a scam to get her money.

Yall all are crazii doeexz people trii 2 help yhu ! an yhur juzt makinq ztuff yup .. ii went daii did everthinq qo0d yall triipinq ;biishh

Huh happii "

They did the same thing for my sister almost 20 years ago. She went no where and they kept wanting more money. Complete rip off

I agree that Barbizon is a total ripoff. The took $1600 of mine with promises of all kinds of things. The week schooling was a joke. The makeup was horribly cheap and total wrong shade for my daughter. In fact, my daughter could have taught the teacher a thing or two about makeup application. Then the promise of a photo shoot where they would make you a portfolio. It turned out that you only get one photo and if you want the rest...another $295! They lead you to believe the photoshoot is included in the $1600. The week training was novice and cheezy...a grade 7 class could have done a better job! Run and run fast from Barbizon...it is definately a money grabbing scam. Take a look at NBC's report with Matt Lauer...google it. Good luck all.

We are going through exactly the same thing as you. I made the mistake of giving my card number to hold the spot pending our decision by the first day of class. We left our contact numerous messages stating that we decided not to enroll our daughter, but received a receipt in the mail charging the full price of the class! I even noticed that my card was charged within minutes of my phone conversation! We are also going through the dispute process with our credit card. Please keep us advised if you get a refund.

We had an awful experience with the San Francisco office in September 2009. We were made to believe our daughter was special and had a lot of opportunity. Our first clue that something was not quite right was our deposit hit our credit card within hours of giving the number to reserve the spot. No contract or registration was ever signed. I am so happy I did not say that I may want to pay the whole amount in order to save a few hundred dollars. Second clue was how rushed we were made to feel and the pressure that was put upon us to hurry up to 'get in' for the training by that weekend. Then the third clue was no returning of the phone calls we made to discuss what our final decision was. I have made 15 or so calls to my only contact at the San Francisco Barbizon office and have not receive one call back. This is not good business etiquette right here folks! This person knows who she is too and I would bet she is the one who wrote comment #6 on this posting. So, beware some good comments are probably posted by the sales folk trying to do damage control on the blogs. I for one am glad I took the time to read the blog comments; they were very helpful and dead on. Without this information, we would have probably gone through with it till end, spent a lot of money and then have nothing come out of it for my daughter. They don't tell you things like that you will have to pay for the sitting too but you do and it also costs another 1to2k to go to the big show if you go.

It has been about 5 weeks now since they took my money, I have not received even a courtesy call back and I have not received a refund. The charge is in dispute right now (which means I do not have to pay for it) and Barbizon's merchant bank is being contacted by my credit card to get the funds back. I am confident that it won't be a problem because if this happened to us, I am damn sure it has happened to many others so their merchant bank has got to be saying, 'here's another one of those'.

Chuck it up to life lesson learned. If you want to be a model - go to open call at any respected modeling agency. Most of them have them and many don't require professional photos.

Good thing they don't run an english school either because you would have failed. You don't know how to form proper sentences and make yourself look like an idiot in front of millions of people.

I agree they are fake. We waisted soo much money. I daughters finished and that's when we found out they were fake. The one in Atlanta Ga. This was in 2006

It’s completely waste & time & money. It’s a kind of cheating & im sorry for these kinds of unethical people who play with teenager’s feeling. They cheat people & they have the worst marketing strategy to attract people to their training courses. Pls be aware of their cheating audition program that waste your time for 4-5 hours & it’s a real show nothing more.

I put my babygirl in this and she loves it but I felt funny about it. she has only been to the first 2 classes and I think I am going to request a refund. I have been seeing to much negativity and when I seen the story from NBC that sold me to break this deal. I have paid $500 already and they want $2140 that is not even including clothes shoes ect. I will take my loss of 250 for the nonrefund and send my certified letter and move on

ATTENTION. PLEASE READ!

I have an audition Nov.2 in Lancaster PA with a woman named Crystal.

First off, everything on the site seemed very cookie-cutter and 'too good to be true' - which is why I searched the cons. I'm glad I did and I'm glad I know what to expect .. I actually was stopped at a mall to fill a form.

Is anybody familiar with Barbizon Pennsylvania?

I'm thinking about still going but I am 100% not paying ###. She told me it wouldn't be an issue and my parents simply don't have 1000s on them like that. So if they try to get me to sign ###, or put down extreme information or make me pay something ridiculous .. I'm not doing it. I'll just leave.

I don't even want to model. I want to be an actress.

Please respond if you have any opinions or if you're familiar with the one in PA.

Thank you.

