What should I do about this voucher?

[JapanJetplane]

My husband purchased a voucher for a service (lets say it was hairdressing) from the sister of a former colleague of mine as a gift for me. I’ve been to this lady before and always had straightforward, pleasant experiences.

I have now been trying for several months to get in touch with her to arrange an appointment, and she simply will not respond to me. I’ve called the number on her business card several times and left voicemails. I’ve emailed. I’ve texted and WhatsApped. I’ve messaged on Instagram and I’ve commented on her Instagram posts asking her to confirm I have the right details. I haven’t had a single response to any of these.

I don’t even want the haircut any more, I just want my husband to get his wasted money back. Any tips on how I go about this?!

I feel awkward about it because I am still friendly with her sister and we work in the same very small field, so I feel like if I’m too argy bargy about it it will come back and bite me. But I’m really angry that she has been so unprofessional, and basically nicked our money!

She’s still in business because she’s still posting regularly on Instagram and encouraging people to make appointments. Shall I keep posting publicly on her page in the hope of shaming her into a response? Any other ideas as to what I can try?

Can you not go to see her in person, with the voucher, to discuss it?

She doesn’t have a salon, she’s mobile so travels to peoples homes unfortunately.

I'd message her and say that if you don't get a refund within 2 weeks you'll pursue the matter through the small claims court.

Have you got another friend who could book the appointment for you (you'd have to borrow her house though 😬)

Talk to her sister.

Is there a reason that you can’t speak to her sister?

Maybe ask the sister if she is going to see her this weekend/soon and could she ask the hairdresser to contact you to make the appointment as you have tried for 6 months and not got anywhere

Wouldn’t you say to your husband? The sister is his connection after all.

You could possibly sell the voucher (for slightly less than purchase price) if it's a generic voucher without your name on it? It's really not on that she isn't responding to you, though, so I wouldn't blame you if you wanted a full refund and an explanation.

@thefirstmrsrochester

Wouldn’t you say to your husband? The sister is his connection after all.

Why is it his connection?

The sister is my connection in that I used to work with her. But it feels inappropriate to speak to her. It’s not her issue or anything to do with her really - I certainly don’t feel that she’s to blame for her sister’s behaviour and I don’t want to put her in an awkward position.

@HunterHearstHelmsley ah, I misread the OP, and thought the connection was his. Apologies.

Just ask your former colleague if her sister is ok, position it as you being concerned as you have been trying to get hold of her for months with no luck. If she says her sister is fine, ask her to chase her to return your contact

Could you send her another message detailing the ways/number of times that you have tried to contact her about the voucher, explain that you now want a refund and give her a deadline by which to respond? And let her know that, you don't want to make this into a bigger thing than it needs to be but you'll have no option but to post about it publicly on her social media pages if you she doesn't get back to you?

Post on all her social media that she's a thief and that you're going to take her to the small claims court. I'm sure she'll refund you pronto

I would post on her FB page. Just say that this was a present from your husband and you want to know why she isn't honouring it as she has already been paid for the service but hasn't returned your numerous calls.

I tried to get a refund on a voucher for something that was cancelled by the company (without bothering to let us know) and got nowhere. Then posted on FB and got a full refund and a small gift hamper. Weird that all my emails and phone messages didn't get through but a single very clear message on FB did.

I wouldn't give her two weeks because I wouldn't want to do my hair after all this anyway. I'd ask my partner to put a note on her social media saying I've tried to contact you as I would like a refund. Please could you contact me? He's the one who bought it.

I agree ask for a refund but I can’t see how she would reply to that considering she’s ignored your other messages. To me you have 2 options you either message her saying that you will have to put a bad review on social media due to no response or write the money off .

I understand you saying you just want the money back but It's a bit too much all the messaging.
Could you not have bobbed in before all of that?

She is clearly getting your messages and ignoring them, Bitch, but leave it at that.

How can she ignore you if you call from a different number? Surely, she wouldn't ignore a potential new booking (one for which she hasn't already had the money) if just a number showed on her phone, rather than your name as it's already in her contacts? No mobile tradesperson who wants to keep earning will routinely ignore unknown numbers that call them.

Do you know where she lives? I'm not suggesting doing anything aggressive, but if that's her only 'business base' and there's no other way to contact her, could you not knock on her door and (try to) speak calmly to her, telling her you've now lost trust and will be requiring a refund forthwith?

Other than that, I would just go down the (calm, factual) 'shaming' route on social media and any review sites that people would land on if they Googled 'Jane Peters hairdresser Blackburn'? Simply state that you have a paid-for gift voucher and have been unable to contact her for six months, despite all the many times and methods you've tried, so you're very unhappy and would therefore not recommend anybody to do business with her' - no need to stoop to her level with anger or insults.

I really don't see how her sister could take great offence or blame you for being factual and matter-of-fact - if she cares enough to be emotionally involved at all, surely she'd be ashamed of her sister and not cross with you in any way.

I understand you saying you just want the money back but It's a bit too much all the messaging.
Could you not have bobbed in before all of that?

She is clearly getting your messages and ignoring them, Bitch, but leave it at that.

Exactly how do you propose OP should/could have booked in before the later messaging attempts when this woman kept ignoring her initial messages?

OP hasn't been deliberately perpetuating a vindictive message-bombing campaign for malicious fun - she's just been trying repeatedly and unsuccessfully to contact a business to get them to provide a service for which they have already been paid.

You make it sound like OP is the unreasonable one and not the hairdresser (or whatever she is) - do you really think that accepting an advance payment for a service is not committing yourself to fulfilling your side (or willingly refunding if it turns out you later can't)? How long do you suggest a business needs to hold out, ignoring all messages and avoiding any attempts to make contact, before the customer becomes the unreasonable one for chasing it?