“Fiddled” finance

Shinyfrog

Hello, I’m asking for advice for my daughter. She is 19 and had a baby in September- She “won” a photo shoot with Venture to include a free print. Instead she came home with £900 of finance for a USB of the photos taken!! It sounds like the salesman was a pro and she got sucked in! However, my concern is that he offered finance as she said she couldn’t afford anything beyond the freebie. She had only just finished college and (as pregnant/newborn baby) only had a small part time job- which obviously did not lead to being successful in her being approved for finance. He asked about her partners income (which again wasn’t much more than a PT job) and used this amount and whatever else he did to get finance approved. He told her it was successful and she would pay back a small amount (£30 possibly) each month (for 3years). 

I didn’t realise this had happened- surely this can’t be right??? 

“Juggling” the finance details to win a sale? Is this a life lesson learnt situation or can we do something?? I suppose it’s her word against his as such but I have no clue. 

DE_612183

There should be a "cooling" off period - when did this happen?

Have you read the fine print of the finance agreement?

Mr.Generous

They don't do the photo shoot for nothing, the whole thing is set up to try and sell you a load of pics. She fell for it. I think once she has the digital images it would be impossible to get out of the arrangement as she has the ability to make unlimited perfect copies. But really would you agree to a £900 photo shoot??

DullGreyGuy

DE_612183 said:

There should be a "cooling" off period - when did this happen?

Have you read the fine print of the finance agreement?

It's an on premises sale so no cooling off period for the product only the finance. So yes you can cancel the finance but then have to pay the £900 upfront immediately. 

Shinyfrog said:

Hello, I’m asking for advice for my daughter. She is 19 and had a baby in September- She “won” a photo shoot with Venture to include a free print. Instead she came home with £900 of finance for a USB of the photos taken!! It sounds like the salesman was a pro and she got sucked in! However, my concern is that he offered finance as she said she couldn’t afford anything beyond the freebie. She had only just finished college and (as pregnant/newborn baby) only had a small part time job- which obviously did not lead to being successful in her being approved for finance. He asked about her partners income (which again wasn’t much more than a PT job) and used this amount and whatever else he did to get finance approved. He told her it was successful and she would pay back a small amount (£30 possibly) each month (for 3years). 

I didn’t realise this had happened- surely this can’t be right??? 

“Juggling” the finance details to win a sale? Is this a life lesson learnt situation or can we do something?? I suppose it’s her word against his as such but I have no clue. 

This is exactly how these photo companies work. Do a photoshoot for free with a promise of a single image and then hard sale afterwards for more images and/or better print formats. If you stick to your guns you get your free print. If you cave, and kids are often used to get excited about having a cushion with their pet on it or such, then you end up spending a lot of money. 

There is nothing wrong with considering Household income when considering if to offer finance, AmEx ask for both your personal and household income on every card application. 

Lorian

I had a family member 'win' one of these types of photo session. It was a  hard sell rip off from the moment we got there. I was pretty annoyed and we walked after about 20 mins, there was no win about it.

soolin

I am really sorry for the OP's daughter but agree with the other comments- this is a known business method. In fact I'm surprised it still continues - this was doing the rounds 30 years ago where it was quite successful as we didn't have access to a lot of immediate assistance and warnings like we do now with the internet. 

I remember walking down Oxford street back in the 1990s and people giving out 'draw' tickets where every one 'won' a free photo shoot, sign up for a day of your choice and the company would supply all the props etc and give you a single free print (in those days you would be persuaded to buy  a portfolio of photos- no memory stick of course) . 

I recall seeing a report on one of those watchdog programmes where one person who knew they were being scammed had to  pretend to visit the loo and leave via a fire exit just to get away from the hard sell!

Not at all pleasant and I'm sorry that I can't think of any way that OP's daughter can get out of this. 

tacpot12

Where does your daughter live? Does she own her own home or does she live with you? If she lives with you she would normally be covered by any legal expense cover you have on your home insurnace, or on her home insurance if she owns her own home.

There are protections in the Consumer Rights Act 2015 against unfair pricing, but only if the pricing isn't transparent and prominently displayed. If your daughter was told that the Photoshoot was going to cost £900, and offered the option of finance to pay this, I think she will struggle to claim that the price wasn't transparent and prominent. I would be as well to walk her through the whole sales process asap, while it is fresh in her mind, and make as many notes as you can. She can share these with an insurer if she has legal expenses cover. If a case can be made that that price was obfuscated and hidden from her, then it would be best to cancel the finance and let them sue her. 

She can offer to settle for a lower fee (say £250-300) and I would strongly encourage her to make a fair offer - i.e. to offer what such a photoshoot should cost.  

 

born_again

Who was the finance with?

Shinyfrog

Thank you everyone! 

The finance was through Novuna Personal FI (🤷🏼‍♀️) 
I think the price was made obvious to her. I was just shocked how he changed the income details to make it work, rather than give in to the fact she didn’t have money (just naïve and an easy target) 
she lives at home with me- rented so just have contents insurance. I did think this was a tough life lesson but thought I’d check 😊

born_again

Complain to finance co. They are regulated by FCA.

https://www.novunapersonalfinance.co.uk/contact-us/

Ectophile

I suspect you may have more chance with a formal complaint to the finance company about the affordability checks.

The photography company won't care if people think they are scammers - it's a successful business model that they've been using for decades.  Whereas finance companies can be stomped on by the FCA if they mis-sell finance to people who can't afford it.