consumer rights

[Carriel]

Briefly my lovely Bulgarian cleaner was given (by another client) a gift of a mini makeover and a free photo session, which inluded a free photo at the end (original cost £40). Somehow the company managed to talk her into spending £400 on 37 digital photos. She's paid £100 up front and the rest by direct debit. She barely speaks English and although I pay £7.20 an hour she only sees £5 an hour of it as she's an agency cleaner. I tried calling the company today but the boss didn't call me back. My m-in-law says there's an obligatory 14 day cooling off period in all contracts is that true? Anyone know if I can do anything?
I'm trying to negotiate that they keep £100, she gets 2 photos and they get the rest back??

Sorry - no advice Carriel but I hope someone can help. Good on you for trying to help.

I thought there was generally a cooling off period - it should be on whatever she signed? I'm not sure what the technicalitites of this cooling off period are.

I don't know what the legal position is but this happened to a friend of a friend, apparently they virtually held her prisoner until she agreed to spend a fortune on photos, it's really hard sell. If you ever manage to speak to a human being I'd threaten them with publicity - Watchdog, the local paper, any thing you can think of.

I'd understood that the cooling off period was for contracts signed in your home (to allow you to re-think after any high pressure sales techniques that you can't walk away from). I could well be wrong, but I don't think it applies to services contracted when you voluntarily visit the firms place of business. Suggest you call the Citizens Advice Bureau to check, there may be additional protection for people who may not have understood the terms of the contract - I seam to remember some legislation about 5yrs ago requireing that all service contracts are described to the purchasing member of the public in a manner they can understand.

Hope you find a solution you're all happy with.

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