Free legal advice wanted

nettface

Hiya all,
I have a question on behalf of 2 friends of mine.
Basically they both went on one of these Makeover & Photoshoot days together, and when it came to reviewing the photos and making purchases, they were shown the images on a computer in what they say was a 'dingy room'. They were also told that all photos they purchased would be touched up.
Both my friends decided to each buy a CD rom containing all the images.
I'm sure some of you will know, and everyone else can figure out, that these things are not cheap, i believe altogether the studio gained well over £3k from these buys.

When these discs eventually came in the post, only a few of the images had been retouched and both friends decided that after now seeing the photographs more clearly in proper light, they did not like them. Both discs were sent back to the studio with recorded delivery and the studio was informed that the direct debits were to be cancelled. The studio sent the discs straight back to my friends and will not allow the payment to be cancelled.

Is there anywhere that my friends can go and get a free legal advice session/consultation, so they have a better idea what route to take next?

Thanks for reading and thanks for any help received

Optimist

There are free legal advice centres scattered around, they are called Law Centres Link here to find your local one. They do get very busy so expect a wait.
Or citizens advice usually give pretty decent advice. Also quite a lot of local solicitors offer the first half hour free.

fluffnutter

3 grand? Thank god I'm too [STRIKE]tight [/STRIKE]ugly to pay that much for photos of myself!

Good luck in helping your friends. It's a lot of money to lose. But could you explain something?

Was the payment supposed to be monthly? You mention direct debits. Do you mean direct debit (which can be cancelled by the account holder) or do you mean that they've got your friends' debit card numbers?

Darksun

By law, a service has to be carried out with 'reasonable care and skill', so any dispute would hinge on that I think.

Have a word with Trading Standards/Consumer Direct and see what they advise. There are a lot of other threads on this forum dealing with these dodgy photo studios so search for them.

OnTheUp_2-2

Tell them to be careful with their wording. If they simply want to change their minds because they didn't like them then I doubt they will refund, certainly not obliged. If however, the photos are of a different quality to what they were shown then that's different.

I know some of these co read this forum might be worth yr while naming and shaming to get a better response, especially as your talikng about 3k

cabbage

Sometimes with building and contents cover you can take the legal advice option - if your friends have that, then they could get free advice that way.

helphelphelphelp

Hi

I signed up for Purple Legal. You get a membership number which enables you to call the firm of solicitors for free advice. This is done in the hope that when you need to pay for a service you will use them. I have called a couple of times and found them to be be helpful. It is only over the phone advice but would be a start. They do have a website.

nettface

Thanks for all your resposnses, OnTheUp, i'll ask the which studio it was later. I don't want anyone else wasting their time with them x