Complain about a product or service

Curves

Carola of Anderson SC (07/21/08)
Signed a membership agreement for 12 months. Contract stated 11 payments minus downpayment of $34 for a total of $408. Payments to start 4/2/07 - last payment 2/2/08. Curves has made unauthorized charges to my credit card for March, April, May, June 2008 @$34 month total $136.

I called Curves and talked with Michelle Dunbar 6/2/08 to inform them they were overcharging me. Michelle indicated my contract was automatically renewed and I was on a month to month basis. The contract states after the initial 12 (or 24) month period, the membership may automatically continue on a month to month basis. However, a month to month renewal option must be exercised by the buyer in writing, or by payment of the first month's renewal fee. I never indicated I wanted to renew - they took the 1st month fee unauthorized.

I was not contacted by this facility at all concerning renewing the membership. I have not been there. I have not been to Curves in at least 11 months. I went a couple months then quit going. I have satisfied my contractual obligation. I had filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. over charged $136

Beverly of Colby WI (05/18/08)
In February of 2008 I joined a Curves workout center. I paid for a one year membership in advance. Just days later, she decided to close her business. I was told that she would refund my money, prorated. But now she has filed bankruptcy and is including me in her list of debts to be forgiven. Can she do this? She also told me at the time she closed that she was bonded and that the insurance company would cover the amount I needed to be refunded. In the bankruptcy papers it states that it is illegal for me to persue any collection or even contact her regarding the debt.

I paid over $400. for services I did not recieve.

Jerri of Colona IL (04/25/08)
I was given a free month's use of the Curves facility in Coal Valley, IL. After this month (Dec., '07), I decided that this was a perfect exercise regimen for me. I paid, up front, $218.00 for a six-month membership. It would begin in Jan., 08 and go through the end of June, '08. To everyone's shock, all the members of the Coal Valley, IL. Curves, received a letter stating that it would be closing down & our last day would be Feb.29, 08. The women who worked at this Curves informed all members who would not be going to Madonna Reda's Curves facility in Milan to write letters, asking for their remaining membership money back, or if their dues were being withdrawn from accounts, to have this stopped immediately. Many members wrote letters-as with me, the facility in Milan would be a hardship-this would add 20 miles on to the mileage I was already driving to the Coal Valley facility, but Coal Valley was the most convenient for me-there was much less traffic & I got there quicker than if I were to go to any other Curves. This is why I chose this facility & no other.I would be spending much more time driving than exercising if I were to have gone to the Milan Curves-it was out of the question for me, and I explained all of this to Madonna Reda in my letter, plus I included a copy of my cancelled check for $218.00.

Well, I wrote two (2) letters immediately, asking for my money back. I took one letter to the Coal Valley Curves & mailed the other to the Milan Curves. I also e-mailed Madonna Reda twice, later on, when I heard nothing from her-nor did I get any money back. Ofcourse she had to stop the withdrawal of funds from the women's accounts who paid their membership dues this way-if she hadn't, she would have been charged with theft or embezzlement. She knew it would be easier to keep the money from the women who paid by check-after all, for many people the money they pay to an Attorney may be more than the money they have coming back. I'm sure Ms. Reda just figured that this matter, as far as reimbursing the monies paid by check, would 'just go away', that women would become tired of asking for their money back & just forget about it. Well, I'm NOT forgetting about it!

I also contacted the Curves Corporate Office by e-mail, explaining the circumstances. They were nice, but also informed me that this was a franchise & there was not much they could do. BUT, they did assure me that they would contact Ms. Reda. Well, I never heard from either one of them again. I do have legal coverage through John Deere & this case would be covered-I informed Ms. Reda of this. I also stated I did not wish to have to go to an Attorney-it would be easier and better for her to jusy simply return the money. Right now I am considering taking this matter to '8 ON YOUR SIDE'- many people have suggested that I do this. It is a TV Station in Moline, IL., who will do their best at helping a person when they have been scammed or are having a problem such as this. The thing is, if I do this, it will be made public to everyone. I STILL do not wish to hurt her business, but I also know that there has to be other women who are out there WAITING FOR THEIR MONEY. Is there anything you can do to help?

The only damage I can think of here is that I will NEVER join a Curves Exercise Club again! I absolutely loved it, but the facility we went to was closed down due to no fault of the members-so none of us should have been forced to pay for a membership that was not returned to us, as was promised. I will admit that I am not being cheated out of a huge amount of money (I would have approx. $145.32 coming back to me-four months membership that I had left), but how many others are waiting for their money? You have to consider the total amount owed to other women, not just me. After all, Ms. Reda was the one who said all members who wanted their money back SHOULD WRITE LETTERS, REQUESTING IT BE RETURNED. WHY DID SHE NOT DO THIS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE CHECKS? It's a shame that people are allowed to get away with this kind of treatment. Not only is it sad, but also illegal. Thank you for listening.

