Barbizon Modeling / Barbizon International
reviews and complaints

Barbizon acts as a casting agency making believe kids and their parents that they are being selected from a large group as talents for Disney and other companies. They claim that Elizabeth Garner and other celebrities' success comes from Barbizon involvement; which has been repetedly denied. They say the kids only need a few classes to be ready for scouts to recruit them and that those classes are in small groups taught by professionals. The reality is that they enroll anyone that is willing to pay their fees. As a result hundreds of kids attend to their lessons, which are taught by clueless young adults. In most cases, there is not even enough room for the kids to register for the session. So they charge in advance for something they can't provide.

Getting calls to my fiance phone asking if his ex is here (the mother of their child). It's not polite asking this as this is not her household. The proper way to ask is to ask for the father by the name and then address what they need to. No need to call like she lives here. I even said why you calling. Lady goes well that's the father. Ok then address him by his name not go hi is so and so (his ex)there. That's very disrespectful and not how you call someone. If they have his number I'm sure they got his name. Also they are calling to get money. So call the parent that signed up not the other parent.

Ms Joy interviewed my daughter and when she was picked to continue and pay we advised her my daughter had a cognitive disorder and was only 5’1” She assured her disability and height would not matter so we proceeded and paid the fees. There were several times we never got a zoom link for the class and was advised she hadn’t paid when she had. There were several text and emails to the teacher with questions regarding the assignment with no response. We would always contact me joy for an answer now she states after several years she has decided to leave the company. There were several weeks with no class no zoom link nothing only to find out the teacher and ms joy would no longer help us they are switching to be In class with NY Barbizon. Aside from all the confusion and missed classes with no explanation as to why now my daughter is in a class that is focusing on runway modeling and she is 5’1” I feel like she was misled to pay and everything they are focusing on are the types of modeling she cannot do. The other class did not do that. The dynamics of this class the days and times have all changed it’s not what we signed or agreed to

I have attached several text messages below to substantiate what has transpired

Before the fee was paid I advised the director of my disability and my height she responded to let me know it was ok. Classes started and after the first week I was unable to login and was told I owed a balance when my mom paid in full. After several weeks of sometimes getting the link before class after class and during class. (ALOT OF CONFUSION) not well put together. I started to think this was a scam. Eventually we were unable to have class no links no emails to say what was going on someone finally sent an email saying we were having class with the New York instructor and give. New schedule this instructor talked about height requirements to succeed and make money. Well Joy told me my height would not stop me from either of these. I’m very uncomfortable with all the changes and the Sacramento office phone number is disconnected and when I text Joy the director she only responded that she no longer works with the company. I would like my refund and have no longer attended the classes

My daughter was chosen for Barbizon’s Passport to discovery. The day I received the call she was chosen 11/4/2021 they said I had to pay $795 to hold her spot (They rush you to put the money down). More details in a zoom would follow. I did have the basics which was this was suppose to be a great modeling opportunity. On 11/20/2021 I did 6am zoom orientation it was very lengthy. I took as many notes and logged out due to me wanting to decline after hearing full details. Sharing room with stranger all the extra fees for her to participate in certain categories and other small things made me say no to this. Not much came with this expensive package! I called her ambassador 11/20/21 no response this was on a weekend left a message. I emailed on 11/22-23/2021 explaining that we were not interested after receiving full details. I was told by email that my ambassador was out of office send a certified letter of cancellation in order to receive refund. After that no response so I disputed the charge on my account after several times of not getting a response from Barbizon. I gave details to my bank then they respond stating I have a sign contract which I never signed. They copied my e signature I assume when my daughter went to the modeling classes in Las Vegas which I paid $2200 for with no problem! The modeling classes I agreed to back in April of 2021 was the only thing I agreed too. This place scammed me I believe and I’m disturbed and mortified that they would create some contract I never signed or agreed to. I was at work the day the call me for this deposit and was so I rushed like pay the deposit now and we can go over everything later. I dealt with them before so I didn’t think this would be an issue. They took $795 form me and the director of this competition was rude and on defense as if I was a criminal for disputing my own money. No services were received and they mentioned a credit but, I would never want to allow my daughter to be a part of this program after this encounter. I would pay for anything I believe is a good fit for my daughter as I have in the past but this wasn’t a good thing for her in my opinion. For them to be in business for years and decline a refund and lose my business amongst others that I referred is sad!

