You Dare to Visit This Beauty Salon? / 野蛮美容院

本来很瘦的我在Citispa导购小姐的劝说下，签了一个瘦身配套，她用她那甜美的声音，柔柔地对我说：“这个配套可以帮助到你。”并信誓旦旦地保证能让我看到效果，无须节食，运动，并说他们与8波道合作了一个节目，极有信誉。她接着又说：“你可以任选全岛的任何一间分店，任选适合你的时间。”听完她的介绍，心里充满了期盼。
第一次预约，相当顺利，正当我以为一切都很美好的时候，噩梦在一步步向我靠近，只是我还没有察觉罢了。首先美容师说的比起导购小姐来要保守多了，她们说怎样也是要配合才能见效，所谓配合是指少吃多动，我想算了，既来之则安之，我忍。。。
导购小姐也介绍说做瘦身配套一定要勤劳，不能像做美容那样，美容洗脸一个月最多做两次，如果做得太勤了，反而对皮肤有伤害，而瘦身则需一个星期做两次，否则就没有效果。按照导购小姐的指示我在做完第一次后便要求拿第二次预约，这是前台的服务人员就变了，她说星期三已经满了，既然是Ang Mo Kio分店卖给你的，你不如回去找她们，叫她们帮你解决。我当时有些不高兴，因为这跟当初所讲的不一样，当初说好哪间分店都行，但她把订单给我看，四月星期三都满了，没办法，星期三我只好去Ang Mo Kio分店做，我告诉她帮我把五月的订上，免得到时出现同样的问题，但她说五月的计划还没有出来，暂时无法预定，当时她也说星期三已无法解决，但保证我星期六或星期天一定会帮我解决，因为我周末实在无法去Ang Mo Kio，太远了，来回要两个小时。事已至此，也只好算了，心想只要周末给我订了也就迁就了。五月二号当我去预定时，她们竟又说满了，只肯给我一个星期天晚上的，我跟她们讲晚上我不方便，我比较喜欢星期六下午，不耽误我做事，晚上经常要出去逛街回不来，好说歹说她们终于同意给了我星期天中午的，将就啦；订接下来的星期，给了星期六中午的，接着商量再下一个星期，她们就翻了脸，先是说满了，我不相信，为什么前面两个都有，而更远的却没有，这显然不合乎逻辑，我要求看预约单，被拒绝，我要求见她们的经理，同样遭到拒绝，她们说“经理没空见你，她不在。”我建议打手机找她，她们说经理正在跟顾客谈话，我说我也是顾客，哪里可以付了钱的你们就不管了。她们无奈承认说她们要把时间留给新加入的顾客，这真是岂有此理，做生意岂能这样，拿了人家的钱却不提供服务？是可忍孰不可忍？我就跟她们吵了起来，其中的一位野蛮美容师毫不示弱，竟指着我的脸破口大骂，“你以为你是谁？你想要什么就要给你什么？”我被这突如其来的侮辱给吓懵了，毕竟长这么大还从未见过这种服务方式嘞。士可杀，不可辱，于是我只得勇气，跟她吵下去，“你以为你是谁呀？竟敢用这种口气跟顾客讲话？”我气愤地推了她一下，谁知在场的三个服务人员竟诬陷我打了她一巴掌，到底我没证人，而且一看便知这三人是久经沙场的老将，我哪里是她们的对手？眼看着要吃亏，只好三十六计走为上，她们不依不饶，所谓的经理更是向我吼叫，命令我到一个房间里去，“给我进去，你给我进去，你听到了没有？”她大声地吼叫着，然后叫来了商场保安，然而恶人始终就是恶人，当保安上来时，恰巧看到了这些人围攻我的一幕，而且还有陆续围上来的一些过路的，也看到了。结果当然是保安并没有站在她们一边，真是弄巧成拙。这是走投无路的她们又叫来了警察，我对警察讲了实情，并对他们讲述了我的忧虑，她们毕竟是一伙的，且存心想陷害我，可当时并没人路过，而且我还有两百多块钱在她们手上；警察安慰我说他们会尽力调查，不会只听一方的证词，他们也建议我联络起总部，要求换去别的分店，这间绝对不能再来了，否则安全无法得到保障。
听了警察的建议，我回到家给她们的总部打电话，接电话的小姐声音甜美，一口答应帮我解决，要我给她们两天的时间，最迟星期二她们便会给我一个答复。听了她的话，我总算放下了压在胸口的一块大石。可是等啊等啊，到了星期二晚上却没有任何人打电话给我，我只好由硬着头皮给总部打电话，自称是负责人的以老女人接听了电话，我对她说想换另一间，谁知她竟无礼地打断了我说：“这件事已交给警方处理了，现在我们将停止对你的服务，直到警方的报告出来为止。”我说这种瘦身的程序必须连续做，否则就没有效果了，还没等我讲完，她再度粗暴地打断了我，“你到底听不听得动我在讲什么？”然后便挂断了电话，无论我怎么再打，她们只要听到是我的声音或是看到我的号码，她们边挂机，毫无商量的余地。无奈之中我联络了CASE, 工作人员建议我带上相关证据，在星期六亲自到他们那里去备案。正当我要去的时候，星期五晚上突然接到了她们打来的电话，说她们一决定把剩下的款项全部退还给我，还说她们会进一步核实其数额，星期一打电话给我。这次态度变得和蔼可亲，正因为这样，我取消了星期六去CASE的计划，毕竟太麻烦了嘛。可是等啊等啊，今天已经是星期四了，也没见有什么电话来，看来这个星期六我是非得去CASE不可了。

I’m actually already quite slim. But I was persuaded by the promoter from Citispa when they had their road show at Ang Mo Kio NTUC Hub to sign a slimming package. “This will definitely help you,” said she with her sweet and soothing voice. She also said the result was guaranteed and there was no need to go on a diet or exercise. “We produced a TV program together with Channel 8 about this slimming course. Don’t worry, we are a very reputable company. You can choose whichever branch from all over Singapore and a time slot that will suit you.” After hearing what she said, I was indeed fascinated and full of hope in my heart.
