Face National Models and Talent

To Whom It May Concern:

We are the latest victims of Face National Models and Talent.

The scam that they are running is a photography scam. They do claim to be a "modeling agency," but they are out for photo money.

Go to www.bbbsouthland.org/topic116.html for information about how the scam works, how to spot a scam, how to protect yourself, and where to go for help.

It's too bad that I didn't find it until after we signed our contract with Face National Models and Talent.

Good luck trying to contact anyone. We have been to their website, sent them an email, tried to send them a fax, left several phone messages (several days in a row) during all of their business hours, and at last sent a letter to them in the mail.

No one has contacted us.

The BBB says that you have 10 days by law to cancel the contract. Beware of Face National Models and Talent!

The form that you sign for their photographer states that you can only cancel your transaction no later than midnight of the third date of the signing.

I haven't been able to contact them so how can I cancel anything?!

Send a certified letter to the company address or use a courier service such as World Courier, Inc., to notify them of your intentions.

A courier service of this sort will cost you quite a bit more than the postal service, but it may have more success delivering.

Either service needs to have a signature required when delivered; also try to request signature by Jennifer Gill, the owner.

This way, once signed for, the company can't say they received no notification, plus you will have proof either way that you've made an attempt.

I would also notify the nearest local news station. Here in Houston, we have special persons on the news teams who handle scams such as this on the open air waves.

I intend to call our Channel 2 News of this scam, hoping parents see the news before August 1, when they come back to have everyone sign contracts.

To Whom It May Concern:

Face National Models and Talent had an open call at the Sheraton Premiere in Leesburg Pike, Virginia, over the weekend (July 27-28, 2002).

For those who signed the photography contract and want to cancel, the contract states that you have the right to cancel within three business days after signing the contract.

Perhaps you can email your notification addressed to the owner, Jennifer Gill at info@facemodels.com, fax it to 704-333-3964, and send by courier service, with a request for an acknowedgement of receipt of your notification.

The workshop will be held on August 11 at Marriott Crystal City where the next installment of $213 for the photoshoot will be collected.

The photoshoot has been scheduled per contract from Aug. 29-Sept. 1 at the Sheraton in Virginia (these dates have not been booked at the hotel as of today).

In some states there is a three-day cooling-off period.

In others, such as California, apparently there is a 10-day cooling-off period. If this is true, the three-day contract deadline set by Face National Models and Talent probably does not apply, because Face is not above the law.

Make sure the date on the document signed with the courier service or whatever you use proves you initiated cancellation within the three-day or 10-day grace period allowed by your state.

If you are not sure of the grace period (three days or 10 days), phone the Office of the Attorney General in your state. Each state has a website with contact info, so you can find the number online and then make the call.

If Face National Models and Talent does not have permanent offices outside the state where the company is based, North Carolina, they might be disqualified from a three-day deadline, if a federal standard set by the Federal Trade Commission applies. Phone the FTC to check. Their tel. no is on their website, too.

To Whom It May Concern:

I guess that old saying "once bitten, twice shy" should be the way people respond to things like this, but dumb me...

I believe I got scammed two times by two different agencies!

Well, actually, one was a model search. Manhattan Model Search.

I actually spent $300 to go to one of those in Atlanta. What a scam! There was no need to charge the 2,000 or 3,000 people that showed up for that convention $300 each!

And they do these things all over the country! Can you imagine the money they are making off these things?! I don't even want to think about it. I feel so stupid for that one.

The second time I visited an open modeling call in Chattanooga, TN.

They advertised in the paper and I went, but very cautious this time not to get pulled in by a scam.

This was an agency and I didn't see how I could lose. They had already picked me to represent their agency, so how could I lose?

Face National Models and Talent is the name of this one. www.FACEmodels.com.

I ended up spending close to $1,000 on composite cards, and didn't even realize till afterward what a dummy I was.

I talked to some other photographers that said $1,000 was way overpriced, and the comp cards and pictures were not the quality they should be for that kind of price.

I don't know if the actual agency really does get models work. They really may, but I am yet to get any jobs.

In any case, I do believe they at least have a photography scam going on. They are overpricing the cost of their photography and comp cards by three and four times what it should be.

Also, from what people have told me, a real agency should not make you pay for your own comp cards. That is something the agency is supposed to do.

I didn't know that until after I paid and after I talked to other agencies who told me they believed Face National Models and Talent is a scam.

