Thomas Street Studios / Fusion Studios review: Taking money from accounts 56

i had the same problem last christmas i recieved a phone call from fusion saying i won a free photoshoot alls i had to do was pay for me and my friend a £10 deposit each so i did got there they were so rude when i got there tried to rush me and my friend had my pictures taken and got took into a room after to have a look at the pictures then to be asked if i wanted to purchase any me and my friend are both student so we couldnt afford as the cheapest package was £400 for three THREE pictures i tried to explain i couldnt afford and he the guy kept saying we can make some arrangement come up with monthly payment again i declined kept going on and on pressuring i agree to buy 3 and to pay 65 a month over 7 months i payed it off and on the last payment they twice took out a further 65 i was £130 down i rang up he assured me that day it would be put back in asked for a contact number and my name left it looked again the next day nothing had been put back in again i rang he said he got busy and would assure me it would be in this went on for 3 weeks i still havent got my money back and 2 weeks ago i recieved a letter from this company saying i cancelled my direct debit which i had a year ago as i paid it all and they took money out so they couldnt take anymore there threatening to refer me to a debt collector even though i paid all this a year ago and havent heard anything i try to ring up no one ever answers AVOID AT ALL COSTS if this carrys on i WILL not hesitate on taking you to court!

My friends bought a fusion studio pakeage for my bday, the package including 50 pounds voucher and suppose to have some free image.! We went there today. everything was goin well at first. after we done all shooting. when viewing the pic that we took the guy was starting show us all the package price! £120 for per photo! £399 for 6 pic £999 for 30pic... me and my friend was thinking try the £999 cause if we use the voucher £100 off then we can share the rest of it which it £250 each? but still it too much for us!this is unbelievable! £120 for one photo! we just said we cant afford it cause we are student! so he try selling different kind of package or pay it monthly for £33?! pay monthly just for photo? i don't think it worth it! and i said dose our package including any free photo? they guy said no! then we found in the package it wrote there is a free photo giving! which it not fair to us! those £50 vouchers are useless only u can use it in package! it seen like other ppl had the same experience like me, i would just say i won't go back there next time!

Also to the lady that feels they have had £10 taken when they were told £5 I you would have been told its £5 each and I you are obviously just trying it on! What an amazing experience for £10!

I work for the studio and the £75 charge is correct if you aren't making your appointment and you haven't hie 5 working days notice an you have to understand we have booked professional hair and make up artists specifically for you so if you don't turn up we still have to pay them. If you think this is u fair think how the people feel who have come in specifically to make your day special. If you ha e a grudge or work for a rival company your wasting your time as when you actually attend the studio you will see what an amazing day it is for you

I got a phone call from Fusion Studios saying I had won a competition for me and a friend to have a style makeover and fashion shoot worth £250. They also said we would get one free picture each plus a £50 voucher each towards others. Although the photo shoot itself was good, once we came into the other room to look at the photos, the girl started trying to sell us a package worth £950, where we could pay by installments. I explained to her that my friend owed $90, 000 in student fees (she is from the US) and I was saving up to pay for a holiday, so we couldn't afford it. She kept on trying with various other packages, and was very pushy and hard faced. In the end I said we would just take our free photo and leave, as we both felt really uncomfortable. That was when she said we couldnt choose which picture we got for free, we could only have the very first photo the photographer shot (which had clearly been taken badly for this purpose). In the end, we ended up both paying £50 for two photos each (and the second photo we chose had to be the same one, we weren't allowed to pick to four different ones?!). The £50 vouchers we both had could only be used if we got a package, which obviously they failed to mention on the phone!
Although I like the photos, I feel lucky to have got out of these just paying £50, which is still a lot of money to me and my friend.
To be honest, the service was shocking from the beginning. When they rang me to say i had won the competition ( I do enter online comps so it seemed plausible), they only gave me a five day window in which to book it, so my friend and I had to pull a few strings to get time off at such short notice. Two days later my aunty passed away, so I rang to rearrange, and they insisted that either my friend still come along on that original date with another friend, or that I pay £75. It was only when I really lost my rag over the phone, and they went back and forth to the manager, that they agreed to rearrange.

For all those insulting the original poster calling her a liar, I hope that's someone's reaction the next time you have a problem with a company. It doesn't matter how big the company issues happen weather intentional or simply a mistake it does happen. The measure of a good company is how they put the issues right when they do happen. It does not mean the poster is a liar or has defaulted. As for charging back as its would probably have been a debit card transaction there is no charge back facility as there is with credit cards. So to fight it and try and get her money back she would have to probably go down the small claims court route which of course would need all the reinvent evidence.

