MONEY MATTERS: Allure apologizes after retailer overcharges ‘handful of members by $35’ for service
Subscribers of Allure’s popular monthly beauty service have expressed frustration after discovering they were overcharged by $35 for their Allure Beauty Box. The subscription service, which provides a selection of editor-tested beauty products, has apologized for the error.
Allure’s Response and Refunds
The company admitted the mistake, stating, “To our valued Allure Beauty Box community, we discovered that our payment processor inadvertently overcharged a handful of members by $35.” The company assured affected customers that refunds would be issued promptly. “Rest assured, we will be issuing refunds promptly. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer service team,” the statement continued.
Customer Complaints and Refund Issues
The overcharge has sparked outrage among subscribers. Some customers were particularly upset about the additional tax charge. Alicia, one of the affected customers, detailed her frustration on Facebook, saying, “Before I even knew this was an issue, I spent 28 minutes on the phone with a customer service rep. I was told I would only be getting $35 refunded. When I inquired about the $3.06 tax, I was told, ‘It’s company policy that we do not refund taxes.'”
Alicia expressed her anger at the company’s response, calling it “stealing” and criticizing the unavailability of a supervisor. Allure later addressed her complaint, offering a partial refund of $38.06, covering both the incorrect charge and the tax.
Additional Customer Concerns
Other subscribers voiced their displeasure about the overcharge impacting their finances. Joanna shared her frustration, explaining that the overcharge caused her bank account to go overdrawn. She said, “I carefully transfer just enough money into this account each week to cover whatever is on autopay. Got an email that one of my big bills had been kicked back, and that’s how I discovered the overcharge.”
Vicki also reported being overcharged and experiencing account overdraft issues. She commented, “I was overcharged $37.80. My account went into overdraft as well… now I have to pay a fee as well! I was overcharged while trying to pay my rent.”
Allure has responded to Vicki, requesting additional details to assist with her issue.
Other Retailers’ Overcharging Issues
The Allure incident follows a trend of overcharging issues among retailers. In May, Walmart revealed that a technical issue in mid-March had led to overcharging at some stores. The company has since agreed to pay $45 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing it of overcharging for certain weighed goods.
Additionally, a Safeway shopper recently reported being overcharged at a store in San Jose, California, further highlighting ongoing concerns about retail pricing errors.
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