Am I right to make a complaint about a hairdresser?

Jillybabes · 02-06-2005, 18:36

The other week I made an appointment at a hairdressers for colour correction and was quoted £38 and thought this was reasonable so went ahead and booked the appointment. When I went to the appointment I spent most of my time there (over 3 hours) with my head in the sink, got wet twice when the junior soaked me through, water was running down my back! I had a semi permanent colour applied then a permanent and she kept saying oh its working but when it was all done I didnt look much different to when I went in and to boot had to pay £82! I think I should have been told how much it might cost me and did I still want to go ahead, had I known it would have cost me this much I wouldnt have gone ahead. I paid money I dont really have cos out of work due to illness (anxiety) and I must say this made me even more anxious and mad! Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Rich · 02-06-2005, 18:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Jillybabes
The other week I made an appointment at a hairdressers for colour correction and was quoted £38 and thought this was reasonable so went ahead and booked the appointment. When I went to the appointment I spent most of my time there (over 3 hours) with my head in the sink, got wet twice when the junior soaked me through, water was running down my back! I had a semi permanent colour applied then a permanent and she kept saying oh its working but when it was all done I didnt look much different to when I went in and to boot had to pay £82! I think I should have been told how much it might cost me and did I still want to go ahead, had I known it would have cost me this much I wouldnt have gone ahead. I paid money I dont really have cos out of work due to illness (anxiety) and I must say this made me even more anxious and mad! Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Yes, you are quite within your rights to complain, very loudly I might add... Maybe you could even do a PT and get the Star involved (see Plain_Talker's thread from last week)

Scammy · 02-06-2005, 19:13

which hairdressers was it at? if you dnt wanna post it then pm me.

Classic Rock · 02-06-2005, 19:18

I wouldn't have paid it! I'd have complained there and then on the spot and threatened to take legal action and contact trading standards if they didn't put it right straight away or at a time convenient to yourself.

You should now contact the manageress of the salon and explain what has happened and how upset you are and how you were so shocked at the time you handed over the payment but feel that you have been overcharged for the work that has been done and it is above and beyond what you have been quoted. Use the words 'unprofessional' and 'below standard'. Also comment that your hair has been weakened due to the chemicals and feels coarse now. They should be obliged to correct their errors. Good luck.

redrobbo · 02-06-2005, 19:18

The trouble is, you've paid the dosh.

You should have complained about a) the colour not taking; b) the price being more than double the quote and sought an explanation for the difference.

EDIT: See post above by Clasic Rock (we posted at the same time!). We say the same thing, but Classic Rock offers a suggestion on how you could still proceed to obtain a refund.

Deavon · 02-06-2005, 19:20

In the same way that a mechanic can't quote one price and then charge more for work on your car, the hairdressers must only charge what they quoted on the phone.

That was a verbal agreement.

Get back to them and demand a refund!

md1pts · 02-06-2005, 19:20

you have every right to complain. under the sale of goods and services act you have certain rights and one of those is if you are unhappy with any part of the service you have a right to complain to the managers andif they are not interested then take it further,

speenie · 02-06-2005, 19:22

I may be wrong, and I'm sure someone will tell me, but an estimate of price means the amount can vary. A quote must be the exact amount......

rubydazzler · 02-06-2005, 19:25

Most salon owners would be glad of the chance to rectify any mistakes, bad news travels and if they are a reputable outfit, they'll not want an unsatisfied customer complaining about them to all and sundry.

Take Classic Rock's advice ... don't shout and scream but just do the broken record ... either "I want my money back", or "I want you to put things right" ... and keep saying it in a reasonable voice until you get your way ...

It usually works, but redrobbo has a good point ... never hand over the money if you're not satisfied .... a complaint at the time is always more effective

HotPhil · 02-06-2005, 20:11

Speenie's got a point, a quote in any trade is very different from an estimate. If you are going to use the "you quoted me x" argument with them you'll need to be very sure of what was said. And that's usually very difficult to prove one way or the other.
Having parted with the money you've made it harder, but as others have said, try complaining politely first - a bad reputation travels quickly.

