World Modelling Convention
I would be interested to know if any other readers have fallen foul of the World Modelling Convention failure.
Essentially, an event was created to be held at the Islington Business Design Centre on the weekend 15th - 16th June.
Ticket buyers were promised 120 studio set ups, masterclasses from Joe McNally and Scott Kelby, networking opportunities and much more besides.
The first indications of it going wrong were when the organisers requested members of their social media groups to help publicise the event as their marketing companies hadn't delivered on their agreed targets.
Next was a request for ticket holders to consider buying into "the company" for £600 to become shareholders and save the event.
Within 48 hours we had been given notice that due to lack of ticket sales the event wouldn't be going ahead.
Some, lucky, ticket holders have managed to recover their money from the ticket sales agent, others like myself have been informed that the agent will not be processing any more refunds and that out bank should be asked to take it up with WMC London, who unsurprisingly cannot be contacted any more.
This is in my opinion simply disgusting behaviour and creating a really poor image for our industry.
Essentially, an event was created to be held at the Islington Business Design Centre on the weekend 15th - 16th June.
Ticket buyers were promised 120 studio set ups, masterclasses from Joe McNally and Scott Kelby, networking opportunities and much more besides.
The first indications of it going wrong were when the organisers requested members of their social media groups to help publicise the event as their marketing companies hadn't delivered on their agreed targets.
Next was a request for ticket holders to consider buying into "the company" for £600 to become shareholders and save the event.
Within 48 hours we had been given notice that due to lack of ticket sales the event wouldn't be going ahead.
Some, lucky, ticket holders have managed to recover their money from the ticket sales agent, others like myself have been informed that the agent will not be processing any more refunds and that out bank should be asked to take it up with WMC London, who unsurprisingly cannot be contacted any more.
This is in my opinion simply disgusting behaviour and creating a really poor image for our industry.
On their site it does state the following:
"I don’t have another choice but to POSTPONE the event for next year. I take full responsibility for this change. You can keep your ticket for next year or get a refund. All refunds will be issued in 90 days."
No information about selective refunds.
"I don’t have another choice but to POSTPONE the event for next year. I take full responsibility for this change. You can keep your ticket for next year or get a refund. All refunds will be issued in 90 days."
No information about selective refunds.
Quote:
and that out bank should be asked to take it up with WMC London, who unsurprisingly cannot be contacted any more.
.
If you paid by credit card there are a few hoops to jump through if goods are not delivered.
You can eventually get a refund and the loss then transfers to the credit card provider.
If you paid by debit card contact your card provider quickly (there is a time limit) and insist they process a reverse entry. Again the loss then passes to the debit card provider.
I know for fact that Joe lost out on this, he was as in the dark as the rest of us.
Thankfully my credit card issuer put the money back in my account and then went after WMC for the payback. I very much doubt they'll see it.
In an additional twist, the "afterparty" was booked and venue paid for upfront. When I checked the venue's website on the day before the event was supposed to be help, they were still selling vip tickets for £270!
The venue booking was transferred into another persons name so that anyone who still came to London for that weekend (a few groups of people arranged alternative shoots with their collaborative teams), could still attend a gathering to meet with 'agents' arranged by someone who was originally attending the event.
While all this was going on, I did some digging into the organisers business affairs. It turns out that this was the third such event he had tried to host - 2016, cancelled for security reasons, 2018 - postponed for a year due to poor ticket sales!
He also has registered a string of failed companies...
I truly hope that this is the last time he tries it.
Thankfully my credit card issuer put the money back in my account and then went after WMC for the payback. I very much doubt they'll see it.
In an additional twist, the "afterparty" was booked and venue paid for upfront. When I checked the venue's website on the day before the event was supposed to be help, they were still selling vip tickets for £270!
The venue booking was transferred into another persons name so that anyone who still came to London for that weekend (a few groups of people arranged alternative shoots with their collaborative teams), could still attend a gathering to meet with 'agents' arranged by someone who was originally attending the event.
While all this was going on, I did some digging into the organisers business affairs. It turns out that this was the third such event he had tried to host - 2016, cancelled for security reasons, 2018 - postponed for a year due to poor ticket sales!
He also has registered a string of failed companies...
I truly hope that this is the last time he tries it.
Quote:
Thankfully my credit card issuer put the money back in my account and then went after WMC for the payback.
The good news is you got your money back via your credit card issuer
Some still do not appreciate that if goods or services paid for by a credit or debit card are not delivered you are usually entitled to your money back, though there are relatively short deadlines to meet for debit card refunds.
If the transaction is via a third party such as Paypal usually any refund is for Paypal (or similar organisation) and not the credit or debit card issuer.
One reason credit card interest rates are high is to help fund paying back card users after a fraud or bankruptcy results in goods or services paid for not being delivered.
I fell for this one as well. Luckily I paid with a debit card and managed to get my money back with the charge back scheme.
At first communication was pretty good even when the event was cancelled but then when they said it would be 9 months before a refund would be issued I had to act through the bank.
I’m glad I did because all communication avenues seemed to dry up after a couple of weeks later.
It’s a shame because it seemed like it was going to be quite a good event. Although some of the sets did look a bit crap. Am I right in thinking the organiser was Christo panoff?
At first communication was pretty good even when the event was cancelled but then when they said it would be 9 months before a refund would be issued I had to act through the bank.
I’m glad I did because all communication avenues seemed to dry up after a couple of weeks later.
It’s a shame because it seemed like it was going to be quite a good event. Although some of the sets did look a bit crap. Am I right in thinking the organiser was Christo panoff?
Quote:It’s a shame because it seemed like it was going to be quite a good event. Although some of the sets did look a bit crap. Am I right in thinking the organiser was Christo panoff?
Yes you are right!
He seems quite a character...
