Complaint Review: Vonda Stevens - Salon Innovations By SI

I had an appointment with Vonda Stevens / Salon Innovations by SI at 11am on January 1, 2009 to have hair extensions put in by her. I had come into her Salon on Sunday, Dec. 28th so that she could match her color swatches to my hair color in order for her to choose the appropriate color to order the extensions in. At that time she told me that it would only take ONE day after she placed the order to receive the extensions. Vonda set up my appointment, for 4 days later....the following Thursday (New Years Day) which was PERFECT for me since I was off work that day due to the holiday. I went ahead and wrote Vonda a check for $300, the deposit she required to order the extensions. After I wrote the check she presented me with paper work that she asked me to sign it. I told her that I didn't bring my glasses and I couldn't read it...to please tell me what it was I was about to sign. She informed me that since I was writing her a CHECK for the deposit, that by signing the paper work, I was agreeing to be liable for the $300 in the event my check bounced. I had no problem with that, so signed my name in good faith, with full trust in her.... that I was only signing a guarantee of my deposit check. I showed up at her Salon the day of my appointment, excited and ready to have my extensions put in to find out that the Salon was completely closed. I began to panic, not knowing Vonda, her reputation etc, as I sat outside looking at the CLOSED sign. I called her immediately and left her several messages on her voicemail (work number). She never returned any of my calls. More and more panic began to set in with each message I left her....and not a single response. Finally at approximately 1pm that afternoon, I called again and she answered. She casually asked me how I was?! Apparently, she had left me a message the day before, cancelling my appointment and had arbitrarily rescheduled it for the FOLLOWING Thursday. I told her that my work schedule didn't permit me to take the required time off during the work week and asked if she worked weekends. She told me that she didn't because she had a part time job on the weekends. In the beauty industry, Saturdays are normally your very busiest day, so my faith in her and her abilities were declining quickly. I became very uncomfortable at that point and told her that this wasn't acceptable and poor customer service on her part to cancel on me like that. Her next statement to me was utterly SHOCKING...she said "you had better talk nicely to me....remember....I have $300 of your money!!!" I was appalled at her non professional , threatening behavior and I told her I wanted a refund....she told me she doesn't give refunds once she's ordered the hair and then dropped the BIG BOMB.....she then proceeded to tell me that I had actually signed paperwork that stated that I agreed that she DIDN'T GIVE REFUNDS!!!! So, here I am..... I can't take off work for the length of time it takes during the work week to have the extensions put in. (although, who in their right mind would have someone touch their hair who threatens you?) ..and SHE doesn't work weekends?! In desperation, I even wrote her a letter telling her I'd settle for $200 back instead.... I gave her my home address and told her to send me a cashiers check by Jan 10th. She didn't respond. Vonda is unscrupulous and unethical and plain SCARY! I highly recommend that EVERYONE stay away from her and her Salon! Vonda....I want my money back!!!!