Help me get £400 back please

[sirmione16]

Was recommended a make up artist, directed to her Facebook page. Well established page, never name changed - linked to her personal page, active since 2014. Over 50 positive reviews, lots of recent posts. Pictures all looked great.

Messaged her business page. Booked in for a trial and for the wedding date. Got emailed a contract. Today was the date of trial and she hasn't shown up or got in touch. I've messaged her page, her business page, rang her, text her and emailed her. I'm going to wait until tomorrow for a genuine response (however will want to cancel to contract for the wedding for unreliability regardless)

I decided to pay in full upfront to the sum of £392. Looking back I wish I'd only paid deposit, however I've paid everything else wedding wise off in order to keep track of budget, and not worry about who I've paid and who I haven't closed to the time.

What's the course of legal action if she doesn't ever respond? How long should I leave it? I'm bitterly disappointed and feel stupid.

Thanks for all replies

[GreenTulips]

How sis you pay? Cash cheque?

[pastabest]

My first thought would be that somethings happened to her if she's otherwise got a good reputation?

[Pinkprincess1978]

I would agree that first establish that something hasn't happened to her or someone close to her. There could be a genuine reason and hasn't got in touch.

[Singlenotsingle]

Is the Facebook page still there, or has it been taken down?

[lablablab]

I'd make sure she's ok first!

[Pinkyyy]

How did you pay?

[sirmione16]

Oh ive come across as rather cold hearted! Of course Im concerned, however I guess Im stressed with the wedding already, never mind a potential scam. I do have some wedding insurance but not sure what this covers and if it would help in this case, but i will look into it. I paid via bank transfer

[sirmione16]

@singlenotsingle both pages are still up and active. I've screenshotted them just in case they get taken down

[GreenTulips]

Could she be in holiday and forgot the appointment

[JaneEyre07]

Do a public post on her page, to say you were expecting her today, were disappointed she didn't contact you, and that you hope everything is ok.

If there was a genuine emergency, one of her friends or family would hopefully see it and contact you. If she deletes it, you've probably been had.

[SchrodingersBrexit]

Did she confirm the appointment?

[sirmione16]

@GreenTulips appointment was only arranged on the 11th, people would recognise a couple weeks later as being on holiday

@JaneEyre07 Have now done this too, in your recommended wording

@SchrodingersBrexit She put it to me, I said yes and she said okay and we carried on talking after. This is in the messaging section of Facebook so she did "confirm" date

[SchrodingersBrexit]

@sirmione16 sorry, I meant did she message you the day before to say "are we still ok for tomorrow?"

[sirmione16]

@SchrodingersBrexit no, no contact since that first conversation and a quick thanks for the contract after that one.

[sirmione16]

Ok she's replied to my text saying she had a fall and was in hospital without a phone. She hasn't opened any Facebook messages still.

What would you do? Do I trust her? Do I ask for half money back and rebook trial and pay the rest closer to the time? Do I just cancel?

[Pinkyyy]

Cancel 100%. No point taking the risk and being worried about whether or not she will turn up. Make sure you get a full refund and book someone else.

[JaneEyre07]

well that's the most pitiful excuse I've ever heard. Did she apologise, out of interest?

Cancel and say you want a refund. And if she tries to wriggle out of it, threaten small claims court. She let you down with no contact.

You can't take that risk for your wedding morning.

[UCOinanOCG]

Of course it is possible she has genuinely hurt herself. I would give her another chance.

[Badgerbadgerbadgerbadger]

If she has a lot of positive reviews, I would give her the benefit of the doubt I think and see how trial goes

[boilersontheblink]

I wouldn't risk it for your wedding day OP, I'm betting she forgot and just ignored you all day, in the unlikely incidence she did have a fall surely she'd had apologised and rung you right away when she got to her phone?

I've never understood having a makeup artist for a wedding, just do it yourself and save the money. (Ditto with hair)

[caughtinanet]

How would you know that anyone else you choose won't also have an accident?

Do you have anyway to check if she's telling the truth?

[LIZS]

Unless she is willing and able to rearrange the trial very soon you should cancel. Even if you go ahead it might be worth doing so only on the basis you can cancel if not satisfied (for part payment) . If she is self employed she may have insurance for accidents etc.

[sirmione16]

Update, so I asked for refund, she said yes. I haven't had it, and she's now "ghosted" me. In the mean time, someone posted on a group that their makeup artist hadn't shown to their wedding and who did it turn out to be? No prizes for guessing.

I posted a comment and said my experience and since then 12 other women have messaged me and have given her money and then been ignored or she hasn't shown.

I've told her I'll be taking legal action. I've gone to my bank who investigated but unfortunately couldn't recover funds.

I've logged a report on action fraud, and encouraged the other 12 to do so as well (some have already so hopefully they get picked up that it's the same person)

I've given her till Wednesday to refund else I will open a small claims case. I've collected information of the other 12 including screenshots of conversation, proof of payments, invoices etc and building a file in case it should go to court (which I feel it will, I don't think she'll respond to a letter simply)

I've had a message of someone who knows her personally saying she's being evicted from her house for not paying rent and I'll likely never see the money back. I'm determined to have it back one way or another.

My dads furious and threatening to go round to hers lol. (He wouldn't, but he's mad as hell.)

[sirmione16]

Ps I suspect her hospital trip was fake, not only due to the fact she's scammed others but I've seen all sorts of excuses including a few people told she was in a car crash, hospital trips, got the wrong dates, has been violently ill all sorts. It's appalling.

[Pinkyyy]

What an update! I was just expecting her to have had a heavy night out or something the night before. Well done for taking action and hopefully the others will too.