In March 2009, we commissioned Teresa (Terry) Hayes, having seen her listings on Ebay, and believed her to be a competent and reliable seller, to make us two period costumes for a Masquerade Ball. She was paid via Paypal, $406.50 at the end of March 2009.
The ball was on the 20/6/09, and all communications were satisfactory until approx. 4 weeks before our party. No one could could reach Terry. We telephoned her from here in the UK, and tried to contact her to find out what had happened.
We were only two customers out of our party of 6, who had paid her to make our costumes. The money paid by our group came to around $1,100. None of us could reach her, even though she had our money.
Then we received an email from a 'friend', telling us that she had taken a fall while moving home, and because of a back injury, was unable to complete her order. However, he (the friend) was going to hire-in two more seamstresses to cover the order. This information was received the week BEFORE the ball, and we were obviously concerned because the items had to reach us in the UK. We were told that 2 of the dresses were ready, but 2 still needed to be finished-off.
We asked the 'friend' to send our finished costumes by courier service, as they wouldn't reach us in time by normal mail. We were told that they couldn't afford the extra payment for courier service.
Four days before the ball an email from the 'friend' told us they couldn't fulfill the order, and they were cancelling the commission.
To this day, regardless of countless promises to refund our money, Teresa Hayes has sent nothing. We tried to reslove the situation via Ebay and Paypal, however, they had received other complaints, and removed her from their books.
In addition, the dress made for my wife, was listed on Ebay the day after the order was cancelled.
Teresa Hayes promised to repay all monies owing to the whole group, starting with our refund of $406.50,as of 15/10/09.
Since then, she has stopped all communications, and no monies have been received by any of our group. Refunds totalling $1,100 remain unpaid as of 2/3/2010, nearly a year later.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Jason
United States of AmericaI finally got my money back from Threads & Lace
#2Consumer Suggestion
Thu, July 01, 2010
Ouch! Originally, Threads and Lace ripped me off for close to $200. To make a long story short, after the Better Business Bureau couldn't pressure Teresa Hayes into resolving the complaint, I turned to the AZ Attorney General's Office. I filed a report online (http://www.azag.gov/consumer/complaintinform.html). I wasn't expecting a refund, I just wanted to let the AZ Attorney General's office know how this company was ripping people off.
About a month later, I received a full refund from Threads and Lace. Finally, the government got something right! I'd suggest filing an online complaint form and detail everything you've been through. It helps to include links to her feedback pages on Etsy, eBay and here as well. Good luck and keep us posted.