My daughter and I were going to Florida for a modeling / acting auditions cruise With Barbizon Modeling Agency. After over $1500 in I (mom) could not find someone to watch my other children while I went with my oldest child. (My husband works weird hours). I called Mr Dale to cancel my trip with no problem but I would not get any money back. Numerous times thereafter, I tried to cancel my daughters trip and I was told not unless you put it writing. She was just starting college and was stressing that to leave for a week near midterms would be disastrous. I put it in writing several times but they said they never received it. So every month they kept taking money out of my account. Now over $3000 later and over $500 in bounced check fees they finally cancelled her trip because they got the certified letter from me.

Broslavsky & Weinman, LLP is a law firm that represents consumers in class action. We are investigating whether the marketing and referral practices and fee structure of International Performing Arts Academy,
International Performing Arts Showcase, and/or the Barbizon School of San Francisco, Inc. violate California law. If you have paid money to become a client of either International Performing Arts Showcase or the Barbizon School of San Francisco, please contact us using the contact information below. You
may be entitled to recover money damages.

Broslavsky & Weinman, LLP
11755 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1250
Los Angeles, California 90025
[protected]
[protected]@bwcounsel.com

To ensure compliance with applicable rules of professional conduct, please note
that this post might be construed as attorney advertising.

I am writing this letter regarding my daughter and Barbizon Modeling and Acting. I enrolled her in this program to take the Life course, Acting, Modeling, and Singing courses, as well. I paid $9, 900 for 52 week coverage on all four courses. Finally only 24 weeks of 52 were completed.

-SCAM ALERT-

My daughter and I just got back from a BARBIZON MODELING casting call at the Star Center in Farmers Branch in Dallas on Saturday April 04, 2012, to be placed as a model.
My wife spoke to a person named Jenny who assured her after she asked a few times whether they were trying to sell us anything. Jenny assured my wife that placement was free and that we did not have to part with any money.
On arriving there, they went through almost and hour and a half of 'massaging' us for the sale that was about to take place.
To cut a long story short, the casting call was merely a ploy to get us to come to the Star Center to sell some modeling classes.

Although I am not against any school teaching modeling, I am against the deceptive practice and methods they use to get you there on the pretenses that you have been selected to work as a model, they then spring it on you that they can't send you out without you having first done classes.

If they are selling classes they should simply say so and not sell the poor girls and their parents a story that their daughter could be the next big thing but only if they first attend classes.

Jenny was excited to see my daughter and told us that she would definatley be accepted, until I told her that we did not want to shell out $2395 for modling classes. Her whole demeaner then changed and she could'nt get us out there fast enough.

If you are being contacted by BARBIZN MODELING and asked to come to a casting call because you have been selected as a model - don't go, it a SCAM.
Only go if you are specifically looking for modeling classes.

SCAMED.

When my mom called the lady, Miss Deborah, she was so enthusiastic that we called, so she "squeezed" me in on the nearest Saturday. It was in this little ghetto strip of buildings. Whenwe got there, we heard the loud voice of a women, Miss Deborah. We waited atleast an hour before Miss Deborah acknowledged we were there. Once we were allowed into the "interviewing room"[a little dark room with two chairs and a desk], Miss Deborah immediately got into the things she wanted to change about me. She told me i wore way to much make up, that i'd have to cut my hair because it was too long, and i'd have to dye my hair from bleach blonde to it's natural color because "model scouts don't like unnatural hair". I was kind of unsure how to reply to her, so I just kept looking at my mom and shaking my head yes. This lady was a complete whack job who looks like a chubby white version of Snooki from Jersey Shore. So after this lady was done babbling on, she asked us to sign a contract and give her a check for 200 dollars. We did. Luckily, my boyfriend and I did some research, because a lot of people were saying it's a scam. I was scared to, but I told my mom that I was no longer interested. She and my father were both happy because they'd thought it was a scam too. A day or two after my mom called Miss Deborah to tell her I no longer wanted to participate, she called us back and got really mean with my mom. She was questioning my mom as if she committed a murder. Then she told my mom she would have to pay 300 dollars for the make up kit. In a more worded way, my mother said "NO WAY!" to Miss Deborah, and we never heard from her again. :).

