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Child ear piercing gone wrong - help me with what to say

416 replies

formula3 · 15/02/2025 20:30

DD8 had ears pierced today at Claire’s. All went fine, until we got home and she said “my earring has fallen out” and after initially telling her that was impossible l looked, and sure enough there was no earring in right ear. She hadn’t fiddled with them in the 3 hours they had been pierced and we got home, and I found the earring itself in the hood of her coat, no sign of the back so assume it was loose from start and is still somewhere in the shopping centre.
she was very upset, obviously, as she’s 8 and was panicking due to some blood around hole. I called Claire’s and explained what happened, the lady I spoke to sounded very shocked and said she had never had this happen and she needed to call her senior. She called back to say they were very sorry, that it must have been a fault with the earring (though it looks fine) and all that can be done is to leave it a week to heal over and they will pierce it again and as an apology not make me pay again!

I was too shocked to really process it other than to say that I didn’t think she’d want to come back there given she’d been brave to get it done in the first place and was now very upset, and said I had to go as had a very upset little girl to sort out but Could someone senior get back to me. That didn’t happen by the end of the day.

what do I do now? Contact head office? I spent £68 on good quality piercing earrings and about £15 on the piercing aftercare which for me is a lot but it was a special occasion that has gone really wrong. I’d like a refund because I feel I’ve paid for a service that has been poor (be it the fault of the equipment, or staff not checking the back was secure). My daughter is upset she only has one earring (fair enough) and I will try and encourage her to get it re-done elsewhere but right now there’s no way she’d agree to being pierced again.

I don’t write very well- could someone help me word an email and what I should say/ask for? I mainly want to stop this happening to someone other child but I’d also like my money back, not just free new piercing which can’t be goof
for her ear after a week? ☹️

thank you X

OP posts:
HotCrossBunplease · 17/02/2025 12:59

Just to say OP, you said you couldn’t write very well but you were doing yourself a big disservice - your calm and measured responses on this thread are extremely well-written.

formula3 · 17/02/2025 12:59

Agh I’m not on X.
I’ve checked and apparently there are no laws regarding lobe piercings in the UK so not even a governing body I can appeal to. What a mess😡

OP posts:
Tia86 · 17/02/2025 12:48

I am.not surprised at this update. They don't really care now they have had your money. You could try and push back, but not sure whether it will get anywhere.

ELMhouse · 17/02/2025 12:46

formula3 · 17/02/2025 12:10

thanks, I’m really disappointed as had hoped the email you guys helped me compose would do the job 😔

Make the complaint more public on their Twitter/X feed. They will likely be more attentive! :)

formula3 · 17/02/2025 12:10

thanks, I’m really disappointed as had hoped the email you guys helped me compose would do the job 😔

OP posts:
Justalittlehandhold · 17/02/2025 12:07

formula3 · 17/02/2025 12:04

Update:
Following my email to head office, the local store where it took place have just called me and left a message to say they can’t offer a refund, but will re-pierce for free.
Again, I’m stuck for words- what do I email head office now? I’d like to email 🤬🤬🤬but can’t.

Do not accept that!

Id say you’ve let me down once, I’ve lost confidence and I’m not bringing my child again. I’d ask for details of their governing body (if they have one), saying you’ll revert to them. Do not get involved in a conversation with the store, go straight back to HO with the answer of no and you do not intend to speak to the store. Detains of where they can send the refund provided

formula3 · 17/02/2025 12:04

Update:
Following my email to head office, the local store where it took place have just called me and left a message to say they can’t offer a refund, but will re-pierce for free.
Again, I’m stuck for words- what do I email head office now? I’d like to email 🤬🤬🤬but can’t.

OP posts:
WinterBones · 17/02/2025 10:12

Tangerinenets · 16/02/2025 20:09

There’s no cartilage in an ear lobe 🙄

yeah thanks Captain Obvious, would you like a medal?

Claires also do cartilage piercings with those things.

howrudeforme · 16/02/2025 21:33

What a horrible experience and a big deal for an 8 year old.

either put in an earring now.or let it heal and in about 6 months go to a proper piercer. Or if she’s not keen on having one earring let both heal and have it done again properly at a professional outlet.my son had his done last summer at a piercing/tattoo place and there was an 8 year old having her ears pierced. They were professional and great with this kid.

sorry you’ve been through this. I had my ears pierced as a tot which was decades ago so was surprised at the amount and length of aftercare for Ds.

bless her - hope it hasn’t put her off.

dementedpixie · 16/02/2025 21:27

It's usually really hard to get the back off those piercings so it can't have been done properly in the 1st place

formula3 · 16/02/2025 21:25

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 16/02/2025 20:31

Well if you're happy to waste money because something hasn't been done properly that's down to you. The backs don't just fall off those earrings used in piercing guns. I don't blame OP for wanting a refund.