Caz1 · 02-06-2005, 20:33

Usually when asked for the price, the hairdressers will say from blah blah blah. i used to go to a well known salon in Meadowhall and the hairdresser was very good but they would tell the hair washer to put a treatment on without asking and then charge an extra £5 for it. Also after i had been going for a while the stylist said she had been promoted from stylist to style designer whatever and that was an extra £5 added to the charge. If i went for a colour and cut it would be in excess of £100. I go to one at Woodseats now, am just as pleased with the results and it costs roughly half that amount. I do think Ladies hairdressers are a rip off but we women have caused it ourselves by being willing to pay over the odds.

beth29 · 02-06-2005, 20:40

I need to find a new hairdresser, the one I usually have at meadowhall has left. so I hada different person, really loved the cut. really loved what he was doing. I was really pleased. and tonight I have just been, and he cut my hair. I am really upset. I told him, just like before the same cut. and I think he just cut it how he wanted to. I look like I have got a mullet. it feels that sticky and gunky. I cant comb it or anything. I am really upset. and I get married in 4 / 5 weeks.. it may look better, ok in the morning. I paid a fortune as well. because he is a really good stylist. I dont think I will be going back there.

SilverMagic · 02-06-2005, 21:17

My old hairdresser used to cut my hair really nicely but then he'd really puff it up when drying it. I know a lot of stylists do this but when I specifically asked not to volumise as my hair is thick enough and it doesn't suit me he seemed to switch off and go into his own little world of volumizing! I guess it's not that bad really seeing as I could just wash it but hey.

Yes you should complain by the way

My hairdresser left the business right before we were going to say something but we would have done. Now I just cut my own - less hassle and if I don't like it I've got only myself to blame!

Squashie28 · 02-06-2005, 21:27

A few months ago I had some red highlights put in to my dark brown hair and it looked really good.

It cost me £50 but I was really pleased with it so to me it was worth the money.

The problem was that the red highlights only lasted a few days and I was well and truely peeved as if I had brought a £3.99 home colour it would have proberbly lasted longer.

I went back to the hair salon and told them I wasnt happy with the fact the colour had disapeared after 2 days and she had the nerve to tell me that I should of expected the colour to fade.

I can understand a colour fading after a few weeks but who in their right mind would willingly part with £50 for 2 days worth of hair colour if I had been told that from the start I wouldnt have parted with my money, I told the hair salon to either reimburse me or re-do my colour.

She re-did my colour free of charge and wasnt happy about it but sod it I'm no mug and dont like being played like one, I asked for her to colour it back to my normal colour as I didnt want the red to fade again after another 2 days, that would of been a waste of everybodys time.

You have every right to complain if you are not happy, they shouldnt be able to quote you one price then charge you another thats just criminal, and if you dont see any change to your hair colour then tell them, if they are running a business and want to keep their customers happy they should be happy to assist you and apologise for any inconvienience.

Hope you get it sorted

Jo

chickmonk · 03-06-2005, 11:04

Just to say good luck J.

You really should complain!
The number of times I've had a crappy hair cut and not said a word about it... Grrr! I think hairdressers get away with this far too often because us women are far too polite!!

I go to a lass in Heeley who's dead reasonable and always does exaclty what I ask her to do. Stoopid me tho, decided i'd treat myself to a posh cut from a place on Weststreet. What a fool! Cost a fortune and it wasn't even straight! Had to go back to my usual lass and pay more money to get it fixed. She then did a fab job for a fraction of the price...

Didn't complain about the bad cut tho... but will do in future!

Jillybabes · 03-06-2005, 11:11

Thanks for everyones comments so far. I have now sent a letter of complaint to the manager of the hairdressers in question and we shall see what happens. Shall keep you posted. When I asked them how much it would cost they said well a colour is £38 so I went away believing this is what I would pay. When the stylist asked how much I had been quoted I told her and she said it may cost a little more than that I thought maybe a few extra quid but not £40 more. I was just shocked and was glad to get out of there to be honest.

mullers · 03-06-2005, 12:37

You should have complained before you left the salon.

I don't think there's much you can do now, apart from shave your head.

burny · 03-06-2005, 13:26

Hi there... my friend had a similiar problem with a hairdresser recently... dont suppose it was one on eecy rd was it?

Cyclone · 03-06-2005, 13:48

there's no reason you can't name this place as long as you stick to the facts or make sure opinions are clearly expressed as such.
Ignore the "not much you can do's", make your complaint and if they aren't interested take out a banner advert from geoff and write to the star. Oh and if you're out of work, print some flyers of and go and stand outside their salon for a day handing them out!