TEMPLE, Texas —
Karen Connell had been holding onto hope that the 7 Seas Aquarium would be a place she could take her grandson after it finally opened. After emailing the company for an update multiple times she finally asked for a refund May 15.
Connell wasn’t alone, many customers told 6 News last week they were waiting on a refund. Some said they had been waiting since back in February. Finally, Connell chose to take another approach. She called Attorney Damon Goff who had been representing 7 Seas Aquarium.
He called her back.
“He apologized and said ‘do you have your receipt?’” Connell said. “Because that is his client there was not a lot he could say. He did say he was going to contact them and either they would do the right thing and give my money back or he would do the right thing and get his money back from them.”
Connell said Goff later gave her a cashiers check for $100 on Friday. She showed it to 6 News Monday. Connell said Goff told her that he acted because she reached out to him personally.
“It was a nice gesture. He’s an attorney and he didn’t have the responsibility to do that. He had the responsibility to tell his client to do the right thing,” Connell said. “He’s been the one bright spot in this mess.”
Of course, this doesn’t solve the problem for everyone else. 6 News reached out to the Goff and Mintz law firm multiple times Monday by phone, email, and fax asking if 7 Seas Aquarium had provided the law firm any clarification on the other refund requests. 6 News has not heard back.
The 7 Seas Aquarium refund policy includes the following rules:
"You have 30 days from the date of sale to request a refund of your unused pass or tickets. In the case of pre-opening passes. You have 30 days from the date of sale to request a refund. In the event that the facility fails to open, you have 30 days from the date of that public announcement to request a refund."
As of Monday, May 25, there has been no announcement of closure from 7 Seas Aquarium on the business’s Website or Facebook page. 6 News found out the business would no longer be at the Temple Mall site from the City of Temple in May. The City of Temple was informed by the Goff and Mintz law firm in April.
Those who have still not been provided a refund can make a consumer complaint to the Texas Attorney General here.
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