Laser skin treatment refund

ed_3000

Happy 2020!

I bought laser treatment on 02JAN2020, 2 days ago, at a clinic (on the premises). I had a free consultation to begin with that included testing the laser on a patch on my cheek. My first treatment is Wednesday 08JAN2020. I paid £1,000 with my credit card. Since then I've changed my mind because I don't think the treatment is going to meet my expectations and I have a pock mark on my face from the test, so I'm looking for a refund.

I'm going to give them a call today to try get a refund, but their website states they don't do refunds, which clearly I'm surprised about. I think I will need to try and negotiate some kind of refund from them as I expect they are not going to give me back all my money. I had a look at the tips for negotiating a refund on this website already, so I'm just hoping if I can get any further tips to help me and how much I should reasonably expect refunded, please.

[Deleted User]

ed_3000 wrote: »

Happy 2020!

I bought laser treatment on 02JAN2020, 2 days ago, at a clinic (on the premises). I had a free consultation to begin with that included testing the laser on a patch on my cheek. My first treatment is Wednesday 08JAN2020. I paid £1,000 with my credit card. Since then I've changed my mind because I don't think the treatment is going to meet my expectations and I have a pock mark on my face from the test, so I'm looking for a refund.

I'm going to give them a call today to try get a refund, but their website states they don't do refunds, which clearly I'm surprised about. I think I will need to try and negotiate some kind of refund from them as I expect they are not going to give me back all my money. I had a look at the tips for negotiating a refund on this website already, so I'm just hoping if I can get any further tips to help me and how much I should reasonably expect refunded, please.

You can probably expect nothing. You bought in person and are not legally entitled to a refund.

Lilythecat

Your best option will be to discuss how dissatisfied you are with the test and your concerns

ed_3000

Thanks for the replies so far. I am aware that I'm not legally entitled to a refund in this context, so it becomes an ethical issue, which though not law, is a higher standard. I can understand I have inconvenienced them, but not to £1,000, as I've not consumed the service yet. I'll prepare for this scenario.

hollydays

What is of more concern, is whether you understand you may have been better to speak to your doctor first than go to an unregulated " clinic".

lozzy81

Are you sure the skin has healed?
It's been a couple of days since the patch test, when I have had laser treatment, mine was for thread veins, it took longer to heal?

Maybe your skin hasn't healed properly yet, why not give it a bit longer and then go back to the skin clinic and discuss these concerns ?

ed_3000

hollydays wrote: »

What's if more concerns, is whether you understand you may have been better to speak to your doctor first than go to an unregulated " clinic".

Sure, I took the risk and I may pay the price for it! I think you have to consider how the NHS is run and why I don't go down that route.

Unfortunately, the NHS is run as a cost-saving operation, so some procedures are not going to be offered because the benefits don't justify the costs. This doesn't mean the procedure won't benefit the patient, but more the NHS doesn't want to pay for it. As an analogy, I like Facebook shares, but I prefer to buy them at $20 than over $200.

In short, you are only given the options that the NHS will provide for you, which are not necessarily all the options. They don't factor the psychological distress of the patient that their condition is causing them and what may be considered a small issue by one person is near suicidal for another. It's no different than how filter bubbles work on the internet, except it's the doctor doing the filtering. In all respect, they don't know everything and are just gatekeepers.

ed_3000

lozzy81 wrote: »

Are you sure the skin has healed?
It's been a couple of days since the patch test, when I have had laser treatment, mine was for thread veins, it took longer to heal?

Maybe your skin hasn't healed properly yet, why not give it a bit longer and then go back to the skin clinic and discuss these concerns ?

The last time I had pock marks was after taking roaccutane, from over 10 years ago, and they have only marginally diminished, so I'm concerned the treatment is just going to result in my face being more pock marked! The treatment I initially wanted was to reduce skin redness, was not suitable, as the technician said it would leave me with tiger like marks on my face!

So, they suggested I try this other treatment. I'm fairly confident the pock mark wasn't there before the patch test as it's about 8mm long and 3mm wide and I can clearly feel something is missing underneath!

hollydays

ed_3000 wrote: »

Sure, I took the risk and I may pay the price for it! I think you have to consider how the NHS is run and why I don't go down that route.

Unfortunately, the NHS is run as a cost-saving operation, so some procedures are not going to be offered because the benefits don't justify the costs. This doesn't mean the procedure won't benefit the patient, but more the NHS doesn't want to pay for it. As an analogy, I like Facebook shares, but I prefer to buy them at $20 than over $200.

In short, you are only given the options that the NHS will provide for you, which are not necessarily all the options. They don't factor the psychological distress of the patient that their condition is causing them and what may be considered a small issue by one person is near suicidal for another. It's no different than how filter bubbles work on the internet, except it's the doctor doing the filtering. In all respect, they don't know everything and are just gatekeepers.

I wasn't suggesting necessarily going on the nhs, but getting advice from your doctor first.
I'm more concerned about the things that can go wrong at unregulated clinics , not the financial loss.You seem to have gone into this like a bull in a china shop and now have cold feet.
I wouldn't take a risk without having done a lot of research first .
Were you not given the option to have the test, and decide whether to sign up later, or was there a financial incentive .

Manxman_in_exile

First, I agree about being very cautious before using any non-regulated treatment like this.


Second, (the first point being redundant in this case) what did they say would happen if the results of the patch test were unsatisfactory?* Presumably you would be entitled to some refund of the £1000(!) as the treatment couldn't go ahead? I would presume their T&Cs would cover this.


*What is "unsatisfactory"? As others have suggested, you haven't really waited very long to see the results.

ed_3000

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

First, I agree about being very cautious before using any non-regulated treatment like this.


Second, (the first point being redundant in this case) what did they say would happen if the results of the patch test were unsatisfactory?* Presumably you would be entitled to some refund of the £1000(!) as the treatment couldn't go ahead? I would presume their T&Cs would cover this.


*What is "unsatisfactory"? As others have suggested, you haven't really waited very long to see the results.

The patch test was part of a free consultation. They don't have any words on their site about unsatisfactory or unsuitable. The indentation is there. It looks like a cross, like the control buttons on a joypad from certain angles and it's on my cheek! They confirmed on the phone call I had with them that it was the shape of the laser head and to send them an email to have a look at. I'm now wondering if the sister branch turned me down not because they didn't have the machine to do the treatment, but they knew it wasn't suitable. I should have probably taken the hint!

Their policy on their site is they don't offer refunds, so I guess there is no unsatisfactory situation or recourse, according to them. I'll just have to keep escalating and see where it goes.

My experience with my pock marks from over 10 years ago, is that they don't go away. I still have them along my jawline.