Westminster Practice Complaints
IF YOU HAVE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH GARY HERON OF THE WESTMINSTER PRACTICE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HAIR CENTRE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR COMMENT TO THIS POST IN ORDER TO KEEP THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THE WESTMINISTER PRACTICE AND HELP OTHERS TO AVOID FALLING VICTIM. YOU CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE’S COMMENTS AND ADD YOUR OWN IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.
The Westminster Practice / The Hair Centre - A Warning
We are receiving an increasingly worrying number of negative reports about Gary Heron and the Westminster Practice (also known as the Hair Centre) from people who have visited the centre for a consultation. Gary Heron is the Westminster Practice’s owner and also works as the consultant, diagnosing hair loss conditions and recommending his own treatments to people who visit the Westminister Practice for a consultation. We have received many complaints about Gary Heron and The Westminster Practice over the years with reports of aggressive selling tactics and schemes to obtain money from people (usually women) without their consent. Gary Heron and the Westminster Practice were featured on BBC 3’s TV programme ‘Conning the Conmen’ in 2007.
Gary Heron of the Westminster Practice has frequently been reported
to use unethical and manipulative tactics to take money from hair loss sufferers.
The Westminster Practice formulate their own non-medically-proven natural lotions for hair loss (Vitastim, Biostim and Follicle Builder II) that have minimal clinical efficacy and are inexpensive to produce, even though reported charges have been between £1,800 and £3,000 for 12 month’s worth of the products. Gary Heron has had no medical or trichological training and has no medical or trichological certifications or qualifications but we have numerous reports that he passes himself as a trichologist to people who visit The Westminster Practice for consultation. There is also evidence of this contained in various articles posted by Heron on the internet where he claims to be ‘one of Europe’s leading trichologists’. Gary Heron is a highly experienced and manipulative sales person and will make the customer feel comfortable during the consultation at the Westminster Practice, usually bringing his family into the conversation to build trust and give the impression of sincerity.
We advise anybody to be highly cautious of Gary Heron and the Westminster Practice in order to avoid having vast amounts of money taken from you.
We would appreciate your comments on this post if you have had any experiences with Gary Heron and the Westminster Practice so that we can pull together to wipe out his bad practice and help to prevent people falling victim to his actions in the future. You can also contact us by email (info@belgraviacentre.com) or telephone (020 7730 6666) if you need any help or advice.
This story was originally posted in May 2007. If you click into the story you can see comments from members of the public at the bottom of the page:
This entry was posted on Friday, April 25th, 2008 at 11:30 am and is filed under Hair Loss, Hair Loss Awareness, Male Hair Loss, Female Hair Loss. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
This all makes fascinating reading. My wife was passing “The Hair Centre” in May 2006 at a time when she was worried about a small bald patch that had recently developed. She made an appointment for later that day and was given a “free consultation” by Gary Heron. He recommended a 12 month course of treatment at £1880 but my wife said there was no way she could afford it. He said she could just take a month’s treatment with her to try but she didn’t have any money with her and declined. He continued to cajole her into taking the products and she realised the only way she could get away was to do so. She paid nothing.
We discussed his selling methods and the products when she got home that evening and decided to return the products and cancel the treatment course. First thing the next morning she telephoned the Hair Centre to cancel and, after more attempts to sell the treatment to her, was given the impression that there would be no problem. She said that she would return the products.
The very next day my wife received a letter demanding £333 for the products that Heron had forced upon her. The letter said that the products couldn’t be returned because they were medical prescriptions. I immediately wrote back and said that the agreement had been cancelled and would pay nothing. The “medical prescriptions” were taken off a shelf and included shampoo and conditioner. None of the items had a use by date.
Over the next few months my wife received a number of demanding letter and “Final Notices” threatening legal proceedings. I told her to ignore them all and eventually they stopped. We’ve heard nothing from them since January 2007.
The most interesting part of this story is that whilst the threatening letters were being received my wife’s thin patch showed very little sign of change. But as soon as the letters stopped and her stress levels were able to return to normal, her hair thickened again and it’s now fine!
