Uni-versal Extras Reviews 

Worked once for the company, did a lot of overtime and missed a family occasion but this wasn't the main issue. I was meant to getting paid around £160 and I recieved around £50 which is significantly different. Following this I responsded selecting the "Yes" or "No" questions. The next day I was hospitalised due to a car crash where I had written off my car and had minimal access to my phone. They signed me up, without speaking to me, and as I didn't realise this due to being in hospital I got banned for life. Disrespectful company that show's no symphaty towards it's users.

Positives
Great support received when setting up

Negatives
-Takes weeks to get paid they barely chase
-Rude staff member in payroll
-Lied about pay stating the amount and then for some reason I’m paying VAT and a fee when I’ve already paid a fee to join. This should be charged to the film company not extras.
-Barely any jobs advertised

Instead go to StarNow you can get extra work as well as speaking roles and get involved in many more as well as set up your own projects.

My very first tv extra job from Universal Extras was a full day of work that I ended up with £7.60 pay from. Deductions made were agency fee (expected) listing fee (no recollection of agreeing to) and VAT for the agents fee (outraged).
I could’ve overlooked or misunderstood the listing fee, and begrudgingly accept it but it was over half of the pay from the day! And why am I footing the VAT bill? I don’t pay VAT? well apparently I do. What a clever little scam they’ve got going.

Avoid this company, they got me 1 single job in 12 months, which I’ve got £7.60 from.

I spent many hours taking photographs and uploading comprehensive personal details to their site. I then waited over 2 months while my photos were "pending approval". Eventually the photos were accepted. I then found I was stuck in a loop... "Get Activated" > "Select your listing" > "Skip and Pay Later" > "Pay Later" > "Click the green Get Activated button below to select your listing" > "Get Activated" etc., etc., etc. ad nauseum. It's a total scam; they just want your money, 30 quid for a year with absolutely no guarantee of work to show for it. I looked through their reviews here and most of the favourable ones look highly suspicious to me. Incidentally I've worked as an extra previously, after responding to a local advert... far more sensible.

I have only registered with Universalextras 4 weeks ago and did my first job as an extra yesterday.
I have nothing but good things to say about them. It was a great day and very positive experience. The entire process from booking to filming was very well organised and all the staff worked extremely hard.
Plenty of food and drink were provided and I met lots of new people. We were all looked after very well.
I would recommend Universalextras and look forward to working with them again.

I’m giving a poor review for the lack of communication between emails. my account is still locked after paying a fee to them to apply for jobs it says I’m in a priority queue of 2 working days but I’ve been locked out of applying for any roles for a long time now. They tell me to call but I’m From Ireland and can’t afford to be calling but waiting for a response on my emails.. so far I see it as a waste of money to go with this and you’re better off getting an agent or going elsewhere where I have gotten jobs already the same time I applied elsewhere.. Still no pictures on my account after a month no explanation had to change pics several times. Even though I have gotten jobs using the pictures with other companies...

My experience with Universal Extras overall has been fairly positive.

The fitting went well and was greeted by Dan.

The day itself was a great experience (although very hot!). Food/drinks were provided and met some great and interesting people.

This would be 5 stars if the communication was a little stronger. I previously left a bad review due to thinking I'd been underpaid, after emailing and then calling a week later, I received another call after leaving my poor review explaining the situation.

Overall it's been a positive experience and I'd recommend.

I had my very first extra shoot through Universal Extras where I doubled for an actor. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and found communications with Universal Extras excellent and fast.

I am sorry to say communication is poor. The website never loads well and it has been a general waste of time and money.

I wish production companies would stop using them. They are abusive and threatening towards extra's which I know is hard to believe in 2019 England but it is true.

And advice for extras - there are other companies to work for, do not use this agency.

Having worked once for them i waited nearly 3 months to get paid I'm semi retired and thought the extra money would come in handy lol. I have worked for other agencies who are far better and the general feeling amongst fellow workers on the jobs are these. ask for a follow-up registration fee which doesn't make sense guys I'm afraid people are loosing the Faith in your business plan after all don't we make the business for you ?? and to keep charging registration fees year on is silly given you take fees on all the jobs. Anyway you will get a lot more talent if you pay people on time and take the fees on each paid job !

If you are looking for extra work, don’t bother joining Universal Extras! I have paid the registration fee, and two months on I have received no work at all, and three of my photos are still awaiting approval. I have asked for a refund, but this has been refused, so I’m now referring the matter to my credit card company. The onus is on you to apply for jobs, which is fair enough but I must’ve applied for over 40 – some jobs I was particularly suitable for, i.e. things like being able to play a musical instrument, owning a dog, having a certain colour hair and eyes and so forth, and I received no response at all. Rubbish .

