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AIBU?

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Original poster

Should I make a complaint about this woman?

101 replies

Cantbebothered31 · 31/12/2022 12:56

I won some free beauty treatment on Instagram for a clinic, should've known it was too good to be true. Upon arriving I was told by the aesthetician that not everyone is suitable for the treatment (skin treatment).
She then told me that there were various offers on at the clinic atm and asked if I had any problem areas. I told her I was keen to remove the acne around my chin area.
She then took a photo of me and blew up my face on a big screen. Then, without me asking, she started telling me all the cosmetic work I need doing.
She told me that I've got facial sagging (I'm barely over 30, how much sagging can I really have?) That my face isn't symmetrical (is anyone's?)
Smokers' lines (I've never smoked in my life) dark circles, my top lip is uneven, and so on.
I didn't ask for her opinion on any of it. How saggy am I really going to be in my very early 30s?
The only good Feedback she gave me was on my acne. Of course I was then their 'perfect' candidate for filler at £700.
I wasn't a suitable candidate for the free procedure, how convenient.
Then they had the cheek to ask me to leave a review.
Luckily I'm not taking to heart what she said. I bet a supermodel could've walked in and they'd find something to say she needs doing. However I think they're really rude and irresponsible. Someone very impressionable and with low self esteem could hear that and believe everything they say, and shell out for work they don't need.
I know this is how they make money, what would you do? Report it?

OP posts:
BackBeatTheWord · 31/12/2022 12:58

Who would you report it to? If you want you could leave a factual review though detailing exactly what happened. That might warn off anyone from wasting time or potentially being made to feel insecure by their sales pitch.

HermioneWeasley · 31/12/2022 13:00

I would absolutely leave a review and I would let whoever was running the completion know that you weren’t able to claim - they’ve effectively given them free advertising

Original poster
Cantbebothered31 · 31/12/2022 13:01

I see they've had one or two negative reviews for being pushy, which have been met each time with some bitchy reply and 'we don't remember you at the clinic' type answer. Sadly google doesn't let you leave anonymous reviews, don't know if I'm brave enough to use my real name

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 31/12/2022 13:01

I'd leave a factual review specifically mentioning the freebie you weren't allowed to have and the £££ they recommended you paid.

Stressedmum2017 · 31/12/2022 13:01

Who would you report it to exactly? Just chalk it up to experience and move on.

IncompleteSenten · 31/12/2022 13:02

What are you worried they will do? Leave a bitchy reply? Don't read it.

Original poster
Cantbebothered31 · 31/12/2022 13:03

Apparently it wouldn't have given me the results I was looking for. It was clearly just a sales pitch for the clinic, they did their best to put me off with negative side effects.

OP posts:
viques · 31/12/2022 13:04

Complain to whom? She was doing what she is expected to do, flag up the clinic’s services and flog product.

We all buy into cosmetic and beauty treatment hype, and probably all spend too much on products we don’t need or that we think are a quick fix, presumably you were doing exactly that when you entered the competition.

Some people probably spend more than they should trying to achieve whatever it is they are trying to achieve, many people opt for things they can’t afford, be it beauty treatments, clothes, cars or houses.

Original poster
Cantbebothered31 · 31/12/2022 13:04

I think I need to be brave and write the review. It was definitely a bit hurtful at the time to hear all that's 'wronng' with my face.

OP posts:
PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 31/12/2022 13:05

It's clearly just a ruse to get people into the clinic, and they have no intention of dishing out free treatment. Was there anything in the small-print when you entered the competition to say the treatment might not be suitable?

Original poster
Cantbebothered31 · 31/12/2022 13:05

I entered for a treatment to help clear my skin, not to be told my face is horrible and I need all sorts doing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cantbebothered31 · 31/12/2022 13:06

No didn't see any small print sadly

OP posts:
PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 31/12/2022 13:12

Cantbebothered31 · 31/12/2022 13:06

No didn't see any small print sadly

If there was nothing to say you mightn't be able to have the treatment, it sounds as though the competition prize has been misrepresented - there are laws around how competitions can be advertised and run in the UK. It may be worth reporting their account to Instagram along those lines - I think that would be more likely to get results than reporting them for their unwanted and unwarranted analysis of your facial features.

whattodo1975 · 31/12/2022 13:14

BackBeatTheWord · 31/12/2022 12:58

Who would you report it to? If you want you could leave a factual review though detailing exactly what happened. That might warn off anyone from wasting time or potentially being made to feel insecure by their sales pitch.

Get it logged via 111 as always seems to be the advice on MN

LaLuz7 · 31/12/2022 13:14

IncompleteSenten · 31/12/2022 13:01

I'd leave a factual review specifically mentioning the freebie you weren't allowed to have and the £££ they recommended you paid.

Please do this.

The Freeby contest is obviously dishonest as no prize is actually given out.

They shouldn't get away with such shady practices.

MichelleScarn · 31/12/2022 13:15

Sounds like the new 'win a photoshoot' scam of the 90s.... yeah win the shoot but if you want a photo to look at /take its ££££s!

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 31/12/2022 13:16

MichelleScarn · 31/12/2022 13:15

Sounds like the new 'win a photoshoot' scam of the 90s.... yeah win the shoot but if you want a photo to look at /take its ££££s!

That's exactly what I thought of too.

Nancywhiskey · 31/12/2022 13:18

Trading standards?

royalrecording · 31/12/2022 13:21

Social media competitions are governed by the ASA. You can report to them. I would screenshot the competition, if following best practice they should have had terms and conditions clearly linked, which you can review. Unless the Ts and Cs were totally clear, they’ll get a slap on the wrist and think twice about doing it again.

Baldieheid · 31/12/2022 13:21

I'd suggest trading standards too. They ran a competition that appears, based on your experience, to have no prizes. That's mis-selling.

Ariela · 31/12/2022 13:23

I'd start by saying how excited you were to win (freebie). And put something nice about the clinic when you attended eg you noted how clean it was or how friendly and cheering the receptionist

Then say you had a great consultation but how disappointed you were that your skin wasn't suitable for (freebie) and that unfortunately you were not to be able to afford the (super luxury) £700 filler as recommended right now, but you were posting this to be sure all your friends knew what (clinic) was offering.

Chances are they won't note the sarcasm....

roses2 · 31/12/2022 13:23

I'd leave a Google review. It's not like you'll see them again.

NotAnotherBathBomb · 31/12/2022 13:26

Surely it could be classed as 'false advertising' and there is a board that a complaint could be made to?

Then I'd also write a bad review.

biedrona · 31/12/2022 13:27

You could try and make a complaint to the Trading standard UK board?

DeadDonkey · 31/12/2022 13:30

Ariela · 31/12/2022 13:23

I'd start by saying how excited you were to win (freebie). And put something nice about the clinic when you attended eg you noted how clean it was or how friendly and cheering the receptionist

Then say you had a great consultation but how disappointed you were that your skin wasn't suitable for (freebie) and that unfortunately you were not to be able to afford the (super luxury) £700 filler as recommended right now, but you were posting this to be sure all your friends knew what (clinic) was offering.

Chances are they won't note the sarcasm....

I certainly wouldn’t be saying I’d had a great consultation - I’d be clearly stating that I’d won a prize, and on arrival was subjected to a consultation I’d not requested, told I wasn’t eligible for my prize and asked to pay £700 for treatments I didn’t want.