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Academy of Cinema & Television

Phoenix





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More about Modeling & Talent Agencies

marlyn of Nutley, NJ February 3, 2010

I signed up my daughter w/ the ACT in Secaucus,NJ and signed an Agreement on 1/31/2010 between 6:30 p.m to 7p.m(Sunday). Signed up for Level 3(6 lessons) which costs 4,900.00. The following day 2/1/2010(Monday),I decided to cancel the program due to the conflict with my daughter extra curricular school activities. I called ACT's phone no. listed on the contract and left messages regarding the cancellation. Made several phone calls and with no success to speak to a live person but with the answering machine. Email was sent also on 2/1/10 about the cancellation.

Called AMEX on 2/1/2010 about the dispute charge to my account.As per answering service,no charge has been noted yet at that time. On 2/2/10 a.m, a certified cancellation letter was sent. Follow up emails were sent also regarding the cancellation. Called AMEX and reported a dispute charge to my account. A copy of the certified letter that was sent to ACT was faxed to AMEX as per AMEX request.

On 2/2/10 @3p.m spoke with Kara about the cancellation and she directed me to Elizabeth whose assigned in accounting. 2/2/2010 @ 3:10 p.m Spoke with Heather and message left for Elizabeth 2/2/2010 around 4-430 pm,spoke w/ Elizabeth. She stated that there will be no refund since per agreement the customer has only 24 hours to post a certified mail after the agreement was signed. Going ahead to file a complaint with the BBB regarding this matter. The contract was misleading and not supportive of customer rights.

Anthony of Scarsdale, NY November 30, 2009

My son heard the ad on Z100. We went to see what it was all about. It seemed to good to be true. They put you though a small screeen test and interview you. They give you a story that you must commit asap. We complied figuring we can always get a refund since the class has not started yet and the contract say you have the right to cancel. After retruning home and researchiong the company we have found that the classes are fraudulent and a scam. We have called several times but the compnay has not return our call.

limoneta of glendale, NY September 24, 2009

On July 13, of 2009! I have made a payment of 2,150 to ACT with my credit card. On July 18, I sent a letter to them, to inform them that I would like to make a cancellation.. I tried to call them and every time I called the line were busy.I also tried to call Kari K, left plenty of messages and I waited for them to call me back, or to respond to the letter I had sent to them. Since I didn’t receive a response from them, I called the credit card company on August 3rd, and I explained to them the situation. They told me not to worry all I had to do was fill out a paper send it back signed with proof and I would get my money back.

I did the following thinking that I would have the chance to get the money back. Then I am notified that I will not be able to receive that money back do to the fact that I had signed a contract with them. I even calling other numbers I found, and left them messages, but even after this I never received anything ba ck. I recently sent them another letter with the guaranty that they will receive it. While I was tracking down the shipment it said that there was no one there to pick up the paper, so the paper is now in the post office.

And the person named Lindy, which took care of the paper work, gave me her # I have called this number multiple times but no one answers, and I left her plenty of messages stating my cell phone number as well. On Monday September 14, 2009 I went there my self and at the front desk there were a guy and two ladies. He said to me “is their anything I could do for you”. And I told him I either wanted to talk with Lindy or Kerry. HE told me that they are gone for the day, mean while Lindy was in her own office because I saw her with my own eyes. I notified the guy that I have all ready seen her. He t old me to wait.

After a few minutes she came out. She apologized to me that she was flying and couldn’t answer my phone calls. Mean while when I got there she was in her office and didn’t even bother to call me back. After the conversation we had, she notified me not to worry, she was going to give me an email so that I can send a letter to an accounting person which name was Elizabeth S. And the email she gave me was a fake one and the email didn’t go thru.

After Kari called me and told me that she never received any messages or phone calls from me. And I told her that I have left you plenty of messages with the following number, and she told me this number has been disconnected since a month ago. When I let her know the conversation with Lindy, she told me she didn’t know who Lindy even was. Than I asked her, if you don’t know Lindy and didn’t get my messages, then how do you know about me? Than she set that I wasn’t getting my money back and hung up the phone. If you would like to try the following # for proof that it still is connected you may, I also have proof that it is her number on the paper.

Svetlana of Brooklyn, NY June 4, 2009

ACT advertised on Nick cable channel that they were doing a talent search for local kids to appear on Kisney and other kids channels. I se up an appt. and went to there office in Secaucus, NJ, that they rented from La Quinta hotels on 5/31/09, we met with Lindy Kwock. She gave us a 1 minute interview and then my daughter was supposed to mmet with Brett Carducci from Sovereign Talent Agency. At that time I was told that I need to call her back on 6/2/09 and find out if they picked my daughter for a call back, which of course they did. Lindy told me that she's flying out the next morning and it was very important we meet with her again before she left, which i did.

