Complaint Review: LA Weight Loss

I saw the ads on tv and in major magazines like People and I thought this company was legit bc its nationwide like McDonalds. So I went in and filled out paper work about myself it asked: eating habits, why I wanna lose weight, and how I feel about myself etc....She then gave me a tour showing the products display w/ the supplements, bars, etc... then she weighed me on a scale and told me about how the program is all about me, how they are there to support, how I'll be on a menu food plan w/ varirety, and supplements.

She told me the price which was $484, I told her I was a college student and I couldn't afford that so she was like ok we have a finance company or we can do payment arrangements of half now and half later. So I was like ok she pulled out more paperwork and pulled out a contract reading to me my commitment to the program, not reading the refund policy. And she said all I need is your signature and we can get started. After I signed I noticed that she folded the contract to cover up the refund policy info.

She explained the program vaguely so I thought that supplements were included in the price. After the signature she gave me a cookbook, foodscale, takeoff juice, exercise tape, and a variety box of Lite bars so I could choose which flavors I liked. She said I had to make 2 appts and for the next 2 days only eat unlimited protein, green vegetables, and the takeoff juice 4xs daily. I did that and when I came back in for my appt. I met another lady who weighed me and I loss 2lbs and she THEN told me about those Lite bars and that I had to purchase them every week for $14/box and I had to get 2 boxes at a time. And she tried to get me to buy them in bulk by offering a coupon for like so many boxes for $300.

As I was going back for meetings with the couselors they tried to offer more coupons for food and I learned they were not even really knowledgeable when I asked questions about what the bars were doing for me, and I started to gain the weight back in which I lost 6lbs w/ the takeoff juice and I told her I had cheated and ate 2 cookies she told me that I gained 2 lbs bc of the cookies.

Ok I wanted to quit and a refund I talked to the manager and she said that a refund was not an option. In the contract the only reasons for refunds are if you die, move 25miles away from a center, or your doc saids that you're not physically capable of the program. And if you do get a refund for those reasons you will not get back the initial enrollment fee which is $149 which included the cookbook, foodscale, exercise video, takeoff juice, and variety box of litebars. I also told the manager that the program was getting expensive w/ the bars and she said that they are not required. So she tried to put me on another menu food plan with eating more starches and fruits.

So when I got home I reported my debit card stolen so that they wouldn't get the other half of the payment. I didn't hear from them for the rest of the month until the day the payment was due and she left a message saying she hadn't seen me in awhile. But I know she was calling bc of that payment. The so called counselors are misleading, the program is extremely expensive, and they're not upfront with ALL info.

I have contacted Jennifer(franchise customer service) and she is suppose to get back with me. I emailed her to let her know I wanted a refund bc the program was misleading and expensive and that I will contact my local news, attorney general, and better business bureau!

Shamika
Greenville, North Carolina
U.S.A.