Problem with a salon- please help! (Long read)

Mon_mon

I wonder if anyone can offer some advice...
About 2 weeks back my mum went to a hair salon to have it conditioned, shed never been there before as it is a new one that opened like 2 months back at the tp of her road.
Long story short the girl who was doing her hair didnt seem to have a clue what she was doing. When she put my mum under the hairdryer and because shes short made her sit on
a booster seat. The stylist pushed the hairdryer bonnet down too far so the back of it was resting on mums shoulders, pushing on the top of her spine. My mum explained to the stylist that she has a weak spine so could she not pust the dryer down so hard but the girl ignored her and kept doing it anyhoo.
Once mum was finished under the dryer, the stylist used straightening irons on my mums hair without any heat protection oil or lotion and as they
were too hot they singed her hair. Mum explained shew wasnt happy with the service she recieved and asked to speak to the manager. A woman on the reception claimed to be the manager so mum explained to her what had happened and that she wouldnt be paying. The receptionist/manager agreed and mum left the shop.
The next mum had difficulty in getting out of bed and where her hair had been burnt it started falling out. She went to the doctors about her back and told her what had happened. The doctor said that the back pain mum is now experiencing is due to spasms possibly caused by what happened at the salon.
Yesterday I went into the salon to speak with the manager to explain whats gone on and to see if they had Liability insurance (mum couldnt go in as her back is still playing up and she couldnt call because the salon has no telephone number!). The guy i spoke to claimed he was the manager then when i said i had a complaint he quickly chaned his mind and said he wasnt. I explained what had happened and he said hed take my number and get the manager to call back. I asked if it would be better for him to take my mums number so they could speak to her direct and he said no so i gave him my number.
Later that evening I get a call from someone claiming to be the manager called eric (but sounding exactly like the man i spoke to earlier). I told him to hold on and passed the phone to my mum who then spoke to Eric then passed the phone back to me. Eric said "why did you pass the phone to someone else?" That was my mum who was about to explain the situation to you... "I dont want to talk to her".... well you need to so she can explain what happened.... *Insert erics expletives here*. By this point i was getting annoyed so I asked him if he had any kind of liability insurance and he turned round and said that hes not aloowed to give me that information then he hung up!

Is there anything that can be done about this? Maybe small claims or something? I mean if it was just mums hair that was damaged she would have put it down to one of lifes experiences and learnt never trust a salon that never has any customers! But seeing as shes been left in pain from the back spasms caused by the stylist I dont think its fair she should be left to suffer.
Any advice would be most appreciated. Sorry if most of it doesnt make sense, unfortunately basic writing skills and grammar passed me by in high school!

dacouch

They should have an "Employers Liability Certificate" displayed in the salon, their Product Liability / Public Liability / Treatment Risks (This is the part of the policy that will cover your mothers claim will be with the same Insurer. Pop into the salon or get a friend to and note the information down.

You can either contact a No win No Fee Solicitor to handle the claim or your mother may have cover under her home insurance for the legal costs

Mon_mon

Thanks for your helpful post. I have found out that they dont have any form of liability insurance. Would it be worth speaking to a no win no fee solicitor or maybe trading standards or something?

Hippychick

Mon_mon wrote: »

Thanks for your helpful post. I have found out that they dont have any form of liability insurance. Would it be worth speaking to a no win no fee solicitor or maybe trading standards or something?

Definitely, I would imagine that sort of behaviour would put them out of business pretty sharpish as the owner of the salon will be liable to pay out the damages to your Mum.

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/ these guys are useful and they have a helpline you can call for advice.

zara*elise

Your poor mum, I hope she's feeling better.

The doctor did say that the spasms *possibly* may have been casued by the dryer, so this needs definate clearing up. If a solicitor does decide to take up the case, the chances of you winning will be dependant on whether it can be proved the spasms have been a esult of the girls incompetence.

xxx

tandraig

its a public premises - they need to have public liability insurance. sounds a bit iffy to me - was the stylist qualified? I would contact trading standards tbh. oh and contact no win no fee solicitor - but keep a careful eye on premises - I suspect they will soon be folding thier tent and disappearing into the night!

dacouch

How have you found out they have no liability Insurance, did the salon tell you this? They do not legally need public / product liability insurance but they are legally obliged to have Employers Liability Insurance if they have any employees. (The public / product liability comes with the same policy they get for Employers Liability

The Health and Safety Executive will be very interested if they do not have any Employers Liability Cover and have employees, the owner could get a very substantial fine.

Amistoso_2

Sorry but this story sounds very unbeleivable, you don't singe your hair from using straightners 1 time with no heat protector spray!! I do it often if I have run out. If your mum had a problem with her back why did she even let them put her under a dryer? and do new salons even use these nowdays? I havn't seen one in years, normaly they were used if oldies were having a shampooo and set but as your mum had her hair straightened I'm asuming she didn't have rollers in? I seriously doubt that if your mum had brought it to someones attention that she was uncomfortable that they would just flat out ignore her.
Someone on the compensation bandwagon by the looks of it...

Mon_mon

If you dont believe it thats up to you. The Ironing tongs that were used are the old fashioned solid iron ones that are heated up in an oven type thing, commonly used on afro carribean hair. If they are too hot or used without any heat protecting oil or product they can singe/burn the hair.
The dryer im talking abour is actually a steamer (looks exactly like a dryer but releases steam rather than just heat to allow the conditioner to penetrate the har). Thought it would be easier to put dryer rather than have to explain all that. Obviously i didnt take into account idiots like yourself.

Thank you everybody else for your helpful responses.

geri1965_2

They may have just taken out Employers Liability insurance (as they are legally obliged to do) and not bothered with Public Liability, although in their line of work that would be extremely foolhardy.

Amistoso, the story is perfectly believable and I've dealt with several similar claims myself.

To the OP, check to see if your mum has any legal expenses cover - for example, with her household insurance or if she is in a trade union, as they would be able to assist with a claim. And speak to trading standards as others have suggested.

Great_Hairdresser

I have to agree with Amistoso, but would have put it a different way!
Any Hairdresser that is in training or has qualified wouldnt have done any of the things you say, which prob explains the lack of public liability insurance, and the treatment from the "manager". Any salon worth its salt would be falling over themselfes to rectify the complaint to save there reputation.

I think you could be wasting your time with a claim, you say they only appreared 2 weeks ago, they may disapear just as quickly.

Hope your Mum recovers soon