Ultrasound Weightloss

fireplaice

Hi Everyone,

Towards the beginning of March, groupon offered a deal on 6 sessions with ultrasound weightloss (USWL) for £65, which I signed up for. When I spoke to USWL, they offered another 6 sessions for the same price. I accepted the offer and booked 12 sessions over the next 4 weeks.
USWL kept cancelling my appointments, and I eventually had my one and only appointment on 30th April (after nearly 2 months' of cancellations!).
The following day I got an e-mail from Groupon saying that they apologised for such terrible service from USWL and if I had been one of the people affected, I could have a full refund from them. I did nothing initially as I had an appointment scheduled for the following day, which I wanted to go to, but lo and behold, they cancelled again. So I spoke to Groupon and they cancelled the appointments I had booked with them and immediately refunded the money. They were lovely.

I tried to cancel the remaining appointments, and USWL vanished, their some phone numbers were never answered, and some lines were no longer working. E-mails were not replied to. My next (2nd) appointment was due today (only a month after my first one), but I got an phone call saying the technician wasn't feeling well (oh look it's 27degree's outside! What a coincidence!) and since this was the first contact I had had with them for nearly a month, I took the opportunity to cancel all further appointments, and demanded to know why my e-mails had not been returned. The caller hung up on me.

Does anyone think I am likely to get my money back? and if so, what is the best way to do so? I paid by credit card, is it worth talking to the CCard company?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Valli

buying a service

see this
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/Yourconsumerrightswhenbuyinggoodsandservices/DG_194653

unholyangel

Do you have an address for them?

Put your complaint in writing, keep it simple, send it recorded delivery and keep a copy. Tell them why you are cancelling (they are in breach of contract) and that you would like a refund.

If they fail to respond, talk to your bank. It will likely be a chargeback if it was under £100. And there is a 120 day limit usually on chargeback claims so dont hang around too long.

gingergee

I was considering this as they have an offer in my daily paper for 6 sessions @ £99. My oh told me its a con so i googled it. 100's of complaints saying same thing......avoid! looks like my diet is back on!! x

jfcarr01

Dear fireplaice,

I have the same problem! Booked with groupon the bought additional 6 sessions direct.
They cancelled my 1st 2 appointments then when I turned up to the 'clinic' it was a rented room and the therapist wasn't even there!

i cancelled with groupon straight away with no problems but have now been waiting 4 weeks for my refund from uswl.

Have you received your money back since your post?
Surely if they've had so many complaints there must be an ombudsman we can report them to??

paddyrg

Any treatment with "<sciencey sounding name> weight loss" in its name is going to be *AT BEST* completely unproven, most likely complete bunkum, and at worst harmful. Remember - if "alternative medicine" works, it becomes just plain "medicine", but to do so it has to prove effective. Anything like this where someone can do a weekend course, pay a franchise fee and rent a treatment room is going to attract the basest investors.

Fish Spa
Teeth Whitening
Electical weight loss
Ultrasonic weight loss
Goji berries
Nori nori
Aloe vera
All this nonsense goes for the fast, big push with HUGE margins, then by the time mrs punter realises it's hogwash and is paying £80/month for the 'free' trial, or signed up for a series of sessions through Groupon, fashions change and itt is on to the next thing!

With diet, it's a black box - calories in minus calories burnt equals weight gain. Anyone with some amazing sounding new pseudoscience that the doctors supposedly keep secret for some implausible reason is just after your money!