Skip to main content

The Consumer Council today named two modelling agencies which are the subject of a total of 37 consumer complaints involving $1.5 million.

  • 1997.06.10

The Consumer Council today named two modelling agencies which are the subject of a total of 37 consumer complaints involving $1.5 million.

According to the complainants, they were approached in the streets by representatives of the agencies with the promise of a job suitable for them.

Once they were in the premises of the agency, they were persuaded to pay charges for production of photo-portfolio, training courses and manager's fee. The amounts of money paid by the complainants varied ranging from $4,900 to as much as $155,000.

Of the 37 complainants, only 12 had piece jobs arranged for them that paid from $800 to $4,000 which fell far short of the promise the agencies made in the first place.

Also the contracts which they were asked to sign in the agencies were found to be at variance with the oral representation of the staff. The complainants then decided to seek help from the Consumer Council.

The Council has received these complaints since February this year and intervened to obtain redress from the agency. The Council was subsequently able to seek refund in 3 cases totalling $57,000. The Council has also referred the cases to the police for further investigation.

The agencies in question were identified as :

  • Golden Chance International Development Production (Group) Ltd.
    18/F., Goldmark
    502 Hennessy Road
    Causeway Bay
    Hong Kong
    Involving 30 complaints tolling $1,280,000
  • Golden Chance International Education Training Centre Ltd.
    18/F., Century Square
    1-13 D'Aguilar Street Central
    Hong Kong
    Involving 7 complaints totalling $220,000

Complaints against modelling agencies have risen sharply this year. While there were 203 cases last year, the Council has already received 227 cases for the first 5 months of this year.

Potential job seekers or people aspiring to stardom one day should be wary when approached by such an agency especially when asked to pay money for various purposes.