Re "I've Done a stupid thing" thread.

[tiggerblue10]

Having spoken to Trading Standards this morning they advised me to write the Paparazzi Studios a letter asking for the refund. T^his is it:

//I was called by one of your representatives, xxxxxxxxxxxx, on 26th January 2010 and told that I had won a competition for a day at your studios in London. I said to the rep that I do not remember entering such a competition but he insisted that I had done. He told me that I could attend the studio with 2 guests and that I had to book there and then. I asked him if I could call back once I had found 2 guest to go but he said that I had to book it with him there and then. After about 10 minutes on the phone I agreed and gave him my credit card details which he put through and £30 was taken as a deposit. He said it would normally cost a lot more but as I had won the competition he could get it down to £30.

Having spoken to various people about this I have been advised that this is a hard sell tactic and that having not remembered entering a competition, I didn’t in fact do so which is a misrepresentation of the contract. Otherwise known as enticement.

Under the Legislation of Consumer Protection and Distance Selling Regulation of 2000 I would like you to refund the £30 you have taken from my credit card immediately before I consider legal action against you and take up the matter with Trading Standards. I am not interested in your policy of non-refundable cancellations as you have broken the law.

I would also like to ask you never to contact me again after the refund and not to pass my number onto any other company.//

What do you think?

[tiggerblue10]

I have cancelled it now and I'll get a new one within 4 - 10 days. I'm having a lot of problems with my printer so I've emailed it to my mum to print off.

Fingers Xed :o)

[wolf63]

You will probably find that the company is a real company offering the service that they told you about. Your card is probably not at risk - but, like you, I would probably cancel mine.

These companies make their money once they get you into the studio - by selling you tons of photographs that you don't want. They don't give you time to think.

Do what I do - don't answer the phone, or the door or ................


;-)

[tiggerblue10]

I know Wolf, something to the tune of £70 - 80 per photo!!!

[jno]

I agree with wolf that the company sound like hard-sell people rather than credit card scammers. If you didn't give out your PIN number, your card is probably safe enough. The distance selling laws were set up for people like you, hassled into making orders over the phone, who needed to be given a cooling off period to change their minds and cancel.

Glad to hear Trading Standards were able to help.

[tiggerblue10]

Hope the letter works without me having to take it further Jno.