My first appointment was quite smooth. While I was weaving my beautiful dream, the nightmare had already started forming without my knowledge. First I found that the beautician was much more conservative than the promoter had been. According to her, we must have more discipline, meaning eat less and exercise more. What to do? I’ve already made a payment. I was thinking, well, just let it be….
The promoter told me that their slimming course was different from their facial programme. Facials are done up to a maximum of twice a month. But the slimming course must be twice a week with a minimum of ten appointments or there won’t be any effect. Based on her instruction, I straight away requested a second appointment after the first treatment. Their faces suddenly changed. They told me Wednesday already fully booked. Since Ang Mo Kio branch sold you this package, you’d better go back to them. She also showed me the booking list. No choice, I went back to Ang Mo Kio for Wednesday’s treatments until the end of April. Ang Mo Kio branch was not very convenient for me because I had to sacrifice my lunch hour. So I requested them for the May appointments so that I could book earlier to avoid such problem. But she told me May schedule was not out yet. On the second of May, soon after my treatment, I requested to book for the rest of my appointments. Guess what they said? “It’s already fully booked.” Finally they agreed to give me an evening slot for the following weekend (9/5/10). I was not happy, and told them that the evening was not at all convenient for me, because on the weekends I go shopping and would not be able to come back before night time. After we had argued for a while, I was given a 2pm slot. For the following week I was given a slot on Sat at 2:00pm. But for the final booking, no matter what I said, they still insisted that it was fully booked, and that they would not be able to do anything. I found it very hard to believe that if early May was ok, then how could later in the month be already booked out? I requested to see their schedule list. They said it’s confidential. Then I said I’d like to see their manager. They replied that their manager was busy with another customer and was not available to see me. I was not happy and said “I’m also your customer. Are you trying to tell me that only those who haven’t made the payments are customers and those who had already paid don’t have to bother any more?” They said they couldn’t find her at the time. Then I said why not call her on her mobile? Finally they admitted that they’d like to reserve the slots for the new customers from the road show. This was indeed too much. So I started quarrelling with them. One of the beauticians shouted at me while pointing to my face, “who do you think you are? Why does everything have to follow your schedule ” I was shocked, as I have never experienced ‘service’ of this kind in my life. I was forced to gather some courage and continue this battle. “Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me like this?” Meanwhile I pushed on her shoulder with anger. Who knew that three of them would make a false accusation of slapping her. I had no witness, and it was very obvious to me that all three were definitely ‘old birds’, and so I thought it better to leave the premises. They called security from the Mall, who arrived only in time to see that so many of them had cornered me in a small room. The so called manager shouted at me. “Go inside, go inside.” When they saw that the security guards were not going to take sides they called police. I told the policemen the truth and also my concerns, “They are simply framing me.” “Don’t worry, we will investigate. We don't have any bias for either side.” I told them I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get my money back, and that it was more than 200 dollars. They suggested I contact the head office and change to some other branch. “You should not come here any more. It won’t be safe for you.”
After going home, I called the head office. The lady who answered the phone had a sweet voice and she promised settlement with the dispute being resolved promptly. She requested that I give them 2 more days. I felt such a relief after hearing this. I waited until Tuesday, there was no call. So I called them. A woman who claimed to be the person-in-charged answered. She was extremely rude. “This has already become a police case. We have to wait for the police report and then decide what to do next. Currently your treatments have been suspended.” “But the slimming course needs to be continuous or there won’t be any effect.” “Do you understand what I’m saying? We can not serve you any more. Wait for the police report.” Then she cut me off the line. No matter how many times I called, she refused to pick it up. I contacted CASE (Consumer Association of Singapore). They arranged to come down with the evidence on Saturday. On Friday night, I suddenly received a call from the manager of the beauty salon. To my surprise, they agreed to refund me the money. “How much are you going to refund me?” asked I. “We will discuss and let you know by Monday. Will that be OK with you?” “Sure.” was my answer. Again this time, the lady’s voice was sweet and soothing. So I cancelled my plan to visit CASE. But I waited and waited, there was no phone call coming. It looks like I have to go to CASE this Saturday.