Help Me Hank: Drama School Drama

You know Hillary, you know Lindsay, you know Dakota and maybe someday if dreams come true you'll also know Kayla. This budding actress has her make up collection ready is a pro with lipstick and eye shadow.

Kayla Salem, Actress
"I do my own makeup."

And can turn on a movie star smile. But her Mom Rebecca knows the big screen is more than skin deep and when a local mall hosted an info booth for a modeling and acting school she couldn’t resist.

Rebecca Salem, Kayla’s Mother
"This is all Kayla, this is what she wants."

Mom paid almost $500 and signed up for a class starting in May. Kayla watched her favorite latest flicks. Honed her makeup skills and waited for the classes that would add two skills to her repertoire.

The Oscars came and wen and the Golden Globes, but by July there was still no curtain up on those May classes.

Rebecca Salem, Kayla's Mother
" I paid five hundred dollars for this class I wanted her to take an acting class."

Mom played a few more unpleasant scenes on the phone--now asking for a refund.

Rebecca Salem, Kayla’s Mother
"Message after message after message and not one returned phone call."

But she got nowhere...seemed she'd paid big bucks for nothing.

Rebecca Salem, Kayla’s Mother
"So, I felt kind of stuck."

Was this script doomed to an unhappy ending? Mom needed some new characters.

Rebecca Salem, Kayla’s Mother
"I called you guys, Channel 7 News."

Now you know what usually happens here we analyze the paperwork, consult the experts, and contact the companies to encourage them to make good. And in Kayla’s case she was certainly due a refund.

But this time, Mom Rebecca was faster. She called the school one more time.

Rebecca Salem, Kayla’s Mother
"I informed him that I had an interview at my house with Channel 7 News the following week."

And then it was lights camera action.

Rebecca Salem, Kayla’s Mother
"Two days later I got my check."

And for Kayla, Mom hopes that money back will pave the way to the red carpet.

Rebecca Salem, Kayla’s Mother
"Now we're looking into doing other things for Kay."

Lots of potential issues with modeling and acting schools before you sign anything or pay anything.

For more information on modeling/acting schools, go to the Federal Trade Commission's Web site.