New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs has taken legal action against three local modeling agencies, charging them with scamming hopeful models by making promises the firms knew they couldn't deliver.
Yes Models and Plus Models, both based in Manhattan; and Next Stop Ideals, of Queens, have been charged with: making false promises about potential modeling jobs; demanding that prospective "models" purchase expensive portfolio materials costing hundreds of dollars; and charging excessive fees to models for whom these agencies did actually book jobs.
Yes Models faces potential fines of more than $50,000, and could lose its city license.
Plus Models and Next Stop Ideals have been charged with operating without a license. Each firm faces maximum fines of $100 for each day of unlicensed activity.
After receiving 14 complaints from victims of Yes Models, Consumer Affairs launched an undercover investigation. The company's newspaper advertisement claimed models could "earn $1,500 a day" with "no experience." The undercover investigator who responded to the ad was told she could make $200 a day modeling, and was then directed to the agency's company photographer who charged her $490 for photos and composite sheets.
Actual clients had similar experiences with Yes Models which, after banking its targets' investments, subsequently refused to accept their phone calls.
Plus Models, which also does business as Swift Kids, not only was charged with operating without a license; but its owner, Pat Swift, allegedly withheld models' payments for jobs and took 20% in placement fees-double the legal commission.
At Next Stop Ideals, would-be models were charged up front for photographs and makeup services. The agency offered consumers neither jobs nor refunds.
By New York State law, modeling agencies, which can only solicit work for clients, must obtain an employment agency license from Consumer Affairs, and can charge fees totaling no more than 10% of what the client makes from the jobs the agencies secure. Such agencies must also post a $10,000 bond.
The city agency and Jack Maiden, COO of Ford Models, Inc., have teamed up on a brochure, "Fashionable Aware: The Consumer Guide to Modeling and Talent Agencies." It offers tips to help aspiring models protect themselves from "glam scams." The tips include: Get everything in writing; Don't pay fees up-front; Beware of agencies that direct you to one specific photographer; Don't believe promises that an agency will "guarantee" work; Watch out for agents who may approach you in the street; And finally, if something smells rotten, it probably is. Call the Department of Consumer Affairs at (212) 487-4444 to verify that the modeling agency has a valid license and a clean record.
Prospective models can obtain a copy of the agency's brochure by sending an SASE to Consumer Affairs, Attn: Modeling Guide, 42 Broadway, 8th fl., NYC 10004 .