Please file a complaint with the Federal Trades Commission www.ftc.gov The FTC can put a stop to misrepresentation by a company and the FTC can literally shut a company down if they refuse to comply with the law. The FTC is also the agency that can literally force reimbursement for consumers who have been scammed by a company. It takes many complaints before the FTC can go to work. Please pass this information to others who have been "taken" by Barbizon and please visit the website www.ftc.gov Also you can file complaints with the State's Attorney General - the state where the Barbizon is located that you believe has misrepresented itself or "fooled" you. The state attorney general will help you and also forward your complaints to other state agencies who can help you. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau too. Thank You

Please help stop Barbizon from misleading consumers and hurting our children. Please consider filing a complaint with the Federal Trades Commission www.ftc.gov File a complaint with the State in which the Barbizon is located - Contact that states attorney general and their office will help you and forward your complaint to other agencies located in their state. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. The most important complaint to file is with the Federal Trades Commission as they are the office who can literally put an end to Barbizon misrepresenting themselves to consumers, they can also enforce reimbursement by the company. It takes many consumers to complain before our Federal Government can actually go to work and I have found more than enough people complaining on the internet in order to get the FTC into action but we must all file our complaints as they could care less what is on the internet. Please pass this along and please go to www.ftc.gov Thank You

Actually it is not a waste of my time. And its not a scam at all. All of you that are saying that it is a "Scam" and "fake" are just jealous that that didn't accept you.

Barbizon is a complete scam. Ruined my high school dream to become a model. Once my mom paid for me to go to school and i graduated. I never heard from that school again. I got one job which was a benefit for them because i stood in the mall a recommended people to come to that scam school. Then once you graduate they tell you to come on a trip to NY which is like 5000 dollars. Barbizon is a scam I will not recommend it to nobody. I get scared when my little cousins go to auditions. Never knowing if it is real or not. Barbizon ruined my trust for aNY modeling try out or school. Like Tyra Banks said you should never pay for modeling school If they really want you.

It's Not A Scam! It's A School Not An Agency. They're Helping You Not Ripping You Off! I've Gone There And I've Learned Acting And Modeling Tips! If You Even Take The Time To Read Their Website They Even Said They Don't Guarantee That You'll Become Famous But If You Have The Good Enough Potential You Can Make It. Your Just Mad You Didnt Become Famous!

Those grammar and spelling errors alone should be enough to show anyone what kind of professionalism they can expect from Barbizon.

Barbizon grads are seen daily on TV and in Feature films, check our success stories.Barbizon does not create the scripts nor do they select instructors as you mentioned they were there for training students. Agents and managers send talent out for many auditions and some new talent our lucky on a first or second audition but this is not normal. You have been extremly fortunate. In persueing your career you should be Professional as another opportunity with them. may arise.No industry Professional wants to deal with a sour talent. There is so much new talent with manners and good nature that get the jobs.Barbizon records show that you never completed your classes and are a drop out. It is unfortunate that your a drop out, and it is innapropriate for you to comment about Barbizon.

I am a graduate of Barbizon and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I do not think it was a waste of money. You pay for dance lessons, but don't expect to become the next great dancer. Barbizon does not guarantee jobs, but many graduates have made it like Sean Faris, Carmen Electra, Moises Arias.

I've worked behind the desk for this company. The Illinois owners are jerks. Rude to many. The male owner would talk about students behind their backs, "she'll need a nose job." The money parents paid were pretty much for Saturday morning babysitters for their kids and funding the owners spending habits.
They treated mist of their employees like expendable garbage too. ANYONE AND EVERYONE got accepted into this scam as long as they had money to pay for it.

Barbizon USA is amazing. There are people who have negative things to say about Starbucks ... Who doesn't like Starbucks ?! People will complain that their .50 cent coupon wasn't honored at their grocery store and never go back to that store again. Life is what you make it. Negativity will consume you. Halley berry came from Barbizon not to mention the rest of the celebrity list. Barbizion can't change who you are, you have to do that yourself and not hold people that try to help you along the way responsible for your outcome and success ! Good luck !

I just had a meeting yesterday at Barbizon in SF and I was the only girl there. They had me walk ( i was wearing 4 inch heels and i don't usually wear heels considering I'm 16 and 5'10.5 ) and read a script out loud. I do have some previous acting experience and the interviewer did comment saying that my walk was already perfect and my voice was loud and clear. She told me that if i had a portfolio ready then she would set me up with agents without even taking the classes, but that the classes could help me fine tune some things and practice makes perfect. She didn't pressure me AT ALL about jumping right into things, and that a payment plan was available because she understood money is tight and I'm a busy girl. She said I could take as long as I want to go through the classes, spreading them out to fit my schedule and even though I'm 16 I'm mature-looking and could possibly be in the adult classes. She accepted me right then and there no "call-backs" or anything like that. So at least in my experience there, they arn't trying to just take my money. She gave me her personal cell phone number and that I can call at any time. I'm not going to rush into this because I have other priorities but I feel that maybe for me it would be a good experience and help me later in life. The classes are all about working hard and practicing and taking things seriously. If the instructors see this, then they are more likely to take you seriously and more modeling jobs will come out of it.

