Ipop International representatives came to the our city for a convention to recruit young actors and models to participate in their conference. I heard an advertisement on a local radio station for modeling and acting for children so I called. The person I called immediately scheduled me and my son to come in for the presentation and audition.
We went to the Hotel where they showed a video and the owner talked about the industry. Soon after my son was to read a short advertisement as an audition to one of the representatives. He did then later that night I received a call from a strange area coded phone number that was apparently from the rep. He left no message but the next day called again and asked us to come back for a second audition saying that my son had been chosen out of several for the program which was basically supposed to be a month long workshop after New Years.
That next day we returned for the "second audition" which the guy didn't even care about all he cared about was getting my cc. #and in a very rushed manner the representative told us my son was going to receive a scholarship because I couldnt afford to pay $1900 for the workshops. He said I HAD TO PAY $500 up front to take advantage of the opportunity so I gave him my debit card number and signed a paper for him to charge my card. HE DID NOT EXPLAIN TO ME THAT IT WAS NON-REFUNDABLE.
I went to my car to read the papers he provided more carefully and my son was very excited about the glamor of the opportunity so I was torn about the amount it cost. That same day after I left I called the number on the papers they gave me and it was a voice message machine. I left several messages that I did not want my son to participate and I wanted a refund immediately after doing some research online about the company and realizing that their website DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A VALID ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER to contact the company.
Their website is http://www.ipopconvention.com/contactus.html and their disconnected phone number is 888-819-ipop. Since I have done some research to find an alternate website called www.ipopop.net. I sent an email to the email address where we received the audition information from and said I would make a complaint with the BBB and Attorney General if I didnt hear back from them and I still never heard back from them so I stopped payment and disputed the $500 charge on my debit card. It is now February and their conventions just have come to a close in my area and the provisional credit to my bank card has been denied because I signed the papers.
I NEVER RECEIVED ANY SERVICES OR PARTICIPATED and was strong-armed and manipulated into giving them my debit card information in the first place. After reading the papers that the representative made me sign in a hurry to push me out the door I read the fine print that said because of the nature of the program a spot is held for the child and there are no refunds.
While I did sign this paper, I was not given the information that it contained and was hurried into reading it later and just signing it. I want to make everyone aware that while some children may have participated in this scam as everyone on the internet is calling it, my child did not YET I WAS STILL CHARGED. Any company that is legitimate has a real website with real contact information and does not practice unethical business practices such as manipulating consumers to pay for services they will never receive.
I called the SAME DAY to let the company know I could not and did not want my son to participate and they were unresponsive. What ethical company does not give you any time period to think over spending inordinate amounts of money? The company had more than enough time to fill the spot my child would have taken if they would have responded to me on the same day. I would like to urge ANYONE who has been manipulated or taken advantage of financially by this company to file a complaint with the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU like I did. I have seen tons of complaints on other websites about this company but the BBB grades the company with a B - soley because they have only had 2 complaints.
Unless this business changes their policies and starts doing business in an ethical manner they DO NOT DESERVE to have such a grade I would give them a D at best. And I have to say that while some people have the money to "invest" or throw away or whatever the case may be on acting/modeling class for their children (even though it may be a dead end) some of us do not have the resources to be throwing money away or have it taken from us for no good reason. The representative should at least have explained once the $500 was charged to my account there was no turning back, or they should at least give people 24 hours to decide.
I hope no other consumers get taken advantage of by this company like I did. Like I said before please go file a complaint Ipop International representatives came to the Santa Fe Lodge for a convention to recruit young actors and models to participate in their conference. I heard an advertisement on 102.9 for modeling and acting for children so I called. The person I called immediately scheduled me and my son to come in for the presentation and audition. We went on December 17th to The Santa Fe Lodge Hotel where they showed a video and the owner talked about the industry.
Soon after my son was to read a short advertisement as an audition to one of the representatives. He did then later that night I received a call from a strange area code 917 phone number that was apparently from the rep. He left no message but the next day called again and asked us to come back for a second audition saying that my son had been chosen out of several for the program which was basically supposed to be a 2 week workshop after New Years. On December 18th we returned and in a very rushed manner the representative told us my son was going to receive a scholarship because I couldnt afford to pay $1900 for the workshops.
He said I HAD TO PAY $500 up front to take advantage of the opportunity so I gave him my debit card number and signed a paper for him to charge my card. He did not explain to me that it was non-refundable. That same day after I left I called the number on the papers they gave me and it was a voice message machine. I left several messages that I did not want my son to participate and I wanted a refund immediately after doing some research online about the company and realizing that their website DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A VALID ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER to contact the company.
Their website is http://www.ipopconvention.com/contactus.html and their disconnected phone number is
888-819-ipop
I sent an email to the email address where we received the audition information from and said I would make a complaint with the BBB and Attorney General if I didnt hear back from them and I still never heard back from them so I stopped payment and disputed the $500 charge on my debit card. It is now February and their conventions just have come to a close in New Mexico and the provisional credit to my bank card has been denied for what reason, I dont know since I NEVER RECEIVED ANY SERVICES OR PARTICIPATED and was strong-armed and manipulated into giving them my debit card information in the first place. After reading the papers that the representative made me sign in a hurry to push me out the door I read the fine print that said because of the nature of the program a spot is held for the child and there are no refunds.
While I did sign this paper, I was not given the information that it contained and was hurried into reading it later and just signing it. I want to make everyone aware that while some children may have participated in this scam as everyone on the internet is calling it, my child did not YET I WAS STILL CHARGED. Any company that is legitimate has a real website with real contact information and does not practice unethical business practices such as manipulating consumers to pay for services they will never receive.
I called the SAME DAY to let the company know I could not and did not want my son to participate and they were unresponsive. This is grounds for legal action. I hope no other consumers get taken advantage of by this company like I did at http://www.bbb.org/southern-nevada/business-reviews/modeling-and-talent-agencies/international-presentation-of-performers-in-las-vegas-nv-90008766/directions if you have a problem with this companies business practices as well!!!
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