new thread
Thought about posting this as a reply to Bohemian Prince's question, but decided not to hijack his thread...
Anyway, after hearing some of the haircut horror stories here on the board, I've started wondering: What exactly are one's legal options if the service rendered isn't what one asked for? In this case, you tell the stylist you want a small trim, and they cut off significantly more than was asked for. My first instinct would be to say, "You didn't do what I asked for, therefore I'm not paying."
So, any of our more legal minds have an input on whether I'd have a legal leg to stand on, in that situation?
Because enquiring minds want to know,
Frodo
I'm not a lawyer, but I would say that not paying is the only way to get your money back, so to speak, because it will cost too much to sue. Then the onus is on them to sue you, which will cost them too much and give them bad publicity, so they won't.
They might try to call the cops, but probably the cops would say that it is a civil matter, meaning they would have to sue you. If you take goods without paying it would fall under criminal laws that cover theft, but with a service I would say that's different. Hopefully. They might try to get you arrested for stealing products that they have used on your hair, if they are creative!
I am not legally trained either, but I think the legal position is difficult because you probably don't have any proof of what you asked for, nor do you have proof of how long your hair was immediately before you went there.
And if you go to a salon/barber with a written contract saying "I want a half inch trim and I will not pay you if it's an inch or more" they may well refuse to deal with you.
The fact is that most stylists take no notice of what the client tells them, they just do what they think. It's just good for society as a whole that they don't work in a delicatessen or you would end up with quails' egg chutney instead of pitta bread.
unless you have a legal contract and photos at the actual time and place you are screwed - before and after - basically - and when would that happen?? - dont even go there, get someone you trust to do your trims or do it yourself, a lot of 'hairdressers' are too scissor happy imo and get away with anything
Screw 'em. I'd never pay for a bad meal or a bad haircut.
--Val