DETROIT – The family of Maury and Helen Branch is breathing a little easier now that a charge of almost $25,000 has been reversed. Ruth to the Rescue first told you about this bracelet battle on June 6th. Other media outlets picked up the story, and the owner decided to give a full refund.
Carol Branch contacted Ruth to the Rescue after finding out about her father's trip to La Jolla Jeweler in Chelsea. She says 90-year-old Maury stopped at the store to buy a watch battery when a bracelet caught his eye. His daughter says Maury thought it was a $20 rhinestone bracelet, but it was real diamonds valued at $25,000.
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Carol and her brother told the store owner their father never intended to spend that much money.
Maury, up north for the summer, told Ruth to the Rescue the same thing over the phone, "I thought it was a rhinestone bracelet," he said.
Store Owner Refutes Daughter's Claim
Earlier this month, store owner Curtis Gough told Ruth to the Rescue Mr. Branch has been a customer for years and knew his store doesn't sell rhinestones. He said he believed Mr. Brach wanted to spend that money. Gough says, "Everybody was trying to help him and he selected an item we had in the store and it was $25,000. So, he was happy, everybody was happy."
The Branch family shared medical documents with us that showed concerns about Maury's cognitive abilities, even before he bought the bracelet. Gough says he saw no evidence of that at the time of purchase. During an appeal, the credit card company sided with the store.
Refund Given
Carol Branch now tells Ruth to the Rescue, her family has received a full refund and they have returned the bracelet to La Jolla. We reached out to Curtis Gough to get his final thoughts on the refund, but have not heard back yet.