Thanks for the help from everyone on this form - I really appreciate the advice and support given, if anything it's reassured me that this is not how all agencies operate in the industry.


John

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I am reviving this old thread because there are apparently other threats of legal action that have been made to individuals. I invite anyone who has received a communication of that sort in any form [letter, e-mail, ect.] from this "agency", or perhaps know of someone who has but who might not have a profile here, to let me know about it by PM.

DO NOT REPLY HERE

Thanks,

Studio36

Hi guys,

So sorry for this wall of text.

I have found this thread while searching about the scams UKMMAGENCY have pulled over the years and I would like a bit of advice and maybe finding others in my position that would make my case more believable.

Last year, I have been called my UKMMAgency also currently called "UK Model Management" to invite me to a test shoot, but it didn't come for free. I have a letter that shows they have asked me for £60 prior to any contract signing which is already illegal as they are not allowed to ask for any upfront fees, but I didn't even bat an eyelid.

I paid the fee and went to the test shoot. The shoot was badly organised, using young photographers, make up artists and stylists for a very cheap price (spoke to the make up artist about this and she has advised me to take them to court). They have advised me to expect 3-5 hrs for this shoot which was fine with me, however the shoot finished within 4 hrs and I had to await in the lobby with no advice on how long it will take to speak to the model booker. 1 hr went past and I started losing my patience because I have allocated 5 hrs for this shoot and after 5 hrs, I was still awaiting to be seen. I have spoken to the host person on how much longer it would take as I had dinner plans after, where the "CEO", so she presented herself as, came to speak to me. She has told me that I will have to wait for clients in this industry and I cannot be impatient and she found it really rude that the host lady had to come to her to ask how much longer it will take.

After a few more minutes of arguing stating that I allocated as much time as they have advised for this but I cannot stay for much longer, where she has advised me that I can go but I can kiss goodbye to the contract. As I really wanted this contract, I had to cancel my plans and told my boyfriend that I cannot make it. I found this very rude and unprofessional, but, again, I did not bat an eyelid because I was fairly new to this industry and I thought I didn't know enough to say anymore, so I waited longer.

Took about 2 hrs to see the model booker when the selling started. I have brought my personal portfolio with me to be represented with but she hasn't even looked at it, they told me there wasn't any point in looking through my pictures and that I need new ones. Conveniently, the company that provided them with the photographer, make up artist and stylist can use the pictures from the test shoot but I will need to pay from £899.99 for a portfolio. They have gave me the option to make my own portfolio, but only if the photographer, make up artist and stylist I will use work for high end clients and have proof of doing so. Also that this needs to be brought to them within 14 days from the shoot and this was close to Christmas therefore they knew that no new model with barely any experience in this field and so close to Christmas, will be able to get this done so quickly. Obviously, this is how they get everyone to pay their partner-in-crime for their portfolio services. I have actually searched for MeMedia group, the company they "use" for these portfolios which is not more than just a selling technique, and no one has ever heard of them except their website where apparently they have big clients, but that's how far they go. I have also found a question on Yahoo answers where someone is asking if anyone heard of them which made complete sense:

"has anyone ever worked for me media group...? need advice?
I have been appointed as a marketing executive for Me Media and basically i have to call up agencies that get sales for my company. [...]"

In the end, I have applied for the 3 month instalments for the cheaper portfolio and had to give UKMMAgency a £200 deposit. Signed the contract after being asked if I was ok to be put down for promotions to which I said yes, unpaid work for good companies (e.g. Vogue) as they do not pay their clients because it's a good exposure for models which again I said yes, but when it came to extra work I said no because I work for a very good UK bank and I will lose a bit of money by taking the time off due to extra work being generally during the week, being long hours too and low paid but maily because I was looking to be represented for modelling jobs not acting jobs, and that this is not something I am into which they seemed ok with. When finally pictures were ready, I had to go in for another test shoot as the pictures were too old which was fair enough and had to pay for the portfolio book which is a justifiable fee. I was suppose to get a portfolio book with 10 pictures and 20 images in a CD, but it's been months since I cleared the portfolio payment and I am still awaiting for my CD. In my dissapontment, the pictures weren't sent great, poorly photoshoped, definitely not deserving £899.99 but I thought, maybe, if, at least in a year's contract, I get the money I have paid back, it won't be so bad as the deed was already done. So I entered their books as a commercial model.

A month went by and I get a call, for a £90 assignment from which a £50 administration fee and their 25% commission comes out, that lasts 14 hrs with over time pay as an extra for a drama series. I was a bit confused by this as I mentioned this isn't something I would like to pursue, acting particularly, so I kindly rejected the assignment and advised them again that this isn't something I would like to do as mentioned before when firstly signed the contract. They advised this has been noted on my profile, which was even better, a written confirmation that it is all ok, until a week ago. They have sent out a "Skills and Talent" where we had to ticklist , obviously, any skill and talent we have and have exercised in movies, ads, etc. This one again had within questions about extra work where I have put down as "Not interested". This time, instead of saying all good, they have asked me why. After a long chain of emails, trying to explain what I wish to do and why I do not wish to do any extra work which they not took very kindly, they have advised to take the last email as my termination notice. I have told them that terminating my contract because I do not wish to do any extra work is extreme and that is wrongful termination. They have then replied that it wasn't not because of its extra work, it is because I have been rude which is again wrongful termination for a contract.

With a terminated contract, all I had to do left was to research about them, their previous scams, finding people that have been also scammed and maybe finding a way to stop this happening to other inocent models like me. I have found that they had at least 2 different other names in the past few years and they have moved offices at least 4 times while using the same website redesigned everytime:

UKMMAGENCY.CO.UK

Currently they are known as "UK Model Management" and their latest office is Alperton House, Bridgewater Road, Wembley, Middlesex, London, HA0 1EH. Before this they used to be called the same but used to reside at Wembley Point 1 Harrow Road, Wembley, HA9 6DE. Not a problem there, buy then found the below website which, beside it having good advice, says:

"Model Advice Ltd are at 63 Clerkenwell Rd EC1M 5NP

UK Model Advice Ltd are at 67 Clerkenwell Rd EC1R 5BL

Who claim "launched in 2001" but only registered on 23Aug11

UK Model Advice Ltd, when asked to substantiate such a claim, told me that I had to prove - they had not been in business for 10 years - Watch this space...

On the 20 February 2012 UK Model Advice Ltd changed their name to UK Media Models Agency Ltd - I wonder why...?

Click:

www.ukmmagency.com

You could not make it up if you tried!"

http://www.anactor.net

I am 100% sure they have been scamming models for years using different nsmes but the same pattern based on their website name UK M... M.... Agency and keep getting away with it and no doubt they are not operating with the law, but is there a way to prove so and if so, how?

Any models out there had any success in court with these type of agencies? I know they are very smart and do not put much in writing, but if maybe there are enough of us going after the same agency, maybe someone will bat an eyelid and actually do something about this?

Sorry again for the wall of text and any help with this would be much appreciated

BEWARE - They are now called Impulse Agency - http://impulseagency.com, their old website directed me to their new website so they have changed their name again to avoid lawsuits. You couldn't hide it even if you try your hardest. When will enough be enough?

What I find funny is how all these so called 'Model Agencies' target their websites to finding new models. Any good agency will target their website for finding new clients and would be a simple way of seeing if they look legitimate or not. Of course, it is fine for some to offer advice to models on their website and this should be done in order to improve their Search Engine Ranking, however, having an FAQ and not including and clients questions just screams scam!