UPDATED 2/14/24 - I tried my best today to resolve a negative experience with Christine (owner) and Tim, the new office manager. I called around 8a this morning and left a voicemail, after getting an alert from my credit card about a $45 charge from The Dog Spa. They charged this to my card without my authorization. I called back later and spoke with Sarah who said I couldn't speak with Christine but she would relay the message. Finally Tim called me at 452p to discuss the issue. My primary issues: (1) During my online book process, which I've always done online, the website never asked me to authorize a deposit charge towards the appointment and (2) the amount of the deposit (50%) taken from a credit card I had no plans to use for this service. I switch back and forth between my debit and credit card based on available funds, not unlike many other customers, I'm sure. Tim told me that now as of the start of 2024, they require a deposit toward services. There's 1 sentence on the screen before booking appointments that says, "A deposit is required for all reservations." But during the actual booking process nothing about the deposit comes up again. Paying a deposit isn't a problem. The problem is the website never say anything about securing a deposit or the amount of the deposit (whether a specific dollar amount or percentage) during the booking process. Tim is lying because I had a services done with Sara on 1/23/24 and not once did they charge a deposit before the appointment. So despite all the facts I shared with Tim, talks as if I'm lying. He questions the experience I had on the website, even though in another minute, he doesn't understand why they took the deposit some 5 days after I scheduled the appointment. Clearly, they applied for a charge on my account without my authorization.
Tim's solution: They can remove the charge from the credit card and cancel the appointment. They'll rebook for the same day/time but I'll have to pay another $45 deposit. Once that appointment ends, I'll pay the remaining balance of the service, then wait 5-7 days to get a refund of the money they illegally took from my credit card. Tim then tries to deflect from the issue & say Christine has reduced charges in the past, which is a lie. After back the conversation back to the illegal charge on my card, Tim says he doesn't have time to discuss it further today (I was on the phone with him 31 minutes). Interesting because he waited to call me as he was closing up the salon. Again they knew exactly what they did. I ended the call and later texted the main number, hoping to get Christine to explain to me how she would resolve this to everyone's satisfaction. This was her response, "It has become evident that we are unable to meet your expectations while maintaining important business policies & procedures. As a result, we inform you that we have made the decision to terminate our services with you." Oh it gets better!!
"Over the years, we have worked diligently to address your concerns [my only 2 issues in 5+ years: the constant nicking of my dogs private area with clippers & the constant price changing of services], accommodate your requests [SMH: I had them put notes in the file to use scissors not clippers in his private area; they started a rewards program which I took advantage of to help with costs] and offered many discounts to help with your budget [What? other than the rewards points]. However, it has become increasingly clear that our policies and standards don't align with your expectations [clearly gaslighting at this point]. Despite our constant efforts, we have been unable to fund a mutually satisfactory resolution time and time again. We have cancelled all future appointments and refunded any deposits. We wish you the best and hope Maxx finds a grooming salon to call home." Christine never acknowledges illegally charging my CC without my authorization. Based on other texts; she hasn't valued my business and loyalty for some time. If I don't see a pending credit on my card tomorrow, I'm notifying the CC company. read more