Im a barbizon graduate of a few monthss now.

at first they promised the sky for me but i didn't by all into it.

long story short barbizon never came through with ANYTHING that they promised i spent money on total BS!

they don't get you jobs or casting calls unless your willing to shell out 2, 000 more dollars.

BARBIZON IS A RIPOFF!

they barely teach you how to model you shell out alot of money on clothes and make up.

the instructors are crap they barley know anything about modeling them selves. and i lost so many weekends doing this

Don't ge sucked into there scam.

Barbizon Modeling of Charlotte NC is NOT with the NC Board of Education. My daughter filled out a form at school and we attended one of these interviews. After careful research, I'm here to make parents aware of these SALES tactics. In fact Barbizon Modeling of Charlotte, NC is not with the BBB, they were revoked for their accredidation. Parents join me in the fight to stop these people from preying on our children. Call your local school administator if this happend to you. Call your local news station and if we join together we can stop them from using our children as PROFIT !

My daughter was contacted by Tiffany. She wanted us to come in to do an interview on 11/14 to do a "little" Holiday modeling on the weekends. I asked her what fees would be involved and she said none. It was cheaper for them to hire local girls to do the work then to bring girls in from other cities. So we go for our 4:15 appt only to find out we will be there over 3 hours for some sales pitch and that 6 months of training will be needed first at a cost of $2200.00. The interview itself took less then 10 minutes. They said out of 400 girls only 80 would be selected but I will bet 400 girls got the same phone call we did that next night. After telling Tiffany that we had decided not to do it, that it was not what I was told on the phone, Tiffany got pushy. Once she figured out that I was not going to budge she disconnected the call. No good bye, see you later, nothing. She just hung up. Not very professional and right then I knew I had made the right choice.

I had went to their school in Red Bank. I went two classes out
of seven because my car broke down. When I was able to go back
I tried to call them back email them. They never responded back
to me. Once I got a hold of them well your classes are trickulating.
and were getting busy .So now what happen to the rest of my classes
and was I scammed. I paid over seven hudred dollars for those classes.
I'm a widow on SSI. I feel been holksed and taked advantage of. Now
what happens to the money and the classes. Is everything lost.
This is Fraud.

This "school" is a complete and total joke.They make the kids believe that its some ultra-exclusive honor to be "allowed" to go here.well news flash THEY WILL TAKE ANYONE WHO IS WILLING TO PAY THEM OVER $2000.My friend went to the six month course (2 classes per month) and im really confused as to what exactly her "tuition" was going towards.The only thing that costs Barbizon anything was the price to rent out a couple rooms at a hotel two times a month.At the "graduation" ceremony, which is a "fashion show", they dont do anyones make-up, hair, and they all wear their own outfits.I'm pretty sure they dont give out fashion tips either because some of the girls just looked like a hot mess. You dont have to look like a model or have any talent to go here.I actually feel bad for my friend because she actually has potential (shes skinny, pretty and tall) and here she is in this class with a bunch of random girls that couldve been picked up from off the street for all we know. The "ceremony" was very pathetic, the "instructor" was very uncoordinated and didnt know anyones name.(I wonder if she even has any kind of experience in the industry).BOTTOM LINE, if you are serious about wanting a career in acting or modeling DO NOT GO TO THIS SCHOOL.It is a complete and total waste of money and I dont even know how these people sleep at night.

Please look up all the new laws that are in affect as of 2010 for modeling schools... Barbizon is not following the law or beleive they need too. Most of these new laws were put into place because of Barbizon San Francisco.. and John Robert Powers (JRP) Look up the Labor Commision in San Francisco and the new laws y0u'll find Barbizon S.F. has choosen to not follow the law and is very dishonest and very misleading.. I highly suggest that you think twice before going to Barbizon, or J.R.P. modeling schools.. There are many other great modeling and acting studios in the area, consider those before Barbizon.. You'll be glad you did..

Parent that did thier research..

All I am thinking is, when will someone put an end to barbizon and their scam? does anybody ever get their money back and who do you call when one become a victim by barbizon? Are they untouchable? are they bigger than the law? People like us need to know where to go for help. Consumers are always being ripped off and there seem to be no place to turn for help after the fact. I would like to know how to get my money back. I have visa receipt and rest paid in cash. I have the barbizons receipts.