Salon Allegedly Charged $880 Treatment Package to Elderly Who Has Hearing Difficulties

Imagine thinking that you’re paying just $80 for a hair treatment, only to realise that you’ve paid $880 for a package instead.

This apparently happened in a salon in Yishun.

Here’s what happened.

Salon Allegedly Charged $880 Treatment Package to Elderly Who Has Hearing Difficulties

A 43-year-old engineer told Shin Min Daily News that his hearing-impaired mother-in-law was pressured into purchasing an $880 hair treatment package at a hairdressing salon in Yishun.

The incident occurred on 14 November when the 75-year-old woman visited the salon for a $38 hair dye service.

Near the end of her hair dyeing session, the engineer claimed that the staff members introduced a scalp treatment service, promising it would take just a few minutes. “My mother-in-law likely agreed reluctantly. She was told it would cost around $80, so she took out her bank card to pay.”

He, however, said that his mother-in-law has severe hearing difficulties. “We must shout for her to hear us.”

The family discovered the $880 charge only last week when her son noticed a transaction message on her phone.

The package included 12 sessions of hair dye and scalp treatments instead of the single scalp treatment.

The engineer then contacted the salon owner for a refund but was refused, leading him to file a police report.

The elderly woman became upset after discovering the $880 charge, and the engineer transferred an equal amount to support her. “She’s very frugal and couldn’t accept this. We don’t expect a refund now. We just want to warn other seniors about this situation.”

The Salon’s Point of View

A 40-year-old staff member who performed the treatment said he took extra steps to communicate with the elderly customer. “I wrote the price on paper for her to see, and she said ‘OK,'” he said.

He showed Shin Min Daily News the membership card he used to record treatment sessions, which contained the customer’s handwritten personal information and signatures next to the package price and treatment acknowledgment.

The elderly woman paid via NETS, with the amount displayed on the payment terminal screen. “We always input the amount for customers to see before payment. The numbers are large and clear,” he added.

However, the engineer questioned these claims, saying “The staff might have covered the amount somehow, preventing my mother-in-law from seeing the full price.”

But anyways, let’s face it: how many of us actually look at the amount displayed on the payment terminal screen?

The staff member emphasized that they rely on regular customers and good reputation for business, stating, “We can’t afford to deceive customers in this competitive market.”

The salon, which opened about six months ago, faces strong competition, with nine hair salons operating within two rows of shops in the area.