Absolutely excellent! I had heard alot of bad press about Universal Extras so when I joined up I was sceptical. However, they have always been prompt with paying me. The team are very straight forward and honest (with regards to productions changing their minds at short notice etc) and whenever I've had an issue they have done their upmost to keep me in a job but work with me if unexpected 'life' things mean my availability has changed. This industry is very fickle and they are 'the middle man' so to speak and sometimes I think they get alot of flack from both sides.
I personally prefer them to other companies and would definitely recommend them.

I was a member of Universal Extras for a few years and I can say I have never been spoken so rudely by a company in all my life.
After you have agreed to a booking (sometimes weeks in advance of the date) well things can change in life in-between and if you call the “helpline” you will be spoken to by one of the rude booking team. Any small problem you maybe have you will be met by a sharp, rude, aggressive tone within seconds.
The first time I experienced this was for a shoot for Mary Poppins. The dates changes a lot and I briefly said to a lady on the phone I will have to look into that in terms of transport with a new date. Five minutes later I got an aggressive call back from a woman saying “WHAT IS WRONG! YOU AGREED!! Bla bla. I replied with “calm down everything is fine I just need to check a train but I will be there”
She immediately changed her tune but I was shocked and found it bizarre how aggressive she was then turned to smiles and rainbows.
A few months later I had a very sharp conversations with a woman (sadly didn’t catch her name again) When she called I warmly said Hi and she didn’t respond just ran through questions for me in a monotone way on a potential job.
She asked me if my photos where up to date?
I chuckled and said they probably could do with new ones. She barked back at me “take some new ones, white wall, do it tonight and call us back tomorrow” Wow I didn’t even bother as I won’t be bossed around like that.

Recently I was offered a night shoot around TWO WEEKS before filming. I spoke to Tom (thank goodness I never have to speak to him again)
A week after he called and we got the date mixed up but I said it should all be fine on my side. His tone on the phone was really sharp, rude and blunt.
Then a few days later I got the confirmation on being successful on a new job as I was then unemployed at the time.
I then later received a text from Universal saying the end time of the shoot could be longer and finish around 7:30am instead of the original earlier time I was told or around 4am. The problem is it was my first day of my new job after the shoot.
I looked into getting a train around this new later time and contacted everyone I knew who could possibly drive me. However the train and the cost was £90 as after 6am it runs into peak time and I had to travel to Nottingham.
I just couldn’t afford to be out of pocket especially this time of the year when my money is low.
I really needed to get to my new job for my induction at 9am and I was worried this one off job would effect this. I just couldn’t risk it.

I admit I should of called them straight away to talk of my concerns but I was nervous to call them because I knew they would be aggressive on the phone as they speak to you like a bully. When we did speak on the morning of the shoot he snapped back that if I didn’t go I’d be removed from the website and black listed.
They expect you to hold your life to them but it is fine for them to drop you the day before if they don’t want you. The respect level for extras is so low. If you shut your mouth, let them speak to you in any way they want and do everything they tell you will be fine.
I won’t be losing any sleep over my removal from the company. I would never let anyone speak to me like that again.
The funny thing is after my call with Universal Extras I got a call from Casting Collective around an hour later and had a lovely chat with a lady on a role I did with them. So it can be done.
Also Tom from the booking team - I think you would benefit on some training on how to speak to people with respect, empathy and basic manners.
I’ve worked in customer service since I was 16 and I couldn’t imagine ever speaking to somebody like you did to me on the phone.

Regards
Gareth Williams

I have recently completed my first job with Universal Extras and am so looking forward to, hopefully, my next one. I have found them to be really helpful, friendly and efficient, both on the phone and when you arrive for the filming. It was a pleasure to meet the other extras - and to learn from them. I just wish I'd signed up years ago.

Decent agency but the problem i have with them is the way payment is made. They say it take between 6-8 weeks but sometimes it can take longer. I am still waiting for my payment and it is clocking to 8 weeks so fingers crossed. I do hope they would stick to a set limit for example 6 weeks. I have emailed payroll department but still no response wow

Very bad company. They charge an upfront fee to register when nearly every other agency doesn't, then you never hear from them again. No work in 3 years despite my profile all being current and "applying" to jobs on their jobs board. All other agencies send a date availability check to ask if you're free to work, Universal Extras don't even do that. When you phone them up to ask what is going on they are very abusive and aggressive on the phone. Avoid at all costs!