emodel.com, Options Talent Group

Dear Modeling Scams,

A notice to aspiring models and scouts:

If you hear the words emodel or now Options Talent, run, run as fast as you can!

I would not recommend this company to ANYONE.

My daughter was scouted at a store, and we were sent to an open call just a few days later.

My daughter is tall and thin and we were so excited. It was a weekend, and we were not able to contact the BBB to see if they had any complaints, but they assured us they didn't. (And they actually didn't in our city, because they were so new.)

They told us we were fortunate to have been chosen, and they talked back and forth amongst themselves while we waited on hold.

They then wanted to transfer us to the financing dept., to discuss the fee we would be charged for processing our daughter's file.

We were told that this was to get her picture up and online. We were later told there was also an additional $20.00 a month fee to keep her picture updated and online.

The sales pitch was great. How she would be exposed to so many modeling agencies, etc., and how this would pay for itself when she got jobs.

They quoted percentages of success and how quickly that would usually happen. They quoted an 86% success rate in the first 90 days.

We had to sign up that day for it to be effective or she would have to wait another year.

We brought in pictures of my daughter, but instead they used a fuzzy Polaroid they took at the office, and put it online. It was horrible.

Trying to get new pictures put online was a nightmare in itself. They told us at the interview how easy it would be. (What a joke!)

All we would have to do was call model services, and we would get assistance with any problems we might have. To even get through to model services took an extremely long time (answering machines, voice mail, no call backs, etc.).

Days later when I had called them several times to get this straightened out, the person I originally talked with was no longer there. This happened several times. It was a nightmare...

We are still not satisfied and are currently in the process of trying to get a refund. If we are not able to get a full refund, my husband and I are going to the local office here and standing outside with signs discouraging everyone from doing business with them.

We are also filing reports with the Better Business Bureau and newspaper.

This is a ripoff. We have lost money and countless hours and weeks trying to get out. Don't waste your time or money.

L.R.