We recently participated in one of the hotel session sales pitches. We had only a few days notice before the session and interview, and were told of the need for prompt payment, etc. The interviewer called late, as noted by others, and wanted to speak with both me and my daughter. The interviewer told my daughter all of her lovely attributes and that my daughter was one of the less than 70 accepted of the 400 girls who had applied. We had done some research online earlier in the evening because we felt the high-pressure tactics were suspicious. When the rep called I asked if there were girls in the area we could speak with who had gone through the program so we could get their feedback (one would think there would be hundreds considering the school has been in existence for so many years and scouting sessions are held regularly). I was told this was not possible and that the rep would get in trouble if she shared such information. This struck a chord. Any reputable school has an alumni network---that is usually front and center on a website---where you can reach out and talk with alumns. To be told it was against company policy for this to be possible and there would be repercussions for the rep did not bode well. In regard to payment, we were given various means to spread out the payment and still take advantage of the full payment discount, which seemed a bit desparate compared to what had been initially proposed; which also indicates the reps get a percentage of the tuition. High pressure tactis of giving only four days to make a decision, playing on the dreams of children and their parents, and not being forthcoming with information necessary for a balanced decision is why we are not taking them up on their "opportunity." Based on the sales video we were all shown at the hotel, there were no major movie stars included who had been mentioned in the presentation, so can the school truly take credit for their successful careers? Surely the school has been beneficial to some, but based on the input of those above and on other complaint sites, and the thousands of successful people in the industry, there are many ways to achieve one's goals and this is not the one we will be pursuing.

We were almost duped into the same scam. Read this lawsuit againt Barbizon: http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/25/28372.htm
The name of the biggest scammer is: CHARLES R. NEMES 434 E. SIXTHSTREET HINSDALE 60521

I am so glad to see that these people are getting caught in their lies! Thank gosh for the internet! I worked for them YEARS ago, 3 months and couldn't take the corruption. The owner told me, if I didn't do a good job, me and my kids would starve to death, I knew then this was not the place for me, I do not work under scare tactics! It was a experience I will never forget it, it made me feel bless in anything I did after that experience. I do feel terrible for all the families that fall for the BS, it is just terrible. MAYBE 1 out of 100 kids gets something from it, a boost to self esteem, but mostly their families get debt. all for wanting their child to be happy because some [censor] told her that she will go far, just take the classes, It is sad that they have been put of of business long long ago, , but still happy to see all their stink being broadcasted on the internet! DON'T GO TO BARBIZON! YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER is WORTH MORE!

Barbizon's okay for persobal development, but the only real way to get a job is to proactively go for it yourself. Some people don't even need classes like Barbizon to get a job. I sent a simple picture in and got a call back. I've been to the classes and the only thing you learn is how to walk and how to apply their cheap makeup.

A lady from Barbizon "Lana Cox" Called me on Sunday and told me that my daughter's friend in school recommended her. I did not know what's Barbizon all about. Anyway, We went to the interview, Lana said she will give us a call on Monday. She called on Monday and said my daughter got accepted. My daughter was so happy...Well, Lana went over the paper work with me and ask if I can fax the from with credit card number to her now. I said, I had to do that at work tomorrow morning...She asked What time?

I had a very bad feeling about this. I had my asst. to check on this comapny and all these scan pop out ?
Lana kept calling me all the time days and nights...I know this is not right. I talked to my daughter and she check on out this comapny herself...She told me mom this is a scam...

Lana left me a message said that I broke my daughter's heart for not supporting her blaaaaaa...

I wonder how she can sleep at night for doing all this...

Lana, this is for you..Comes around goes around ...put that in mind you monster :((((((((((

Okay, so you say that the classes are bogus, but has anyone gotten called for a job? How often? THAT'S what I'm looking for, is results. Does it work in terms of getting jobs?

I was almost scammed by Barbizon. Fairfax, VA Fall 2009. Turned out to be almost the biggest mistake I have ever made. 700 girls show up for the interview that was scheduled for my daugheter. The phone call I received at home was even a scam; they said that my daughter's friend at school, Katie, recommended her. A lie. There are a million Katies at the school so my daughter didn't think anything of it; she was just excited (turned out she signed up for info at SCHOOL!; how did they ever get this scam company in the school!). She was accepted at the interview; along with probably everyone else. The rep called us the next evening (said she had hurt herself and was home in Tampa Florida!); pressured us to sign; needed an immediate deposit of 600.00 (any credit card would do to hold her position)...seemed strange when she said we could think about it, but don't wait too long, she would give my daughter's place to someone else!...told her I would contact her the next evening. My husband went on line and found all this info (thanks!) about this scam...thank goodness. The rep called like clockwork the next evening; told her we weren't interested; she was very terse. I phoned the hotel that was hosting their first training session and there were 20 girls signed up! HAHAHHAHAHA. Of the 700 girls that appt (more like 1600 or more for the weekend); only 20 were caught! sorry that even one person paid these people a dime. They fool with a child's emotions and sensitivities. It is crushing to girls when/if they find out it is a scam. All the women who participated now make me nauteous. I cannot believe they sleep at night working in this corrupt business. My daughter is 5'11" tall and gorgeous. She can do better. signed, Happy in Haymarket!

Scam my daughter who is sickly out of time hopes promising money etc is horrible