Looking to sue Mary Kay? Small claims court is an option, and you may have others…
At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people ripped off by big companies like Mary Kay. And we’ve helped get millions of dollars in settlement offers…
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Tired of hitting dead ends when trying to get a refund from Mary Kay? Feeling like there’s nowhere to turn?
You’re not alone. It seems like many people have tried all the Mary Kay customer service options, but still feel unheard.
There are different ways to file a complaint against Mary Kay, but none have the same power and leverage as taking legal action.
So, if you’re thinking of suing Mary Kay, where do you even start? You might expect there to be tons of class action lawsuits against them, but it’s often more complicated than that.
What many people don’t know is that hidden clauses buried deep within their contracts frequently allow companies like Mary Kay to push legal claims into the private realm of consumer arbitration, away from conventional courts.
But here’s the thing: your Mary Kay contract doesn’t have the power to take away your right to pursue legal action by suing them.
Here’s what you can do…
Learn more about the consumer arbitration process here.
If you’re ready to sue Mary Kay in Small Claims Court, read on below:
Small claims courts are only for certain types of claims, so your first step is to make sure your claim meets eligibility standards. There are two things you need to know before you do anything:
The amount of money: Every small claims court sets a maximum dollar amount for the claim you can bring. In most states it’s either $5000 or $10,000, but it can be as low as $2,500 (in Kentucky and Rhode Island). You can find a list of all 50 states’ monetary limits here.
If your claim doesn’t fall within the limits of your state’s small claims court, you’ll have to arbitrate your claim instead.
Most small claims courts require that you ask the company you’re suing to fix your problem voluntarily before you file your claim. To sue Mary Kay in small claims court, you need to send the company a demand letter.
Your demand letter should simple and on point. Tell Mary Kay who you are (your name, address, phone number and account number), what the problem is, and what you want from them. The whole letter should last just few sentences to ensure you get your point across about filing a lawsuit in small claims court.
When you’re done writing the demand letter, you need to mail a hard copy of the letter, preferably as certified mail, to the company’s legal address. According to our most recent research, Mary Kay is legally based in Delaware and receives mail at this address:
MARY KAY INC.
C/O THE CORPORATION TRUST COMPANY
CORPORATION TRUST CENTER 1209 ORANGE ST
WILMINGTON, DE 19801
If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, you can find an excellent guide here.
Suing Mary Kay Inc in small claims court requires you to complete a lot of paperwork.
Each state has a set of forms that need to be filled out to file a claim, and sometimes counties request the submission of additional forms. The correct forms for your location will be available for free on your state court website.
Make sure you fill out enough forms. Most states that require you to file forms by mail or in-person will ask for 3 or 4 copies. If you don’t submit the correct number of copies, the court clerk can toss out your lawsuit.
When you’re done filling out the court forms, it’s time to give those forms to the court. This process, called “filing” can be a bit tricky.
Many courts will require you to physically come to the courthouse during specific hours and days to hand-deliver the forms to the court’s clerk. Other courts may allow you to file by mail, fax or (for a few courts) online.
All courts will require you to pay a filing fee before they allow your to sue Mary Kay in small claims. This fee, which will be published on your court’s website, can sometimes be waved if you are a low income plaintiff.
When you file your forms, the court clerk will provide you with a stamped copy of the forms and a court date. Keep it safe and bring it with you on the day of your hearing.
If you’ve made it this far, good work! Suing Mary Kay in small claims is a prolonged and time-consuming process.
Now that you’ve filed the papers required to start your case against Mary Kay Inc., the company needs to hear from you about the date for the hearing. This is a called “serving” Mary Kay. To do this, you need to deliver a copy of your filed papers to Mary Kay.
Look at your court’s website for instructions on how to properly deliver your forms to Mary Kay, or search for “[your state] small claims service of process”. Courts enforce strict rules on hoe to serve defendants properly. Follow every rule to avoid having your lawsuit dismissed.
When the court clerk gives you a court date, make sure to put it on your calendar. Write down the courthouse address and the number for the courtroom. Bring the copies of your filed forms, and any other evidence that supports your case against Mary Kay. Sometimes, Mary Kay does not show up to oppose plaintiffs. If that happens to you, take advantage of the situation to put your best legal foot forward.
Are you ready to sue Mary Kay in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…
The Ultimate Guide to Consumer Complaints
Learn More
