Complaint Review: Slim4Life - Edina Minnesota

My husband encouraged me to check out Slim4Life because he listens to KFAN radio and they went on and on about how there was no packaged food, and that you could eat out at restaurants. This is outright false advertising, as they do require you to eat two of their packaged snacks each day, as well as take a boatload of pre-packaged supplements, and for the two-plus months I was on this plan I was never told that I could eat out at a restaurant.

I had a lot of weight to lose that was going to take me 6 months to lose, according to Rita, the sales "counselor" in the Maplewood office. Rita was trying very hard to sell me the full six-months of product she said that I would NEED, and she was very convincing about the money I would save by buying during my initial consultation. She specifically told me I would never get this kind of savings after the initial consultation.

I was never shown the food plan, Rita told me I would have to attend a "training" class three days later to find out exactly what the program entailed. Rita also told ME what product I would NEED for the plan and she never pointed out that they had a no exchange/no return policy.

I could not afford to buy 6-months of these very expensive products and I agreed to purchase enough for three months instead. The no return/no exchange policy was written in small print on the back of the receipt, but I didn't get that receipt to review or sign until Rita had already packed up the product in my car and left me at the counter with a cashier because she had to meet with another client.

I felt like crap every day and as my symptoms (acid reflux, heart burn, stomach pain) increased, my complaints increased but the counselors kept telling me to take them with more water, or space them out further in the day, etc. When I finally contacted my doctor about the Gastrointestinal symptoms I was having, he told me to get off of all the supplements immediately.

After that, I went in to the Maplewood office with the product I could no longer take because of all the side affects, and the 3-boxes of laxative tea that I knew I would never even have to open having only tried one bag in all the time on the program. I was told that they could not even do an exchange for product that was working well for me, much less give me a refund.

I asked to speak with the manager after Ron, my "counselor", threw his hands up in there saying he was just a "pee-on", that this was a corporate policy and he couldn't help me. Michelle was the manager on that night, and she looked at the product I brought back and told me there was nothing they could do for me. When I told her my doctor told me to get off these products because of the GI side affects, Michelle said "if you have a doctor's note, that's another story, bring the product back with a doctor's note" and they would be able to do something for me.

I was very determined to succeed, and I kept taking Priolosec and Tums to get me through the terrible side affects I was experiencing. I was so disapointed because even though I was not at all feeling well most days, I was pretty successful on the program losing an average of 2.8 lbs per week, even though I was suffering with terrible heart burn and stomach pain.

A few days later I brought the product in with a note from my doctor. Conveiently, I was told there was no manager on duty. Further, Anna, the counter attendant, told me she didn't have the authority to help me. Anna said that I should leave the product and the doctor's note because "corporate was always very responsive" to these things. There was a waiting room full of people and it was obvious she wanted to get me out of there as quickly as possible so as not to affect any potential sales. I insisted Anna make a copy of my doctor's note and sign a written inventory of the product I was leaving, which she did.

I had to travel for work and a couple of days later my husband took a call from Rita, the "counselor" at the Maplewood office, and he explained the situation. Again, he got the "I'm sorry I can't help you, this is a corporate matter" and he was told she would have the regional manager call.

I was still travelling when my husband took a call from Christyann Delworth, who said she was a regional manager, and he explained the situation again to her. She said she couldn't do anything unless she talked to me, but unfortunately I was out of the country for another two weeks before I could return her call.

When I returned home, I called every single day and left messages for Ms. Delworth, stating exactly what phone number she could reach me at during different times of the day. Ms. Delworth persisted in calling during the times I specifically told her that I would be unavailable until I finally got though to her without getting her voice mail.

I explained to Ms. Delworth that the only refund I wanted was for the product I was unable to take, and that I was happy with the product that didn't give me side affects. I told her I was very upset at being treated this way and that they would still have a happy customer with 3 more months left on the plan, if they would do the right thing and either exchange or return the money for the product I was unable to take.

I was certainly not going to buy more product, not even product I could take without side affects, considering I was out over $400 in product that made me physically ill.

Today I received a letter stating "they would appreciate further explanation from my physician as to exactly what ingredient in their supplements were causing these complication". The letter was unsigned other than "Slim4Life Advisory Board", and they left me no information concerning whom I should contact or where this additional correspondence from my physician should be sent.

Futher, they did not return the $400+ of product to me, which even though I can't take it, I feel this is my property unless they refund my money. So now they've stolen from me on top of ripping me off in the first place.

I intend contact every consumer action group, the better business bureau, as well as the attorney general regarding the very shady sales practices. Further, I feel obligated to visit the Maplewood Slim4Life center frequently to hand out fliers warning other potential clients of these practices so there are no other victims.

Karen

Saint Paul, Minnesota

U.S.A.