Elle Model Management
To Whom It May Concern:
Could you tell me if you know anything about ELLE Model
Management in Miami, Florida?
The director is Karen Blake and the website is www.ellemodels.com.
Phone number is 305-534-7110.
Ms. Karen Blake gave my daughter a card in the mall
and asked her to call.
When my daughter called, Ms. Blake made arrangements
for photos for my daughter for a "discounted rate" (according
to Ms. Blake) of $300.
My daughter, Ms. Blake, and her photographer were to
meet in a park in Hollywood, Florida, a few days later.
Of course, I insisted my daughter did not go meet strangers
in a park even though she is 20 years old and old enough
to make her own decisions.
Thankfully, she was willing to cancel this appointment
until I find out more about "Elle Model Management."
Please let me know what you know about this company.
Is it in any way associated with Elle magazine?
In the meantime I was given another name of a company
from a friend of a friend who models.
This second company that seems more legitimate is called
Avenue Productions, Inc. (website www.avemodels.com).
Could you also tell me what you know about this company?
Thank you for your time in this matter. I would appreciate
any info you can provide.
J.E.
J.,
Most likely Elle Model Management is not related to
Elle magazine.
Not familiar with Elle Model Management in FL, only
the Elle Model Management in CA. However, the CA BBB
says the one there moved... Did they move to FL?
Interestingly, your daughter was quickly propositioned
to get photos, and the BBB record for the ELLE Model
Management in CA said the problem or issue there was
photos.
The ellemodels.com website didn't load when tried, but
the domain record for ellemodels.com confirmed the owner.
However, it was only registered in 2002.
There was only one Elle Model Management in the national
BBB database:
- BBB
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- Elle Model Management
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- Bureau File Experience
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- Mail sent to this company was returned by the post
office as "moved; left no forward address," "forward
order has expired," or "unable to locate." The
Bureau cannot trace addresses of companies or principals.
General information is available upon request which
may assist you.
-
- We rate this company as having an unsatisfactory
business performance record based on a pattern of unanswered
complaints alleging the company fails to provide promised
services, and poor quality photos.
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- The company has advised the Bureau they require no
advance fees for services. However, customers have
reported the company does require an advance fee ranging
from $500-$750.
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- A 15% commission is then deducted from model earnings
as payment for services provided. The company responded
to one complaint by advising a job had been procured
for the client. All other complaints are unanswered.
-
- We believe this company acts as an agency and would
be required to obtain a talent agency license. According
to the Department of Industrial Relations, as of 2/2/2001,
this company has not complied with state licensing
requirements.
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- For more information, visit their website at www.dir.ca.gov or
call (415) 703-4846.
The BBB in CA said: "We believe this company acts
as an agency and would be required to obtain a talent
agency license."
In FL there are similar talent agency license requirements.
An online search for Elle Model Management in the online
FL agency license database offered no results.
Avenue Productions, Inc., on the other hand, had an
accessible website, and its claims of being in business
since 1991 and having a talent agency license checked
out at the FL state license database. (Licensure Date:
08/16/1991; Expires: 05/31/2004).
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