I fell so sorry for all the vulnerable women who have fallen into the trap set by this rogue. The sooner he is put out of business the better.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I will be interested to know if anybody is going to take this any further (legally). As we have our own concerns with Mr Heron??? If so we regulary look at this website please leave a message on this forum.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I logged onto the Belgrave Hair Centre just to see what they offer after having a bad experience a couple of years ago and I just couldn’t believe it, there staring at me was my last so called Trichologist Gary Heron, I feel such a mug. I knew something was wrong, he told me he had a business partner but I never saw him he always talked about his 2 sons who are at Boarding School and about him getting married, we talked for about 30mins all about himself before he would look at my hair which took all of 5 mins. At my first appointment I was nervous and scared as I hadn’t talked about my hair problems with anyone, I was suffering depression as well and did he play on that! he made it clear that he could sort out all my problems within a year and that I would have long thick locks, I wanted to go away and think about it but then he turned into a bully telling me if I didn’t do anything soon then my hair patches would get bigger and my hair thinner, I felt presure and he knew I was down anyway, when he said about the prices he made out that if I didn’t get them there and then they would double in price, I then paid a total of about £1500 which I had to get an Overdraft for, I returned for weekly visits and he convinced me my hair was getting better,then came the Follicle Builders at £800 per box which I had 2 of now a total of £3100. When I wanted to cancel I had to make a story up that I was going to move abroad, then he started telling me about his clients all over the world and how I could still buy the products but I stuck to my guns and left, the next few weeks I had letters and phone calls bulling me to return to the centre….This man is a monster playing on peoples emotions just to make money he took away my confidence of going elsewhere….People be warned DO NOT GO TO THIS HAIR CENTRE, we all need to stick together to stop this happening to others.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
As for Biostim, Gary Heron isn’t the only one trying to sell that. More blood to the hair follicles - year right. Medical proof? NONE! Visited Gary Heron, didn’t pay or give card details, but he sent me off with some product. Got home and found out the truth online, luckily I had emailed him asking if I could cancel after a few months andpay just what I owed. He agreed. Upon cancelling after 3 or so days, he tried to charge me for the ful 3 months, about £400 I think. I refused to pay, after speakingto a solicitor on the grounds the goods were unfit for purpose. After several Solicitors letters, emails etc. (which I believe to be fake) I had enough and called trading standards. I then sent 2 letters, one to Gary Heron, another to his “Head of Finance” or something! Mentioned I was in touch with Westminster trading standards and didn’t hear another word!
February 26th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Im shocked and quite mortified, as today I vistited the Westminster Practice or should I say the ‘Hair Centre’. I am a medical Rep, and do not get swayed easily by sales people as I am one myself. However this man is very manipulative, and like most other people’s comments he payed paticuar attention to playing on my vulnerability.
However, he avoided alot of my questions on education and qualifications, and this made me question him. He also slipped up on one of his stories claiming that he was NOT married, but then forgetting this and stating that his wife was on the phone? I was also very dubious at the fact that he kept mentioning that there are 5 tricologists at the centre, but in reality he is the only consultant there? As there was no sign of anyone else.
I am also questioning the possibility that his receptionist may be his wife? I was also concerned that his clinic is in rented offices. But more importantly he made a diagnosis in 2 minutes by just running a comb through my hair. Thanks to my profession and my sales training, I did not fully buy into his rubbish. He avoids any technical question, and when he takes a photo of your head he shines a light on your scalp to make the problem look worse.
As soon as i got home I went on the web and researched this man. His website never mentions his surname, he is the only one that enters the blogs and there is no mention of his qualifications or experience. It did not take me long to find out his surname, and to then find this web site. Thank you to all of you, who have put comments up, You have confirmed my doubts and saved me some money, that like most of you could not afford either. This man should be stopped.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I visited Gary and very nearly parted with £1800 for 12 mths of treatment due to the pushy sales tactics.Upon doing more research on what Gary was offering I discovered that Minoxidil + mpg is a medication that should be prescribed. Gary pulled the bottle of Minoxidil+mpg out of a drawer and gave it to me without any prescription. I think that says it all!
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I saw Gary around a year ago after much hesitation over my genetic hair loss. I was taken in by his general Sales nonsense and given the ultimatum, treatment or baldness. I obviously, being a young twenty something was rather horrified by this and within a week of the consultation parted with £1400.
