Complain about a product or service

bodybody.com, Marc Verlaine Studios

Chicago

"Jane" of Chicago writes:
I responded to an ad in a job finder in July 2000 which said it was looking for models of all shapes and sizes, no experience necessary. I went in for an audition and I was chosen. Another appointment was scheduled where I had to pay a deposit of $190 and then another $200 for training (which consisted of an hour of practicing how to walk and put on makeup as well as taking a few pictures).

Willus, the man that put all of this together, promised me I would make the money back within the month. I was nervous of the amount and told him I had to buy books for school in a month and needed it back by then. He promised again and told me I would be very successful. Also, immediatly after the initial deposit I had a very bad feeling about the whole idea and tried to get it back he told me it was non-refundable and if I tried to dispute the matter with the credit card company I would fail. I was going to just let him keep the $190 but was scared he would somehow manage to go after the other $200 so I decided to give it a try and hope for the best.

The contract says I will have at least one shoot per month and would be posted on their website, bodybody.com, and I would make 10 percent of all sales. So far I have been to 6 shoots and only 2 out of those 6 have made it on the web and have since been taken down. I have not received any payment for the 2 pictures that have made it either. Not only that, but Willus has told me that if I want to make money I need to participate in "Supermodels," which is an adult Web site. When I first started I specifically told him that I would not be a part of anything that would require me being naked. If I want to make my money back it looks like my only option and I still do not trust that I will be paid.

I spoke with several of the other models concerning this matter, none of which have been paid either. Most haven't even seen their picture on the Web.

This rather odd Web site is apparently operated by Marc Verlaine Studio, Inc., 2045 West Grand Avenue, Chicago. The site claims to be in the business of selling itsy-bitsy bikinis and whatnot but from "Jane's" description and the site's drab appearance, we suspect most of the money is coming from the models rather than online purchasers.

Kristy of Rolling Meadows, IL, writes:
You already have a complaint on your site about this company. "Jane" from Chicago's account is pretty much what I experienced. From what I can tell, this bogus modeling company is making its money off its models, and not their Internet catalog. I answered an ad, went through some so-called training sessions and was told the typical model averaged $300-500/ assignment. I've not been paid, as well as every other girl I've talked to there.

The legalese document I signed pretty much guarantees I won't get my money back, but I want to try to warn other girls. I checked with the BBB and there were no complaints. When I called them to complain, they said since I was officially an "employee" with Marc Verlaine, that they weren't the right place to talk to. I saw the complaint about them on this site, but it was too late. I lost $480 and lots of time and gas and toll money, etc.

Charisse of Aurora IL (9/10/01):
I answered an ad in an employment newspaper for a catalog modeling service. I went to an interview and was called back for a second. Before I went home after the second interview I was told that I was hired and would make as much as $500 a day modeling for the company. I knew "as much as" and "up to" were said to entice me, but I figured that I would still make some decent cash, even if it were $100 a day.

My mom advised me to do research on the company since she'd never heard of them, and to talk to a few of their models. So, before the second interview I asked one of the secretary girls, who also claimed to be a model in their catalogs, if they were associated with porn. The girl told me that her mother would never have given her the money for her portfolio costs if the company dealt with porn. We laughed and I became reassured and excited.

I was told that since I didn't have a portfolio I would need to pay $560 to have them put one together for me. I paid a down-payment and a first subsequent payment totaling $360. After my first "session" consisting of some runway walk training, makeup application instruction, and a few pictures taken on a digital camera, I realized it definitely wasn't an upscale job. The girls training the 50 or so new recruits couldn't have been more than 25 years old, and often didn't have a clue what they were doing.

Arlena of Chicago writes (11/25/01):
I answered an ad in the newspaper which stated I would make between $200 and $500 a day. I called the number, went in for the audition, got the job, and went through some sort of training process. There was a fee of $560 which they said was non-refundable but I would make that money back within two sessions.

I took my first set of pictures on the second monday of November. November is almost over and my picture has not been posted on the web site. The result, I will not make money off of commission. Then I ran into this web site and there was a girl that had the same problem I did. But, when she asked the manager how can she make the amount of money posted in the ads, he told her she would have to do pornography.

I am very upset. My mother paid the $560 because she thought it was the real deal. From my understanding, the only reason that he is making money is because he takes so much from the applicants ($560 fee) and they can't get their money back. I wanted to do this so I could save money for college, now it doesn't look like that's going to happen. I refuse to disgrace myself by doing porn just to make $500.

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