Probe into alleged scam by 'beauty clinic' that sold discount treatments
AN alleged scam involving a non-existent beauty clinic that sold hundreds of deals through an online discount site is being investigated by gardai.
The site Livingsocial.com refunded almost 500 customers who paid for the deal last year.
Customers bought hair removal treatments for a clinic called D2 laserclinic.com -- but it did not exist.
Some 474 customers purchased the laser treatments at a total cost of more than €42,000 -- but then couldn't find the clinic on Dublin's Nassau Street.
Livingsocial said it had fully investigated any related consumer complaints and refunded all customers.
"Livingsocial also reported this to gardai, who confirmed that we had taken all necessary and appropriate action in refunds," a spokesman said.
The garda press office confirmed last night that "we have received a complaint and the matter is still under investigation".
Online sites which offer large discounts on products and services have mushroomed in the last two years. Three in five Irish adults are signed up to them, research published last week by the National Consumer Agency showed.
Difficulties
However, one in four customers who made a purchase online experienced difficulties, the survey of 1,000 adults by Amarach Research found.
A third of adults had bought from an online discount site and 28pc of these had been dissatisfied with a purchase.
One in five said the product or service was not as described, while 15pc said they were unhappy with the product quality and 11pc had issues with the terms and conditions.
- Aideen Sheehan Consumer Correspondent
Irish Independent
