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

If you do end up in court she’ll get a CCJ so it’s still worth doing even if you can’t claim the money back

I hope the others will join you

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.

It is possible she's having some kind of crisis that she doesn't want to discuss the nature of (MH for example). How long does she appear to have been successfully working as an MUA before she went flakey?

If it's out of character, it might be good tactics to go softly softly with her. Friendly reminders about the refund. Asking if she needs more time. If she genuinely is in a mess, making her feel kindly towards you when others are being aggressive to her, might work in your favour.

Of course, if she's been ripping people off for as long as she's been in the business, then she's just a con woman and you might as well go straight to a small claim.

Action Fraud won't do anything. There was a piece on You & Yours on R4 recently about how unfit for purpose it is, as they will only pursue frauds worth tens of thousands. Overburdened and under resourced.

Likewise, getting a CCJ will take months and she may not care especially if she doesn't have the funds to pay. It is one thing to get a judgment, another to be able to enforce it.

As you have wedding insurance, I would look into claiming on the policy, chalk it up to experience and move on planning your lovely wedding. At least you aren't one of the ones let down on the day itself!

Given what you know, I'd just get on and issue the claim. You can do it all online through MCOL. Keep on top of the court timetables - eg is she's late with her acknowledgement of service, or defence, you can apply for judgment in default and proceed to enforcement.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/wedding/2590160-Has-anyone-used-Hannah-May-Wedding-Photography?msgid=66144382

It's not this lady is it?

@RoomR0613 no, don't recognise that name.

More update! I'm just verifying her address then will file a small claim case against her. Have filled it all in, just awaiting confirmation for the address.