2010-09-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Models Direct

Saturday, 11 August 2007

Models Direct...?

Damien & Suzy O'ConnorS

Click:

Models Direct - Many Complainants - Google Search

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www.modelsdirect.com

www.talentmanagement.com

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Model Ambition Ends In Surprise Offer -South Wales Echo 14Oct08

One Briton in 12 is so talented? - The Stage 12Oct05

This This is the typical chat up lines by this agency...

"A very nice lady from Models Direct rang me and told me how handsome my son is, she had seen his photos and he had passed the first part of the modelling assessment, she praised him up so much!!! She is going to send me an email towards the end of the week, letting me know if he has passed the board to be put on the castings for the 2nd stage of Models Direct. If so I will have to pay a fee £128.00 for 3 years, if I wish to continue. To end it all; she kept telling me how lucky my son was to receive this phone call and pass at this stage!!!"

"When Models Direct accepted her and gave me the spiel of how they "loved her look, her hair, her eyes," etc, I fell for it hook, line, sinker, bait and fisherman. They told me she would get lots of work, especially catalogue work, because of her blonde-haired blue-eyed look. They offered her a three-year representation; and I stumped up the fee!"

"They claim that you have the right look for them and they can get you work and I have never heard from them since!"

...."They told me I should go through the yellow pages and find commercial managers to take a look at me. The bottom line is you do all the work at promoting yourself and let them know so they can take a slice of it."

.."They rang me loads, emailed me to say your place is under threat, if you dont take it we will have to give it to someone else etc etc.... All because I wouldn't pay up."

"I told her I wanted my money back otherwise I would take the matter to court, to which she simply laughed an evil laugh and hung up."

Models Direct will even take your dog on; as long as you pay up-front!
Click: http://www.modelsdirect.com/be_a_model/animals/index.html

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Models Direct - You're In Safe Hands?

This is the agencies latest boast; "Models Direct is supporting a Department of Trade & Industry initiative which aims to to protect would-be models from unscrupulous individuals (West 1 & Rondevous?) - hire a (hotel) venue - to invite would-be models to attend then engage in hard sell tactics - to pay high fees (up to £128; then another £95 p.a. on top?) on the promise of work (Models Direct?) that very rarely materialises - Models Direct is not directly affected by the (DTI) proposed new legislation as it does not work in this way (through West 1 & Rondevous?)."

These statements were made in Models Direct magazine 'IMAGE', which they claim has a distribution of 44,000! Can they prove it? Oh, and it costs you an extra £15 for a years subscription - to read such propaganda... £15x44,000=£660,000...

Models Direct claim to have a whopping 30,000 new 'visitors' every month to their website - if so where is the work? - For all those who have paid up-front; yet had no work???

So, are the directors of Models Direct saying; that the agencies they 'work with' - West 1 & Rondevous - are unscrupulous?

Models Direct have proved that they will take almost anyone on and they just do not care who passes these would be models and extras - on to them!

West 1/1st Class Images & Rondevous worked with Models Direct...

West 1 & Rondevous charged unsuspecting victims £189, just to put you in contact with Models Direct, who then charged up to £128, who then put you in contact with Talent Management where you could be charged up to £95 extra per year; yet stand little chance of work....

You are on a 'Merry-Go-Round' of up-front fees...

Click on:

1st Class = Model Factor & West 1 = Hidden Talent

Six Fictitious Names = Rondevous

Clearly Models Direct worked with any rogue agency - just to get your money!

See the newspapers reports about Models Direct...

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Click:

Sunday Telegraph - 31Dec2000

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Mail on Sunday - 30Jul 2000

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Mail on Sunday - 6Aug 2000

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Nothing has changed in 9 years....!

They have worked for years with 1st Class/West 1 & Rondevous!

Does this fill you with confidence???

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How much can you earn with Models Direct?.

Models Direct had said they offer "some of the cheapest (model) rates available" which means; would be models are paid the lowest fees?

Since my below (exposure) statement of the illegal activities of Models Direct...

The 'agency' have now had to change their terms and conditions - according to 'Employment Agency Standards'...

Click: Employment Agency Standards

Models Direct had charged (30 Nov 07) a rate of commission of 33.3% which I believe is the highest I have ever seen; if you ever get any work from them; shame!

Click: http://www.modelsdirect.com/model_terms.html

So the below statements about double charging - which has now miraculously changed, (30 Nov 07) but where is the prosecution for double charging...?

What is important; is that Models Direct did not tell you what rates they charged clients were! You see Models Direct negotiated a higher fee with the client; and then paid you a much lower fee! That's if you are lucky enough to actually get any work...

Models Direct Doubled Charged?

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This is what the government said...

If a solicitor received a fee from both the buyer and the seller of a property. That solicitor may be struck off; for misconduct; he/she may have had to refund the fees taken. Legal action would have taken place!

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So why were Models Direct allowed by the government to charge up-front fees to would be models AND charge a fee to clients (hirers)??? When this unfair practice is supposed to be illegal?

They have supposedly been going 17 years; so surely they should know what is lawful; or is it they just don't care???