I hope it's not, but I guess we'll see in a few more weeks when my comp cards go out to clients if they really do send them out like they say they do.

I do have a question, though, about an agency that just contacted me and said they would like to work with me.

It's something I found on the internet.

I am not about to be scammed three times, though!

This one is Quickbook Worldwide. Has anyone heard anything good or bad about them or had any kind of experience with them?

If so, it would be a big help if you could let me know as I don't want to make the wrong decision.

They want $198 to get you started, but that is supposedly just to make sure you are serious about it, and will show up for your jobs.

They make zed cards for you and claimed they put $1,000 into advertising and working with you in the course of a year.

Is the money thing too suspicious or not?

Please let me know what you think.

Sincerely,

Ask the QuickBook how many modeling jobs they got people where you live in the last year.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid agencies, etc., whose doors you cannot smash down if they scam you.

Where do they work? Where do you live?

To Whom It May Concern:

I was very excited to find your website. However, so disappointed that people are being "taken" by modeling agencies.

I question how people can live with themselves.

I am someone who was "chosen" by FACE Models. Kerry Killowitz and his wife, Lori, "chose" me.

I, of course, was told I needed composites, but another "chosen" model and myself had thought Kerry said we would receive this money back with the money we make; not the case.

I have emailed the company, called them for jobs, and keep being told to "wait."

I was signed 10/04/01 in Chicago, Illinois.

The photo shoot was in 12/01, and at that time I was told to wait until 2/02 or 3/02, as this is when catalog/print work would begin.

It is now 8/02, and I have received only one phone call from Crystal (back in 2/02) for a hair show.

No offense, but anyone can perform a hair show.

Also, I emailed Gini and Jennifer to ask them specific questions about how many models get jobs, but I have not heard a response.

Without being negative, Kerry stated to all of the "potentials" in the crowd that he, his wife, and two twin sons have been modeling.

Gee, how convenient.

I will continue to read other letters from other people in my situation.

Thank you for being supportive.

Currently, is a lawsuit filed with the agency? Is there a way to receive money back from the agency?

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

See the new section (Classified Ads) if you are interested in filing a lawsuit, or if you want to find out if anyone else wants to file a lawsuit.

If you don't want to file a lawsuit, you can ask the Attorney General. See the old section (Victims) for more details and options.

To Whom It May Concern:

I have spent the last 8 months following your site and the letters which are posted regarding many of this industry's agencies. One point that has remained apparent is that you, the editor, encourage agencies to be upfront and honest. Up front about their managing members and employees! Which reminds me . . . who are you again? How long have you been involved in this business and what type of training have you had to make your opinion valuable to this consumer. My name is Jennifer Malcom and I have a Bachelors degree in Broadcast Communications. Before beginning my career here at Face Models, I was an intern in the newsroom at a CBS affiliate and I also worked in the Talent Management Department at MTV Networks in New York.

Face models is located at 1230 W. Morehead. Ste. #110 Charlotte, NC 28203 . . . Oh yeah, by the way, we rent our office space! I know that this caused a lot of confusion amongst some of our models, but being the professional, experienced business person that you are, I'm sure that you do not feel it is appropriate for American business owners to rent! Where is your office located?

Our phone number is 704.333.3137. What is your phone number? I as a reader do not feel satisfied with the information available on your site and it has led me to become a bit confused. Can I call your office and speak with an employee who can help clarify this for me?

Face Models has a business license in the State of North Carolina. What state are you licensed in? What is your business license number? Are you registered with the BBB, Chamber of Commerce, Consumer Protection?

Face Models has over a dozen in house employees. How many people does your organization employ?

I contacted Libby Stone of the NC Guild of Professional Models. You so cleverly pasted her name and quote on an article about Face Models. How odd though, because Libby Stone has never even heard of this website. As a matter of fact, she doesn't even own a computer. After a lengthy discussion with Ms. Stone she explained that this guild is in no way affiliated with the National Guild in NY and that she basically created this organization herself and she is its sole member.

Customer Service is such a huge part of the business world today and is something you enjoy scrutinizing my agency about! Let's see how good your customer service is! I will be awaiting your response?

Sincerely,

Jennifer Malcom
Face National Models & Talent National Booking Agent
p. 704-333-3137
f. 704-333-3964

Ms. Malcolm,

Why do you talk about customer service? How can you have customer service if there are no customers? You are not a customer. Nobody else is a customer. Nothing has been sold —no service and no products.

