Advice on Double Take Studios

Fuzzy_Duck

A friend has invited me to go to Double Take Studios with her. They offer a free photo and the booking fee was only £2. We can't cancel because unsurprisingly they charge an extortiate amount for cancellation, so I want to be prepared. I know these people get their cash by trying to bully you into buying as many photos as possible.

We plan to make a day of it and have a bit of a laugh; obviously if we do end up getting a nice photo out of it that will be great. However I'm worried they'll demand contact details and hound us, or we won't be able to leave until we hand over our money!

Has anyone ever experienced Double Take Studios or have some advice on how to avoid the hard sell?

Cheers.

hollydays

search the site

maninthestreet

Fuzzy_Duck wrote: »

A friend has invited me to go to Double Take Studios with her. They offer a free photo and the booking fee was only £2. We can't cancel because unsurprisingly they charge an extortiate amount for cancellation, so I want to be prepared. I know these people get their cash by trying to bully you into buying as many photos as possible.

We plan to make a day of it and have a bit of a laugh; obviously if we do end up getting a nice photo out of it that will be great. However I'm worried they'll demand contact details and hound us, or we won't be able to leave until we hand over our money!

Has anyone ever experienced Double Take Studios or have some advice on how to avoid the hard sell?

Cheers.

Best advice is DON'T GO! If you do chose to go, you are free to leave whenever you want. Any threats to prevent you from leaving should be reported to the police immediately as a threat falsely imprison you.

Fuzzy_Duck

Thanks, I've had a search of the site but it's all about advice after people have fallen for it- I just planned to go and say no to buying the prints, and walk out if they don't listen, but I'm a bit concerned how many people seem to have fallen for it. I've read reviews of people being given the hard sell for 3 hours- if that happened to me I'd threaten to call the police if they didn't let me leave!

Anyway, at the moment I am wondering whether it is worth asking my friend to cancel her card used to pay the booking fee, in case they take money by force. I have also read that they ask for all your contact details, so I will be giving false details (will of course make sure I don't give them a real number!) If they ask me to give them friends' detail I plan on telling them they're all students and don't have much money so won't be interested.

I hate lying but if it gives me an easy life I will gladly do it to avoid being scammed!

maninthestreet

Fuzzy_Duck wrote: »

Thanks, I've had a search of the site but it's all about advice after people have fallen for it- I just planned to go and say no to buying the prints, and walk out if they don't listen, but I'm a bit concerned how many people seem to have fallen for it. I've read reviews of people being given the hard sell for 3 hours- if that happened to me I'd threaten to call the police if they didn't let me leave!

Anyway, at the moment I am wondering whether it is worth asking my friend to cancel her card used to pay the booking fee, in case they take money by force. I have also read that they ask for all your contact details, so I will be giving false details (will of course make sure I don't give them a real number!) If they ask me to give them friends' detail I plan on telling them they're all students and don't have much money so won't be interested.

I hate lying but if it gives me an easy life I will gladly do it to avoid being scammed!

It's your friend that has the problem not you, as she's given her credit/debit card details. As I stated previously, do not go.

hollydays

You say "we" can't cancel,but that it was your friend who booked it.
Why exactly are you going?

Also,you say you hate lieing.You definitely shouldnt go!!

hollydays

our posts just crossed

Fuzzy_Duck

Just to clarify that it is indeed not my money I should be worried about, but I don't want my friend to get scammed either. The problem is she can't cancel because they charge £50 for it. If you don't show up, they charge even more money. I am going to suggest she cancels her card as a way around this one.

I do think it could be a nice experience if we go with our heads screwed on, and two of us will be stronger than one, but I want to be prepared for what happens if we do go. I'm quite able to say no and be firm to pushy sales people but I don't like the sound of these forms. I suppose I can just refuse to fill it in rather than make stuff up and then instantly forget my new alias

hollydays

How did she come to sign up? Was she told she had won a competition?Are you sure she cannot get out of it? Have you tried speaking to Consumer Direct?

Fuzzy_Duck

Sorry forgot to add- would it even work her cancelling her card? Or is she obligated to pay the £50 as she has already entered a contract with them by booking an appointment?

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to think of what to do for the best!

Fuzzy_Duck

hollydays wrote: »

How did she come to sign up? Was she told she had won a competition?Are you sure she cannot get out of it? Have you tried speaking to Consumer Direct?

It was one of those 'you've won' deals. I imagine they got her details from someone else who went although I'm not entirely sure how these things work. I'd like to think that if they're staging it as a competition she has more rights regarding cancellation.

I haven't spoken to Consumer Direct but will do that now. Thanks for the advice.