Rip Off Report: The Extra Factory

[Chaffeurmum]

Everyone,

Check out this link: http://www.ripoffreport.com/talent-scou ... -d7dcd.htm

Report: EXTRA FACTORY
Reported By: A R (BIRMINGHAM United States of America)
EXTRA FACTORY 'JOHN' EXTRAFACTORY.CO.UK- THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY! THEY WON'T OFFER YOU ANY WORK! Internet

Submitted: Thursday, July 08, 2010
Last posting: Saturday, August 07, 2010
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EXTRA FACTORY

The 'so called' agency run by one guy called 'JOHN'. He offers people work within TV/Film. He charges an initial registration fee of £30.00. He also offers a GUARANTEE- We'll find you work within 6 months or your money back. Sounds nice huh? Well, the truth is you won't be offered any work! He'll happily lie and lie and lie about all the wonderful opportunities he can offer you, but he'll never
offer you any work. He won't refund your money after 6 months- JOHN will lie that he has 'offered' you work and can 'offer you more'..

He's a scammer, after your hard earned cash!

He'll also pass your details onto an photographic studio called ALT & EGO STUDIO. They'll book you in for a test shoot, which YOU have to pay for the photographs. You have to PAY for the photographs to appear on the MODEL section of the extra-factory website.

John has already scammed thousands of people, and has thousands of pounds in his bank account.

HOW DO I KNOW ALL THIS?

I was one of the unlucky ones scammed by him. Just want to warn everyone else who's thinking of joining the extra factory

WEBSITE- www.extrafactory.co.uk

RUN BY- someone called 'John'. Fake name probably.

Business address- 246-250 ROMFORD ROAD, STRATFORD, LONDON, E7 9HZ.. He uses another address in Merseyside, Liverpool.

PLEASE NOTE: I've contacted the Business Centre who owes these premises on 0208 221 4500, and they've confirmed that there is nobody by that name or company who uses the premises. They even told me that a lot of scammers use this address.

STAY WELL AWAY!!!

[ash]

does seem dodgy folks,

cannot find any registered UK company on companies house call the extrafactory or global marketing company as listed on their website.

another page lists BTW Search SEO / SEO Services UK, neither of which are registered Uk companies

Also an initial glance though his registered actors shows a lamentable lack of professionalism on insiting on professional headshot standards and poor web skills in displaying them

I will certainly give these guys a wide berth

[GypsyMumNot!]

Almost got caught myself with these people and when I questioned the £25 photographic shoot fee, which I did not want or need, this "John" (btw his surname is "Brown" according to the email I had) got very stroppy, so I stopped answering his emails and that was that.....a close shave that I think!

Glad I wasn't the only one to see thru his little scam!

[BDV]

Wearing my 'StarsInMyEyes' hat I can confirm that The Extra Factory would most certainly appear to be con artists. They also operate as International Model Agency (supposedly based in Spain). They posted listings on StarsInMyEyes about six months ago and we quickly became alerted to the fact that they were requesting fees (which they had not advertised). When we confronted them with our concerns, plus details of research we'd done they failed to respond. We also asked them to provide supporting evidence relating to the productions they claimed to be casting. A Spanish IP address was recorded when they placed listings for both The Extra Factory and IMA was in Spain. The office address used in London proved to be serviced offices to which they were not registered.

I would therefore urge anyone reading this thread to stay well clear of both The Extra Factory and IMA.

[pg]

Oh dear.

Welcome to NAPM damiansasha. It's always interesting when someone's first post is leaping in to defend a company or contradict a scam warning.

I'm afraid this is not the forum to be posting this sort of rubbish on damiansasha.

There are a lot of people who visit and contribute to this forum who have plenty of experience of the industry.

There are many scams in this business and being pushed towards a specific photography studio is a very common one. Naturally, one would expect to pay for photos, but not if you already have some! Another very common scam is being asked for (illegal) upfront registration fees.

Decent agents make their money from commission from the money earned by their clients.

There is also a very obvious ommission on/from the Extra Factory website: how on earth does someone who would like to EMPLOY all these wonderful extras and models actually get in touch with the company ?

Perhaps it would be wise for you to take your own advice

Still, if people have been put off by these scam warnings, that will mean all the more jobs available for you won't it?

[riverdancefan]

Well, it seems you are all a bench of idiots yourselves. Have you been put a gun on your head to approach the Agency ? And of course not be able to get models or extra jobs must make it quite frustrated for you all !!
I have been with them before and have had 2 jobs in the last 4 months. Ok not a lot but still. Also with this stupid remark of him sending you to this Studio, what do you guys think ? that everything in life is for free ? Of course you have to pay for your pictures duhh !!!! I mean, wake up !!
I can't believe what i read !!!! want want want free free free !!! wake up and grow up !!!!!!!!!

How rude are you?
everyone is entitled to an opinion and to voice it in a polite and informative way,
I suggest you might think about the way you phrase your posts if you want people to read them and take them seriously

[admin]

I am deleting the post by damianasha it appears to trace back to someone called johnathan. No coincedence I suspect!

[Genevieve]

Well, it seems you are all a bench of idiots yourselves.

@bench@ of idiots !!!
you'd have thought anyone defending a company would at least have proof read their post before submitting !
proof-read.. proof-read... proof-read

[Grace125]

@bench@ of idiots !!!
you'd have thought anyone defending a company would at least have proof read their post before submitting !

Haha so true! I have to say I would class myself as a chaise longue of idiocy rather than a bench- far classier

[Genevieve]

touche !

[Flosmom]

@bench@ of idiots !!!
you'd have thought anyone defending a company would at least have proof read their post before submitting !

Haha so true! I have to say I would class myself as a chaise longue of idiocy rather than a bench- far classier

We're more of a LaZboy in our house....but isn't there a delicious irony in being called an idiot by someone who posts like that? I'm rather sorry it was deleted, it gave me a giggle and I'm sure others enjoyed it too. But best that peace reigns (or rains...or reins?) I suppose.

Deb x

[Genevieve]

I am deleting the post by damianasha it appears to trace back to someone called johnathan. No coincedence I suspect!

ahem ! its the naughty chair for damianasha !

[DM01]

I have only recently been caught out by this company. Thankfully no money changed hands. I registered with the website and was sent an email telling me I had to go to a particular studio in London as this was the only studio they used. I had an email telling me this was for an 'assessment shoot' and there was no charge for this. This shoot was to validate my identity and see how I behaved in front of the camera. On arriving at the studio, I was given a short (10 minute) interview in which the photographs I had taken with me were somewhat disparaged and then I was told I could have a small portfolio of pictures done. The price of the portfolio was just under £400.00 but it would only cost me £220.00 as the balance would be charged to The Extra Factory. Alarm bells rang here as I wondered how the photographer could make that decision without contacting The Extra Factory first to confirm that this was an acceptable course of action unless they have a very close business relationship. As it was I did not have the funds available at that time otherwise, I would probably have parted with the money.
This was the end of my visit. No photo's had been taken. No shoot of any kind had taken place.

[pg]

I'm glad you managed to escape without parting with any cash. I hope you have had better experiences since.