Balcony Film Lab - missing scans - advice needed!

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Hi all,

I sent a number of rolls of film to be processed by Balcony Film Lab (http://balcony.industries) back in February at the cost of about £200. I got the colour scans back but never received the scans for the approx 9 black and white rolls I sent in as part of the order. I've emailed multiple times and despite knowing they have seen the emails (I use a tracker), I haven't had any response. I imagine they've either lost the scans or something else has happened to them which they aren't wanting to discuss. I have a number for the owner Rashid and have left a message, but no reply. I've held off posting about it until now but after two months I feel I've given them the benefit of the doubt.

I signed up to them as they offered decently priced film and processing through their membership, but if they can't even be bothered to reply and rectify things like this, it's worth next to nothing.

Any ideas of recourse on this? I'm not sure how to approach them to get some sort of response, let alone a refund on the processing.
 
If this is them then there's a business address:

BALCONY INDUSTRIES LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

BALCONY INDUSTRIES LTD - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity
find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

Company isn't that old and it's already missing filings.

How did you pay? If it was paypal you should be able to get a refund and see if you can get paypal to refund the lot to cover some of the loss of the films.
 
srichards said:
If this is them then there's a business address:

BALCONY INDUSTRIES LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

BALCONY INDUSTRIES LTD - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity
find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

Company isn't that old and it's already missing filings.

How did you pay? If it was paypal you should be able to get a refund and see if you can get paypal to refund the lot to cover some of the loss of the films.
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Ouch. They'll be heading for a statutory strike off if they don't get their Confirmation Statement in soon.

I paid with American Express, so I can hopefully do a chargeback and get some money back. Still won't get the shots back though which is most disappointing.
 
For the sake of 3 minutes and £13 to file, that's a dumb oversight, and makes you wonder about their other business competencies. Were they VAT registered? Did they pay their VAT to HMRC if so? Hmmm.
 
Very poor show IMO, if they have screwed up then they should own it. To just ignore your attempts to resolve it just isn't on. I will imagine they will be shutting up shop soon enough, the analogue community is pretty tight and word will soon get around.

Shame really as I do like to see people opening new labs
 
They might have sub-contracted the development of the black and white film.
 
I am slightly confused, did they process the B&W films and return the developed negatives to you without scans or is everything lost?

Just to add, I process and scan my own film so I don't know how labs usually operate regarding delivery of negatives.
 
zx9 said:
I am slightly confused, did they process the B&W films and return the developed negatives to you without scans or is everything lost?

Just to add, I process and scan my own film so I don't know how labs usually operate regarding delivery of negatives.
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No, they haven't even returned the negatives, even the colour films to which I received the scans for. Established labs (AG Photo in my experience) send you the scans then post back the negs. If I hadn't had sold my Pakon, I'd be doing it myself a lot more!
 
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Where are they based?
 
RaglanSurf said:
And where are you based?
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I'm in London as well.

I have since gotten some sort of response from them after I threatened sending them a letter regarding a CCJ. First off, they blamed my Dropbox account for not having enough space for their uploads (incorrect - I have plenty). They then said they would upload the scans again (not that I received them the first time) on the 30th. Still nothing. I'm now emailing them everyday for an update - I know they are opening the emails as I see it on my tracker.

I'll give them until tomorrow before next steps.
 
Any update on this?
 
RaglanSurf said:
Any update on this?
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Yes, after emailing a threat of CCJ and emailing every day, I finally received some b&w scans for the 35mm I put in. However, the 120 scans are still missing. They have said none were included in the order, but luckily I took a photo of what was sent and there should be two 120 films coming.
 
I think they are probably not a proper lab at all. I've said it before, but I think they might have sub-contracted the development out to a third party. I can't say for sure obviously, but it would explain the delay.
 
It's a worry - since joining in the discussions about developing film, I've been served ads for various labs. all claiming to offer great service.

Not saying my photos are ever going to be amazing, but sending them off and having rolls 'disappear' would be a nightmare.

If nothing else, film isn't cheap.

I hope you get the correct resolution from this.
 
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FWIW @Kell I've never had any issues with FilmDev, AG Labs, Nik & Trik, Analogue Wonderland. I still use labs occasionally even though I prefer doing my own souping and scanning now.
 
Thanks @lindsay - I got a recommendation for FilmDev in one of my early posts in this forum and have used them several times with no issues at all.

just for the sake of a different POV - FilmDev don't include posting your negatives back in the displayed cost of development.

I think it's a further £2 to receive them back. This suits me TBH as I have no way to scan them and keeps the costs a little lower.
 
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Kell said:
It's a worry - since joining in the discussions about developing film, I've been served ads for various labs. all claiming to offer great service.

Not saying my photos are ever going to be amazing, but sending them off and having rolls 'disappear' would be a nightmare.

If nothing else, film isn't cheap.

I hope you get the correct resolution from this.
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I'm lucky, I have Exposure Film Lab not too far away, and I can visit. Keeping it local is a definite plus.
 
Plain Nev said:
I'm lucky, I have Exposure Film Lab not too far away, and I can visit. Keeping it local is a definite plus.
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Well I just found out the other day that Analogue Wonderland is almost within walking distance of my house. And only because the address was printed on the box of some film I ordered.

I just don't think they're very competitively priced for developing. Even when they offered two-for-one, it was still twice the price of FilmDev.

It was also a surprise they're that close as it takes forever for stuff to arrive.
 
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Kell said:
Thanks @lindsay - I got a recommendation for FilmDev in one of my early posts in this forum and have used them several times with no issues at all.

just for the sake of a different POV - FilmDev don't include posting your negatives back in the displayed cost of development.

I think it's a further £2 to receive them back. This suits me TBH as I have no way to scan them and keeps the costs a little lower.
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They used to include the cost of return postage, but changed in the past year or so. Since their prices are so reasonable, I don't begrudge them, and I usually send them 2 or 3 films anyway.

I've found The Darkroom UK to be excellent when I want BW/E6 dev-only, but not C41 as their scans are expensive and my C41 scanning is woeful!

This may be a good point to remind folk that I did a nifty price estimator for 35mm & 120 Dev + Scan on Google Docs. It's only a guide, prices may not be accurate, please let me know if there's a boo-boo!
 
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