Groupon - Pearl National Teeth Whitening SCAM!

shirleewhirlee

Wish I had read all this before booking two vouchers with ProTeeth in March, just had the appointments cancelled for the 4th time. Now asked for refund through Groupon. Did pay by credit card so hoping I can get it through that if Groupon start playing silly bu**ers. What a scam....how do they manage to still sell these deals? How do we report Groupon and ProTeeth to trading standards? Its criminal! Watchdog will be getting an email from me. Lets all report them and hope that works.

brook2jack

To report to trading standards google your nearest or look up on local council website.
Trading standards will be interested on two counts a the consumer issue and b the chemicals used.

Also worth reporting to GDC (email above) as unless done by a dentist or by a hygienist/ dental therapist to a dentists prescription, tooth whitening is illegal practice of dentistry.

shirleewhirlee

Thanks brook2jack, will be doing this. If everyone reports them then maybe we can get something done to stop this.

Toothsmith

Just thought I'd resurrect this thread to let people know that Pearl National have now been successfully prosecuted by the General Dental Council. (Ad at prosecution, they also found that the 'Company' had not ben filing proper tax returns either!)

The General Dental Council (GDC) has successfully prosecuted Pearl Teeth Whitening Limited – trading as Pearl National – for illegally carrying on the business of dentistry. On Friday 23 November 2012 a representative of the company pleaded guilty at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court. The court has fined the firm £3,500 and ordered them to pay £4,000 towards the GDC costs.

The Company was charged under section 43 of the Dentists’ Act 1984, which states: “A body corporate commits an offence if it carries on the business of dentistry at a time when a majority of its directors are not persons who are either registered dentists or registered dental care professionals.”

It was alleged that Pearl Teeth Whitening Limited (trading as Pearl National), did unlawfully carry on the business of dentistry at various locations in England and Wales between the 17 January 2011 and the 15 May 2012 at a time when a majority of its directors were not and are not persons who are either registered dentists or registered dental care professionals This is Contrary to Section 43 (1) and (3) of the Dentists Act 1984.

During sentencing, District Judge Bennett said: “It is clear from their website that Pearl National operated from a large number of locations and from the facts of the case presented to me, that they employed unqualified people to provide teeth whitening to their customers.”

He added that it occurred to him that the company “must have received a lot of money and had never filed accounts at Companies House.”

If you would like to report someone you believe to be practising illegally you can do so by sending an email to illegalpractice@gdc-uk.org, or by calling 0845 222 4141.

Please - could anyone knowing of any non-dentist whitening outfit PLEASE report them to the GDC. At last, they are beginning to get to grips with the problem of the illegal whiteners.