ComplaintsforLaura Alexandra Photography

• Initial Complaint

  05/27/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I posted on a Pembroke Pines community chat on FB requesting recommendations for a photographer. On March 18th, I received a message from Alexandra asking if I still needed a photographer. I told her that I did. After some back and forth, she reached out to confirm and although I attempted to only pay half now and half on the day of the event, she would only book with a full payment via Venmo. I did not hear from her & on the week of the event (May 13) I reached out via text to connect. I found it strange she did not reach out to confirm location or gather any information. I reached out via text and was not able to speak to her due to my work schedule. On the day of the event at approx 2pm she called to tell me she could not make it. Apparently, her father had been sick for days and at the last minute she needed to be with him. She offered to send her assistant although she said most people prefer her and she would need to reschedule. I told her my family was in town for the event (my graduation) and that i would be ok with the assistant. When i requested the assistant's contact info, she later called to say that it was raining and she cancelled. i have pictures and evidence of no rain as it was sunny and blue skies. I have witnesses. I pleaded to have the assistant meet us as i has no back up and my sister flew in for the occasion which i wanted photographed. At this point, I requested she refund my money. She blatantly said no and offered to photograph me at a later date. On my graduation date, in addition to the funds I paid in full, I also paid $200.00 for hair & makeup. Taking pictures after was not an option. I posted her information on Facebook to inform others of her scam. After days of others demanding she pay me, she called to say a refund had been initiated. I have yet to receive a refund. I found a FB Boca community page where others have been defrauded by her and no refund. I'm requesting her business be flagged & my refund. others have been defrauded.

