Complaint Review: Karuna Chani - Nationwide

Where do I begin?  In all my years of dealing with vendors, small businesses, service people, etc. I have never come across someone who is so utterly unprofessional and deceitful.  Karuna was hired as the makeup artist for my sister's wedding on October 18th, 2014.  Her arrival time was supposed to be 4 p.m.--she did not get there until after 6.  When my sister--the bride--called her and asked when she would be arriving, Karuna would not give her an answer.  That is when I got involved.  I gave her a call, asked her what her GPS said in terms of arrival time, she did answer me.  Why she gave a hard time to the bride, I don't know.  

There was no way we could wait until 6 p.m because we had family arriving at that time, and a professional photographer.   Karuna's lateness cut into all the other services we PAID for and had planned out.   

The wedding hall ended up recommended a salon close by, with no other choice, the bride got in a car with her lengha & drove to the salon.  They took care of her there.  

Can you imagine that?  Your wedding day, and the makeup artist arrives not 10 minutes late, or 15, or 30 minutes....but a whole 2 hours late.  On top of that she refuses to tell YOU, the bride, what her GPS is saying  in terms of arrival time.  

The groom's family arrived & there was no bride for pictures, there were no males from our side to greet them (a sign of respect in our culture), because the males were off picking up the bride or dealing with the photographer who was waiting for us all.  

When Karuna finally arrived, with her fake concerned look, she was sat in an office by the wedding hall people.  When I approached her, she was apologetic, but I did not believe a word she had to say.  

I asked her for a refund, she stated she did not carry that much cash around with her, but promised to send a check out "first thing Monday morning".  These were her words verbatim----"first thing Monday morning."   I texted her on Thursday when no check arrived and she responded, "I sent it yesterday, sorry for the delay."  Now---as a truly apoligetic entrepreneur, if you know you ruined someones wedding day, and you promise to have a refund out "first thing Monday morning", wouldn't you send it Monday morning?  She waited until Wednesday because that is the level of her professionalism---less than mediocre.  For the amount of money she charges, her level of tact, class and professionalism MUST improve.  Her delay in sending the check is yet another testament to her shortcomings as a small business owner & service provider.  

It is now Saturday---no check.  I have texted her, she has assured me it is "in the mail".   

Now--she may have many glowing reviews online (perhaps some of them fake or her friends).  I am not a friend.  I am just a relative to a client, but I felt the need to write this because it could be you or your sister who is waiting there on her wedding day with no makeup artist around.  Just let that thought sink in for a moment.  Do you want to take that chance?  

I'm disgusted by her behavior & her lack of remorse---and it shows in the fact that she claims to have sent the check out 2 days after she should have---that is a clear reflection of how important my sister was as a client to her & how important it was for her to try to minimize the damage she created.   If you don't show up for a client, you should do everything in your power to undo your mistake....not play a cat and mouse game after the fact.  

So now, a week after the wedding, I am here trying to rectify what Karuna created; what her unprofessionalism created & what her irresponsibility created.  I have better things to do than to sit around typing this report---but because of her lack of work ethic, I am here.  Moreover, instead of me texting her finding out about the check, it is she who should be following up on it.  

I am not an entrepreneur myself, but I am assuming there are certain behaviors that should be common sense to people who run their own business.  If they are clueless to these behaviors, then perhaps they should opt for a 9-5.  

Again---stay away.  Find someone cheaper & more reliable so you are not sitting at your computer a week after an event writing about a person who took your money & provided nothing in return.  That is NOT how you want to remember your wedding day.