Entitled for Refund?

spineiro on 13/12/2013 - 12:54
Last edited 13/12/2013 - 13:51

General question about consumer laws.

My wife purchased an offer where she prepaid for a number of treatments at a beautician service shop. My wife has only used about 30% of the treatments prepaid. This was purchased direct from the company and not through a group buying site.

This company has a few branches. Recently, the local branch closed without notice and the next closest branch is too far to be practical for her to use the rest of her prepaid treatments. The staff at the local branch was also not given much notice prior to the closure of that branch.

My wife has tried to get a refund from the company for the balance that have not been used but the manager of the next closest branch has been saying that she is not allowed to make that decision. We have even tried to negotiate by getting a refund less the discount gained from the consumed portion. Messages have been left for the owner of the business to call us back but we have not been able to get hold of her. It has been almost 3 weeks.

Where do we stand in getting a refund for the prepaid services that have not been consumed? Also, does anyone has any references to any legislation that might help support our case?

General Discussion

Comments

  • Prettyinpink on 13/12/2013 - 13:33

    Good question.
    I can see the company saying no because it's not their responsibility to have a location close to you. It would be like your friend buying that for your wife and then your wife wanting a refund because the boutiques are too far away.
    I hope someone else can give more help.

    Contact Choice magazine.

  • spineiro on 13/12/2013 - 13:50

    Just to clarify, this was not purchased through a group buying site. My wife purchased it direct from the company itself which was promoted to her when she was in there. I'll update the original post to reflect this.

  • goosegog on 13/12/2013 - 14:10
    +1

    The shops are probably franchises of the company that the original purchase was made from. Therefore it would not be possible for another franchisee to refund.You or your wife need to contact the ACMA to find out your rights in this case. Does the actual company have a head office to speak to ? This would be the first point of call before taking it further. Good luck.

  • spineiro on 13/12/2013 - 14:14

    I have verified with them that they are not a franchise.

    It is just a real mission to get in contact with the owners who refuse to return my call.

    • goosegog on 13/12/2013 - 14:33
      +2

      Give them one more chance to respond telling them if they do not you will take the issue further to all available government boards such as holdenmg mentioned. In many cases these people just hope you'll give up & go away.Don't - stand your ground.The money involved is probably not a lot, but the principle is of good business ethics. Your wife is probably only one of many to take up the offer & then lose out.

  • hamyu on 13/12/2013 - 20:05

    If it was purchased using a credit card, I wonder if it's possible to contact the credit card to instruct that partial payment be returned due to services not rendered?

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join