Complaint Review: Lavish Lashes - riverside California

Deceptive, Unfair Bus. Practice & Misrepresentation.  This company lied to me and told me that in the state of CA I did not need a beauty license in order to perform lash extensions for a living (i.e. charge a fee to perform this service). The owner told me this on more than two separate occasions, both over the phone PRIOR to my enrollment in the class & throughout the actual class. Because I was NOT licensed, I was particularly concerned with this aspect and whether or not it would hinder my ability to do this for a living. I was specific and diligent and direct with my questions in regards to this. She told me that in the state of TX I did need to be licensed to do this but in the state of CA I did not (I was in the process of relocation from TX to CA).  The first time she told me this was during my initial phone call inquiry about the training program around 6/20/13.  The second time she told me this was when I called her in response to an email I got on 9/11 about my upcoming class; I noticed that the class location listed on the email was not the location of the class I signed up for. When I called to confirm whether or not there had been a last minute location change, she told me there had. At this point I had already enrolled in the “non refundable” class and had to make last minute travel and accommodation arrangements – incurring additional costs in the process.

On 8/12 I printed out the section of their website “How to Become a Certified Lash Professional” and made notes on it during a phone conversation with the Sales Dir., who again told me that all I needed to do in order to become certified was pass the class (which I did) and “practice on about 10-15 friends or family until you get faster and then you’ll be ready to start charging”

During my 9/11 conversation with Mary Jane Dana, (which I happened to have had on speaker phone & my father was witness to) I asked her: "What all do I need to bring with me to class?"  She told me to bring my cosmetology license and ID to which I replied, "I don't have a cosmetology license. I told you this when I spoke with you before I enrolled & you told me that in the state of California I was not required to have a beauty license & I'd be able to do this for a living as long as I passed my course" She put me a brief hold to "check" and then came back on the line and confirmed (again) that my drivers license would suffice and that “it wouldn't be a problem"  (verbatim)

On Day 1 of class (9/15), Mary Jane videotaped all of the students as we introduced ourselves and I stated on video "I'm Alice, I have no beauty industry experience, this is my first venture into this industry" to which she said "Great! Welcome!" (students in this class will attest to this)   Later on Day 1, I asked Mary if she wanted my drivers license so that she could take a copy of it for my certificate, to which she replied: "Later"

On Day 2 (9/16) I asked Mary Jane if we would be getting our certificates at the end of class or if they would be mailed to us.  Her response: "You'll get it in the mail within a week or two & it'll be all nice with foil embossing!" (other students in class witnessed & will attest to this)  At the end of class, I asked Mary (again) if she wanted to take a copy of my drivers license for my certificate or if I should scan it and email it to her (she was rushing to catch a flight) and she instructed me to email it. 

The day after the last class (9/17) I asked Mary Jane by text: 1) who do I email my ID to for my certificate &  2) How long until I receive it in the mail?" She replied with an email address and said "1-2 weeks" (text record available)

On 9/19 It was brought to my attention (by another student) that what I was told prior to class enrollment & throughout training about when I would receive my certificate was blatantly false. That in the state of CA I was unable to perform this procedure for a fee w/out a license.  I have since tried to reach Mary by phone & text several times to discuss & have not gotten any response.

I was lied to every time I asked her directly about licensing requirements. She lied to me in order to get me to purchase her certification class. Additionally, after class myself (& other students) are discovering that Company will NOT send any graduate their certificate of completion until AFTER the graduate purchases additional products from them. (??) This “requirement for certification” was not listed on their site on 8/12 (date stamped print-out of that section on their site available), nor disclosed prior to or at any point during the class. When I brought that to Comapany’s attention on 9/17 via text & email, they ignored my request for an explanation and instead changed the verbiage on their website the following day to now reflect that additional, previously non-disclosed Requirement.

On 9/23 I sent 1 email to the company asking for a refund due to the fact that I was lied to prior to my enrollment. I informed them that if I did not receive a refund of my tuition, that I would be filing a legal claim. On 9/26, Mary emailed me back rejecting my refund request& informed me that (excerpt) “…continued threats of legal action against Lavish Lashes® will be perceived as broaching behavior that is harassing and disruptive of our normal course of business and will be met with strong opposition.”

WORTH NOTING: I am still in contact with the other 4 students that took this class with me and each one is having their own issue with this company ranging from not receiving products they have paid for, not receiving their Certificates of Completion (which are being held hostage by the Company until the student purchases additional products from them).