Shocking Spa Experience Leaves Elderly Woman Outraged
Oh, the joys of spa days, right? Well, for one elderly woman, relaxation took a disturbing turn. She claims she was coerced into spending over $65,000 on questionable treatments at a spa in New York City—treatments she had initially declined more than once. Allegedly, an employee cornered her in an office until she finally agreed to pay.
Elizabeth Childs Johnson shared that the stress of the situation was so intense, she ended up with more wrinkles than she started with. Quite ironic, isn’t it?
The 77-year-old, who specializes in Chinese art and archaeology, was just going about her day when she was approached outside the Ole Beauty Clinic. This encounter happened back in December 2024, and she thought a little beauty treatment could be a nice treat.
In her lawsuit, put forth in the Manhattan Supreme Court, she notes that the spa’s employees lured her in with compliments about her clothing, which, honestly, is a classic sales tactic. She reminisced, “It was around my birthday, and this was going to be my unwanted birthday present.”
After some coaxing, she decided to check out what the spa offered. Initially, her attorney indicated that she spent about $40,000 on 12 facials over the year, believing these high-end sessions would be a well-deserved luxury.
However, things began to change. Just as she was wrapping up her treatments, she claims the atmosphere shifted. During her second-to-last visit, an employee told her it was time to renew her package. Johnson declined due to the high cost.
Certainly, it seems that should’ve been the end of the story. But no. The worker is said to have insisted, refusing to let her leave without making a purchase.
“It all happened in a matter of minutes,” she recalls. “I was stunned. I barely said a word. All I really did was hand over my credit card.” Who wouldn’t feel overwhelmed in such a situation?
She claims she was so confused and desperate to leave that she ended up handing over three credit cards, not really knowing what she was signing up for or how much it would actually cost. It was all a blurring nightmare.
Just three days later, Johnson discovered she had been charged a whopping $65,322. Imagine that shock. She said her attempts to get a refund were repeatedly refused.
The lawsuit targets OP Creation Inc., Madison Apothecary Inc., and Olle LLC, with Johnson seeking more than just the amount she feels was taken from her.
“They didn’t let her go. She insisted it wasn’t what she wanted and that she couldn’t afford it. This is a very deceptive and abusive business practice,” her attorney remarked.
Interestingly, Madison Apothecary shares an address on Madison Avenue with OP Creation, which is the one charging her cards. A spokesperson for Madison claimed they hadn’t been served with any legal documents, expressing confusion about the situation, insisting they never billed anyone for such a sum. Ole didn’t respond to requests for comment, and OP Creation was unreachable.
