Talent agency subject of state probe

• Business tips for would-be models

By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer

The state's Office of Consumer Protection is investigating a local talent agency over allegations that it misled people into thinking they would get modeling jobs after paying as much as $1,600 in fees.

The Office of Consumer Protection has received five complaints against Wilhelmina Scouting Network this year.

"Our investigation focuses primarily on allegations of unfair or deceptive trade practices," said Stephen Levins, state consumer protector.

Authorities in Florida also are looking into the practices of Orlando-based Wilhelmina Scouting Network after more than 1,400 complaints against the company have been lodged from across the nation, including Hawai'i. Customers said they paid up to $1,600 each for help in landing modeling jobs. Many ended up only with spots on the company's various Web sites.

(Yesterday the New York State Consumer Protection Board issued a warning telling consumers to avoid modeling agencies such as Wilhelmina that require prospective clients to pay to get their modeling careers started, The Associated Press reported. The New York board cited Wilhelmina's "high-pressure tactics" and "serious billing irregularities."

(The costs for Wilhelmina Scouting services can add up to $2,000 a person, with the only job-hunting referrals the agency provides being e-mail notices for open auditions available to the public for free, the board said.)

Wilhelmina's talent scouts identify potential models in public. Candidates are then asked to pay an enrollment fee and a monthly subscription fee to be listed in the company's Web-based talent database, on the Web at www.wscouts.com. Modeling candidates also may face other fees for makeup and photos.

At issue is whether the company recruits candidates via promises that they'll find work and whether it searches for true modeling prospects or those willing to pay its hefty fees. In a written statement released yesterday Wilhelmina said complaints against the company represent a small portion of its overall customer base of 150,000 people.

The company said it is "in compliance with all rules and regulations that apply to its business" and that the enrollment and maintenance fees for the Web site "represent a huge savings over the traditional costs incurred by aspiring talent to get 'seen' by prospective agencies throughout the world."

Wilhelmina Scouting, with offices in New York City and Buffalo, has licensed the Wilhelmina name from the Wilhelmina modeling agency, but is a separate company. Its local franchise-owned operation is at 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 400, 500 Ala Moana.

Levins gave no time frame for when his investigation into Wilhelmina would be concluded. The Florida attorney general's investigation, which was started in August 2002, is still ongoing, said spokeswoman JoAnn Carrin.

In addition to those received by the state, four complaints against Wilhelmina have been lodged with the Better Business Bureau of Hawai'i, two of which were resolved. However, the bureau gives Wilhelmina, which it said also does business as Aloha Talent, an unsatisfactory rating because the company failed to respond to some complaints.

The Office of Consumer Protection's Consumer Resource Center can be reached at 587-3222.

The Better Business Bureau of Hawai'i can be reached at 536-6956.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.

Business tips for would-be models

The Better Business Bureau advises people dealing with modeling and talent agencies to:

• Get all verbal promises and claims in writing.
• Check an agency's complaint history with the Better Business Bureau (536-6956) and the state Office of Consumer Protection (586-2630).
• Ask for a blank copy of a contract to take and review with a family member or colleague before signing.
• Be wary of claims about high salaries or boasts that the company is a "major player" in the industry.
• Don't let flattery cause you to abandon common sense. If you were approached in a shopping mall, see whether the "agent" approaches others with the same offer.
• Don't give in to demands for cash or money-order payments. This is a strong signal that the company is more interested in your money than your career.
• Don't be swayed by promises that a deposit is totally refundable. Typically, you must meet very strict refund conditions.
• Ask for proof of an agency's success. A reputable agency will provide contact information on companies that have hired models and actors trained by them.