Anything I can do? Sue Spar?

FNGsam · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:15

Hope the tests turn out well and no bad news.

That'll learn you for not choosing a decent brand, I never go for the cheapy items when it is for things like suncream and anything to do with health just in case.

How was the holiday apart from that debacle though?

Glaucus · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:16

Why would brand have anything to do with it.

Nitefly · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:17

AcidHell2 said:
This, what an odd thread.
Factor 15, how did you apply it, common sense you can feel when your burning and skin colour. Thread is odd, at least you've posted you don't intend to do anything.

Just because the OP could have been more diligent that doesn't mean the product was not necessarily defective. If you could show the product was defective then you would probably have a settlement on your hands. However, as I said before, the legal costs involved would be vast and the payout limited - unless there is serious long lasting harm then it's totally not worth it.

As before, a letter of complaint is apt.

Strife212 · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:17

Because it's possible a dodgy own make brand could contain nothing whatsoever that blocks UV?

Glaucus · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:18

Nitefly said:
Just because the OP could have been more diligent that doesn't mean the product was not necessarily defective. If you could show the product was defective then you would probably have a settlement on your hands. However, as I said before, the legal costs involved would be vast and the payout limited.

Even ignoring country Borders and legal problems. The chances of the product being defective are extremely low, unless it was extremely old stock.

Tefal · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:19

Strife212 said:
Because it's possible a dodgy own make brand could contain nothing whatsoever that blocks UV?

then they wouldn't have gotten it though testing rated at 15.

Greebo · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:19

The problem is that not every cream lives up to it's standards:

Which magazine tested some brands:

A £3 bottle of sun lotion from Asda offers a better defence than brands which cost three times as much, a study has found.
The revelation came from a Which? survey which tested 14 of the best-selling sun creams, claiming to offer a sun protection factor of 15. It found that only five met its standards.

The study found the Asda cream offered a protection rating of 24, nine more than stated on the bottle.

Researchers have warned that sunbathers could be putting their health at risk with protective creams that fail to offer what they claim.
Among the creams which 'failed' the tests carried out in the independent survey were those sold by Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Wilkinsons

In the Which? tests, M&S Sensitive Moisturising sun lotion came out worst with an SPF rating of just 9.3. Tesco's Sun Protection did marginally better at 9.6.

So the OP could have gone from a SF24 to a SF9 despite both brands been SF15.

Pestilence · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:20

Solution to it all = Stay out of the sun.

Pale is the new Tan.

dekez · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:21

That's pretty bad, it makes the whole rating system pointless if there is no QC.

Strife212 · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:22

Tefal said:
then they wouldn't have gotten it though testing rated at 15.

I can sell you a bottle of milk that says factor 9999 on the side if you want?

shifty_uk · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:23

I used the stuff all day. My girlfriend used the last of our decent brand stuff then switched to the Spar stuff. She was quite burnt because of this but not as severe as me hence the OP regarding defective product. She has darker hair and a much more tolerant skin type, too.

FNGsam said:
Hope the tests turn out well and no bad news.

That'll learn you for not choosing a decent brand, I never go for the cheapy items when it is for things like suncream and anything to do with health just in case.

How was the holiday apart from that debacle though?

Lesson learnt indeed. I'm not taking the criticism in this thread to heart, I know my faults, the suing thing was sarcasm, I was more into writing complaints. But yeah, holiday was excellent, amazing beaches and one of the most awesome wildlife parks I've been to!

shifty_uk · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:24

AcidHell2 said:
Even ignoring country Borders and legal problems. The chances of the product being defective are extremely low, unless it was extremely old stock.

Could've been, we bought toiletries that had promotional vouchers 2 years out of date!

Schizo · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:25

piz buin factor 30.

never ever let me down for 15 years

Nitefly · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:27

AcidHell2 said:
Even ignoring country Borders and legal problems.

You could still get permission to sue out of the EU from the UK (debatable) or sue their headquarters in the Netherlands, but that's pretty much a moot point as it isn't worth pursuing anyway.

Glaucus · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:28

Always check manufacture date if possible.

Anyway take stuff with you, I hate sun lotion. But since the creation of clear sun lotion, it makes no deference what factor is, as it isn't greasy and sprays on and coats evenly.

Who you goof to complain to?
As it is spar uk limited in England, so probably have nothing to do with them. Suppose you could try the head office where ever they re of the entire company.

Hatter The Mad · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:30

AcidHell2 said:
it makes no deference what factor is

Eh?

antijoke · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:32

Why did you not take enough to last your trip? I would never buy sun lotion abroad.

I hope the tests come back all ok though.

When I had a similar experience coming back from the USA (Florida) I had a mole develop (in an area I got extreme sunburn on) and once it was removed, the doctor said it was nothing to worry about and wasn't skin cancer.

I was very stupid, didn't put any suncream on whilst in Florida. I got off very lightly.

Glaucus · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:32

Hatter The Mad said:
Eh?

Normal sun lotion, the higher the factor the more greasy and harder it is to rub in. Where clear coat ones you don't have that problem, so it doesn't after if you go for a higher factor than normal.

Nitefly · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:32

AcidHell2 said:
Who you goof to complain to?
As it is spar uk limited in England, so probably have nothing to do with them.

You can get permission to sue outside the EU from the English courts, although Spar could dispute jurisdiction (hence debatable).

Suppose you could try the head office where ever they're of the entire company.

The Netherlands...

Glaucus · 27 Jun 2011 at 15:34

Nitefly said:
You can get permission to sue outside the EU from the English courts, although Spar could dispute jurisdiction.

it is still a legal mine field, you would still have to show defective product and a million other things. Which is why I said even ignoring legal stuff.

As you said your self it isn't worth the effort, even if it was within the uk it wouldn't be worth the effort.