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Oct 5, 2007 7:45 pm US/Central
Parents Upset Over Kids Modeling Agency
by Darcy Pohland
(WCCO)
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Jodi Yanz paid $600 to Kids.com to be the personal management company for her son Max, because she thought it would be a good investment.
CBS
They sell parents a chance to get kids into modeling, but many parents are saying Kids.com rarely delivers.
Three years after the I-TEAM exposed the company, the doors are locked and the phones disconnected.
Kids.com markets itself as a personal management firm for kids.
For a hefty fee, it promises to post children's pictures on it's Web site and then deal with anyone who contacts them to book the kids for jobs.
Jodi Yanz paid $600 to Kids.com to be the personal management company for her son Max, because she thought it would be a good investment.
"Like we'd get all these jobs for him. Its a 5-year-contract, so within 5 years we'd for sure make up the money it cost," said Yanz.
Max did get one job but "that was actually through Caryn Agency," Yanz said.
Just days ago, Yanz took Max in to a photographer to update his picture for the Kids.com Web site.
"She won't do pictures anymore because she sends pictures of kids (to the company) and it bounces back -- their e-mail bounces back -- so she can't even get a hold of them," said Yanz.
It seems no one else can get in touch with them either -- by phone or in their Edina, Minn. office -- which is locked tight with packages waiting from days ago outside the door.
When WCCO-TV tried to talk to kids.com owner Larry Bagwell 3 years ago in Chicago, he said: "I'm busy now. I'm in interviews. I do have your number. I'll call you when I'm ready ... I'm busy."
Hardly a picture perfect ending for proud parents
"I don't understand how they're allowed to operate like that," said Yanz. "It makes me pretty angry because we can use $600 in a lot better ways."
The Better Business Bureau tells me they believe Kids.com has been closed down since at least Sept. 10.
They are now working to determine if the company filed for bankruptcy.
Most agencies only make money when they book the child for a job, and then they take a percentage of the pay.
Some agencies do charge a fee if you want your child on their Web site, but never as much as $600.
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