Mint Models Agency Scam? / Review of Mint Modelling on Scam Model Agencies
Questions about Mint Models Modelling Agency , Neptune photo studios review, Mint modelling agencies complaints, UK model portfolios, UK modelling scam refunds.
Mint Models may appear from their website to be a model agency in London but they are run by Neptune Photographic studios. Mint Models are breaking the UK Data Protection Act by collecting information on models when they are not registered with the ICO. How to get a refund of your deposit with Mint Models/Form Models/ Neptune studios
The Form Models website claims Form Models are not taking on new models. This is a con - FORM MODELS / MINT MODELS are not an agency and NEVER take on models!!
"Mint Models is run by Neptune photo studios. The advice from Mint Models appears purely designed to sell you a portfolio from their studios."
What if I've been Accepted by Mint Models for Portfolio Test Photo shoot at Neptune Studios in London?
Neptune studios in London are a legitimate photo studio. Neptune Studios run Mint Models website which some people claimed was a scam model agency but it is not a model agency at all. As they are not an agency they cannot decide if you are suitable for modelling. Your only suitability is being able to pay for a portfolio not your looks. Remember you do not need a portfolio to apply to a legitimate modelling agency.
Although all the mention on Mint Models website is for FREE services the portfolio shoot with Mint Models at Neptune Studios is not free or a test shoot. You have to pay £50 deposit and have to pay another £140 fee if you are cancel or are unable to attend the shoot. The £50 deposit is used to pay towards the portfolio you buy which may be hundreds of pounds as this mother found out when she took her daughter to Neptune Studios and was charged £500.
If you want portfolio photos as prints or CD you will have to pay for the photos you want and this could be substantial - we have heard from models who have paid up to £1000 for photos at some London studios.
Can I get a refund of the £50 deposit money I paid to Mint Modelling at Neptune Studios?
Under the UK Distance Selling laws Mint Models / Neptune Studios are legally obliged to refund your deposit of you want to cancel within 7 days of making the booking. They may tell you it is not covered as it is a leisure activity but they are clearly claiming to offer you a service to get you work as a model which is covered under the laws. If Neptune studios refuse you can speak to your bank, to Trading Standards or Citizens Advice to help.
"You do not need to buy a portfolio to apply to model agencies. The advice from Mint Models/Neptune studios is not correct."
Who would you believe to tell the truth about fake model agencies?
A company with high pressure sales staff on commission trying to sell you a portfolio at an inflated place that will say anything in order to get a sale
Or
Someone with industry experience giving advice that portfolio is not needed to apply to agencies
Consistent advice warning potential models of scams and backed up by industry advice from genuine model agencies
One of the administrators running the largest UK Modelling website (Purestorm.com)
A proven track record of naming scam model agencies over the last 5 years (Edge, Replay, Dynamic, Zebra etc)
Agencies named scams claimed to be genuine but have since stopped trading and left models seriously out of pocket with no work
Are Mint Models legitimate? Complaints about Mint Models? Do Mint Models get any work? How much do Mint Models pay?
Mint Models are not a model agency so they cannot get you any work. Mint Models will not pay you for any work; you have to pay them for the photo shoot at Neptune Studios in London.
Mint Models/Neptune Studios do not publish any prices for the photos or CDs on their websites so it would be sensible to ask prices before agreeing to a shoot to avoid wasting time and avoid being scammed by high pressure sales techniques.
Why are you putting up information about Mint Models / Neptune Studios? Is it to get you work?
Absolutely not. It is of no business benefit to us as our advice to models is that you do not need to pay for a portfolio to apply to a model agency. Companies such as Mint Models / Neptune Studios are in the business of selling you a portfolio, they cannot make you a model as they are not an agency. If you want to book a portfolio shoot for fun then go ahead but it is not needed to apply for modelling.
Our only interest is to stop young models being ripped off. We have seen too many horror stories of people paying hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds to fake model agencies to become models only to have their dreams destroyed by these companies. Despite the personal attacks to our directors from scam model agencies that this information has caused we only want to stop potential models being ripped off.
