To be suspicious of clinic wanting money upfront?

[viccy009]

I am trying to book some treatments and I found a clinic about 15 minutes from where I live.

I have an appointment booked for tomorrow and I find the whole establishment very dodgy.

For a start they don't have a landline number and all contact is done via mobile.
The website domain expired some years ago by the looks of it.

Initially the "nurse" wanted me to come today but I couldn't make it and then she was like "well if I am community based on Thursdays and won't be available until Friday".

Then she text me earlier on to advise me that she had a cancellation for tomorrow and could not fit me in.

She sent me a payment link with an invoice and expects me to pay £250 before the appointment which I find very shady.

Am I right in thinking this maybe a con?

Have you been to the location?

And what are you having done

Google company

Well surely if your instincts are telling you something, you should listen?

I'd be wary of handing the full amount over before. They may ask for deposit, that's quite normal.
But do they have good reviews? Is the treatment something like fillers/Botox or even lipo? Or something less invasive? Has anyone you know used them?
Either way I'd be very wary of full payment up front.

Hi
I'm having fillers and Botox.
I have tried looking on Google and nothing much comes up.
Has three reviews from 11 months ago.

I am very dubious about payment upfront ad the lady said yesterday I could pay on arrival.

Contact via a mobile, with no social media or website would ring alarm bells for me.

I think that people offering this kind of service don't actually have to have any qualifications at all. There will be a professional body you could check their credentials with.

Go somewhere else ?

It looks as if there used to be a website but the domain has now expired.

Social media page has posts from 2023.

It just seems very odd at how pushy the lady is.
I am defo not paying any money so will just text to cancel.

First time doing this so wasn't sure if it was the norm to pay upfront.

you haven't got vibes from them, you don't like the fact they have no landline and can't find many good recommendations from them and yet you're still considering going to have Botox at this place.
I don't have Botox but I can absolutely guarantee if I were - I'd be using somewhere I felt was completely above board with good recommendations against them.

If something went wrong do you think you would have any hope of tracking these people down? If not... Don't do it!

Imo it would be a very bad idea.

Out of date website, no landline, not a lot of reviews and none recent.

None of that says reputable business.

Do not pay and do not go. Go somewhere reputable that does it like a dentist. You don't want anyone messing about with your face

Gosh no do not go to this person! Only go to a practitioner who is a registered medical professional (dentist, nurse, doctor). Any decent clinic will offer you a consultation appointment first, before booking any treatment. They'll also be happy to provide you with proof of their registration.
Edited to say a deposit is normal at time of booking, but would only be a small percentage of treatment cost.

Some (reputable) clinics do ask for payment up front (unless its a consultation) but in this case, with no data for 2024 you should be very wary.

I'd be less worried about the money than the issue of someone from a non reputable place injecting God knows what into my face!

@viccy009

Can you make payment by credit card? If so - whatever else - you will be protected financially

I'd have to trust someone a lot to let them stick needles in my face!

It sounds like the place has closed in 2023 and this is a scammer.

I think if you pay, you will turn up, the door will be locked, and no one will be there.

I wouldnt entertain this so called "company"

£250 for botox AND fillers doesnt seem very expensive,

id be asking what product they are injecting, and would be questioning if they are a registered professional ie a doctor/nurse.

also never pay up front without an initial consultation!!!!

sounds fishy, if not that, rubbish quality by an inexperienced injector.

Did you check them in Companies House? Sounds like they set up a couple of years ago and didn't really get off the ground. Probably bust the company, have no valid insurance and are doing cash jobs on the cheap.

TBH I wouldn’t be using a botox/filler provider without a personal recommendation, recent online footprint with website detailing qualifications of the practitioner and recent reviews. They are being pushy about payment too - another red flag.

Body swerve this - not all aestheticians are equal, you could end up looking like a right freak with nerve damage or anything instead of a fresh new you.

This

Never mind your money - would you seriously consider them injecting stuff into your face??

Get a grip!

Very much depends. I frequently book private appointments when I am expected to pay in advance (minor surgery, mole check, holding deposit for a dentist, holding deposit for a hairdresser etc.) But I wouldn't do it to a company with an expired web address and a complete lack of SM presence.