My partner had a very similar experience today, they called her up trying to sell her the photo shoot session deal, pay £5 deposit get the make-up and hair done then have some shots and promised on the call a free photo and money off further photo's sounds good. My partner asked for a date we could certainly make but then the call turned to high pressure sales tactics, we are in the middle of moving home and its our daughters 3rd birthday next week needless to say a busy time, they refused to let her book it for next month it had to be a certain time that suited them or she couldn't have the offer or free photo etc.

She ended up accepting it and did regret it as she was stressed enough without having to goto the shoot but then when she wanted to cancel they they would charge £75 for each person which we could ill afford at this time of year with everything going on. Anyway she went and had a horrible experience, this free photo and with no obligation was a lie, no free photo, no discount to other photo's etc. So my partner said ok then we wont have any they then threatened charging etc she explained she didnt have the money to buy multiple photos at their price, they kept quoting the whole verbal contract thing (even when we pointed out that the verbal contract should also obligate them to provide what they promised, and if they had the call recorded they should listen to it and make good on their word). All said and done she ended up getting some photo's for £20 per shot but they are not above piling on pressure and threats to get money out of you. They didn't even give a receipt for those pictures.

We just called the bank and cancelled the card so they are issuing another one, they wont be taking any money that we have not agreed to. If you do deal with them then tread carefully, be aware of their charges and record any call's where anything is agreed. Personally I would steer clear of this company as they don't seam interested in anything than trying to milk you for everything they can and to be damned with customer service.

FIRSTLY they would never have taken £300 unless you signed somewhere that they could. You clearly ordered goods and most likely missed a payment or defaulted.
SECONDLY why would they just let you cancel a day before? I booked BT to install a line with Open Reach and if I don't give them 7 days notice to not install the line they will charge me £99. And why wouldn't they? Even if I was going on a surprise holiday, they would still have to charge me as THEY HAD AN ENGINEER BOOKED FOR THE INSTALL.
Please use an ounce of common sense.

I received a telephone call that i had won a make over for two people, because i had always wanted to take my daughter on one i was very happy with what i was told over the phone and paid them the £5 deposit they asked for, when my paperwork came through they had took £10 which says a £5 deposit for each of it which i wasn't told. i then read the small print and if i do not attend or we are late and have not given 5 days written notice i will be charged £75 each for both myself and my daughter. Although i had no plans to cancel i know that things can happen and sometimes make it impossible to attend. I have no idea how they can do this without signing a contract but i am now going to write to cancel the appointment and send by recorded delivery so there is no fall back. I do not know how they can get away with this and i cannot imagine the pressure if we went would would receive to buy the photographs. It is so wrong and i have decided to waive my £10 booking fee. Do not go here from me alone they have made £10 and how many people do not read the small print

I have today tried to cancel my appointment I have booked withe Fusion studios and cannot believe what theey have advised me! They have been a complete and utter disgrace since day one of dealing withe theem. I originally booked to attend on Saturday 21st April but had to rearrange for theis Saturday 9the June! When I rang to rearrange nobody ever answered my calls or voice-mails or even emails! I had to chase theem one day 5 times before I could actually rebook! And when I did rebook theey had my name and my sisters names completely wrong - theey had also written my husbands name wrong and written my address wrong! So I told the young lady I wanted to completely cancel as I didn't want to go!
Then I have rang Friday 01.06.12 and left a voicemail as my husband has booked a last minute holiday for our wedding anniversary - so I had to ring to cancel as we are going away on 08.06.12 - thee young lady said I cant cancel as I haven't given theem 5 working days notice and theey will charge my debit card £75! I told her she will not and I will be taking legal action upon theem if theey do - theey do NOT have my autheorisation to do theis! I am severaly stressed at thee moment and have had a terrible ordeal - I do not need theis unnecessary stress! I have emailed 2 different people and WILL drag theeir name therough thee mud should theey take theis money from my account witheout autheorisation! The woman on thee phone is arrogantt and severaly unhelpful! DO NOT GO HERE! They are complete con artists! I didn't't want to rebook thee first time but was pressured into it!

How can they take 300 from your card? they simply can't! are you sure you didn't authorise them? I bet you did and are probably now annoyed that you did. If they really did take the money, all you would have to do is call them and legally they would have to refund you.
You are either a liar, a BS'er, or like Pov777 says - someone with a grudge!

I have been to the studio and had a fantastic day, i only paid for what i ordered.
Why haven't you spoke to your card company if someone took £300 without authorisation off my card the card company would get it straight back for me. Is this a genuine complaint or a case of buyers remorse, you work for a rival or just bored.

I am having the same problem, they took £100 deposit and 3 weeks later are still waiting to get it back, i am now instructing my solicitor and ideal world who help sell this con of a product and if necessary go to the national papers to oust the scam in.