Model agency threatening legal action against me

Lollipop95

I really hope someone can help me as I am scared sh***less right now!

A month ago I came across a modelling agency and submitted photos to them. A couple of weeks later I received this email from their office email


"Dear model!

We would like to support you financially by paying 50% of the administration contribution amounting to EUR 60.00 This means that instead of EUR 120.00, your investment is just EUR 60.00

If you have no questions, please click on the link to the contract below to save 50% of the administration contribution.


Link to contract Euro 60.-
click here
Then return the completed online placement contract to us. Once we receive the placement contract, you will immediately receive a confirmation e-mail explaining what to do next.

If you have any questions, your MO-DO contact person is available between 10 am and 04 pm. Please ensure you have your personal booking code to hand whenever you call our agency.

The agency undertakes to start presenting and representing me immediately on receipt of this placement contract.

I agree to pay the annual contribution of EUR 60.00 within the next 14 days.

Immediately following payment, I will receive my personal access details (password/login) for the international model portal www.prestige-modelmanagement.com

We look forward to a positive and successful working relationship with you, and hope you enjoy the assignments you receive through us.


Kind regards from our model team."


very stupidly I clicked on the link and accepted the terms and conditions without thinking as I was a bit dubious that they didn't use my name in the email, nor did they ring me beforehand. It was just a generic email. I only clicked on the link to find out more.

I received an email again asking me to pay the money asap. Then 2 weeks ago I received another email asking me to pay.

Tonight I received this from their office email and I don't know what to do:

"Dear contractual partner!

Under the terms of the contract, you have agreed to pay the fee for our online services. (see also Online Placement Contract).

As you have not responded to the payment reminder we sent you, this is a final demand for payment of the outstanding amount within the next 14 days.

If payment is not received by this time, we will have no option but to pass the matter to our corporate lawyer, and to recover the amount through legal channels.

The thoughts of having legal action pressed against me makes me feel sick. I can't find out much about them and their hq seem to be in Vienna. Any advice would be so appreciated

AlmightyCushion

I'm not a lawyer but this looks like a complete scam and I'd say a judge would throw it out without even thinking about it. They're just trying to scare you into paying. It's a relatively small amount of money so some people will pay it out of fear just in case. You'll be fine, get some sleep.

warsaw2018

Lollipop95 wrote: »

I really hope someone can help me as I am scared sh***less right now!

A month ago I came across a modelling agency and submitted photos to them. A couple of weeks later I received this email from their office email


"Dear model!

We would like to support you financially by paying 50% of the administration contribution amounting to EUR 60.00 This means that instead of EUR 120.00, your investment is just EUR 60.00

If you have no questions, please click on the link to the contract below to save 50% of the administration contribution.


Link to contract Euro 60.-
click here
Then return the completed online placement contract to us. Once we receive the placement contract, you will immediately receive a confirmation e-mail explaining what to do next.

If you have any questions, your MO-DO contact person is available between 10 am and 04 pm. Please ensure you have your personal booking code to hand whenever you call our agency.

The agency undertakes to start presenting and representing me immediately on receipt of this placement contract.

I agree to pay the annual contribution of EUR 60.00 within the next 14 days.

Immediately following payment, I will receive my personal access details (password/login) for the international model portal www.prestige-modelmanagement.com

We look forward to a positive and successful working relationship with you, and hope you enjoy the assignments you receive through us.


Kind regards from our model team."


very stupidly I clicked on the link and accepted the terms and conditions without thinking as I was a bit dubious that they didn't use my name in the email, nor did they ring me beforehand. It was just a generic email. I only clicked on the link to find out more.

I received an email again asking me to pay the money asap. Then 2 weeks ago I received another email asking me to pay.

Tonight I received this from their office email and I don't know what to do:

"Dear contractual partner!

Under the terms of the contract, you have agreed to pay the fee for our online services. (see also Online Placement Contract).

As you have not responded to the payment reminder we sent you, this is a final demand for payment of the outstanding amount within the next 14 days.

If payment is not received by this time, we will have no option but to pass the matter to our corporate lawyer, and to recover the amount through legal channels.

The thoughts of having legal action pressed against me makes me feel sick. I can't find out much about them and their hq seem to be in Vienna. Any advice would be so appreciated

ignore them and forget about them

PanicStations

Block their emails and forget about them

Westernyelp

Utter bull**** scam. Delete. Block. Forget.

Dank Janniels

Were they nudie photos???

Discodog

Lots of modelling scams out there. They try to get you to pay extortionate fees for folios etc. Just ignore it.

L1011

Even if this was legit, the lawyers time would cost more than 60 euro. It's a scam to get money out of wannabe models, nothing more. If the admin fee is paid you never hear from them again as there is no actual agency and no work

Samuel T. Cogley

Dear Model,

Please PM photos directly to me...

:pac:

Mod

And send copies to Mrs S.T. Cogley:)

El Tarangu

If they are calling you 'contractual partner' instead of your name and surname, I would not give it much heed.

Discodog

They lure girls by getting them to send photos & then hinting that they have available work. It's even been on Liveline.

Send a couple of photos to the major agencies. A spotter doesn't need to see a folio. Age, height & dress size are still the key initial selection criteria.

.......

Reply to one of the emails with a Data Access Request under GDPR.

Ask what data they hold on you.

Discodog

....... wrote: »

Reply to one of the emails with a Data Access Request under GDPR.

Ask what data they hold on you.

Why bother? Just forget them.

Under His Eye

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Dear Model,

Please PM photos directly to me...

:pac:

Kind regards,

Dr Vaggers.

sexmag

https://www.prestige-modelmanagement.com/contracts/contract-for-adults-euro-120/

I dont know,site seems legit enough but i doubt they will issue legal proceedings to cover a 60 euro cost.

If all they have is your email then youre fine

seamus

Site seems oddly boiler plate tbh.

No names of anyone involved, irish address is for an office space rental. All of the images on the site are from shutterstock, not their own images.

Probably a genuine-ish business, but the nonsense of contracts and legal are just that. They don't have a "corporate lawyer".

The contract itself probably doesn't even exist until the fee is paid. About fifty times the "contract" says that it's active immediately, but given that you cannot be assigned or accept any work until the fee is paid, then the contract implicitly is not in force until the fee is paid.

Lollipop95

Thanks everyone. I'm more reassured now.i was extremely worried when I received that email from them last night. I've blocked their email so hopefully that's the end of it. Definite lesson learned for me!

Westernyelp

I have heard of two other people today who received same. You can relax OP. You didn't fall for a scam.

franklyon

Surprised you were even worried about this, I would have written them a mail to go take a running jump, hate so called businesses like this that threaten people with legal action for no reason

Discodog

Lollipop95 wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I'm more reassured now.i was extremely worried when I received that email from them last night. I've blocked their email so hopefully that's the end of it. Definite lesson learned for me!

I used to be indirectly involved in the fashion business in London. Thousands of girls are persuaded to pay money up front & some give even more. A fashion Pimp will tell them that they are perfect, promise them lots of lucrative work etc. But he will need money for photos, promotion, expenses etc. Often the potential model will be steered towards "glamour" & worst.

All a potential model has to do is submit a couple of phone quality photos to a reputable agency. The photo will be looked at for 3 seconds & 99.99% will go in the bin. If there is something special then they will look further into age, height size etc. No agency is going to turn down a potential money earner.

I occasionally had to collect models & supermodels in the morning - so no make up, bed hair etc. Most of them wouldn't even get a second look on the street. A lot of supermodels are actually very plain which is why they are good as they provide the perfect canvass.