Metro Photography / Apple Models review: Scam by modelling agency 100

I have also been contacted by apple models by a Flow who say's she is the new face manager. Sold me the dream about my 13 year old daughter going to be the next Cindy Crawford. I made an appointment for next friday the 11th March in london. I paid the £50 deposit flights and a hotel. I came across this page while serching for directions to get to studio. Im so glad i have. I'm disgusted in how everyone has been treated and ripped off, exspecially doing this to children. Im also shocked on how long they have been getting away with it and are still doing so. I emailed Flow about what i have read this is the reply. I will not be attending this appointment and so glad i seen all this before i took my daughter down.

Flo she was the one who sorted my test shoot funny that cos when I paid the money to them flow was no were to be seen when the lady on the phone to me from Apple models was flow I know cos she had the same accident has flow did she was claiming to be someone else an said flow now doses not work for Apple models please don't be tricked out of your money to this company has thay are a scam

Thir telling the same story to everyone This is the email I got

These are proper scammers who are an absolute disgrace, and don't care about the young girls they upset. It's basically a massive con to try get you to part with hopefully 2 grand, as I did, as they use your young child against you and pull on the heart strings, making you feel terrible. They don't return emails, just one excuse after another, and you receive absolutely nothing for your money. We got just a disc on the day and despite having receipt for everything else, haven't received anything we should have. We've got trading standards and others on the case and have even got phone recordings of conversations with them promising the world.
Reading the stories online, they definitely are working to a script, as it's almost the exact same spiel word for word.
I wish I hadn't stopped my husband and his rugby mates going down now to smash the place up.
Contact watchdog too as they're investing these vile excuses for human beings.

I went to metro photography. I was told about getting work every two weeks and I have the figure, etc or something like that. I paid a lot of money. I wasn't happy that my bag was opened without my permission. Over a year later I've had no modelling work and I've tried to get it by using different websites. I had problems getting my disc. Maybe me sending a photo of a receipt, encouraged someone to send it to me. I have a website, yet I wasn't given login details to update it. I wanted it updated several times. After one time I wanted it updated, I had an email stating about something only being for a year, but out of courtesy, they'll update it or something like that. I have joined websites for work and uploaded photos. After being at the studio, I thought I could have joined websites and uploaded photos without having to have my own website! I was in my thirties when paying for the photos and not that stupid but I fell for this. Add me to the facebook group

Abigail Podesta

I obtained a website after being at Metro Photography.

Here is content from me and Metro Photography's emails:

Me: "Can I have an option to log in and edit? I've been getting unwanted contact through the contact section. I guess members of staff won't update mywebsite anymore"

Metro Photography: " Unfortunately, there is not an option for you to edit or update your web-folio.
As previously stated, please refer back to your contact conditions."

Me: " So I'm stuck with the website exactly as it is, even though I paid for it, until The Internet stops working or other?"

Metro Photography: " This is the IT department. If you would like to make further changes to your webfolio you would have to pay an additional fee. for more information regarding this please get in contact with customercare@metrophotography.co."

I'm not aware of having paid for one year to have the website updated. Maybe it's on some paperwork I have. I have got no modelling work and now have to pay to get the website updated! Arghhh!

Same scam continues under the brand Orange modelling platform together with the Metro photography. None of the people I saw in the studio appears on the studio official website. Beware of Orange Models from now until who knows

Hi
Please add me onto the Facebook group. I have major issues with this company. They are now called orange models and they send their prospective clients to Metro photography.

Hello, I was contacted by orange models on the 13th april 2016, and I paid 100£ deposit. I was pressed to do that in half an hour. I didn't have time to find these comments, unfortunately. The day after (14th april) I asked the refund of the 100£, explaining that orange models was not clear: they didn't tell me about the expensive portfolios, it was looking like they were paying for the shoot entirely. I am a student and I can not afford such expensive portfolio, so I asked my money back. I paid by debit card and they told me they issued a cheque on the 14 april, but I have not received yet. Do you think they didn't even send it? These people play with the low self esteem and the feeling of the people. They must be stopped.

Hello, please also message me or add me to your facebook group that i have the experience with others

Hello, I was totally scammed also in 2014. They went through my suitcase and robbed my jewellery. I was told so many lies and convinced to spend a fortune on so called amazing shots. This company should be ### down.

