JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In the weeks before the Alfred Angelo store on Atlantic Boulevard closed, employees posted a note on the door letting customers know the credit card machine wasn't working.
It was one of many red flags noticed by affected brides who claim the store took their money and ran.
“It was exactly what I was looking for,” Jamie Catlett said.
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That's how bride-to-be Catlett described the wedding gown she found at the now-defunct retailer Alfred Angelo.
She wasn’t planning on putting down a deposit on her March 2018 wedding so soon but was convinced to do so after getting an email.
“I was told in an email that my dress went on sale and I should come back in and make the deposit because the sale wasn't going to be ongoing,” Catlett said.
So on May 21, she went back to the store.
“The deposit was almost $1,000,” Catlett said.
Shortly after that, she said she got yet another email letting her know that as of July 10, the dress styles for her mother and flower girl were going to be discontinued.
“They filed bankruptcy on July 14, so I’m pretty sure they knew way ahead of time,” Catlett said.
Looking back, Catlett said she feels she was scammed.
“Their intention was to take our money and run with it,” Catlett said. “It really makes you feel cheated.”
Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson said some brides could allege fraud.
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“If there were a pattern of fraud -- they knew they were going to go bankrupt and they kept receiving deposits on dresses and that sort of thing -- that could be fraudulent,” Carson said. “If it's fraudulent, they cannot go bankrupt.”
Catlett has little hope of ever getting her money back. Right now, she’s focused on finding a new dress.
“I’m just going to move forward from it and learn from that experience and find a new dress that's even more perfect,” Catlett said.
Action News Jax was not able to get in touch with anyone at Alfred Angelo. We have asked the attorney handling the bankruptcy about these allegations, and will report more as soon as we hear back.
Cox Media Group
