Kids.com in minnesota took our money too. My husband and I recieved a letter in the mail stating that a company kids.com was interested in our child. We figured that one of our family members or friends sent in one of his pictures. We have been told that our son should be the next Gerber baby, but who knows?
So we called and made our appointment. We thought that if it is true then maybe we should check out kids.com "go see the professionals and see what they think".
We were put off a bit by the office, but it was explained that kids.com had just moved in. Right! Now I know they have been there taking money for some time and are still in the same office and it looks the same. We were told that our son was exactly what they were looking for. We took in about 10 snap shots that they wanted, the agent stated that he had "a great personality, was good to the camera, and that he looked just like the gerber baby (what others had said too), and that he would get work in no time". We were told of all the other children that had gotten work from kids.com with "pampers, huggies, target, parenting magazine" and a bunch of others. We were told that our son was perfect and that it would be a shame to pass up this oppertunity for his future.
So not wanting to pass up a great thing for my child's future my husband and I told her that we would think about it. Well that wasn't possible we had to make the decision right there and then. We explained that we had just moved to MN and that funds were tight.
We were offered a payment plan, but were told that until the entire $595.00 was paid his picture would not go on the site. She made us feel like we were putting his future on hold. We decided to just go for it. We were told that Star would be calling us after we had our sons pictures done with one of their photographers, that cost us $20 for sitting fees.
We are to update his picture every six months and they are to notify us when it is time to get new pictures. So it cost us $595.00 plus $40 a month for sitting fees, and we get no personal pictures from this.
Our next contact is via mail with the information on the photographer that we are to use and make an appointment. The "professional photographer" studio ended up being in a basement of her home next to the washer and dryer with all the dirty clothes on the floor. The entire "studio" consisted of a childs lawn chair, a white sheet, and her digital camera. Pictures were taken and our sons picture was up on the internet in no time. All is well.
Then about 2 months ago WCCO news station in MN comes out with a story about kids.com and what a rip off they are. I called kids.com the next day and asked for the agent, she was off that day. I ended up talking to Star the persone who was to call me with work. Who I never heard from.
I insisted on my money back, that I was not going to pay for any for their "services". (HAHA) I spent about an hour on the phone with Star listening to kids.com's side of the story. She kept reasuring me that what was shown on the news was half truths and that WCCO did not broadcast the entire story. She went as far as to say that kids.com was responding to WCCO with a letter and that she would send me a copy of the letter.
She did, I have it but I did not see anything on the news about kids.com after that. I think they sent the letters to all parents just to keep us quiet. It has been total 6 months since we have signed up with kids.com and we have recieved 2 more of the initial letters telling us that kids.com is interested in our child.
Now, I would think that they had enough of my money but I must be mistaken, they continue to send letters. I wonder if they even know that my son is already signed up with their agency. I have not heard anything else from them as far as work, and I have not recieved a letter or call to schedule more pictures.
I know that I am not alone on this. We know we have been taken for money we didn't really have, and they used our sons future to do it. I am more upset that this company is using our children as pawns to take our money. If they are so conserned about our childrens future they should give back the $595.00 and I'll bank it for his future!
If anyone else has been ripped off by kids.com please file your report so a class action suit can be filed.
Thank you
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