MY VISITIS IN HERBAL INN WERE TRAUMATIC EXPEREIENCE !! It was February 2009. I was desperately seeking advice and help for my backache and decided to go to the Herbal Inn in Lewisham. On my first visit there , I was pursued to buy a package of six treatments of acupuncture . The girl working there , who was dealing with me , insisted me to buy 12 treatments in advance. She was very pushy and sales orientated. I felt extremely uncomfortable and wanted only to pay for my first treatment which had already taken place. She did not want to give up and kept me there pushing to buy medicines for more than half an hour. I should have said I had moneywith me for one treatment only but I was so in pain that in the end I agreed to buy 6 treatments. The first treatment seemed to be OK . There was a Chinese female doctor. She did not speak English though and needed translator - the counter girl. I had have acupuncture and then cups done (I've got huge bruises and fever after cups though). We arranged next visit for Wednesday 5 PM (she said that she would have to leave earlier on that day and couldn't make it at 6PM as I initially requested). Upon arriving at Herbal Inn for my second treeatment, the female doctor wasn't there. It was another first 'red' signal that something's wrong. The male 'doctor' invited me into one of the cubicles. The man spoke only in Chinese and used the receptionist as a translator and was called by her as a 'doctor'. I prepared myself as for the first treatment I had during my first visit i.e. took off my shirt and bra, and lay down on the bed on my front. When the doctor came, he gestured to me to turn around and took off my trousers.
I felt very uncomfortable with this request as I had pain in my shoulder and did not understand why I needed to take my trousers off and turn around to my back!!! I said 'no' to this request, and tried to explain to the 'doctor' that I had a pain in my back, not in my front and the female doctor treated me with the needles on my shoulder and back last time. The male 'doctor' called the receptionist to translate. The receptionist explained that I was asked to turn on to my back, but with my bra back on, but take my trousers off.
I kept on asking why I should lay on my back with my trousers off if I had a pain in my back. The receptionist said I could stay in my shirt, but should uncover my stomach; she said that I could stay in my trousers but should uncover the lower part of my leg, as acupuncture needles would be put in my stomach and legs
I asked why I needed needles in my belly and legs, if I had a pain in my shoulder; I complained to the receptionist that no one had explained to me prior to the treatment this would be necessary.
I mentioned to the girl that on the Saturday before, when I had a single session at the Herbal Inn, the female 'doctor' had put needles in my back and alongside my spine. The receptionist then stated that the female 'doctor' treated me in wrong way , she was 'not good', and the male 'doctor' was better, and he had decided on this course of treatment. She also said that he was the owner of this center.
I stated that that I did not want the treatment any more, and that I could not trust Herbal Inn anymore, if they state one 'doctor' is good and the other bad. They also did not explain to me the change of the course of the treatment before I went to the cubicle.
After leaving the cubicle, I stated that I resigned from continuing the treatment due to reasons mentioned above and wanted a refund for the treatment sessions which had not occurred.
The girl stated that the manager wasn't present so they could not make the refund at that time. She tried to persuade me and change my decision, she discussed my request of refund with doctor in Chinese and in the end they started heavily arguing and shouting which made the situation even more uncomfortable and stressful. The receptionist became behaving very unpleasant and aggressive (she threw the notebook on the table with anger after argue with the 'doctor'). This only proved how unprofessional they were and ensured me in the decision to stop having treatment in this place.
I requested money back but was refused . I sent an offical claim to Herbal Inn hoever I have not received any reply from them . Does any one have similar experience with Herbal Inn ?? Need your advice how I can get my money back ??