Are Apple models and Orange models the same company? Because, I had a similar experience to many others on here.
Admittedly, I knew nothing about how the modelling industry worked so I was somewhat impressed with Orange as they seemed highly reputable. Furthermore, their reviews had consistently been overwhelmingly positive. This reinforced my view of them as a legitimate agency. After submitting some photographs to their website, I received an email from the agency who informed me that they liked my look and that I had potential as a model. They told me that I should get in contact with one of their co-workers, called 'Chico' order to progress. Although, I was a bit tentative, I was excited at the prospect of being accepted as one of their Clients so I contacted him later that week

My correspondence with 'Chico' was successful. He was (perhaps superficially) charming, engaging and friendly. He flattered my appearance and personality and he even ended up “hoping” that I was taken on by ‘Orange’ because he “felt I deserved it”. He gave me an initial appointment date of 25/02/2016 although he later changed it to 06/03/2016 claiming he had made a mistake. He informed me this on our second call ( I did not get paid till the very next day and he called me to arrange the payment of the supposedly free £50 deposit). Although this was the first of many red flags, I ignored this feeling, believing that I was being nervous and judgemental. I also received an email informing me that I would be required to purchase a portfolio, required by all models if they wanted to progress in the modelling world (however, they told me not to worry about it until the day of the shoot).

On the day of the shoot, I was understandably apprehensive: Chico had informed me that the make-up artists and photographers that would be working on me had previously worked with magazines such as Vogue and GQ and TV Shows such as Britain’s Next Top Model and The X Factor, so I wanted to look and feel my best.

My first impressions of Hammersley House were honestly disappointing. The building appeared rather shabby and not at all what I would expect from a top modelling "Platform" although the inside was better presented; however I put these thoughts out of my mind and tried to focus on the career heights I could reach from my association with Orange.

The male receptionist greeted my father and I in a respectful and friendly manner although he asked me if my application was made through Orange or Apple. He later informed my father that he had to leave for the time being given that there was very little room in the building and I was also old enough to be there on my own. We were then ready to move onto makeup and my first shoot.

The makeup and hairstyles I received were frankly disappointing and the photos were extremely unflattering as a result. I was provided with second-hand jeans and jewellery on top of the outfits I had brought. The photographer and one of my hairstylists were Eastern European and seemed to have little command of English. The quality of their work suggested to me that they were not qualified photographers. The same goes for my makeup artist who possessed limited skills and seemed only recently qualified, if at all. Photo shoots were taken both indoors and outside in the cold. At the time, however, I believed that this was merely standard procedure.

After this ordeal, I was told to speak to the manager named Ade. They wanted to speak to both myself and my father even though they had sent him away and he was unsure of the time I would be ready to go. So it was Ade and I alone in a darkened office for roughly an hour. He informed me that I had been successful, but I could not progress without a suitable portfolio, which cost close to £2000. Although Ade appeared friendly, in hindsight, I would suggest that he used flattery and coercion in order to get me to acquiesce with his view. Although he emphasised that it was entirely my decision, he did make it seem as though I was silly to even consider turning the offer down over price. The darkened room which was lit only by the glow of his computer screen did not help matters. Given that I am on a student budget, it would have been impossible for me to accept the offer. So he offered me a “deal” in which I would start by paying the smallest price £150 (the £50 being my booking deposit) and then build it up through bank transfer over a period of three months. However, this was still too much for me. He barely gave me any time to consider and when I asked if I could leave the room to have time alone to think about it, he asked me why, then refused saying that the decision had to be made that day or else my photographs would be destroyed. When he began to stress how much more I could be earning as a model and all but saying that I would be stupid to miss out on this opportunity, I signed the contract. Although the photos were unflattering and I hated the situation I was in, I viewed it as a stepping stone to a modelling career. Additionally, I felt pressured and rushed into making a hasty poorly-thought out decision. Ade then informed me that I would not receive the photos until the money had been paid in full. So I was left, to return home with an empty Portfolio case.

I have since been in contact with my bank and cancelled the recurring payments, but of course, this is not enough as I am still bound to Metro Photography by contract which may be enforced by court of law. Through research online, we discovered that a law had been passed in 2015 that states that a contract signed on a proprietor’s business premises does not allow for a 14 day cooling-off period and can not be cancelled. I am unsure as to what steps to take now.

