Elle Model Management - Complaint Letters

To Whom It May Concern:

About a year a half to two years ago, I had a contract with Elle Model Management in Beverly Hills, CA.

I first started at John Robert Powers, but they asked for too much money, so I rejected their offer.

Then I got a call about less than a month later from Elle Models, and they said I was referred to them from John Robert Powers.

When I went into Elle Models' office, everything seemed to be going well.

I signed a six-month contract with them, and took pictures for modeling cards. They asked us to pay about $900 to $1,000 total.

Then in about less than three months we received a call from another agency saying that Elle Models closed down and sold them all their clients' phone numbers.

We didn't get an email, letter, or phone call from Elle Models —they just closed and took our money.

I also had a friend who went through the exact same routine as I did.

After that I didn't sign with anyone else.

At that time I didn't know what to do, and I thought that my chances were over.

Then I came online, and now I find out about your online site, and now I'm asking:

Is there anything that I can do or is it too late?

C.A.

C.,

John Robert Powers selling your name would make sense. If they can't make any money from you, they can make money from selling your name? Was that done without your permission?

Your problems started with John Roberts Powers. If John Robert Powers had not sold your name to Elle Models, you would not have been ripped off by Elle Models. John Robert Powers is partly to blame for your loss of $1,000.

Write to John Robert Powers and ask them to compensate you for the money you lost when they sold your name to a bogus modeling agency.

The BBB record for Elle Model Management includes the name of the principal of the company which ripped off you and your friend and who knows who else.

Call the police and see if they can run his/her name through the computer so you can sue the scam artist in a Small Claims Court.

Unless there is a statute of limitations which has expired. You will have to check with the police or the right people in California to find out all your options.

The BBB in California has a possible contact address, or they should know what you can do or whom to contact to find out for sure.

Business Bureau of the Southland
315 N. La Cadena
Colton, CA, 92324
(909) 825-7280

The BBB record for Elle Model Management:

Mail sent to this company was returned by the post office as "moved; left no forward address," "forward order has expired," or "unable to locate." The Bureau cannot trace addresses of companies or principals.

 

[What about the police?]

 

General information is available upon request which may assist you.

 

[Ask what information they have available.]

 

We rate this company as having an unsatisfactory business performance record based on a pattern of unanswered complaints alleging the company fails to provide promised services, and poor quality photos.

[This sounds typical of a scam modeling agency.]

 

The company has advised the Bureau they require no advance fees for services. However, customers have reported the company does require an advance fee ranging from $500-$750.

 

[Scam artists trying to trick the BBB!? It does happen.]

 

A 15% commission is then deducted from model earnings as payment for services provided.

 

The company responded to one complaint by advising a job had been procured for the client. All other complaints are unanswered.

 

We believe this company acts as an agency and would be required to obtain a talent agency license.

 

According to the Department of Industrial Relations, as of 2/2/2001, this company has not complied with state licensing requirements.

 

[Who is surprised?]

 

For more information, visit their website at www.dir.ca.gov or call (415) 703-4846.

A quick review of your experience and the BBB record makes it look as if Elle Model Management was a typical modeling photography scam. They take your pictures and take your money but they don't make you money.

It is difficult to believe the laws of California would allow an individual to get off the hook simply by shutting down a modeling agency after taking people's money. Find out how the police track down criminals.

To add insult to injury, Elle Model Management sold your name to another agency on the way out!?

To Whom It May Concern:

Could you tell me if you know anything about ELLE Model Management in Miami, Florida?

The director is Karen Blake and the website is www.ellemodels.com. Phone number is 305-534-7110.

Ms. Karen Blake gave my daughter a card in the mall and asked her to call.

When my daughter called, Ms. Blake made arrangements for photos for my daughter for a "discounted rate" (according to Ms. Blake) of $300.

My daughter, Ms. Blake, and her photographer were to meet in a park in Hollywood, Florida, a few days later.

Of course, I insisted my daughter did not go meet strangers in a park even though she is 20 years old and old enough to make her own decisions.

Thankfully, she was willing to cancel this appointment until I find out more about "Elle Model Management."

Please let me know what you know about this company. Is it in any way associated with Elle magazine?

In the meantime I was given another name of a company from a friend of a friend who models.

This second company that seems more legitimate is called Avenue Productions, Inc. (website www.avemodels.com).

Could you also tell me what you know about this company?

Thank you for your time in this matter. I would appreciate any info you can provide.

J.E.

J.,

Most likely Elle Model Management is not related to Elle magazine.

Not familiar with Elle Model Management in FL, only the Elle Model Management in CA. However, the CA BBB says the one there moved... Did they move to FL?

Interestingly, your daughter was quickly propositioned to get photos, and the BBB record for the ELLE Model Management in CA said the problem or issue there was photos.

The ellemodels.com website didn't load when tried, but the domain record for ellemodels.com confirmed the owner. However, it was only registered in 2002.

There was only one Elle Model Management in the national BBB database:

BBB

Elle Model Management

Bureau File Experience

Mail sent to this company was returned by the post office as "moved; left no forward address," "forward order has expired," or "unable to locate." The Bureau cannot trace addresses of companies or principals. General information is available upon request which may assist you.

We rate this company as having an unsatisfactory business performance record based on a pattern of unanswered complaints alleging the company fails to provide promised services, and poor quality photos.

The company has advised the Bureau they require no advance fees for services. However, customers have reported the company does require an advance fee ranging from $500-$750.

A 15% commission is then deducted from model earnings as payment for services provided. The company responded to one complaint by advising a job had been procured for the client. All other complaints are unanswered.

 

We believe this company acts as an agency and would be required to obtain a talent agency license. According to the Department of Industrial Relations, as of 2/2/2001, this company has not complied with state licensing requirements.

 

For more information, visit their website at www.dir.ca.gov or call (415) 703-4846.

The BBB in CA said: "We believe this company acts as an agency and would be required to obtain a talent agency license."

In FL there are similar talent agency license requirements. An online search for Elle Model Management in the online FL agency license database offered no results.

Avenue Productions, Inc., on the other hand, had an accessible website, and its claims of being in business since 1991 and having a talent agency license checked out at the FL state license database. (Licensure Date: 08/16/1991; Expires: 05/31/2004).