PETALING JAYA: These three little words may be cliched but they are worth repeating: know your rights.
Beauty salon customers who sign up for packages that run into dozens of sessions should know that they are entitled to seek refunds for the unutilised portion, said Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) vice-president and legal adviser Datuk Indrani Thuraisingham.
“If customers want to cancel the package, they can inform the seller.
“They must be refunded within 14 days,” she said.
Under the law, she said the customer would then be charged 5% of the total package cost, plus the price of the sessions that were already used.
Indrani said these packages are called future services contracts, which are covered under Section 17 of the Consumer Protection Act 1999.
She added that the then Domestic Trade Ministry had issued the Consumer Protection (Future Services Contract) (Amendment) Order 2014, which lists the type of services that fall under future services.
They may include services provided by gymnasiums, theme parks, language classes and matchmaking agencies.
“If there are any disputes, consumers can take their case up to the Tribunal for Consumer Claims,” said Indrani.
She advised consumers to always be cautious and to think it through before signing up for beauty treatments.
Malaysian Medical Association immediate past president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz suggested consumers check the legitimacy of the beauty centre before they sign up for any treatment.
“Check first if they have the necessary qualifications to provide the services.
“Any product used as part of slimming treatments such as supplements, slimming creams or teas must be registered with the Health Ministry,” she said.
As for those who opt for weight loss programmes, Dr Azizan said they should get a doctor’s advice to assess their health, fitness and identify if their weight gain was due to any underlying health issues.
Consultant dietitian Ng Kar Foo warned the public about slimming centres that adopt non-evidence-based methods.
These would include the use of unregulated supplements, and extreme diets or procedures that promise rapid weight loss without substantial scientific backing, he said.
Ng added that these treatments might cause side effects such as metabolic imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, dehydration, muscle loss, heart problems or even long-term damage to vital organs.
“Some supplements may contain harmful ingredients like stimulants or laxatives that can cause adverse reactions, ranging from mild discomfort to severe health crises,” he said.
He said people with underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable to these side effects.
Ng is also concerned about the mental health impact of quick-fix weight loss schemes.
“The pressure to lose weight quickly and the disappointment of not achieving unrealistic goals can contribute to stress, anxiety, depression and eating disorders,” he said.
