SK:N goes under - help!?!?

[LuckyStrike22]

Hello, I wondered if anyone else is in a similar position? I paid £384 for a course of 8 laser hair removal sessions at SK:N Barnet. I had the first session last week only to learn they've gone bankrupt. There's a complete blackout of information coming from the company, and I have a sinking sense I'm going to lose my money - which for me was a lot to part with in the first place. Anyone have the slightest idea what's happening? What are others doing who find themselves in the same spot? 😭😭😭

Oh no. I’m coming to the end of a course at a london one so it’s not too bad for me. I like the women who work there so feel bad for them

Did you pay for this on a credit card? If so you might have a chance of recouping your cash but if not I’m afraid it’s tough luck

The same thing happened to me when Topshop went under

Oh no! Did you pay by credit card? If so you may be protected

Oh no! Sorry OP, it doesn’t look promising. Did you pay by CC by any chance?

It is surprising but they were also so expensive compared to other clinics that I’m also not surprised.

It vaguely rings a bell that you are protected with credit card if value lost is £100 or more, but in past I had to argue hard because whilst the total value I was owed was about £300, the individual items were less than £100 and so credit card tried to say I wasn’t covered. The did relent eventually, so just be mindful if each session was under £100.

Sadly / stupidly I paid with my debit card. I think I may just be out of luck.

Contact your bank.

@LuckyStrike22 there is hope!!

"if you don’t get something you have paid for by debit card, and the firm is refusing to refund you, you can ask your bank to ‘reverse the transaction' and get your money back via chargeback"

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/credit/how-youre-protected-when-you-pay-by-card#Debit-cards-and-chargeback

also just fyi, it's owned by a Dr. Howard Peter Stevens

Email: [email protected]
https://www.howardstevens.co.uk/contact.html

Thank you!!!

I was booked in for surgery in August with Harley Medical who have also ceased trading. I really hope there is a way for us to get our money back, as I’m set to lose over £8000. I spoke to the surgeon’s P.A this evening (not linked to Harley Medical) and she said the best bet is to contact our banks, as they can put a claim in. I’m going to get in touch with them first thing tomorrow!

I ended up here after Googling SK:N because I'm in a similar position to the OP so quickly signed up to offer some positive news. I paid £400 using our debit card for a series of eight Laser hair removal sessions in May, I've had three with the next due a week today so that left me £250 out of pocket.

I've literally just got off the phone to Halifax debit card disputes and have been refunded £250 through the charge back method. I can't believe how straight forward it was if I'm honest. The whole thing took about ten minutes, they took details of the transaction and what was outstanding. The lady on the phone explained the various outcomes depending on whether the company (SK:N) contact them, dispute the claim or refund me directly but as it is I'm no longer out of pocket at all.

I'm still slightly shocked how easy it was to do so please do talk to your bank and see if they are as helpful as Halifax.
Paul

Thank you for the update, that’s brilliant that you’ve had your money back and it was straightforward. I’m keeping everything crossed I’m able to get my money back too! I rang my bank and they are sending me a prepaid envelope to send off evidence of invoices etc, then it will be sent to Mastercard to investigate.

Hi all,

I am one of the many SK:N clients looking for a chargeback for 2 packages I bought with my debit card within the last 120 days. One was for laser treatments, of which I used 4 out of the 8 sessions, and the other a package of 3 microneedling sessions, of which I used none (total unused value: around £1000).
In order to get the chargeback, my bank asked me for an invoice or contract, and terms&conditions I signed. Unfortunately, I realised they never gave me an invoice or a copy of the terms&conditions for these services. Also, the pricing and my personal area disappeared together with the website.
I just feel so stupid trusting the clinics so blindly, but I really didn’t see this coming.
Anyone else facing the same issues?
Please help!

Hello, I have the same issue. I booked a course of tattoo removal with Sk:n and still have 3 sessions left worth around £200. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I paid for a course of laser hair removal and had only one treatment before they went under. Fortunately I had paid on credit card and a 10 min phone call solved the problem with my money coming back a few hours later.

Dr Motox is offering sessions for people who have paid for SKN - look him up

Quick update that, like others, I was able to get refunded through my bank.

Good news Luckystrike, everyone I've told about my refund was of the same opinion as me, that chargebacks and card protection was only for credit cards and not debit cards. I don't know if there's been a change of law, the banks coming on board with the decent consumer protection or whether the difference between cards was one big misconception?

FWIW I've booked a course with another chain, Laser Clinics UK who are also in Brighton and their reviews are very similar to SK:N so we'll give them a go. I've a consultation and first treatment on Monday which would of been my next scheduled appointment with SK:N so I've been able maintain the four week cycle and I now know the type of questions to ask before treatment starts, payment is on the day so no risk so far!

Heya @LuckyStrike22 im in the same position as you. I spoke to the bank and they said they can’t submit a claim until the clinic have confirmed in writing that the treatments are cancelled. I’ve emailed the insolvency company too to ask how to made a creditor clams that way. Nightmare! I paid my money the 16th July then they went into liquidation on the 17th - terrible luck!

@LuckyStrike22 How did you manage a refund through the bank? If you don’t mind sharing so I can try too, I spoke to them but no luck they said I need it in writing that the treatments cancelled

It was actually really easy. I bank with HSBC, so I selected "query transaction" within the app and filled in the dispute form here ccouk.eu1.adobesign.com/public/esignWidget?wid=CBFCIBAA3AAABLblqZhAomqotqMr3a_eMNjIfg1rr6t9mK6Dbb0v1NKT1mzHwPr_AAsHudqD_e2OQarbnOLk*

I used the acknowledgement of my first booked appointment as evidence of purchase, and then the customer notice from SK:N as evidence of service not fulfilled. I spoke to the bank over the phone and they said they were already aware of the insolvency. On the phone, the teller saw that the outstanding funds (full amount less one treatment) had already been returned to my account. Hope that helps!

Just found this thread by chance. I used to use a branch quite regular in Birmingham for laser hair treatment but stopped as I found a better solution, that's another story! anyway. I have friends that work at this branch and in the call centre above, staff were told only on the morning by a zoom/teams call what was happening. It came as a complete shock to all, absolutely disgusting. They were taking customers money right up to the very end with the higher ups knowing full well what was going to happen. Some staff resorted to taking small fixtures, expensive skincare items and whatever they could get their hands on as they were told they were not going to get paid, all this a week before payday. People are in bits, nobody is talking, how a company of this size can get away with such damage is beyond me.

@GachaBread

That's shocking. How companies can treat people like this is horrible