It was my birthday in January and I won a competition to have pictures taken for myself and 1 other person. I was told I had to pay a non-refundable deposit, which I was pushed into paying over the phone.

I on the day (15/01/2011) thinking it would be like a 121 service as this was what I was made to believe in the initial pitch to get the booking but instead it was like a cattle market, we were told to take a seat in a big rooms with other people which we later found out had been sold the same wonderful idea of this personalised makeover with refreshments and top stylists. I was told there would be an array of refreshments however it only seemed to be Apple Juice and Cheap Wine.

Whilst sitting there waiting to be called through to have hair and make up done it became apparent that we were just going to be rushed through. After having hair and make up done which took all of about 15 minuets we made our was down stairs to the studios, only to find out that it was like waking down a red carpet with press.. it was basically about 4 photographers taking photos of different sets of people all at the same time, whilst just swapping memory cards around in his camera.

The photographer took 112 photos of myself and my friend in total and then told us to wait upstairs to view them.

Once upstairs a lady called Natalie Clarke was pointed out to us as our viewing advisor, she took us into a room and the first thing she said to us is "I can do you a good deal now the boss has gone home" she then proceeded to show us the photos that had been taken.

After viewing the pictures we asked how much it would be to be able to just take a cd home of the pictures and she gave us a price of well over £4, 000 as there was two of us. However she then proceeded to say that if we purchased the photos today she would give us another set free of charge but said "please keep it quiet as I am supposed to charge for 2 cd's" Natalie also said that she will do us low payments as both myself and my friend were not in a financial position to be buying pictures at this amount of money especially when I had already paid £99.98 as a deposit which is not refundable, even though I was supposed to have won the day in a competition!

Myself and my friend continued to discuss the price with Natalie and at every opportunity it was advised to us that "you can reduce you payments back to us should you find it difficult the pay £160 per month for pictures", and advised "if we agree to pay that so we could leave the studio with the disks when we got home we needed to call up and say we cannot afford to pay that amount and offer to pay what we can afford monthly" which would be £50.00.

Stupidly we believed the sales pitch and went for it, however since doing this we've had nothing but problems and Sapphire Studios are now saying they want the full amount of money and have already passed the debt the a collector which will blacken my credit etc.

I 100% knew I would not be able to pay the amount they were requesting on a monthly basis as I am a mature student with 2 children living on my own which is what was explained to Natalie and now I am being penalised for being honest, more to the point I was misguided with information and incorrectly sold a product which is was pushed into buy. The reason we were pushed to buy was we had travelled from Leicester to London and Natalie said once we leave the photos will be wiped from the camera memory card and it would cost us if we wanted it done again.

We have made an offer to pay @ £50 per month direct debit as this is the budget we have yet it has been declined by the collections department of Sapphire Studios as they want the full £160 even thought I have explained the circumstances. This will no damage my credit.

DO NOT GO TO SAPPHIRE STUDIOS...SCAM.