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Models Direct had stated that they do not charge you any commission; but they certainly took a BIG chunk of your money; without you knowing exactly how much... That is not fair!

Models Direct say they were established in 1990...

Or is it 1989?

They mention their 'Head Office' as if they had other offices; but this appears to be their only office!

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Photo Facta National (UK) Ltd was set up on 26 September 1994, which was changed on 9 September 1996 to Photo Facta Licensing Ltd; which then became Models Direct (UK) Ltd on 3 August 1998. It has two directors, Suzy O'Connor, Damian O'Connor and they are both shareholders; together with Weddell International Ltd (Jersey).

According to Companies House & Jersey Financial Services Commission; Weddell International Ltd is not registered either in England or Jersey. Does this company exist?

Share capital for Models Direct UK Ltd; split evenly between both directors and Weddell International Ltd, was £45,144.

According to Models Direct company's last accounts, signed on 24 October 2006, the (P & L) accounts showed a (growing) loss as at 31 December 2005 of £298,517.

Some of the losses can be attributed to the way the company sets out its income for registration fees - over the subscription period; but surely most of this income; is on the first day of registration?

Over £¼m Losses?

Yet Models Direct had about £90,000 just sitting in their bank account; Models Direct UK Ltd, do not appear to pay any tax to the Inland Revenue... what a wonderful position to be in!

Mind you, creditors are shown as £561,813; I wonder who they are? Well both O'Connor directors owed the sum of £24,051 (loan) to the company. The directors are of the opinion that the company is entitled to the exemption from audit conferred by Section 249A(1) of the Companies Act 1985.

Models Direct Ltd is another company set up on 27 August 2004, it has two directors, Suzy O'Connor and Damian O'Connor. According to the company's last accounts, signed on 22 June 2006, the company has not traded - for the period ending 31 December 2005.

So why is Models Direct (UK) Ltd showing such a large loss? Well it could have something to do with tax and the Jersey company....

On the latest search (2009) at Companies House, it can be seen that Models Direct have now changed their share holdings...

Models Direct UK Ltd is now wholy owned by Talent Management Ltd who in turn is jointly owned by Damien & Suzy O'Connor...

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Models Direct trick the public yet again!

On 29 May 2007 Models Direct were repremanded by the (then named) watchdog for Premium Line numbers 'ICSTIS' - for tricking the public into ringing the Premium Number - which was on the Models Direct website...

Models Direct had failed to mention whatsoever; it was a Premium Number; Shame!!!

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Talent Management Ltd?
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Click: www.talentmanagement.com
.International Talent Ltd was set up on 19 December 2003; which then became Talent Management Ltd on 3 August 2007.....Well this is yet another company run by the two directors of Models Direct; and it is yet another opportunity for them to - charge up-front fees....You can upgrade (pay double/triple more up-front) for the status of:

Rising Farce? oops...
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RISING STAR...! £45 annual fee...
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CELEBRITY...!! £75 annual fee....SUPERSTAR...!!! £95 annual fee...
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The more you pay; the more chance of work...???

Remember these annual charges are on top of the initial fee of up to £128...
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Well they do not really explain exactly how you stand more chance of getting any work...

Surely if you have paid £128 already to Models Direct; then why should you have to pay up to £95 extra per year to Talent Management???.
It is a great way of making even more money up-front where no work has to be found...

by both directors of both companies:

SUZIE & DAMIAN O'CONNOR
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So you are tricked into paying £128 for 3 years - to 'Models Direct'; then you are tricked into paying £95 each year to 'Talent Management'; to be a 'SUPERSTAR'; run by the same people; where you stand little chance of work???

WHAT WAS THE £128 FOR!!!

Have I missed something here; or is someone trying to be just too clever???

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Fed up trying to find work as an actor or model?
..

Models Direct state:

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See yourself in business with talented people?

We have another company in our Group, called...
Talent Management and 'TM' is currently launching a network of talent agents operating as small businesses throughout the UK.
Being a Talent Management agent is a full or part time, homebased, business opportunity that may well interest you, representing actors, entertainers, musicians, singers, dancers and of course, models.
You could have a business where you are offering your local talent, all the online features and benefits you enjoy as a model with Models Direct, i.e. national work prospects, bar charts showing personal career progress, news and lots more.
The TM network of agents localizes our talent registration and hiring's, by handing new talent registration to local agents to 'sponsor' talent, at the same time, introduce many more talent hiring opportunities through their local knowledge and efforts, thereby giving talent a greater chance of selection.
Click on this website link:
http://www.modelsdirect.com/assignments.html

There is a catch however, they want you to pay them money...
They promise you:
This could be a great business for you...

Low cost entry level, £1,500 is all you need... no stock... no commercial premises... no staff... no product... no storage... no commercial vehicle... no special equipment...
Part time, full time - you decide!
Guess what the job is for?
Yes! it is running an agency in competition with Models Direct - taking up-front fees - from would be performers...

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Remember...

You can go on to www.myspace.com or www.youtube.com and upload photo's video and your CV - FREE OF CHARGE...