Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on Monday an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) had been signed between Alicia Thompson, owner and operator of Late to the Lake, LLC, a Michigan-based catering business.

LANSING – With wedding season arriving, consumers should be wary of businesses they hire to assist them on their special day.

On Monday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) had been signed between Alicia Thompson, owner and operator of Late to the Lake, LLC, a Michigan-based catering business.

Thompson’s company allegedly engaged in deceptive and unlawful business practices in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA), according to a news release.

Under the agreement, Thompson is prohibited from engaging in catering services in the State of Michigan for five years.

In addition, she must also refund all impacted consumers who submitted a complaint with the Department of Attorney General by May 1. Refunds must be issued by July 1.

“A wedding is one of the most meaningful days of a person’s life, and couples should be able to trust that their chosen vendor will deliver what they promised or at the very least refund them when something goes wrong,” said Nessel.

The Department of Attorney General reported receiving more than 40 consumer complaints concerning Late to the Lake.

The complaints alleged a concerning pattern of Thompson’s last-minute cancellations of wedding services, followed by the company’s failure to issue refunds to affected consumers.

One Michigan consumer reported paying more than $6,000 for Thompson’s wedding catering services that were ultimately canceled without a refund.

In another instance, a customer detailed being pressured to pay in full under the guise of sale pricing, only to have Late to the Lake cancel on the day of the rehearsal dinner.

Some complaints alleged they were later charged more than the agreed-upon amount or discovered new charges on their accounts after services were canceled.

When Thompson’s catering services were provided, a consumer reported serious deficiencies in service quality, unauthorized fees and incomplete food delivery.

Nessel added, “I am proud of my Consumer Protection Team for holding this caterer accountable and encourage those who believe they were impacted by Late to the Lake to file a complaint with my office by May 1 to ensure they receive a refund.”

Michigan consumers who suspect they are owed a refund by Thompson are encouraged to contact the Department of Attorney General. To be considered for a refund, customers must file a complaint by May 1.

Impacted consumers can file an online complaint form at https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx or contact the Consumer Protection Team at:

Consumer Protection Team

P.O. Box 30213

Lansing, MI 48909

517-335-7599

Fax: 517-241-3771

Toll-free: 877-765-8388

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.