Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/25/2024

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I was first made aware of Amanda's business through a ******** ad for her ******* Empowered Women's Photography, she was doing a giveaway for 3 winners to get a free boudoir session with her and then varied amounts of free product. The giveaway was not random, she selected her winners. Anyone in this private group was then offered an opportunity to book a $99 session (usual sessions around around $500, I believe) with her, and the first 10 to book would get $400 in free product. I instantly booked and paid, I was not notified if I was one of the first 10. We had a phone call to discuss the scheduling and plan for the boudoir shoot. There were also several email and text exchanges. We then had a zoom meeting to go over style and concept, at the end of the meeting she disclosed how much the products cost. These ranged from $750 for 1 photo up to an album of $3,690+. I let her know this was beyond my budget and I needed to cancel my session. She did not respond until prompted again and would not refund my session fee. She claimed it was used to pay for hair and make up styling the day of the shoot, those services were never received since I cancelled more than 2 weeks ahead of that day. She has now removed me from the ******** group. I would like a refund and to see better business practices where she lets clients know the full cost before they are booked for a 'low' session fee that will costs hundreds to thousands more for any product. I also believe these giveaways and offers for free product were false, meant to lead people into this trap of a low fee and then high product. Anyone cancelling after booking will be in this same situation, she is getting booking fees and not refunding.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/26/2024

  Smallest collection was disclosed in writing on a landing page at time of booking.
  
  I thought I had refunded ***** immediately following her threatening email but it appears it did not go through, not because she is right, but because its not worth the headache in a situation like this, I refund and move on.
  
  I just checked square and it must be because she disputed it, it will not let me refund and move on.
  
  Id love to refund and move on with my business this has already taken too much of my time and resources.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/27/2024

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  The business did not try to refund me until this notice from BBB, I waited 10 days before refuting the charge after the business discontinued email communication. I do feel its the business was unprofessional and rude in response. My credit card company has refunded me and it is back to the business to conduct business more transparently and kindly in the future. Definitely disappointing from a local business, especially claiming to empower women and then to flip on a dime. The "threatening" email did state I wanted to resolve this amicably. 
  
  Regards,
  
  *****************************