Complaint Review: MASSAGE ENVY

To the OP, I am an LMP licensed here in the State of Washington and I am greatly concerned by your treatment at Massage Envy. You are unfortunately not alone.

I have a private practice and have numerous clients who are former "Envy" customers, and the consensus is generally the same as your experience.

The use of contracts in the medical industry, specifically to massage is currently under investigation by the Board of Massage, as the legality of such practices is under question. You as a consumer and a patient under the care of ANY medical provider have the first right of refusal for any and all services and procedures with regard to your body. You, as the patient and client have the right to be treated by the practitioner or facility of your choosing.

The fact that this particular company has been "locking" people into contractual agreements and subsequently harassing them when they don't return is basely offensive and immoral to the majority of massage therapists.

I encourage you to explore the American Massage Therapy Association website for your future massage needs, as well as resources for handling any questions or complaints you may have. You'll find that members of the AMTA have all agreed to be held to the highest ethical standards, and are front-line workers in the pursuit of legal, ethical and safe massage therapy and services throughout the US.

As for the business in question, they have entered into a contractual agreement with Everest College (check out the rip-off reports on them!) for the hiring of new graduates of their massage therapy program. Thus they have the proclivity to hire new graduates and novice practitioners who quite frankly haven't had the experience and training necessary to be good practitioners. The fact that these employees are working for close to minimum wage as massage therapists is a huge red flag for the quality of services they offer. A successful massage therapist simply could not afford the pay cut working there would require.

In the end, I also would recommend that you follow up in your complaint with the Washington Department of Health, Board of Massage. If you feel that you have been ripped off, and the services were sub-par, then you should follow through with the proper authorities. We as LMPs are bound to both legal and ethical boundaries and the requirement of a contract for treatment quite possibly violates both.

You're really going to sue for poor service?  Wow, I'd love to see that in court.  You didn't get ripped off or scammed.  Massage Envy offers a discounted introductory massage for people to try them and see if they like it.  If you buy a membership you have to sign a contract, a legally binding document that does not say it's void if you don't like your massage.  If you didn't like the massage the first time you shouldn't have bought a membership and signed the contract.  I am a massage therapist, I work at a Massage Envy, and I can tell you that there have been people who didn't like my massage.  I worked on someone today who has had five massages at Massage Envy by different people and didn't like a single one until I worked on them.  Just different preferences.  And there are some people who just don't like getting massages.  I don't.  You can't sue because you didn't like a massage.  Next time don't buy the membership.

Dear Mr. Back Pain in Marysville:

I regret to hear that you are not satisfied with the service that we have provided you thus far.  I would really appreciate 5-10 minutes of your time so I can understand more what you are looking for in a massage.  I assure you that all 26 of my therapists are licensed by the state which is required for all massage therapists to practice legally in Washington.  Please call the clinic and ask for the owner.  I would appreciate this opportunity to provide you better service.  Thank you for your feed back. I hope to hear from you on Friday, October 16th.