Thank you! Exactly this, I don’t think I’m being dramatic or overly dramatic expecting a piercing that was done mere hours earlier to stay in an ear so it remains pierced which is what I paid for! I should just chalk it up to one of those things? No- I want a refund and I want it noted with their head office that mistakes are happening, in the hope it might stop it happening to someone else (be them 1, 8 or 18).

OP posts:
Mumtobabyhavoc · 16/02/2025 20:52

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 16/02/2025 20:31

Well if you're happy to waste money because something hasn't been done properly that's down to you. The backs don't just fall off those earrings used in piercing guns. I don't blame OP for wanting a refund.

FWIW I just googled "piercing gun mishaps" and found tonnes of YouTube, Reddit, Quora and FB pages on the topic. I had no idea!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 16/02/2025 20:31

PixieLaLar · 16/02/2025 20:16

I was picking up on the over dramatics from OP and DD over a small incident.

The back fell off an earring, it’s one of those things.

Hardly official complaint worthy in my opinion. But we all have our own opinions here that’s kind of the whole vibe with AIBU….😄

Well if you're happy to waste money because something hasn't been done properly that's down to you. The backs don't just fall off those earrings used in piercing guns. I don't blame OP for wanting a refund.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 16/02/2025 20:21

PixieLaLar · 16/02/2025 20:16

I was picking up on the over dramatics from OP and DD over a small incident.

The back fell off an earring, it’s one of those things.

Hardly official complaint worthy in my opinion. But we all have our own opinions here that’s kind of the whole vibe with AIBU….😄

I guess we all have different takes on what dramatic means. On my read, OP was trying to explain the situation and hoping for advice. It didn't occur to me to criticize her language. That's just me, though. It's a bit nicer, don't you think? You know, not to tear down other women trying to make them feel stupid for asking for help?

CombatBarbie · 16/02/2025 20:17

Tattooists will pierce ears, the U18 is for the legality ie needs to be accompanied by a parent.

PixieLaLar · 16/02/2025 20:16

Mumtobabyhavoc · 16/02/2025 20:05

Good grief. Is this litigation? Picking apart a post as you have is a gotcha move. OP asked for advice to form a complaint. Did you miss that in your careful read?

I was picking up on the over dramatics from OP and DD over a small incident.

The back fell off an earring, it’s one of those things.

Hardly official complaint worthy in my opinion. But we all have our own opinions here that’s kind of the whole vibe with AIBU….😄

Tangerinenets · 16/02/2025 20:09

WinterBones · 15/02/2025 20:43

^this.

if you can find a local proper piercing studio they will give you much more professional and trustworthy advice.

The girls at claires get little training on using those gun, and the literally punch the rod through the ears (they shatter cartilage) whereas a proper piercer will use a proper needle and take thorough care.

There’s no cartilage in an ear lobe 🙄

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 16/02/2025 20:08

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Mumtobabyhavoc · 16/02/2025 20:08

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Are you always mean? 🤔

Mumtobabyhavoc · 16/02/2025 20:06

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Have you nothing better to do than poke fun at a stranger on the internet? 🤔

Mumtobabyhavoc · 16/02/2025 20:05

PixieLaLar · 16/02/2025 11:26

You keep saying how brave and mature enough DD is, sorry but it does not sound that way from your posts.

she was very upset

panicking due to some blood around hole

so distressed (when you tried to put the earring back in)

I had to go as had a very upset little girl to sort out

I think you need to accept she isn’t emotionally mature enough to have a piercing yet. She’s only 8 so it’s understandable!

It isn't just about the piercing itself, it’s if something goes wrong just like it has in this case and it’s all drama and upset (from the pair of you actually).

I was too shocked to really process it

Good grief. Is this litigation? Picking apart a post as you have is a gotcha move. OP asked for advice to form a complaint. Did you miss that in your careful read?

PixieLaLar · 16/02/2025 20:01

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formula3 · 16/02/2025 19:51

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I’m not sure where I’ve been dramatic in asking for help writing a complaint letter 😵‍💫

OP posts:
PixieLaLar · 16/02/2025 19:33

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Oioisavaloy27 · 16/02/2025 19:32

IHopeYouStepOnALegPiece · 16/02/2025 19:10

Did you read the thread or was that too simple for you?

I read the first post yes!