There is no consulting fee. There are no books for sale. There is nothing for sale on this website. There isn't even any advertising. As it was already stated, on another part of this website, Modeling Scams is 100% non-profit.

It is clear you are upset, but since when do you need to be a business to have an opinion? Do you have a problem with every website which voices an opinion and ask for their business licence number?

You don't need a business licence to put your opinion on a website. I don't need to ask for readers' business licences to put their opinions on this website.

One of the reasons for posting messages on the website to and from readers is to allow corrections to be made.

In the last seven months modeling agencies which have read the contents have not been able to successfully refute or disprove my main points. Few have even tried.

What usually happens is they end up failing to answer the questions. I don't remember you answering the questions I asked!

Much of what I have said has been supported by, in the case of Face National, for example, the Better Business report, a NY state warning, and published news reports.

In fact, what has been said has been substantiated. A modeling agency president who wrote and said modeling schools are a complete scam. Many times I have quoted other people.

So once again I will quote someone else to answer your question, even though it was already posted on another web page:

Privacy protection for both this non-profit website and those whose messages are posted on the site follows the principles expressed by the position of Rep. Howard L. Berman of the House Judiciary Committee:

While the whois database is a crucial and necessary tool used by law enforcement, by owners of intellectual property, and by consumers themselves, this tool can be misused by those who wish to send batches of unsolicited commercial e-mails or commit crimes such as stalking.

Where to draw the line between what is necessary for a Whois directory and what is an invasion of privacy is a difficult question in many cases. On either end of the spectrum, I believe that this line-drawing is easy.

For web sites conducting e-commerce, why should they have a privacy right to keep their place of business and controlling owner a secret?

A brick and mortar business must get a permit —a permit that is public information —to do business in a city. A business applying for a bulk mailing permit from the U.S. Postal Service must likewise disclose who they are and where they can be found —again, public information under the Freedom of Information Act.

It seems eminently clear to me that websites conducting e-commerce have little "right to privacy."

At the other end of the spectrum, however, a person who has a website for purely personal reasons, pictures of his cat, perhaps, or political complaints against a Member of Congress —shouldn't that person be able to do his personal business without everyone knowing who he is and how he can be found?

And isn't political speech worth protecting by redacting the personally identifiable contact information for the website owner?

Rep. Howard L. Berman
House Judiciary Committee
Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property
Hearing on "The Whois Database: Privacy and Intellectual Property Issues"

If you have a problem with public opinion, contact Rep. Howard L. Berman.

Do you realize how much you proved Berman's point and sounded like a stalker, desperately trying to get personal information? It also looked like a pathetic attempt to change the subject right after one of your customers asked if there was a LAWSUIT against FACE!

This website is not about me. It is about companies like yours which people believe are scams. Only one company has received more complaints than Face. And it's not just your customers who think you are running a photography scam; it is other industry professionals like modeling agencies and modeling photographers!

I talked to other agencies who told me they believed Face National Models and Talent is a scam.

Who the hell do you think you are? Charging people $1,000 for comp cards?

NBC News 6 in your city, Charlotte, NC, reported your agency told one potential client most of your bookings are promotional work, the lowest level "modeling." We are not talking about high fashion, editorial, or commercial, but trade shows?

Your agency president Jennifer Gill even said good looks are not crucial in promotional modeling. Ah, no kidding. You don't have to be photographed? If you cannot get your models anything better than the lowest level work, and good looks are not crucial, why the hell are you charging your models $1,000 for photos!?

The modeling and talent agency president who wrote this website said he was pissed off at your company.

No entry-level model SHOULD EVER pay more than $800 for a comp card. What pisses me off about FACE, for example, is that the $600 price looks like a $200 card, and that's not fair. A $600 card should look great.

Photographers said the same thing:

I talked to some other photographers that said $1,000 was way overpriced, and the comp cards and pictures were not the quality they should be for that kind of price.

WHY ARE YOU CHARGING $1,000 FOR COMP CARDS WHICH ARE NOT WORTH NEARLY $1,000, AND WHY ARE YOU GETTING MODELS TO BUY COMP CARDS IF YOU CANNOT GET THEM AT LEAST $1,000 IN WORK?

You can dismiss the BBB complaints at your own risk. The BBB files are networked with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC can and does pull up the BBB records. This is how they brought down another multi-million-dollar company which was running a scam in 1999.

Face National Models and Talent Letters Index