Diane of West Milford, NJ (03/19/08)
The facility closed its doors on 1/31/08. My membership was pre-paid on 10/10/07 for a 12 months, plus 1 free month period. I received a letter dated 1/4/08 from the  owner that reimbursement would be made of pre-payment owed. I am due $350 refund.

It has been 6 weeks since closing and I still have not received a refund.

Candy of Comanche OK (10/04/07)
I just recently signed up for the Curves 21 Day Fitness Study in Duncan Oklahoma on Sept. 25, 2007. When I initially signed up, the young girl (Casey) was very pleasant and informative. She showed me how to work the program and the machines. I felt very welcome. When I left I felt very confident that this is the place for me! I did have a question about the scheduling. I am only scheduled for 9 total visits and my last visit was on Oct. 12th. That is only 18 days total between Sept. 25th and Oct. 12th. I wanted to know if the 21 Day Fitness Study includes my days off from working out and if so, the days still don't add up to 21. I was scheduled for my next visit on Sept. 27, 2007 at 5pm in the afternoon.

I showed up a little bit early to talk to Casey about the missing days. Casey greeted me very nicely and I asked her if she could explain the 21 Day Fitness Program to me and why I was only signed up for 18 total days with only 9 workouts. She was not sure so we went up to the front counter to ask another person. I met with Tina Bailey who is the owner of the local franchise. So, I proceeded to ask Tina why I was shorted a few days on my program. I was very polite. It is not in my nature to be rude towards anyone. I was still going to finish the program with or without the extra days, I was just curious on how it works. Tina proceeded to tell me,Well, If you will shut up, I will tell you! and then turned to Casey and said, And you shut up too!

I just turned and said that's fine. and went to work out. I was so upset that the owner would treat a paying customer like that let alone an employee that was just wanting to get an answer for a customer. I was hoping that Curves would be the perfect place for me to start my fitness program, but now I am not so sure.

Rebecca of Orlando, FL (07/21/07)
I was a member of Curves making payment thru EFT.  In May of 2007, my financial situation changed, and Curves agreed to suspend my membership until and if I became financially stable. They placed a couple of calls to me inquiring my status, but did NOT resume deductions.

In July, a deduction showed up on my bank statement from Curves. The owner claims that one of her staff members contacted me telling me they needed a cancellation letter.  I faxed one in but they refused to refund my July deduction. I reminded her of the agreement and was basically told she could NOT reverse the transaction.

I have quite Curves permanently...and find their way of doing business deplorable.

Shaunte of Portsmouth VA (05/26/07)

I signed up for the fitness study program, after I received a flier in the mail. I completed the program, did everything I was supposed to do, and have yet to receive my refund check in the mail that I was told I would get at the end for completing the study. I had planned on joining curves when I could afford it because I like Curves, but since I never received my money from the study and I'm still asking for it, I will never join.

Leann of Beaver PA (08/19/06)
After signing the contract for bank deductions and attending two sessions at Curves, I became quite ill. The manager, at the time, stated I needed to have a document from the medical clinic that the illness prevented further participation but once recovered I could return with a letter of medical release.

At no time did I ask for my money back or to stop payment. I took her at her word, that when better, I could return. After 2 years of treatment, I was ready and obtained a medical release to return to exercise class. Because of the change in managers, the new manager would not honor the agreement. She first told me I had to have proof. When I brought the bank statements to her, she said she had no record of me attending or not attending and would not honor the agreement. 

The money I invested into the program has not been returned nor have I been provided the services that were agreed upon when signing the contract.

Anne of Los Angeles, CA (08/15/06)
I was a member of Curves for over a year and had fulfilled my contract obligation. I was granted an indefinite medical leave in Sept. 2005, but from Jan. 06 to March 06, Curves resumed withdrawing funds from my account without my authorization, even though I had not returned to Curves.  Now they refuse to issue a refund.

I have now resigned from the club but they still have not refunded $117.

Anne of Los Angeles, CA (07/16/06)
I was a member of Curves and paid by EFT.  I finished paying the year's commitment and was on a month-to-month basis.

In September 2005, my doctor send a note asking for a medical leave indefinitely because of surgery, arthritis and other medical problems. The leave was granted and dues were no longer taken out.

In January of 2006, without my prior authorization or notification of any kind, Curves resumed withdrawing dues from my account. They did this for 3 months. When I called them, they acknowledged the mistake and promised a refund--which was never issued.

When I called again in May of 2006, the owner claimed that they never issued refunds, that the dues would be applied when I returned, that they did not grant indefinite leave, that I should have let them know my status, and other excuses. This information was never given to me at any time.  The refund has never been issued.

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