Semplice Body Work Jenny Gignac Took my $ without providing services - refuses refund and will no longer respond Mount Pleasant South Carolina

This merchant will not refund my payment for services she never provided due to her personal reasons of having spent my money already and repeatedly cancelling our appointment times. She no longer responds to my attempts at contact or a resolution.

This all started back in June - the merchant is a massage therapist. I received services from her (Jenny Gignac of Semplice Body Work) for 4 months without any issues. The first time was a Groupon purchase (6/6), the next (3) were part of a package deal I purchased, in which I used (2) (7/11 + 8/19) and my husband used (1) (8/29). 

On 8/28 I scheduled my next appt for 9/16. She cancelled on me the day of, and rescheduled to 9/28.

However, when I arrived for my appointment and paid for the service prior to receiving, I purchased a package of 3 for $98.75 ($79 + tip) because she offers a discount for package purchases. 20 minutes into the service she said she had to cancel my appointment because she had a toothache that was unbearable. She had already rescheduled me prior to this appointment for this same issue. When I was leaving, she said that this would not count against my package and that we'd reschedule and start over. Because I had already paid for the package and my past experiences with her were good, I didn't see a concern with that arrangement.

Subsequently, I rescheduled and she cancelled on me a total of 5 times, generally on the same day or the evening before. Her last excuse was that she had a very contagious infection all over her mouth, and then she said she was going through a rough patch. When we were supposed to try to reschedule again, she told me she had a very intense outpatient treatment she was participating in. Given that she had cancelled on me at the last minute so many times (and as it turns out, MANY Yelp reviewers in the past couple of months http://www.yelp.com/biz/semplice-body-work-mount-pleasant) and receiving these very odd and personal excuses, I was no longer comfortable doing business with this merchant and requested a refund on 10/29. She told me it would take a few weeks because she didn't have the money, despite the fact that I paid her that money two months ago for services I never received.

This is terrible business and an unacceptably dishonest way of taking money and spending it prior to providing what was promised. I don't like to make complaints against businesses, especially a small business trying to make it, but after seeing that I am not alone in this experience, I felt I had no choice. My most recent attempts at contact have gone without response, leaving me no other recourse than to publicly address my concerns so that no one else gets TAKEN for their hard earned money. 

It was also suggested that I take her to small claims court, but this costs more than it is worth.  I have reported her to the Better Business Bureau, which she has not responded to.  Additionally, I posted my experience with Yelp, NextDoor, Facebook, Groupon, Square (her credit card processor), and her business landlord.  I have received countless feedback that she has done this to many people.

I have a complete record of all communications via email and text message copied into a document as proof that I can present. 

PLEASE NOTE THE MERCHANT'S ADDRESS IS 2191 N HWY 17, STE A, MT. PLEASANT, SC 29466, located inside Elite Health Services. She moved once already, I suspect after ruining her reputation and theirs in a short period of time. 

Here is a link to her Facebook reviews as well https://www.facebook.com/semplicebodywork/reviews/ 

This merchant will not refund my payment for services she never provided due to her personal reasons of having spent my money already and repeatedly cancelling our appointment times. 

This all started back in June - the merchant is a massage therapist. I received services from her (Jenny of Semplice Body Work) for 4 months without any issues. The first time was a Groupon purchase (6/6), the next (3) were part of a package deal I purchased, in which I used (2) (7/11 + 8/19) and my husband used (1) (8/29). 

On 8/28 I scheduled my next appt for 9/16. She cancelled on me the day of, and rescheduled to 9/28. 
However, when I arrived for my appointment and paid for the service prior to receiving, I purchased a package of 3 for $98.75 ($79 + tip) because she offers a discount for package purchases. 20 minutes into the service she said she had to cancel my appointment because she had a toothache that was unbearable. She had already rescheduled me prior to this appointment for this same issue. When I was leaving, she said that this would not count against my package and that we'd reschedule and start over. Because I had already paid for the package and my past experiences with her were good, I didn't see a concern with that arrangement. 

Subsequently, I rescheduled and she cancelled on me a total of 5 times, generally on the same day or the evening before. Her last excuse was that she had a very contagious infection all over her mouth, and then she said she was going through a rough patch. When we were supposed to try to reschedule again, she told me she had a very intense outpatient treatment she was participating in. Given that she had cancelled on me at the last minute so many times (and as it turns out, MANY Yelp reviewers in the past couple of months http://www.yelp.com/biz/semplice-body-wo...) and receiving these very odd and personal excuses, I was no longer comfortable doing business with this merchant and requested a refund on 10/29. She told me it would take a few weeks because she didn't have the money, despite the fact that I paid her that money two months ago for services I never received. 

This is terrible business and an unacceptably dishonest way of taking money and spending it prior to providing what was promised. I don't like to make complaints against businesses, especially a small business trying to make it, but after seeing that I am not alone in this experience, I felt I had no choice. My most recent attempts at contact have gone without response, leaving me no other recourse than to publicly address my concerns so that no one else gets TAKEN for their hard earned money. 

It was also suggested that I take her to small claims court, which I am currently looking into, and I have reported her to the Better Business Bureau, which she has not responded to either. 

I have a complete record of all communications via email and text message copied into a document as proof that I will be presenting to the magistrate. 

PLEASE NOTE THE MERCHANT'S ADDRESS IS NOW 2191 N HWY 17, STE A, MT. PLEASANT, SC 29466, located inside Elite Health Services next door to the Cracker Barrell. She moved once already, I suspect due to ruining her reputation and theirs in a short period of time. 

Here is a link to her Facebook reviews as wellhttps://www.facebook.com/semplicebodywor...