Duval Street Cosmetics Shop Cited Local Rip-Off Team Secures Refund

Soap Stories a cosmetic shop at 404 Duval Street has admitted guilt for violating city code. A settlement agreement was reached February 28 between the city of Key West and Soap Stories of Tampa Bay in Key West. The company will pay $250 in administrative cost and a $500 fine was suspended pending any further violations. 

The magistrate’s ruling came as the result of a consumer complaint followed up with an investigation by the City Code Compliance department.

The consumer complaint, filed by Margaret “Peggy” Yost of Memphis, TN said she made payments in January totaling $3,225.25 in merchandise which she cancelled. Rather than canceling the order, Soap Stories shipped products and her credit cards were charged. Yost returned the products but she was denied a refund. She stated in the complaint, the store employees applied cosmetics without disclosing the price, a violation of city code.

The Rip-Off Rapid Response Team finally secured a full refund from store manager Naor Rahamin on March 5.

Rip-Off Team spokesperson Bruce Mitchell said, “We hoped there would be a change with this business after they signed a five point consent agreement with us in December which included a 30 day return policy. They broke their agreement, ripped this women off and then wouldn’t give her money back.”

Tevis Wernicoff also with the Rip-Off Team said, “Its great to see the city going after these businesses that give Key West such a black eye.”

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