A customer at a New Forest nail salon has left the owner in disbelief after receiving an expensive manicure and pedicure and then departing without settling the £85 bill. The incident occurred at New Milton Nails, where the woman spent over two hours being treated.
The services included infill acrylic nails with color tips, costing £35, and a full pedicure with removal and color tips, priced at £50. The woman, described as wearing all pink with sunglasses and white sliders, even accepted a complimentary coffee during her visit. CCTV footage captured her using her smartphone while her nails were being done.
Despite clear signage indicating that the salon does not accept card payments, the customer inquired about paying by card. She then stated she would go to the cash machine located across the street. Salon staff observed her walk towards the cash machine, but instead of using it, she entered a waiting blue car and was driven away.
Salon owner Hope Tran expressed her shock, recounting that she had a "bad feeling" about the customer upon her arrival. Tran noted the woman had a strong accent and mentioned she had been camping. The customer reportedly used the salon's cleaning brush to tidy her sliders before her treatments.
After the services were completed, the customer's request to pay by card was met with a reminder that card payments were not accepted, with cash or bank transfer being the alternatives. When she said she would go to the cash machine, Tran watched as she got into a waiting car and left. Tran stated she had to pay her staff for their time, during which they could have served other paying customers, and cover the cost of nail products, electricity, and water from her own funds.
Tran plans to implement a policy of requesting upfront payment from holidaymakers and first-time clients in the future. She decided not to contact the police, believing they would be unable to assist. The incident was shared on social media by one of Tran's clients in the hope of identifying the woman and shaming her into making amends. Other clients expressed their disapproval, calling the woman a "disgrace" and a "thieving low life" who small businesses cannot afford to lose.