I feel so stupid now...
I should have investigated more!
I entered a competition to win a free makeover session (make-overs.co.uk at 57 Warren Street London - Lovin studios), supposedly worth £400 where a make-up stylist and hair stylist would style me for a photoshoot. The wording in the email I received when I won was this : "Congratulations!! You have been selected for a luxurious pampering treatment with a full makeover.
The day will start by with you having a personal consultation with some refreshments and to discuss your desired new look. Your makeup will be applied by one of our top London makeup artists, hair will be dryed style to perfection and your photographs will be captured by our leading team of photographers.
You will end your day by a luxury night out and leaving like a star......"
To make use of my winning, I needed to make an appointment and pay a £50 deposit that would be refunded to me on the day (I was told).
Lond story short I made and appointment, a few hours later I cancelled my appointment because I couldn't afford the 50 pounds, and wanted them refunded (at this point the payment had gone though from my account), I was told Id be called up by someone dealing with refunds. I waited three weeks, as the finance person was out of town. When I got to speak with them I was told they would fix it, but got recalled shortly after by the person I had first spoken to 3 weeks earlier when I made the appointment and cancellation. She (her name was Amy) said that it was difficult for them to repay the £50 pound deposit as they had already paid the full amount for my session to the people doing the makeover (stylist, photographer etc), and that it would be much easier if I would just go down there, enjoy the makeover and then get my deposit back. At this point it had always been that I would get my 50 pounds back if I didnt use them on pictures, which I COULD (operative word).
However.... when my session was over and I was hoping to get my deposit back, I was told that no, the deposit was never repaid in cash, only in product, and that winners were legally obligated to buy at least 5 pictures (which comes to a whopping £300 at the cheapest), and that "this should be in your email, did you read it?" and then I was shown the terms of service on their website saying this very thing. In the email they sent me however they do list terms of service, but never says anything about this very crucial point in this situation, only to say that the whole terms of service was to be found at the website (silly me for thinking that if they include terms of services in the email, they would include all vital parts that are relevant to me - this must be unethical if not illegal, right?).
In short I went into this expecting to get my deposit back, and left with £100 pounds downpayment and an installment plan to pay the rest of the £300 pounds that I did not have (considering I needed the £50 to buy food, obviously I didnt have £300 to spend anywhere, least of all on photos), £50 on dec 15th and £150 on jan 15th.
this was today, November 28th.
Does anybody know what I can do to get my money back, or stop them from taking the next £200? It doesn't seem like there's going to be any pictures at the end...
