ComplaintsforJohn Casablancas Modeling & Career Center

• Initial Complaint

  04/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This place is an absolute Scam. They reached out to me claiming that they are modeling agents (when they are scouts trying to make you sign a contract for a school) claiming I would do an audition for an opportunity to get a modeling or acting role. They then proceed to sit in front of a of a screen of actors who didn't even go to their school and sell you a fake dream. I did join one class believing it was an opportunity for an acting job and it was just a bunch of older gentlemen dancing around like toddlers screaming which I assume they sold them a fake dream as well claiming they should by makeup kits and such. I will dispute these charges till the death of me cause my contract is not valid legally because if you are lied to to sign a contract then the contract is not valid. I was told to try it out and if I didn't like it it would be 80 dollars to leave the auditioning roles , then when I left they sent me a 2000 dollar bill. I have all the texts and emails claiming that you have auditions and talent agents working for us when in fact they are scouts and a school and I will be going with legal action unless my 400 dollar payment is sent back to me.

  Business response

  04/25/2024

  We would like to thank the Better Business Bureau for the opportunity to respond to any and all thoughts,comments, concerns or inquiries from customers or prospective customers regarding our business. 
  
  While **************** claims are difficult to follow and seem quite emotionally charged, we welcome the opportunity to respond to them. Regarding the statement, they reached out to me, ************** spoke with two representatives of our company before he sat in front of a screen of actors who didnt even go to their school and sell you a fake dream. During these preliminary discussions, our representatives discussed our programs, what would happen during a virtual event he was invited to and subsequently what would happen after the virtual event. ************** obviously felt comfortable enough with those conversations to attend this virtual event. Additionally, ************** felt comfortable enough to enroll, pay money and start a class based on the information that he received during the correspondence he had with our staff members before, during and after the virtual event. Regarding the statement, I will dispute these charges till the death of me cause my contract is not valid legally because if you are lied to to sign a contract then the contract is not valid. We can confidently say ************* was not lied to when he enrolled into our programs and he understood the terms of the agreements. Attached you will find agreements and contracts that ************** personally signed that expressly and clearly state and define what he would be signing up for regarding many things that range from type of program, class times and schedule, installment plans, expectations, bookings and more.
  
  Regarding the statement, I was told to try it out and if I didn't like it it would be 80 dollars to leave the auditioning roles, then when I left they sent me a 2000 dollar bill. We are unsure what the first part of this statement means as it doesnt follow any contractual or operational procedure ************** signed or that we have, but we would like to acknowledge the part where ************** mentions being sent a $2,000 bill. This number is simply inaccurate. Per the terms of the agreement ************* signed, he owes $688. Please see the attached Enrollment Agreement and Talent Release. ************** attempted to chargeback two payments in late March, but these attempted chargeback payments were rejected on March 28, 2024 by ******** Services after their investigation. Regardless, while under no contractual obligation or duty to do so, we are willing to waive the balance that ************** owes and zero out his balance, thus absolving him of any further debt owed to our company. We will consider the matter closed unless we hear otherwise.
  
  We want to wish everyone at the Better Business Bureau a very happy and healthy spring season.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************
  

• Initial Complaint

  12/28/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  We were charged $2640.00 in order to just look at the contract for our child. We were TOLD that we wouldn't be charged, we would have 3 days to review, and if we didn't want to sign, simply notify the agents we met with, and nothing would be charged.However, we were charged on the day the contract was downloaded. We called the next day, stating we didn't want to sign and were going a different direction, and we were told that we WOULD be refunded, but it would take up to 30 days.That was on 11/22/22. Not only have we not seen ANY refund of the $2640, they don't even have the courtesy to return any texts or emails, anymore. I am therefore concerned that we will not be seeing our funds or any resolution, given their lack of communication at this point.

• Initial Complaint

  04/06/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I enrolled in **** Casablancas early February. I initially paid $295 as a beginning fee, since I agreed to pay weekly for classes costing $71. The woman I spoke to during the initial Zoom meeting told me that I would pay on a weekly basis before I attended class on Sunday. I was unable to attend any other classes and realized that it iS alot of money compared to other accredited courses on acting. After not appearing in class, I received text messages saying to call ****** or I will be discontinued from the program. I called ****** and told her that I have not yet decided if I want to continue but to not discontinue me yet. She said that it was OK and to contact her once I decided to continue and we would reschedule the classes that I didnt take. I received a letter 2 weeks ago after not attending 5 classes and was given a letter saying I was withdrawn and a **** for around $365 in the mail! The amount adds up to the classes that I didnt even take! I was initially told that I would pay on a weekly basis as I took the class...week by week. I am not obligated to pay this. I tried to call the number provided but noone answers or calls back after leaving a few messages. Since I don't want to end ** in any collections for this, I paid $10 just so these people don't try anything. I was never ever told that I had to pay for classes that I didnt take!

• Initial Complaint

  07/06/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Hello me and my mother ************************************* payed for the classes at **** Casablancas but after we payed we never got called back , they have been taking money out of our card every week or so and I havent even been attending classes , Id like to opt out of **** Casablancas and get my money back . Thank u

  Business response

  07/19/2021

  We are in receipt of the correspondencefrom ****************** regarding her enrollment in our program.  ****************** did not start her classes and didnot notify us of her desire to discontinue her contract for classes asrequired.  She did pay a portion ofregistration fee to hold a spot in class.  ************ statement that other money has come out of her account is simplynot true.  No additional money has beenpaid by ******************.
  

  Per the terms of the contract, if ******************* the contract within three days, her entire registration fee would havebeen refunded.  After three days, norefund is due.  The reason for this is thata slot was taken in that class and no other person could enroll. 
  

  That being said, we will allow ************* cancel her contract outside the cancellation period and offer her a refundof the $100 she has paid.   We will notrefund money she did not pay.  Assumingthis is acceptable to her and the Better Business Bureau, we will process therefund of the actual amount paid. 
  

  Sincerely,
  

  *******************
  President

  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