Ok lets just say I'm having to learn fast....just found out off a hairdressing friend that the salon I was due to start at is up for sale. Might I add that the owner neglected to tell me that!
Basically she offered me the desk in her salon for £50 p/w, gave me a set of keys and the alarm code and asked that I gave her 1 months rent upfront when I started which was going to be Monday 31st Oct. Haven't seen her as she has been on holiday all last week.
Anyway, I went to my hair appointment last weds and was chatting to the girl doing my hair who I've known for years. We got onto subject of work and I told her I was due to start at X salon with Mrs X. She told me there were stories about Mrs X and said while she didn't know the ins and outs I should speak to the hairdressing salon owner who I've also known for about 12 years. Turns out Mrs X used to rent the room upstairs before moving to X salon.
Tonight I was dropping my daughter off and as I passed the hair salon I noticed the owner was in so I called in and asked her what she knew of Mrs X.
Well that's when I found out that Mrs X was stuck in a 3yr contract renting X salon which has a few months left to run and was up for sale, also that Mrs X had not paid the hair salon owner when she worked there and left her debts registered to the salon which resulted in bailiffs calling. She basically said friend to friend, do my homework and be careful. I've decided I'm not going ahead, luckily I haven't signed anything or paid anything yet! She was going to leave me high and dry so to speak!!
My hair salon friend has offered me her room for 20% commission p/w, plus her help and regular rent assessment. Also its a much busier salon and I know her quite well. Thankfully its turned out for the better but I'm so upset and mad that Mrs X took me as a fool. As it stands I've had to reprint my posters, leaflets and price-lists and re jig my open day but that's quite minimal compared to the £200 I nearly paid Mrs X and my new business jeopardised.
Now I've got to wait until Tues before I see Mrs x to give her the keys and collect my bits I left there. Haven't told her I know what I do but need some advice on how to approach this, what should I say to her if anything at all?
Thanks for reading this uber long post XX
P.s I havent named her because I believe she will do any reputation damage herself given that she treats people the way she does.