Complain about a product or service

Academy of Cinema & Television

Phoenix

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

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

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

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.

Patricia of Chandler, AZ March 13, 2008

My child heard of a talent search on the radio and pleaded with me to take her to the 'open call'. There were at least 200 kids 'auditioning' to get into this private acting academy called ACT (Academy of Cinema and Television). After the audition we were contacted the next day and informed that she had 'been selected and was invited to join' the academy and that only about 10% of kids were invited. Of course we were told to come the very next day and prepared to pay the tuition.

The impressive office and staff and tactics were seductive and convincing and we wrote a check that day for close to 8,000! It was a package deal with promised classes for 2 years and photo shoot. I tried to inquire on the qualifications of the teachers and if there were any background checks on them (since they claimed they were a school and any school my kids have gone to could verify they weren't predators-they would never let me into the class even to observe)...

Although the instructors were/are actual actors the quality of their classes are poor and their prices inflated compared to other schools who offer acting classes..I have also been told by an inside source that we (as parents) are really paying for the prestige and exposure of having agents flown in from LA for open call on the weekend; And if your child does get an agent,,,the real bottom line is; are you prepared to move to LA?

None of this is clearly spelled out. And they won't give you your money back after 1 or 2 classes because the contract only gave 3 days to backout...even if you do get an agent and MOVE to LA...they're just 'put on hold' indefinitely.

Now that we are in LA and have studied with real teachers who specilize in children (which is what ACT reports)and see that NOBODY charges 100/hr for GROUP ACTING LESSONS. In fact here in California there are laws to protect us from these types of predators...no one here would dream of charging for classes for 2 years in advance! I have sent a certified letter to request the unused money returned but was referred back to the contract....now I see them in MALLS and shudder! Are there certain licenses involved when you work with kids?

I checked the BBB and Attorney General before the original 3 day time period was up and all I got back was no record of ACT in BBB and 'there may be certain licenses required' with this sort of 'school'....thank you.

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