I was required to pay 1950 (I put on my credit card) for their workshops before they would introduce us to talent agents and managers. When I got home i had a feeling it seemed like a scam so i researched them on the internet. I was horrified by what I saw. First of all the workshops are taught by third rate instructors, Lindy Kwock was labeled as a scam artist and Brett Carducci was on their payroll moonlighting. I immediately called them to cancel and was told that my ONE day period for cancellation passed. I am disputing the charge on my credit card and hopefully I'll get a full refund. I also found out that they ahad the same scam going under a different name in Florida. I'm a single parent and this is a huge hardship for me. They preyed on the fact that I was single and wanted to do something for my child due to our family situation.

Sylvia of Jersey City, NJ April 10, 2009

Sylvia of Jersey City NJ (04/10/09)
I would like to file a complaint against :Academy of Cinema and Television ( ACT .)

I met with ACT in Newark NJ. They told me they would work around my schedule But after 1 day Nov 17 to 18 2008 it was Determine that we would not be able to attend this classes in 2009. My Daughter is a Competing Cheer leader and had several National Cheer leading Championships arranged for that time in 2009 Her training schedule would conflict with would have been her ACT schedule for Jan 2009.

So I withdrew from said Act within my grace period the Next day 1 of 5 days On the phone. I was given the run around for 5- 6 days being told that Karii Kaapana handled these matters on the 18th and that I would have to talk to this woman name Karii Kaapana This ACT Reg Director This woman was conveniently not around for 6 days. After Day 2 No one responded to my numerous voice messages until it would be and was profitable to charge my Credit Card Account. I have Disputed this charge and its pending with Chase.

BUT NOW I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS ! WEB SITE WHICH CALLS ACT A SCAM???

I am having trouble recovering from this matter. Of being charged 1900 for no service and time notification Also remember they Knew that we might have had a Scheduling Conflict /problem when they got me to sign-up. I was told they cold work around my time which was a lie or error. The scheduling conflict was confirmed that night on the 17 & 18 when I cancelled which was the 2nd Day.

Bryan of San Jose, CA January 23, 2009

Bryan of San Jose CA (01/23/09)
I sought out the services of the ACT clinic for the purposes of a psychological evaluation to clear my medical withdrawal from my college. My assigned psychologist, Cardellino, who apparently did not have a license to practice clinical psychology yet, displayed incompetence, insensitivity to the pain I've suffered in life, and subjected me to disparaging remarks with a racist overtone. The hourly sessions have made me more angry and upset than before. After a couple of months, I started to become suspicious about his motives and whether he only wanted to extend the amount of meetings to leech more money out of me. I asked and he said that he was unsure of how long it would take for him to finish evaluating me. I now want to request a return of the money I have spent for their poor services.

Their fees are 35 an hour. I have lost about 600 and would like it returned to me. I have also experienced a certain amount of emotional distress, but I doubt that could be quantified. I would simply like only the money I spent on services back, unless I am forced to go to small claims, in which case I would probably sue for more.

Elyse of Cherry Hill, NJ August 28, 2008

Elyse of Cherry Hill NJ (08/28/08)
I was charged for a course for my daughter that was fully refundable within 24 hours if certified letter sent to cancel transaction. I followed through and did cancel with certified letter and my credit card company. Credit card company, Discover, disputed charge and fully refunded me but 2 months later, the merchant, Academy of Cinema and Television tried to recharge me 500 fee which I never approved. I have received no services from them and have had no interaction with these fraudulent people since the one meeting on 4/14/08.

I never received any signed contract from the person I did the meeting with until 4/17/08 via fax which was an ineligible signature and no written name along with it. I had already sent cancellation notice to them and to my Discover card company 2 days before this fax arrived. They are acting illegaly. I have reopened the dispute with Discover and I have altogether cancelled my Discover card so this company cannot charge any further fraudulent charges to me.

I have a pending charge of 500 on my Discover Card account which is now inactive.

After being a client with Discover for over 17 years, I now will do no further business with Discover and have since switched my purchasing via credit card to another company. I am very disappointed in Discover and their response to this matter. I notice Discover is also based out Phoenix Arizona. This is the same address where the so-called acting program is based out of.

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