Should a UK Model Agency be Registered under the Data Protection Act?
A UK model agency collects data on the models that apply to them and those they represent. This is personal data as defined by the Data Protection Act so any UK model agency or company like Neptune Studios /Mint Models must be registered with the Information Commission (ICO).
Mint Models are NOT registered under the Data Protection Act and are breaking the law by collecting information on models. This means that your personal data could be at risk as they do not comply with the requirements of the UK data protection laws - would you want your personal details like mobile phone, email, date of birth and credit cards kept by a company that is breaking the law?
Mint Models/Form Models are not registered under the Data Protection Act as of Jan 2012 so are breaking the law. Neptune studio privacy policy is "
If you are looking for information about diesel models, also known as diesel modelling agency in London then this page by Reputable Model Agencies has some helpful warnings here as does the named and shamed page on Alba Models.
How much does the copyright cost for modelling photos?
Some fake model agencies are now claiming that their shoots are free but that you need to pay up to £800 for the copyright of the photos. This is completely untrue and is just an excuse to charge you for the photo shoot without saying so. You do not need to own the copyright of photos to use them in your portfolio. Most genuine professional photographers would never sell the copyright of their photos except for a very large fee. We do not sell copyright of our photos and it has never caused any problems for our models. You can read more about their tactics for selling photo shoot copyright here
"Make sure you check the price of any photos before handing over money for a deposit/shoot and find out how you get your deposit back. UK models is run by Neptune photo studios so their aim is to sell photoshoots."
Neptune Studios/ Mint Models address is 23 york road, Waterloo, Lambeth, London SE1 7NJ
Is Neptune Studios in London a scam?
Neptune studios in London are a legitimate photo studio. They run Mint Models as well as Form Models which is not a model agency and only appears to exist to get potential models to attend modelling portfolio shoots at Neptune studios that they own.
We were asked "I've been called up today by Form models, and they've asked me to go down to London with my parents so they can take some photos of me, is Neptune Studios a scam? They say they like my look,and have worked with various popstars. Were a bit dubious about going down because you have to pay £50 to get the photos done, you get it back but you shouldn't pay anything to modelling agencies!Does Anyone know if their a respectable company?"
The answer is that Form models are not an agency. They want you to go to their studios in London called Neptune Studios in Waterloo for some photos that you have to pay for. The £50 is only a deposit, it is not the price of the portfolio which can be hundreds of pounds. Mint Models/Neptune have not worked with popstars but one of their stylists or photographers may have worked with a celebrity at some point in the past.
Form models is not an agency so your information is correct: don't pay agencies but also don't pay photo studios that pretend to be agencies either.Find out the total costs of any shoot including how much each photo costs, how many prints are included and if all images are provided on CD If a model does not turn up or cancels with less than 48 hours notice will incur a cancellation fee of up to the full cost of the shoot if it had been paid. In most circumstances this is limited to the studio cost/booking fee of £140. You will be invoiced for this amount if you no-show for your booked shoot or will forfeit your booking fee if you fail to turn up.
Mint Models is run by Neptune Ltd. The director of Neptune studios is below:
Name: Duncan Delves
Organization: Neptune Ltd
Address 1: 23 York Rd
Address 2: Waterloo
City: London
State: UK
Zip: SE17NJ
Country: GB
Email: oliver@formmodels.co.uk
A test shoot or TFP/TFCD session can last for around an hour depending on the looks we achieve and the number of pictures taken. We can also arrange for a professional makeup artist to complete a stunning makeover for an additional fee. Details are available on request.
UK Model Scams, Warnings and UK Model Safety Advice
More advice on avoiding scams and general model help can be found here.
Unfortunately the modelling world and associated industries are full of traps and scams that can catch out the unwary potential model. Please make sure you follow basic advice here and on sites such as model safety to avoid become a victim of a scam that could cost you money or risk your safety. We have met models who have sadly fallen for many of these scams please don't add to the list of people affected. We have listed photographer/agency as an interchangeable term below as we have now come across a number of so-called agencies that were just a front for a single photographer. You should also not assume that the person on email is who they say or even the same sex as the name they use. We have seen examples of emails answered by a female name that proved to be from a male photographer.
