Agency Fees
The majority of queries we receive from parents looking for
their first agency are related to the subject of agency
fees.
To pay, or not to pay? That's a very good question!
It is currently illegal and a contravention of BERR rulings
to charge 'yearly' fees to simply 'represent' child models.
But like most things, unfortunately it's not quite as
simple as that.
I'm fed up watching apparent 'experts' spouting off on TV
and in publications about how NO reputable agency should
ever charge a fee to join. This is seriously misguiding and
certainly does nothing to help parents in search of a
reputable agency.
Yes it is illegal to charge a fee to merely 'represent' a
model, but these 'experts' should really choose their words
more carefully. It is illegal to charge to 'represent', but
no reputable child agency actually does? They all charge
something to set the model up on their books....FACT! So
why do they keep misquoting the laws by telling the public
that no reputable agency would charge? Don't they realise
we are confused enough as it is? The air-time these
preachers are given is quite frankly totally wasted when it
could be put to much better use.....like changing the
agency regulatory system for example, but then that's
another topic!
If you do your research on these experts, which we have
done, you will find that they are nearly always referring
to child agencies but infact quoting the laws on adult
agencies..... and they are ususally from the adult agency
industry themselves....well that explains it then!
Unfortunately, the reality is that, like it or not, the
majority of child agencies WILL charge some kind of fee to
be with them. This will usually be in the form of a 'set
up', or 'administration' fee. This is totally within the
law and universal practise across the industry. Usually the
cost is used to cover either administration, or website
design/inclusion, all of which costs money. Some agencies
may not charge and those that do can vary from £30 up to
£200 a year. The amount they set their fees at should not
be used to gauge how good they are though, oh no!
We have received numerous complaints regarding dozens of
agencies that have simply 'disappeared' having charged both
small and large amounts at the time of joining. So do not
use that method to decide if an agency is good, or not.
Although an agency should quite rightfully see a model as
potential earnings for their company, they are not the ones
to actually book a model for work...that is the clients job
and nobody elses. As a business, therefore, it is a gamble
for them when taking on any new face and one which comes
with great expense if they do not gain work for them.
An agency has a duty to it's clients to provide them with a
professional service, excellent models and a variety of
faces to select from. Without a good selection to choose
from a client will just move on to the next agency and find
what they want there.
At the same time, the agency has a duty to the model to
ensure that their details are logged correctly and safely
and that the agency is known by the 'industry' and its
clients and is submitting their child for work. Both parent
and agency should also work withing their agreed terms and
conditions and/or contract.
If a good agency charges a fee then provided it is within
the law and not to 'represent' your child, then that's
fine. It's up to you as the parent to decide if you want to
pay it, or find another agency that's cheaper, or indeed
free.
The
fact is that child agencies can charge and adult agencies
can't, it's as simple as that.