  Business response

  07/12/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 6, 2022/06/09) */ HELLO THERE, SO AFTER REVIEWING THIS MESSAGE FROM LESLIE I SEE ALOT OF FALSE INFORMATION. STARTING WITH THE DATE OF BOOKING IT WAS NOT MARCH 18TH IT WAS APRIL 6TH 2022. ALSO THE CLIENT CONTACTED ME AFTER I WAS RECOMMENDED ON HER POST LOOKING FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER. THIS CLIENT IS SAYING THAT I SCAMMED HER OUT OF MONEY AND ACTING AS IF I HAD NO COMMUNICATION WITH HER FROM THE TIME SHE BOOKED. THIS IS FALSE, WE BECAME FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK AND SPOKE OFTEN IN COMMENTS AS SHE WOULD COMMENT ON PHOTOS I POSTED OF MY DAUGHTERS BIRTHDAY AND OTHER THINGS IVE POSTED. THE WEEK OF HER GRADUATION A CONFIMATION EMAIL WAS SENT OUT TO HER, (THIS IS WHEN SHE DECIDED TO TEXT ME) SHE SCHEDULED 3 TIMES TO HAVE A PHONE CALL CONVERSATION AND I CALLED HER ON ALL 3 OCCASIONS AND GOT NO ANSWER BUT TEXTS THE NEXT DAY SAYING SHE WAS BUSY AND COULDNT TALK. AT 11 AM ON MAY 13TH TO NOTIFY HER THAT MY DAD HAD AN EMERGENCY SURGERY WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE BY 11AM BUT WAS RUNNING LATE AND THAT MY ASSISTANT LEXI B. WILL ATTEND HER SESSION IN PLACE OF ME. SHE IMMEDIATELY GOT AN ATTITUDE AND SAID NO SHE WANTED ME... I TOLD HER I CANNOT LEAVE MY FATHER BUT MY ASSISTANT ( WHO TAKES AMAZING PHOTOS OTHERWISE SHE WOULDN'T WORK FOR ME) WOULD ATTEND. ALL THIS TIME I WAS INSIDE A BUILDING... SHORTLY AFTER I WALKED OUTSIDE TO GET A DRINK AND I NOTICED THE SKY WAS COMPLETELY BLACK AND IT WAS ABOUT TO STORM I SENT HER A TEXT STATING IT WAS A 90% CHANCE OF RAIN AT 5PM AFTER HER GRADUATION WHICH WAS THE TIME WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET FOR HER PHOTOS(I WAS NO MORE THAN 6 MILES FROM THE PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION.) I WILL ATTACH A WEATHER CHANNEL FORECAST FOR MAY 13TH PROVING IT WAS RAINING AS WELL AS PHOTOS I HAVE FROM THAT DAY. LESLIE GOT UPSET AND DEMANDED MY PHOTOGRAPHER BE THERE AT 5PM TO TAKE HER PHOTOS SHE DIDNT CARE IF IT WAS RAINING. THIS IS WHERE I GOT UPSET BY HER ATTITUDE TONE, BECAUSE I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO ATTITUDE WITH HER. I THEN TOLD HER THAT I HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT FROM HER WHICH STATES NONE OF OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOOT PHOTOS IN RAIN. SHE THEN TOLD ME THAT SHE DOESNT GIVE AN **** ABOUT MY CONTRACT SOMEONE "BETTER" BE THERE FOR HER PHOTOS. AT THIS POINT SHE WAS SHOWING AGGRESSIVENESS AND MY ASSISTANT OR I DIDNT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS CLIENTS. AT 5PM I SENT LESLIE A PHOTO OF THE RAIN IT WAS POURING... SHE THEN SAID I GOT THAT PHOTO OFF GOOGLE AND IT WAS FAKE.. MIND YOU IT WAS TAKEN ON MY IPHONE WHICH HAS A GEOTAG FOR THE LOCATION, DATE AND TIME. I DIDNT HEAR FROM LESLIE AGAIN THE REST OF THE DAY... I SENT HER MESSAGES STATING WE CAN RESCHEDULE THE PHOTOS FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY OR THAT WEEKEND SINCE I WAS NOT TAKING PHOTOS OF THE ACTUAL GRADUATION CEREMONY JUST PHOTOS OF HER ON CAMPUS AFTER THE CEREMONY. A FEW DAYS LATER I NOTICE A TAG FROM HER ON FACEBOOK (WE WERE STILL FACEBOOK FRIENDS BECASUE I AM NOT GOING TO GHOST HER AND I WAS NOT HIDING FROM HER) SHE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT I AM A SCAMMER AND STOLE $400 FROM HER... I DEFENDED MY SELF BY STATING I DIDNT STEAL ANYTHING.... SHE WILLINGLY SENT ME MONEY FOR A SESSION AND SIGNED A CONTRACT I SENT TO HER (IF SHE READ WHAT SHE SIGNED... WHO KNOWS.. BUT SHE SIGNED AND RETURNED IT TO ME) IF I STOLE MONEY FROM HER THAT MEANS HER CREDIT CARD WOULDNT BE IN HER POSSESSION AND SHE WOULDNT HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRANSACTION WHICH ISNT THE CASE HERE. I WILL ATTACH A COPY OF THE SIGNED CONTRACT WITH MY POLICIES ON IT WHICH SHE SIGNED. LESLIE CONTINUED TO SLANDER MY NAME AND DELETE MY COMMENTS WHERE I WAS DEFENDING MYSELF. SHE GATHERED MY PERSONAL INFORMATION (FIRST AND LAST NAME, HOME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER) AND BEGAN GIVING IT TOI RANDOM FRIENDS OR STRANGERS OF HERS AND I GOT THREATENING PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF HER. EVERY STORY SHE TELLS SHE FAILS TO MENTION THE SIGNED CONTACT AND THE POURING RAIN ON THE AFTERNOON OF THER= SESSION. I OFFERED HER A RESHOOT AND OFFERED HER FREE HAIR AND MAKE UP TO BE DONE. THIS WOMAN BECAME VIOLENT WITH HER THREATS THAT I HAD TO MAKE A POLICE REPORT ON HER. THE POLICE OFFICER GAVE HER A PHONE CALL NOTIFYING HER THAT THIS IS A CIVIL MATTER AND IF SHE BELIEVES I "SCAMMED" HER TO TAKE IT TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT BUT SHE NEEDED TO STOP THE HARASSING CALLS AND THE THREATS BEFORE THIS TURNS INTO A CRIMINAL ISSUE. SHE THEN STARTED YELLING AT THE POLICE OFFICER TELLING HIM THAT HES HARASSING HER AND SHE PAYS HER TAXES AND BLAH BLAH... THIS WOMAN IS DANGEROUS AND HAS HER MALE FRIENDS PLANNING ON SCHEDULING FAKE SESSIONS AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT JUST TO WASTE MY TIME AND PERSONALLY SPEAK TO ME.. ONE OF HER FRIENDS SAW THIS COMMENT AND SENT ME A PRIVATE MESSAGE AND ASKED ME MYSIDE OF THE STORY... I SENT HIM ALL THIS SAME INFO AND HE SAID SHES WRONG NOT ME.. THEN HE TOLD ME TO BE CAREFUL ATTENDING FUTURE SESSIONS FOR PEOPLE I DONT KNOW AND TO ALWAYS CARRY A GUN WITH ME JUST INCASE BECAUSE "PEOPLE ARE CRAZY" TO ME THIS MEANS HE FEELS SHE WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.. SHE HAS ALSO DECIDED TO TAKE PHOTOS OF MY DAUGHTER AND OTHER MINOR CHILDREN FROM MY WEBSITE AND POST THEM ON HER OWN SOCIAL MEDIA CALLING ME A SCAMMER AND FRAUD. I HAVE ASKED HER NUMEROUS TIMES TO REMOVE THE PHOTOS OF MY CHILD AND THE OTHER MINOR CHILDREN OFF HER SOCIAL MEDIA AS THEY ARE MY PROPERTY AND SHE HAS FAILED TO DO SO STILL TO THIS DAY THEY ARE POSTED ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA. IF THEY ARE NOT REMOVED I WILL HAVE TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION AS WELL AS OPEN A DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST HER. I HAVE DECIDED TO STICK TO MY CONTRACT WHICH STATES I GIVE NO REFUNDS ON ANY PAYMENTS MADE AND IF IT RAINS WE ONLY HAVE RESCHEDULE SESSIONS AND NO REFUNDS. THIS CLIENT HAS CAUSED ALOT OF ISSUES, AND SLANDERING MY NAME BUT NOT GIVING FULL ACCURATE INFORMATION. I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE EVERY SINCE TEXT, CONTRACT AND INVOICE. IF THERE ARE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ANYONE HAS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AS I AM HAPPY TO SHARE ANY PROOF OR EVIDENCE WITH YOU. THERE IS ALWAYS 2 SIDES TO A STORY AND I AM HAPPY I GET A CHANCE TO SHARE MYSIDE AND DEFNED MYSELF WHERE IT WONT GET DELETED OR BLOCKED BY THIS CLIENT. Consumer Response /* (3000, 8, 2022/06/14) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Good afternoon Tawnia, The information provided by Alexandra is outlandish. Basically, as I explained, I also have proof in writing and a voicemail from the scammer, saying she would refund my payment in full. She reached out to just shy of 2pm on the day of the event. Once I paid in full, I never heard from her again. I was the one to make contact with her days prior for the purpose of giving her an idea of pictures with my family and also the name of the building where the graduation would take place. When she called, just hours before the event, she stated her dad was sick but something happened where she needed to be with him. She asked if I minded if she sent her assistant. My exact comment to her was "I guess I have no choice" I asked her to please send by text the contact info for the assistant so that we could communicate after the graduation for a meeting place. She proceeded to propose scheduling another day, to which I said, no, I was fine with the assistant. My goal was to have professional photos on my graduation day. I had professional hair and makeup done as well as having paid to fly my sister and niece in for the day and photos- she knew I would be including them in the session. Not long after she decided to message me that the assistant wouldn't be coming because it was raining. There was no rain. I have the official school video, witnesses and my own phone video to show it was hot, sunny and blue skies. In good faith I pleaded with her to send the assistant and if it was raining, I would reasonably understand, I was also not going to stand in my cap and gown with freshly done hair in the pouring rain. That is ridiculous to even fathom. She said no. In hindsight, it seems she was betting on the fact that I wouldn't accept the assistant. When that backfired, she went the "rain" route. In any case, I posted her website and the details on what occurred on my FB page and to my surprise, others came out from Boca and other cities claiming being scammed by her. She also has another on line company Blue Line Boutique of which has similar posts where she has scammed consumers there as well. She has taken out several PPP loans not forgiven, perhaps under investigation, however, I ask the BBB to help me with stopping this person from scamming others. I paid for the session and for whatever reason she did not deliver, I want my entire payment in full. I ask for an in person meeting. I also have the messages sent by her as well as her "unsent" messages, she went back in and deleted her comments about the refund. If she was concerned about the fake rain, why wouldn't she check the weather the day before. She is a criminal at best, and I ask the BBB to please help me collect my refund. I have no pictures and I am out the money I paid. She will continue this because she can hide behind the internet. Business Response /* (4000, 11, 2022/06/28) */ Sorry Mrs *****, your information is incorrect. As for a ppp loan you can say all you wish it truly is irrelevant anyways. I know my status of my loans and they're all in good standing or forgiven and I have my proof. Anyways back to the main topic. I have a signed contract from you agreeing that we do not have photo shoots in the rain and I have also provided weather forecasts for that specific shoot day as well as a copy of my contract and a copy of our communication, a copy of photos I took on my cellphone at the time of your photoshoot which was 5 pm not earlier .. because yes earlier it was sunny (at the beginning of your grad ceremony) but at 4:30 it was pouring and the skies were turning black around 3:40pm and it was 90% chance of rain. So we can go in circles all day long and back and forth but truly I don't have the time or energy. Our policy is our policy and that is final. I was going to give you a refund then I saw how kniving you were being and also all the unnecessary threats to the point I had to make a police report which is ridiculous. You have cause me more trouble than the $325 you paid and agreed to my contract I've offered you a bunch of solutions which you turned down and threatened me so now I will no longer honor ever meeting you. This will be my final decision and my final response as I have other clients to attend to. Thank you and I hope in the future you do not harass or threaten any other photographers and always fully read a contract before signing.. take care Consumer Response /* (4200, 13, 2022/07/03) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) I have written and verbal proof of the business guaranteeing a refund of my full payment when she called to say she could not make it only one hour prior to my graduation. -Her attempt to blame it on the weather same day is void. I will bring other graduates as witnesses to attest under oath that it did not rain and other physical proof it did not rain. The location of the photo shoot was at a location where there was no rain. -I have proof of her other business scams/same bad business practice. -I am requesting a mediator set a time for mediation.

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