Received an scam email offering a Fashion Shoot for £3000 pounds for well known brand such as Diesel?
Unfortunately this type of email is a scam to get your details and then for you to cash a fake cheque for them. Well known brands such as Diesel or Coca Cola and genuine agencies will not email potential models directly. This kind of fee is not the level that would be offered to anyone directly off the internet by email, it just doesn't happen like that. The scammers are taking advantage of people wanting to believe that they can make it and have been selected for their looks. The brands, email addresses and amounts may vary but the basis of the scam is the same. Agencies and well known brands do NOT use yahoo or hotmail email addresses to contact potential models. If in any doubt contact the company directly to check if a message is genuine but do not reply to the message and above all DO NOT send any of your details or you will be bombarded with further scams as the scammers sell your details on.
Facebook UK Model Scams : Photographer or UK Model Agency Contact
We have been made aware that individuals are posing as Photo3/Models3 employees to scam potential models on Facebook. We only ever use Photo3 email addresses - not Hotmail or Yahoo accounts and do not request photos to be sent by email or via MSN. Please contact us via our contact page to alert us to any scams using our name.
UK Model Agency Fees
Some modelling websites such as Mint Models Agency appear to be model agencies but are not. Most top agencies are very difficult to join so it is a real buzz to be told that an agency want to sign you. Unfortunately some scams prey on this and will accept anyone who is happy to pay to join which is the first warning sign that an agency is not genuine.
How to complain about scam/fake/con UK model agencies?
If you believe you have been scammed by a company pretending to be a UK model agency and offering you work if you go for a photo shoot with them which then turns out to be a photo studio selling you a modelling photo shoot then the first place is to contact the company involved to ask for a refund for being missold.
If you have booked via the internet then the distance selling regulations should apply which mean you have a 7 day cooling off period to obtain a refund. With many of these companies the small print may well say that they are not a model agency and will not get you work which means that you need to be very clear what you are applying for. It is not a scam if the company has given you information and you haven't read it, although most people would consider it to be a con or a fake and want to complain about their treatment being conned out of money.
If the company do not resolve your complaint then you can contact the Trading Standards department for the council covering the area where the scam/con took place. For example many of the photo studios operating in London pretending to be a model agency would come under Westminster Council. You can find the contact details for registering your complaint with trading standards by searching the council details via Google or Bing.
Scam and Fake UK Model Agencies
Ensure that the modelling agency is genuine and has a track record. I have seen recent examples of a so-called agency site where content has been stolen from other sites (see comments from Banana Glamour on the illegal use of their content by Bluebell Models) and judge whether you would work with someone who acts in such a manner. You should judge the style and content of the website and consider whether it gives a professional impression to potential clients. If not then proceed with caution. Some internet sites that appear to be genuine agencies are not - watch out for phrases such as "we are not a modelling agency as we do not find models work" which may be hidden in the small print.
Some makeover shoot companies that appear to trade as model agencies suggest that you have "been specially selected for a photo shoot" which some people allege could mislead you into believing that you have been chosen by an agency when they are just a photo studio only interested in selling you a portfolio photo shoot.
Just because someone claims to be a photographer or agency doesn't mean that they are - the internet makes it very easy to hide behind aliases so please check to avoid the scams, cons and rip offs.
We have no connections with any sites listed or links provided on this page. We recommend that you make up your own mind by asking relevant questions to ensure any information is relevant to your circumstances. Information may contain change over time or contain errors and should not be relied upon to make any decisions.
We are often asked modelling portfolio questions by potential models who want to know more about modelling and portfolio photo shoots so compiled this Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) guide.
Our pictures are supplied to Celebrity Pictures photo agency. This page has details of model agency scams and information if you need to complain after being ripped off by bogus agencies.
Our main work is with lingerie/glamour models but we do also work with models for portfolio fashion shoots.
