Flood of complaints against casting agencies: 'They took our money and never called back'

Complaints published on the Şikayetvar platform regarding variouscasting agencies operating across Turkey have shown aremarkable increase in therecent period.

Citizens who apply to agencies with the hope of participatingin acting and advertising projects, after paying thousands of liras, report that theydespitereceiving no servicesat all.

Many usersreport that after registration, the agencies do not answer theircalls, and the promisespromises were not keptand that the promise of“referral to a project” did notturnintoreality. Hundreds of similar experiences shared on Sikayetvar show that thegrievanceis widespread. nationwideand reveals that it has become widespread.

The experiences shared by users on Şikayetvar reveal that the problems being faced are not merely individual, but have become systematic innature:

Paid 6,000 TL , could not reachthem again

One citizen stated that they paid approximately 6,000 TL via credit card to the agency they registered with to pursue acting,but that there has been no response to their calls since November 10th.“I have my receipts, I called repeatedly but the phone is notbeinganswered. I have suffered financial and emotional damages,” theysaid, expressingdescribed the grievance they experienced.

Registered from Ankara, but noprojects were offered.

In April, fortheirchild, they paid 5,000 TL to registAnother family who had their child registered stated that none of the promisesmade by the agency were kept.The parent, who reported that the registration was made with the promise that they would bedirected to projects,said, "After the payment,no one took any interest in us; we cannot find anyone to talk to.However, theycontinue to demand money."is just to take money,' they said.

A similar complaint in Batman: 'They said they would get back to us in 3 weeks,but no one called.'A family that applied from Batman stated that they paid 8,000 TL

after registering their daughter,but received no further contact.The family claims they were misled by the agency's promises.stated that they had. Although agency representativespromised to get back to them withinat most three weeks,the family said,“They answered the phone once, said‘Your registration is on file, we will call you if anything comes up,’ and thenbrushedexpressed their disappointment by saying, 'They deceived us.'

6,000 TL in Kocaeli registrant who paid: 'There is neither service nor anyone to talk to'

A citizen who paid 6,000 TL to an agency in November 2023 stated thatthey receivedno service at allthey say. "Every time I called, I was redirected to other people; no clear explanation was given. The contract has a 15-day termination period, but I have not received any service.saying, 'I want to terminate the contract,' and paidthe fee and demanded a refund.

Summoned with the promise of an advertisement,but given a single sheet of paper instead of training

Another victim was invited to a commercial shootthat they were calledby being told it would be done,and despite being told "free"over the phone, theywere asked to pay 2,000 TL.They stated that three times for travel expensesStating that they went to the agency after making an appointment, the individual said, "What they call training is a 5-minute talk and a piece of paper. They said they would call within 10 days, but they did not call."The citizen is demanding a refund of both their money and travel expenses.

"They said'freeapplication'," using famous namesto luretrust wasestablished

About a month ago, a person whoapplied was persistentlycalled the next daystated that they were called in and 2,000 TL was demanded under the guise of training. Famous names were cited as referencesclaiming that, the victim said, "I asked for my money back, they stalled me with excuses. They said the boss was abroad, but wasn't the boss there when they took the money?" expressing theirreaction.

They said "5 people were selected," the same sit turned out that they told55 peoplethe same thing.

Some agencies usemisleadingrhetoricduring the persuasion process.is stated. One complaintant, “They called meand said, ‘Only 5 people wereselected, you are among the first chosen.’ It turns outthey told the same thing to 55 other people.”they explained the situation they experienced with these words. The same person, after the payment, the agencystated that the agency's attitude changed completely, they did not answer the phone,andthey did not return their deposit.

The promise that "your daughter will act in a commercial" did notcometrue.

Another parent stated that payment was taken by claiming that their daughter would act in a commercial for a well-known clothing brand,butthat they were, but later no one answered the phones, he explained. Stating that they would apply to the court, the parent said, "I have my documents and invoices in hand; I will initiate the legal process if necessary."