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New Mexico to receive $350K in Santa Fe spa settlement
An employee at Santa Fe Spa Center by Voupre greets people along West San Francisco Street in Santa Fe in October. On Friday, the state announced it agreed to a $350,000 settlement after the spa company used aggressive sales tactics and overcharged customers.
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The state was awarded $350,000 after it sued a Santa Fe spa for using aggressive and deceptive sales tactics and overcharging customers.
“Our department has been hard at work on this case, and we are proud to return money to customers who were targeted and financially harmed,” New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a news release on Friday.
The state filed a suit in October after the Santa Fe Spa Center by Voupre, alleged to have operated under various names, was accused of targeting Santa Fe visitors and stealing thousands of dollars from them, the Journal reported.
In one of two lawsuits filed against the company, one woman said she agreed to purchase a red light facial treatment for $2,800 only to find out when she returned home to Amarillo, Texas, that her American Express card was charged $30,340, according to the lawsuit. Another said she bought beauty creams for $1,300 but found the spa charged her credit card $13,000.
“Visitors and locals alike should never be charged thousands of dollars more than a fair price, nor should they be subjected to high-pressure sales tactics and false promises designed to trick them into buying products they don’t want or need,” Torrez said.
As part of the settlement that was announced on Friday, the Santa Fe Spa Center agreed to:
- Ensure its prices are “fully disclosed in a manner that is clear and conspicuous prior to the completion of any transaction,” said Chelsea Pitvorec, AG spokesperson.
- Give customers a receipt that itemizes all products or services purchased, the total price paid and any applicable taxes, discounts or adjustments, she said.
- Implement and maintain a return policy that complies with the
- and is disclosed to consumers at or before the sale.
- Report any change in its business name, reorganization or branding that could “affect consumer recognition of the entity responsible for the transaction,” Pitvorec said.
“This case underscores our commitment to protecting consumers in New Mexico and holding bad actors fully accountable for exploiting our communities,” Torrez said. “If you believe you were affected, we urge you to submit a claim with our office right away.”
Claims must be submitted before Feb. 10, Pitvorec said.