Gary had told me I would make a full recovery within 6 months, however following this period little had improved. Now 12 months later he wants me to do another 12 month course. My hair is exactly the same as it was 12 months ago. I’m just 1400 worse off.
I have now lost faith in all methods and have been fooled due to the insecurity that someone such as Gary will happily play on.
My advice is DO NOT HAVE ANY DEALINGS WITH THIS MAN! AND RESEARCH BEFORE PARTING WITH ANY MONEY!
December 25th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I saw Gary Heron for a period of 12 months after being recommended by a friend. He claimed to have been one of the original founders of Belgravia Centre and claimed that he had obtained a number of leading trichologist qualification. On the first day after agreeing and paying for a 12 months perscription I tried to change it to a 4 months trial and was told I would not get a refund. I at once started to doubt his integrity. The next 12 months I continued to follow Gary’s instruction but found him vague and very unprofessional. His treatment was ineffective. To my utter disbelief he tried to sell me more medication at an extortionate price. I naturally refused to waste any more money and have cut my losses
Gary Heron is true con please be aware of this when you opt for the Westminster Practice.
November 22nd, 2007 at 10:29 am
I would like to thank the Belgravia Centre for support this blog. It was through this very blog that I received encouragement, support and ultimately my money reimbursed in full settlement under the Section 75 of the Consumer Act. Everyone affected please dont give up. Ring up your bank and request for a indemnity claim form. They will then request you to do a detailed report of all the events and experience with that Gary Heron and the Westminster Practice. Just be factual and try and put as much information as you can remember. Print out stuff from the internet about him and attach it and send it off to your bank. Hopefully you will receive a favourable response like I did. I will be praying for all of you for my Jesus to assist you and give you favour in this regard. All the best, be patient and exercise restraint whilst working through this.
November 1st, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Dear rlyt7@aol.com - I have emailed you. Please reply to my email as I have quite a lot of information I could share with you to help with your case.
October 24th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I was conned by Gary Heron approximately £2500 - he told me the treatment would work and my hair would grow back between 9 - 12 months. Yes everything everyone says that’s exactly what he did to me - talking about his family, seeming sincere, talking about your diet etc. When it didn’t work he again tried to get another £1500 from me which I refused. Having now done my research discovering he is a con I feel it is a disgrace that he is allowed to still continue in business and he is still being allowed to deceive consumers in this way. The trick with him as with all rogue traders is that he moves on over time changing his name and office address. He was called The Westminster Practice before and now he is called The Hair Centre - He has also moved to another office close by from 10 Greycoat Place. He told me business is booming and he is doing well hence the move. He is just a salesman trying to make money out of vulnerable / gullible consumers.
I am considering from doing my research taking Gary Heron to court. I have spoken to the society of Trichologists (recognised body) and taken legal advice with a regulated firm of Solicitors - Everyone including myself who has been conned can sue Gary Heron to get their money back - the more the better and the solicitor costs can be paid by Gary if he loses and no doubt he will. He can also be made bankrupt if he refuses to pay everyone back once a judgment is entered against him. This way we may certainly put him out of business. He is at present enjoying all our money - he has moved further on down the road in a plush office - The Solicitors fee is not much at all if everyone joins force and is a tiny amount when divided compared to how much we have been conned. It is certainly worth considering as this man is ripping everybody off and this is the only way to stop him. The solicitor will do all the work and it is worth it if you get your money back. Gary Heron has made a fortune from people like us. I was last in his office where I saw him mislead and con a 10 years old girl who had hair loss and was there with her father. He has no mercy who he deceives and if we as the consumer don’t do anything he will continue to do this. If you wish to join forces to make a claim against Gary Heron then feel free to contact me - rlyt7@aol.com. Watchdog and Trading Standards won’t do anything to help us get our money back and stop this rogue trader making money out of consumers!!!!
