Avoid them at all costs

I had my nails done at the salon on Saturday, 23 September. By Sunday, the nails started lifting and chipping. The Monday was a public holiday, so I phoned the manager of the shop (Jaqueline) on Tuesday, asking for a refund, as I didn't have time to go back for a new set of nails, nor did I have any confidence that a second set would last any longer.

After two arguments with the manager and her refusing to give me a refund, I went back for a second set, that took the nail technician 4 hours. It looked awful. I sent Jaqueline photos of the new set on Monday (2 October). She phoned me and admitted that the nails were horrible and that she will give me a refund - less soak-off and products used. She also offered to soak off the second set of nails.

By Friday, 6 October, I still had no refund and I followed up. She advised that she will refund me on Monday. Monday came and I reminded her again. She responded that she was waiting for funds to clear and that she will refund me during the week.

I then contacted Peet Viljoen (the CEO) and advised him of the debacle. He promised to have it sorted out within the hour.

I was asked for my banking details again, which I supp****. Jaqueline then sent me a message to say that she refunded me R390. She deducted R150 for the initial soak off. When I queried this, as she told me the soak off was R80, she said that this is the prices on the website and she has no control over this.

On the website, soak-off is advertised as R90.

Again, I phoned Peet, who said he will arrange for a full refund, but will also ensure that I am put on an internal database that no Tammy Taylor salon ever helps me again.

It is now 11 October, two sets of horrid acrylic overlays, three soak offs, ruined nails and nearly three weeks of asking for a refund.

They claim to be market leaders, but not only do the nail technicians at Centurion Gateway not know what they are doing, but the management have no idea what customer service is.

Save yourself the frustration, and go somewhere else.