Christine Valmy Salon and Day Spa

Review: There was a group of us planning a spa day/mini-reunion and since one of us had a gift card here, we all decided to go for the day and planned a date in May 2014. There were so many problems that we cancelled and rebooked at a different spa.

1) They wanted us all to pre-pay - not just give a credit card to hold the appointments but actually run the cards for the full amount. We cancelled more than 10 days ago and they still have not refunded my card and they are not answering my emails about when the credit will appear back in my account. I also tried calling, but there is no answer and no voicemail.

2) Several women in the group wanted to pay via [redacted] and [redacted] gift cards and they were told they would be charged 20% more because the salon doesn't get the full amount on the card. When we complained that was not our problem and that was something they needed to work out with[redacted], they said they were still going to charge us the additional 20% amount if we used these cards.

3) I have allergies and therefore have some issues with spa services and especially the ingredients in the products. I emailed them to ask them is it was possible to tailor a facial to my allergies and I never heard back from them. When I called to give them my credit card information, they said they had received my email and someone would be reaching out to me - no one ever did. When we called to cancel, they told my friend that they had spoken to me and worked out my allergy issues, which is a complete LIE!

The whole point of a spa is to feel relaxed and pampered, not to lose money and be completely unsatisfied with the experience. I have never been and I now have no desire to patronize their business. Never!Desired Settlement: I don't understand what the hold up is. We cancelled the services on May 4 and I still don't have the credit to my account. Nor is the company returning my correspondence.

Review: My friend got me a $100 Gift Certificate to this facility. I have been to the facility 2 or 3 times prior, so they had me in the system. On 9/27, I called to make an appt., asked if they had any promotions going on, but when I told her I was using a G/C, she told me they didn’t allow GC’s to be used for promotion, only for full-price services.

I gave her my name, & she said they had 2 [redacted] in the system, both in Hackensack- neither one was mine, but I knew they had another [redacted] because in the past I have received calls confirming appts with the wrong person and to contact the proper one.

She asked for the GC number, which I obliged, and she said she couldn’t find it in the system but to bring the card to my massage later that day. When I arrived, she still couldn’t find the g/c number, but to go for the massage.When I was done she said she found the card under my friend who purchased the card’s name. But here was no money left as it had been used on 3 prior purchases. I told her I never used the card. She asked for my driver’s license to confirm my address.I asked how I could still have the card in my possession if I used it. She then said she doesn’t always ask for the card which I don’t believe as she told me on the phone that I needed to bring it with me. Then I wanted to know how she could have used my card for someone else. Clearly, not only did she not ask that person for the GC, but neither did she ask them for ID! I had to show my driver’s license. Had she asked this other person, they would have seen it wasn’t me. It was obvious to me that THEY SCREWED up, but were refusing to admit it.

I didn’t know what to do, so I asked them to call the Police Department because I wasn’t paying for today’s service. Three cops then came to the facility. I spoke with one, and I believe she spoke with another. I was taken outside the facility, and she was inside. I explained my issue. Officer [redacted] showed me a printout of 3 services that the owner says I had, and asked if they were mine, I said no. This went on for 1-1/2 hours. There was a $6 charge on 2 of the services using a Visa card for a tip. I do not own a Visa card and asked for them to see who owned the card because they would easily find out it wasn’t mine.

By now, I was late for work, as I am self-employed. So I had to get out of there. Originally the officer said they could arrest if I didn’t pay, but then told me there wasn’t enough evidence and I could pay, or not. I asked the consequences. The owner asked to file against me, but I was told that if I paid, the owner couldn’t file against me. I asked it I paid, could I still sue her, and was told yes. So, being that I had run out of patience at this time, I paid the $96.30 bill on my credit card and left. The owner was rude, didn’t even try to work it out, and I was embarrassed standing in the parking lot for over an hour with 3 cop cars and an officer by my side. Not to mention my lateness for work.

I want my $96.30 back.Desired Settlement: Refund

Review: I was given a gift card from Christine Valmy in the amount of $200 on May 12, 2012. I used $81 of that gift card prior to the expiration date of May 12, 2013, leaving a balance of $119. According to the owner of Christine Valmy, I only have $19 remaining on the card because the card was purchased as a promotion - buy $100 and get $100 free, and the promotion portion of the card had expired. The card does not indicate anything about a promotion expiration date and NJ Law clearly states that gift cards are valid for 2 years.Desired Settlement: I refuse to do business with Christine Valmy and would like a refund of $119 cash