I just wanted a massage. I contacted the massage therapist in late March 2023. I told her of my…read morerecent eye surgeries (three in March!) and some of my other medical history. I wanted to schedule something soon, but the medical bills were piling up, and they needed to be paid. So I waited, and then last week I was able to schedule something. I sent the therapist some notes from a prior therapist so she would know about my structure. I felt the discussions I'd had with the therapist were good open communication and I was looking forward to the massage. I have some pain in my lower back which I know is because of tight hamstrings, and needing my iliopsoas released (I am a former massage therapist).
So I made the appointment. I was told that there would be a $75 deposit, and that if I didn't show up, they would charge my card. I think this is reasonable. I gave them my card number, and they charged it immediately, I found out later, which is not what they told me would happen. I also found out later that they charge a percentage for using a credit card (they're just passing on their credit card fees, which goes against their credit card agreement, and is unethical), which they also didn't tell me about.
I showed up to the appointment at this chiropractic office, and there was a "no mask" sign on the door. I assumed this just meant that masks aren't required. No, apparently this means that they're not allowed. They said the doctor ("doctor" is more like it, as chiropractors have no real medical training), had "studied things" (likely YouTube videos), and he had determined that masks are unnecessary, bad, and can cause germs. I tried telling them that I'm high risk. One of the office staff said she couldn't hear me. So then they went and got the doc who said that if I didn't remove my mask, they wouldn't see me. I left.
Why didn't the therapist tell me that masks aren't allowed? She had months to give me this info. Why didn't the person who made the appointment tell me that masks aren't allowed? Why did they tell me they might charge my card on a future date, but then charge it immediately? Why didn't they tell me about the credit card surcharge?
I was able to get the $75 back, but they wouldn't refund the surcharge. This is also dishonest, and I will dispute it with my bank. It's like this business can't pass up a chance to do the wrong thing.
If you want a possible COVID infection, go here. COVID is surging again, BTW, because it is now endemic. That means it will never go away.
BTW, I contacted the massage therapist after I left and explained the situation, and also that I'd be willing to send her $50 (half of the original amount), since I felt that she was harmed by he situation, and because she had an expectation of income. No response. Hopefully she'll respond soon, and I can send her the money.
Oh, BTW, here's some information about the "university" that the doctor attended:
http://chiropractic.prosepoint.net/176742
Picture is from one of the studies that the doctor likes to respond with on Google, any time someone leaves a less-than-stellar review.