Eurpopean Wax Center Douglas Payne BUYER BEWARE/FRAUD Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona

European Wax Center Scam: I was a monthly customer of Euro Wax at McDowell Mountain and Shade at Desert Ridge for close to a year. Rather abruptly, they discontinued their monthly wax pass, and instead want members to pre-pay for a year's services in advance. So we went from $28/mo billed to a credit card upon receipt of service to them asking for close to $500 up front and a year to use the services (so long as the boutique remains open/in business).

The transition caused me concern - anytime a company wants money for a service in the amount of a full year's fees up front - especially in this economy, it causes a wise consumer to stop and take pause. It was the lack of advanced notice of the discontinuation of the monthly wax pass and their breach of contract in services that validated that this is a shady business.

I was notified via letter on Jan. 20 that the monthly wax pass would be discontinued on Jan. 16. The letter said that the benefits of monthly wax pass would continue through 30 days of last billing cycle. I went in for my regularly scheduled monthly service on Jan. 22 (which was pre-booked in December), and I was told at check out that I'd have to pay $39 since they discontinued the monthly pass. Jan. 16 + 30 days per the letter is clearly not Jan. 22, and therefore, they lied. The clerk at the counter called the manager and she declined to honor my monthly wax pass rate.

I called the branch on Jan. 27 to ask for the owner's name/info and I was given a name: Douglas Payne, but was told his contact information is confidential. I asked for a manager, and was told that they are not allowed to provide that information either. Not even a manager's name. Rather, they would take my name/number and call me.

What kind of a company won't provide a manager's name and contact information? Why wouldmanagment be in hiding and not be accessible to their customers?

Astark warning to all....this is a very shady company todo businesswith.You'd be money ahead to go to a legitimateand professional salon for these services. I don't thinkthesecenterswill be long for the Valley with questionable and unethical business practices.