Everyday stresses like work, finances and just trying to get through the day can wear a person down. And sometimes, a little self-care seems like the perfect antidote.
But for one Florida senior, a quick moment of relaxation quickly spiraled into a financial disaster. What started as a $25 facial at a skincare shop ended with her spending more than 1,000 times that amount, totalling more than $26,000 in charges to her credit card — and a deep sense of shame she kept to herself for weeks.
Kathryn Taylor, an 84-year-old widow who had been aggressively convinced to spend thousands of dollars, was too embarrassed to tell anyone what happened to her — even though she is on Social Security and can’t afford the hefty bill.
Her daughter, Jackie Gattoni, only recently found out about the credit card charge.
“It’s a lot of money for anybody… she was devastated. She didn’t want to tell anybody,” Gattoni says.
So how did a simple facial turn into a $26,000 mistake?
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How a $26,000 mistake could happen
Taylor says that when she went into Bee and Co in Fernandina Beach, she was thrown into a hectic sales pitch and ended up buying three expensive skincare products called Genesis Z, Sapphire X and a Phyto Thermal Collection. The products collectively cost $26,000, First Coast News reported, and Taylor says she had no idea what was going on.
“Well, I was being shifted around and I didn’t realize, you know, what was happening.”
Gattoni speculates the store moves employees around rapidly to keep making new, aggressive sales.
“When you go into the store it’s always a different person… so I don’t know if they’re making a quick sale and quickly moving people around to other locations.”
Gattoni couldn’t get the products returned for her mother, even though they were sitting unopened in their boxes. The store refunded a partial $4,500 the next day but refused to refund the rest. “I have made repeated attempts to get her money back. I’ve made phone calls. I’ve gone into the store several times,” Gattoni says.
Gattoni eventually filed a police report. She later learned that several other Bee and Co customers — many of them seniors — were on the wrong end of aggressive sales pitches with the resulting thousands in charges. Some of them reported they were lured in with free samples and ended up spending $2,500. Another woman reported she was pushed into buying a facial wand and some skin creams totalling over $8,000.
Fernandina Beach Police Chief Jeff Tambasco says authorities had received “multiple complaints” about Bee and Co and that the store was being investigated.
A reporter from First Coast News went to the store in another attempt to get the rest of Taylor’s money refunded. The employee told the reporter that they believe Taylor had received a full refund, but that normal store policy was that all sales are final.
Gattoni says her mother remains ashamed over the ordeal: “I mean, she felt stupid. You’re not stupid,” Jackie told her mother.
Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
Protecting your loved one from aggressive sales
Elderly customers have increasingly become targets for aggressive sales tactics and fraudulent charges. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, seniors lose an estimated $3.4 billion annually to such exploitation, though the actual number may be higher because many incidents go unreported due to embarrassment.
Salespeople who want to take advantage of an elderly customer will often prey on their emotions, using urgent and anxiety-ridden tactics of telling them to “act now” or purchase “immediately.”
They will also hurriedly move through the sale and not fully explain the product or the cost, aiming to make the senior confused, disoriented and inclined to make the purchase in order to end the pressure-filled exchange.
Experts say children of elderly parents should have regular conversations with them about such tactics and what to watch for, as well as to pay attention to any unusual or out-of-the-ordinary purchases.
They should also occasionally review their bank and credit card statements for charges that could indicate pressured purchases. If they get cold calls, they should show their parents how to block those numbers and better yet, instruct them not to answer calls from unknown numbers.
If you think they’ve been a victim of financial exploitation, try to contact the company directly to cancel. If the transaction can’t be reversed, dispute the charge with your bank as soon as possible. Some credit cards might offer protections or refunds as well.
If the company shows signs of being shady and exploitative, consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