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:26 pm
I am so relieved to find out that I was not the only one fooled by the Gary Heron sales patter. I went to see him 18months ago, with my husband, and parted with over £2K, six months later he convinced me I needed follicle builder which was a further £1K for six months and before the year was up told me I needed to renew my prescription at a cost of £1600 because I had used it up too quickly and to save on the VAT. By this time I realised I was being conned, he didn’t reply to letters, e-mails etc. He moved to the little office in a block which sent alarm bells that he was running out of money, he didn’t get any more of mine. I am still so angry about the money paid out which I didn’t have, but we are all so vulnerable. I would have pursued him on the VAT issue if nothing else, and would be delighted to join anyone who wishes to attempt to get their money back. What’s so sad is that we are all still looking for a trichologist I would be so relieved if they are not all like Gary.
September 30th, 2007 at 4:39 am
Thank GOD this guy has been reported, even though I’m one of the lucky ones, comparatively speaking, and escaped with my money if not my hair.
I went to see him last year after a year’s bout of telogen effluvium turned into progressive androgenetic alopecia. I was 21 at the time, and not only did he patronize me because of my young age - I quote “stop crying. There’s a good little girl” - he was constantly rude and inconsiderate, telling me to shut up and let HIM talk (of which he did a lot. About his wife, “the cancer nurse”). I tried to tell him politely not to be so harsh because I suffered from depression, to which his response was “so? We all have depression to some extent sweetheart.” Charming.
He then tried to use bully tactics such as “you realise that if you don’t use these products, you WILL be entirely bald within a few years - if you have enough money to study in London, you CERTAINLY have enough to buy the treatment. Imagine that in three or four years time you’re completely bald, and you’ll look back and regret you turned down my generous offer”, even suggesting that I USE MY STUDENT LOAN to pay him the 3k that “treatment” would require. I ran out in tears.
In the following weeks he sent me several emails, basically just reinforcing what he had already said, and stating that unless I used his products I might as well shave my head right now and get it over with. I blocked his email address and haven’t heard from him since.
My heart goes out to everyone who lost their money to this man. If he hadn’t been so insulting towards me, I would be 3k more in debt right now.
September 19th, 2007 at 7:12 am
I visited Gary Heron about 2 1/2 years ago after suffering acute hair loss. I was in tears on arrival due to a traumatic journey there and the thought of people looking at my hair. He diagnosed me with Androgenetic Alopecia and told me I needed to pay £4,000 to get the treatment today otherwise the condition would get worse! I felt something was not right and wrote him a cheque that I knew I wouldn’t allow to clear as he was extremely pushy. He tried to bank the cheque three times and then sent bailiffs round my house 3 times followed by bailiff letters. I had to see a solicitor in the end to get rid of him. I’m sure this made my condition worse. I was diagnosed with Telogen Effluvium in the end by a top trichologist who did a biopsy, so The Westminster Practice’s diagnosis wasn’t even correct.
September 10th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
I think it would be in everyone’s interests to get together and pursue Gary Heron in Court. On your own you will probably not get anywhere. The more people the better. Please do not worry about legal costs as if you are all together and represented by one solicitor legal costs would be minimal.
September 6th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
I cannot believe that i have been conned all this time. I am devastated. Having spent 2k with Gary, i now want to know how i can get my money back. I am a single mum and find it very difficult to manage financially. I connot believe that he is still able to trade.
Gary took his time to gain my trust and really sell me his product. Of course when you are worried about your crowning glory, it is reassuring when you hear that there are all natural solutions out there which are apparently gauranteed to work. Gary would always spend time going through other peoples pictures and showing me their ‘progress’ in order to reassure me. I now realise that this was all a facade. To be honest he spent more time talking about himself and his ‘family’ than he did about my problem in my consultations.
Hopefully it will only be a matter of time before he is shut down.
Gary if you are reading this, please let it be know that i will be reporting you and with the volume of complaints that are coming through now, i am certain that you will eventually be stopped in your tracks. I can see that you are now posting blogs around to counteract this and gain more trust from unsuspecting victims but eventually it will all come out in the wash.
Does anyone know what channel to go down regarding trying to get monies back. If so please post for everyone to see including myself. Thanx.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I had a consultation with Gary about two years ago and with his gift of the gab, I too was conned into going to the cashpoint and giving them £700 for 3mths treatment on alopecia. When i returned after three months with actually no diffrerence to my scalp, Gary said I had’nt used the treatment long enough and recommended another £400. Needless to say there was never any improvement to my scalp!
