An online costume company has been accused of leaving a trail of angry, dressed down customers after taking their money and failing to deliver gifts intended for children and outfits for dress-up parties.
Antonia Scott said she ordered a Rapunzel costume for her three-year-old daughter Anahera from thecostumeshop.co.nz.
She paid $77.90 plus $9.95 for postage and expected to receive the purchase within five working days. She said the costume never arrived and her emails to the company went unanswered.
Mrs Scott then researched the company online and found a website with more than 30 customers reporting similar experiences.
The Commerce Commission is investigating the company, which is owned and operated by Huntly woman Angela Floyed.
A Commerce Commission spokeswoman said its investigation related to 16 complaints received since April.
Mrs Scott said she contacted the police and was in the process of filing a report after being told by an officer the situation was "a can of worms".
She now wished she had researched the company before committing to making a purchase online, she said.
Mrs Floyed told the Herald her business had been through a rough patch but she had dealt with all outstanding complaints and refunded any customers who had not received their goods.
She said someone else had operated the business while she had been ill and "it didn't go very well".
"We have refunded what we have found to be out and everything else has caught up."
Mrs Floyed said she did not know off the top of her head how many customers had received refunds.
Anyone with a complaint should email her using the address on the company's website, she said.
"As far as I know everyone has been refunded. There was a problem there so I have taken it back."
Mrs Scott said she had not received a refund. She had emailed the company many times since placing her order on August 23 and had not received a response.
"There has been no contact whatsoever. I haven't got anything and I've had no contact. There isn't even a phone number on the website."
Mrs Scott said she attempted to buy the costume for Anahera as she was obsessed with Rapunzel and had been invited to a Disney-themed party.
"I found the perfect dress and she was going to be so excited."
Mrs Scott said she was determined to warn others not to fall for what she viewed as a scam.