New Faces

It's shameful and disgusting that they should be allowed to take advantage of the public like this. They are counting on parents not wanting to deny their children any opportunities in life and it's really disgraceful. My family didn't have the money to do this like so many others who were scammed. They should be forced to pay money back to the public.

I was researching what the most reputable modeling sites are so I could find work and post my portfolio on other sites besides Model Mayhem. I paid attention to an article a guy wrote, who owns his own modeling site, and said New Faces is the most reputable and the most serious and professional site if you want to find steady and paid work. He lied. They, most likely, paid him a nice sum to write favorably about them.

They wanted a lump-sum membership fee up front for the whole year. NEVER do this. A reputable site will let you try them out and automatically debit a small, agreed-upon amount out of what membership level you choose with them from your account each month in case you're not happy with them or they'll let you choose between a monthly and a yearly membership. Anyone who makes you feel compelled, through no other option, to pay a lump-sum amount for a yearly subscription is a scam artist.

The site hardly ever functioned. It almost always was down due to technical difficulties, never had any information answering the important question of refunds if I was not happy with the site, would disconnect me immediately if I called and was just simply going through the dialing options, e-mails would bounce back as undeliverable when I asked if I would receive a refund, and PayPal ruled in their favor.

I only used the site for a month. No one approached me for work, no one answered me when I sent out inquiries for work, the casting calls were unhelpful and didn't apply to me, the site even erased most of the information I had put in my profile and portfolio because of all of the technical difficulties, and they got $167 from me, which isn't a bad pay day for them, being that I won't be using the remaining 11 months of the site, due to cancelling my membership. Actually, if the amount was only a higher one, I say these scumbags made a killing off of me.

In March, we started receiving calls from Jennifer saying that my son out of five more kids have been chosen by Children's Place for a four-year contract and he will have to go for a photo shoot once a month and that it usually takes two days in which he will be paid $200 an hour. She also said that the photo shoot with Children's Place will take place in two weeks from the day she called me. However, she said in order to get this contract, I needed to extend my contract with them for one year to 4 years contract so they can keep his pictures in the internet so other companies can call him. She told me that the extension cost was $2250 but I needed to do it fast; otherwise, Children's Place will choose one of the other five kids.

On April 5, 2012, we went to Hicksville and we were convinced to sign the extension for four more years. At this point, we were very hesitant with Jennifer. Jennifer decided to have us talk to Michelle ** who supposedly is the second in command after James. I expressed my concerns to Jennifer and I told her that I was willing to risk the money for one year but $2,250 sounded bizarre and we were not willing to expend that much more money. She said that she will commit herself that even if Children's Place will not work out, there are hundreds of other companies out there that will be interested in our son. Jennifer said to us that if my son will not get any contract within one month of the extension of it, she will refund us the money. After reading the contract extension, it did not mention at all that a refund will be done in case of dissatisfaction; however, Jennifer said, "I give you my word. There is nobody higher than me other than James. I am also a mother and I will not do that."

Well she did it. One year has passed and I have been trying to reach her by phone and email and I never heard from her. E-mails she will not answer and my phone calls will go straight to her voicemail. I finally decided to write to newfacesmgmt@gmail.com and got an answer from Nicky and I also spoke with her. She sent a contract like where it said that they will refund my money $2,250 in 21 days from the date that I signed. It also said that with this, I will commit myself not to seek for an attorney or do any formal complaints against the company and/or dispute any charges with my credit card company.

In my last email sent to them, I told them that this is no longer valid since no reimbursement has been done. I am willing to go all the way with this and take them to court. My first step has been to inform of this scam to the Office of the Attorney General and I will post my dissatisfaction in any website about them. I hope this was useful for all those parents, who like us, had a dream. Don't let them scam you like that. Take your kid to Disney instead or open a savings account for college. I will be happy if other parents with the same issue can reach me. It will be great to stop them to scam more families like us.

The guy named Tim ** promised us that within 3 weeks, my son will get the job modeling from Baby Gap. He even told me that the Baby Gap company is looking for 5 babies and my son is the fourth one. He discussed us that the Baby Gap company is paying $33,900 per model so I was tricked by him. Then, he told me that in order to get the job, I need to pay for the photo shoot worth $1,900.00 and said "If you're planning to go out of town, you have to be here within in New York because they will start calling us and we have to be available that period of time."

Three weeks later, I've waited for their call but nothing happened. I tried to follow up but they said you have to wait. I'm really disappointed with Mr. Tim ** because he promised that within 3 weeks, my son will get the job. Until now, still nothing happened. Please, if you are a victim of this company, please call this number **.

On the weekend, we went there with the other two outfits and they asked us come back for picture view next time. When I went for picture view, they told me more charges for my son's pictures to show online. For that, I had to pay for membership that starts from $550-$2250 for 6 months to 4-year contract. So I felt trapped and I picked 6 months membership for $550.

Then after a few days, this lady, Jennifer **, called me about 7 pm and congratulated me that my son was picked by Macy's for their picture shoot and told me that Macy's selected 10 kids but they going to pick 5 out of 10 kids. The shoot was to be on May 19 and 20. It was in Manhattan. We have to show up there at 12 noon and it is from 12-4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Macy's will provide the clothing and Macy's pay is $200 per hour. So for two days, Macy's pay is $1600 to us and my membership with New Faces should be upgraded for 4 years to $2200. Otherwise, they won't give us this contract and asked me from which credit card I would like to pay and I said to her if I can upgrade after this shoot because I just got my membership.

She said no. Then, I told her I have to call her back, that I have to speak with my husband first. Then, I called her back and she charged my credit card for $2200 and asked me to come pick up the Macy's contract and more details. And when we went again, this guy, James, asked me to sign the credit card receipt and gave me his visiting card to call him on 5/15/12 at 2 pm for further information. Since then, they gave me two times two different dates for shoots and now the guy, James, does not even answer my call. I was ripped off by the company by thousands of dollars. I want all other people to fight for our money back from them and put this New Faces people in their right place - in jail. If anybody wants to fight, they can contact me.