August 31st, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I was visitor to the Westminster practice approx 18 months ago and had a consultation with Gary Heron, I was taken in by his very plausible sales patter (including telling me his wife is a cancer nurse and that he could cure my AA totally). I was charged circa £1800 for a years treatment and after 3 weeks my condition worsened.I tried to talk to Mr Heron and tell him I wanted to stop the treatment but he was always out or busy. I ended up getting a full refund from the credit card company I had paid with.I took his products to a dermotologist who said it was a bottle of water and vitimins. I reported him to trading standards (very little help) and watchdog. I urge anybody who comes across this character to not accept any treatment and more importantly do not part with any money.
June 13th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
I have wasted 2.4k with Gary and 10 times traveling to London only for checkups. I ended up not attending the last two check ups cause I could see that it was all fake. He gave me about 12 bottles of mint shampoo and minoxidil and my hairs have not improved at all.
If he is not qualified I guess we should be able to get this money back. He does not only sells medicines, he gives people hopes he is not qualified to give away. Moreover, he gave me a diet which again I believe unqualified people should not prescribe to the public
Please let me know if there is any way to get my money back. I am available to take your opinions further. Please use my site to contact me.
June 10th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I was given a diagnosis of Female Baldness… this would apparently require a topical scalp lotion and shampoo that would take 12-18 months to work. He [Gary Heron] then turned on the sales pitch and I felt desperate and under pressure. This I was told would have cost me £7,000 approx through the pharmacy, but he told me that if I decided to go ahead it would cost me £2,595.98 to save on their prescription supplies so I said I would go ahead with a month’s supply which cost me £458.25! He said that this would be a deposit towards the treatment of £2,595.98 for 12 months.
I went away feeling very traumatised wondering how on Earth 4 small bottles of lotion and 2 bottles of shampoo could be so expensive! I called the Westminster Practice and said I was very confused, and that I did not wish to proceed with the treatment. I offered to pay a consultation fee and that I wished to return the items which were unopened and not touched, still in the original packaging. He refused a consultation fee payment as he said it was free and told me that a return was not possible… He also told me that I was a grown person and was quite capable to make my own decisions.
June 6th, 2007 at 8:27 am
I saw gary heron this month, June 2007, he examined me which was quite professional but for some reason he had the gift of the gab he knew how to talk like a sales man, he spent 20 mins gaining my trust talking about football where as my main concern was Alopecia. He quoted me £1880 for 12 months of treatment where as Belgravia worked out £800 for 12 months with a better kind of treatment from my evaluation.
May 24th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
3 years when I was a student and very poor (still am actually) I had a consultation with Gary Heron who I found quite superficial and aggressive with his approach to me but he seemed to know what he was talking about and very convincing. I was desperate as my hair was thinning badly around the hairline and back of my head so he offered his services to me.
He advised me that two months treatment would do the trick and advise me to pay £900 upfront. I ask after a 4 week trial if I wasn’t happy would I be able to obtain a refund he said yes. Well you know what happened, it didn’t work and I probably need more than 2 months treatment but he misinformed me and didn’t care about me as a customer he just wanted my money and of course he got my money and I never received a penny-back.
If you can advise me how I can get this money back I would be truly grateful, I cannot afford to just through £900 away just like that I feel very much conned I wish I watched that programme about him conning women.
Is he still practicing as I don’t think this should be allowed? I knew there was something dodgy about him and now the proof is there as there are other women out there singing the same tune.
Please leave my name anonymous. Thanks.
May 17th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
I saw Gary for about 15 months but nothing improved and I stopped treatment. It cost a bundle! He pursued me to find out why I wasn’t returning. But I refused. I’m really annoyed that they are allowed to set up business in the first place.
Semanthi
May 11th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I saw Gary for a month, by then his so called treatment finished all my hair at the back. I have had to shave all my hair as a result. I paid with my credit card in advance for a year £2209.00 and he has since refused to refund as I stopped going to his practice when I realised I had been conned. Gary Heron does not seem to have a conscience like normal human beings and that’s why I resorted to prayer. I am a single mom and now stuck with that debt while he is enjoying my hard earned money. This has to stop as I am sure he is manipulating vulnerable ladies out there.