Q: I went to a beautician who advertised application of permanent make-up. I paid the beautician to have permanent lip liner applied.

The first session, which cost €120, did not have the desired effect. The beautician reassured me that after a second session, which costs another €110, I would be able to see results.

But three days after the second session, the make-up was gone once again. I complained with the beautician about this and also about the fact that I was not given a receipt for the payments I had made.

In the meantime, I contacted another beautician, who also offers permanent lip make-up and she confirmed that the make-up that I had was not applied properly and needed to be redone.

What are my legal rights?

A: As a consumer who paid for a service, you should be given the result you were promised by the beautician. Hence, if you were told that after two treatments you should see results of the permanent make-up applied, this should have happened. If you did not get these results, you may ask either for the treatment to be repeated at no extra cost or you may ask for a refund.

With regard to the receipt, did you ask for one when you paid the beautician? Legally, it is important that you have proof of purchase.

If you paid by credit card, the bank statement should suffice, but if you paid in cash and the beautician denies you were her customer, you may have difficulty proving that you purchased the service from her.

If you do not manage to reach an amicable understanding with the beautician, you may then file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs at the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.

Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority
Office for Consumer Affairs
Mizzi House,
National Road,
Blata l-Bajda
HMR 9010

Freephone: 8007 4400
Tel: 2395 2000
General enquiries: info@mccaa.org.mt
Consumer complaints: fair.trading@mccaa.org.mt
Website: www.mccaa.org.mt

Office hours for the public:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8.30am to 12.30pm; Wednesday from 8.30am to 4pm.

European Consumer Centre Malta
(For complaints against traders in another EU member state)

47A, South Street,
Valletta.
VLT 1101

Tel: 2122 1901
E-mail: ecc.malta@gov.mt

Office hours for the public:
Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 3pm.

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