I would also like to add that Metro photography and apple models are con artists. They lie and cheat vulnerable people by telling them they are just what the modeling world is looking for. Julian conned me out of a large sum of money and my son is distraught that I lost this money trying to get him on the modeling ladder. Julian told us that my son had won one of ten places on a contract with Apple models and that work was guaranteed with his looks and natural ability. We thought the photo shoot went well until we showed the portfolio to several other companies - genuine ones - and they all said the photos were terrible - and a total rip off. The quality of the photos was terrible, the shots poor and the composition terrible and as for the lighting - well no words can describe just how bad it is. A two year old could take better pictures than the supposed vogue expert. We have emailed and called Apple models literally hundreds of times - no luck and no work. DO NOT USE THESE TWO COMPANIES UNDER AND CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY WILL NOT FIND YOU WORK AND YOU WILL LOOSE ANY MONEY THAT YOU GIVE TO THEM. THE MONEY THEY MAKE IS GAINED DISHONESTLY AND SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO STOP THIS. I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THEM. DO NOT ALL INTO THE TRAP WE DID. PLEASE LOOK ELSEWHERE. THERE ARE GENUINE COMPANIES OUT THERE THAT WILL HELP YOU REALISE YOUR DREAMS BUT NOT METRO PHOTOGRAPHY OR APPLE MODELS

Good news for all of us. The Times published and article yesterday - Saturday all about Apple and Orange Models. ALL BAD. Take a look. The article is damming and trading standards will now investigate. The Times have handed over all their evidence. Watch this space things will now move forward. The other papers will get wind of this and hopefully take it all the way. Metro will also be investigated and we might now get our money back.
Has anyone heard of London Fashion Models? Are they also involved in a scam. Please let me know. Thanks.

I really wish I had seen this a few days ago! Needless to say I have been scammed too, and now face having the pay 4 monthly instalments of £293, to those who said they got their money back how did you go about this ? I actually emailed customer services asking if I can change my package to the £500, for 10 photos deal as I do actually want some of the photos.
The only reason I went ahead with signing in the agreement was because they told me if I did not pay a deposit they would delete all of my photos. There were also some loop holes, Orange Models never told me that since I was 19 I needed a parent present and when I showed up I was repeatedly asked where my parent was and was almost told I would not be allowed my deposit back.
I have read that some people simply cancelled their credit cards and they stopped sending them emails. If anyone has any stories or would like to give me some advice please please email me on ChiNwabuoku@live.co.uk, I will respond instantly ! Also to the commenter above I have heard of London Fashion Models and have a 'test shoot' with them next week. Needless to say after this ordeal I will simply show up with my mother, do the shoot and decline any portfolio options afterwards and walk away happily with my deposit. If anyone can be of any help at all PLEASE contact me!

I also have gone through the same scenario photo shoot flagged into handing money over total scammers they need bringing to justice every one should turn up and boycott the place, £300 down I'm gutted

Has anyone actually succeeded to getting their money back since? I have gone through the same ordeal and am trying to recover £800. I didn't want to give any more money and haven't yet got my portfolio. I have contacted CAB and written a letter. Metro Photography have sent me a text to call them about it but I am going to speak to CAB again before I do so. I'm afraid to speak to them incase they put legal pressure on me to abide and Im a student who cant afford a lawsuit. The only reason I invested in the first place was to get out of my financial difficulties. Can they actually file a lawsuit on me if I choose not to pay?

Sold me a dream and then ripped me off for 1300 pounds. Everyone whos had issues with this company please please please contact Trading Standards! Something needs to be done about these horrid scams.

Hi Guys, I also attended a photo shoot with this company, same procedure i contacted Apple Models, this was back in December 2015 i believe, Apple models then sent me for a photo shoot with Metro Photography, the women i believe i spoke to was Kay Saunders and i believe she was one of the managers, and she told me what was going to happen on the day, but again like everyone else i was pressured into purchasing the photos but sensed something wasn't quite right, luckily enough i only decided to take one photo, so the deposit of 50.00 i used that to take the photo . I f i had done my research properly i would never of went, it all started by me getting a phone call from Apple Models telling me, that i had a good look so they arranged the photo shoot for me with metro photography .i will never use them again . I remember another occasion i applied to orange Models, and again they said i would have to go for a photo shoot with Metro Photography, but once they mentioned Metro, that was it i never bothered . I still never give up i am always trying, but i have done my research, and will never pay any agency who asks me for money . be careful guys .but good luck . Alex