Ms Lam, who had bought a beauty package at Mence Beauty, decided to quit due to unsatisfactory progress. She felt it was strange that the beauty salon wanted to charge her a 'handling fee' for the 12-month instalment plan, a fee she had never heard of.
'The story started last November when I agreed to purchase a beauty package at HK$23,094, including 55 sessions of slim body service and three bottles of product which could help me to firm my body during the process.
'I was told that I could do a 12-month instalment plan through Standard Chartered Bank, which would direct debit my credit card HK$1,924.50 every month until October 2007.
'After three months' treatment provided by the company, I was not satisfied with the result and requested the suspension of the service and stopping of the remaining instalments.
'A customer service manager of Mence Beauty's Central branch said HK$924 would have to be deducted due to the company already having paid that amount to the bank.
'I have asked advice from the Consumer Council, which suggested I oppose this offer because those handling charges usually are not transferred to the customer. I spoke to Mence Beauty a couple of times and it agreed to pay 50 per cent of the handling charge.