Highway *******

<p>Upon referral by a colleague, I contacted Professional Kids to register my son. I took him for an audition and within a week or so, they contacted me advising me that my son was accepted to represent their agency for camera and/or work related to the film industry. Upon acceptance, he was expected to attend a compulsory training course for which I was required to pay R1200. I was advised that this would include professional photos for his portfolio. He was required to attend 3 saturday 1 hour sessions for training. One of the days would be to take photos.</p> <p><br /> </p> <p>On 6 June 2016 at 14:08, Pro Kids ********** <p>Hi Renee</p> <p> </p> <p>Yes he can still join us. Please have his locks down, we normally notify mums a weekend before photo day.</p> <p> </p> <p>Kind Regards,</p> <p>Professional Kids</p> <p><br /> I requested on the first day, when this would be done and I was advised that I would be informed in due course but that it would probably be the last Saturday.</p> <p> </p> <p>The reason I required notice was because I had started my sons dreadlocks a few months earlier. The dreadlocks were tied up and I asked them via email with pictures of both looks, which they would prefer for his photo session. They rep**** that they would prefer it down, to which I advised I would need sufficient notice to ensure this was done. I then focussed on doing his hair in time for the last session, since no one had told me other wise.</p> <p><br />On the last day, he was dressed and his hair completed for his session. When I enquired, before I left him for the last training day, about the photos, I was advised that the photos were taken the previous week. When I raised objection to this I was treated like an imbiscile and advised that it did not matter.</p> <p><br />After the training session, I asked if I could see the photos, and was shown one photo in which my son looked horrific. When I once again brought up the fact that this was not of a good standard, I was told not to stress about it.</p> <p><br />I was unhappy with the way the owner of the company and teacher of the sessions with the kids dealt with me and dismissed the concept that the photo was of a poor standard. I later wrote an email to her, to clarify my understanding that I would have been given sufficient notice to ensure the best photos. Her reaction was unprofessional and irritated with my comments but offered me another day to bring my son for his photos.</p> <p><br />When I wanted to confirm the date she responded saying she would advise if anything changed but since this did not clarify anything with regard to the date I asked if this meant the date provided was tentative? Within a few days she called me on my mobile. I was unavailable to answer and she left a rude message on my phone. I called her back and when she heard it was me, she became abusive and proceeded to shout and scream at me over the phone.</p> <p><br />In this she told me that she would pay me the R1200 back and did not ever want to see or hear from me again. To this I agreed and refused to lower myself to a screaming match. I was courteous in my dealings and was not rude to her in anyway. And so began my request for my promised refund. I emailed her my banking details on 27 July 2016. She emailed me one more time after this outlining how professional she is and how she does not understand how with her many years in the industry, she had never been so insulted by anyone. I have since withdrawn my son from her agency and taken all his documentation that was with her, I did not get a copy of the 1 photo that she showed me, inspite of the R1200 including photos (plural) that has been paid to her.</p> <p>I have since continued to request the refund which up to now, has not been refunded. I felt it is my duty for people to know what they are letting themselves in for with this agency. They will take your money, pretend to train your child or in my case ruin his natural smile with their training, take shoddy unprofessional photos and treat you like you have not rights when it comes to the 'service' they are providing and the ridiculous amount of money they expect you to pay for it. I have been completely dismayed at the way they have treated us, when all I asked was for my son's photos to be of a good standard and inspite of my efforts to ensure that, it was not important to them.</p> <p><br />I have since registered my son with another agency, who charged R350 including photos and he has since been to 3 auditions. We were received professionally and have been treated professionally since my initial enquiry with the agency.</p> <p><br />Professional kids is a money making **** and considering there are at least 3 classes per weekend for the 3 weeks in the month that these classes are run, with at least 5 kids per class....15 kids x R1200 = R18000 minimum per month seems like alot of money for nothing... the agency will still make 25% per job the children make which is a substantial amount of money considering the parents have to pay so much money to give the agency the privilege of representing the children.</p> <p><br />I have not received a receipt or invoice for this money to date!</p> <p><br />I will continue to spread the word about this agency as I promised the owner I would since she felt the way she has treated me is well within her rights and the fact that she offered to return my money without me even requesting it, and has not refunded it as she said she would has forced me to ensure that as many people as possible hear about how this agency runs its business.</p>