Socie World's salon coupon 'deadline' was a fiction — the ¥31,185 discount never expired

From 23 September 2021 to 28 May 2025, Socie World ran esthetic salon services under the 'エステティックサロン ソシエ' brand, listing coupons on the HOT PEPPER Beauty website. One example offered a full-body anti-oedema course '¥31,185 → ¥4,400, valid until end of May 2025'.

The deadline was a fiction: customers who booked after the stated expiry could still receive the service at the same or a larger discount. The 'valid until' framing falsely suggested the cut price was only available within the window, pressuring bookings.

On 3 March 2026 the Consumer Affairs Agency certified Socie World's commitment plan under Article 31 of the Premiums and Representations Act, for a suspected violation of Article 5(2). The plan included a board resolution, notifying consumers, recurrence-prevention measures, and refunding part of the amount paid by affected customers.

The certification explicitly noted it did not constitute a finding that Socie World had violated the Act — the commitment route resolves the suspected violation without a formal corrective order.