Herbal Magic Weight Loss Centres Canada Store ID CC-037 liars, kept information I needed hidden, i.e., EXTRA costs for supplement, tricked me into buying things without telling me Ottawa, Ontario

Below is a copy of an email I sent Krista Levesque, Manager of Herbal Magic Weight Loss Centre at 228 Queen Street, Ottawa, ON, at 9:24 PM, EST, on February 10, 2011.  I copied the only real email address on Herbal Magic Canada's website and the email sums up my experience with the organization's 3 representatives at that location - namely Krista Levesque Rob, (I was never given his last name), and one other young lady whose first and last name I do not know and only upon my reviewing the contract they finally had ready for me (though I had already  2 days before) did I notice a section in it (section 3 (b) ) that I had to initial and which states:  "I understand to achieve my results I must adhere to the following service protocl (b) Purchase and take the following mandatory herbal and nutritional supplements:  Weight Management, Metabolic Plus, Chromemagic".  Nowhere is the cost of these supplements mentioned, or the length of time I need to purchase them.  It was the first time I became aware that the $1,000.00 (and change) that I already spent did NOT include the supplements as both Rob who I met for my first consultation, and Krista who I met for my second consultation, never mentioned it.  In fact, both told me what I had spent was the FULL cost of the program for one year and if I achieve my weigh loss goal (i.e., lose 45 lbs), I would be given 1 additional year of the maintenance component of the weight loss program, at no extra charge.

I am waiting for a response but given how they have been manipulative and deceitful so far, I fully expect them to tell me I misunderstood something, now that I have demanded an immediate and full refund

Here's my email.  I have removed my real name and personal home email address used to sign it and send it:


To: Herbal Magic - Ottawa 5
Cc: interested@herbalmagic.ca
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 9:24 PM
Subject: Please issue me an immediate refund

Krista  

As I indicated during my meeting at your franchine today, where it was revealed to me for the first time that I am expected to purchase $80.00 (ish) of weekly supplements on top of the $1K+ that I already paid this week which I was told repeatedly by both you and Rob was the ENTIRE COST of the entire program for 2 years,  I want an immediate and full refund.  You guaranteed I would get it upon request, if I asked for one, for any reason.

You did not tell me I would have to wait for weeks, for a paper cheque, and since I paid through debit, I am willing to make one last trip to your office, so you can credit my debit card - something all ethical and honest organizations do, upon request from customers.   

I had specifically told Rob, on my first consultation, that  I did not want to be on a weight loss system where I have to weigh, measure, calculate my food intake and this is why I had quit going to Weight Watchers.   He assured me I would not have to do that.   My next consultation was with you, and you assured me that I had to do all of the things Rob told me I would not have to do, and that I had told him, I was not interested in doing and was the reason I left Weight Watchers.  

How can 2 people who work at Herbal Magic at the same location, neglect to also mention that I am expected to spend another $80.00+ per week, for months to come, when I had already had a few consultations and we exchanged many emails?   You explained to me, when I did not want to pay $1K+ on the spot, that I could pay just $200.00 upfront and the rest we would come to some agreement about me paying later.  You asked Rob why he did not mention it to me, and he said he knew nothing about this issue, so you explained to me that it was simply an installation arrangement that required a year commitment, but I pay only $200.00 upfront.  It was passed under something else - and included me having to sign a document that said NO REFUNDS, right after you told me there would be a full refund, if I requested one.  I believed it was just an accounting ruse, to have me sign this paper, so I went along, not really knowing how it might actually be used since I have nothing you told me, in writing. Though I signed that  paper I did not end up wanting the $200.00+ installment plan and paid the next day, $500.00 via debit and the following day, just over $559.00.  You told me you would figure out the paperwork, given I had signed that document regarding an amount of $200.00 and you assured me that it was now void and that you would figure out how to make things add up so that I am not charged more than what Rob quoted me, a little over $1,000.00 for 2 years, all included.   

Now the young lady I saw today, told me you actually gave me a $300.00 discount, and said the program was $300.00 more than what I paid.  At no time did Rob even suggest that I was getting some discount.  He simply told me the fee was the entire cost of the program, for 2 years.

Confusion seems to reign in your office, about what the costs are, or what to tell clients, and how to keep the stories straight between the three of you on Queen Street.  Nobody ever tells me the same thing twice! Though the young lady I saw today said I had to talk to you about a refund, even though I had written on the contract I wanted one, dated it, signed it and kept a copy and in addition had verbally told her I wanted a full refund, and though you were there and my appointment was with you today I was told you were unavailable.  I said I could wait, and the young lady said that was fine.  Minutes later she asked me to come back tomorrow, and since I was prepared to wait, I said I would not inconvenience myself by coming back, since I was already on location.  Given she kept asking me to come back, I decided I had enough of the contradictions (stay, leave, come back), I told her I was very upset, did not want to come back so that you would have an opportunity to give me some other story and try to talk me out of a refund, so I just told her to tell you about my displeasure, my wish for a refund, and left empty handed. What a way to run a business! 

I'll be sure to tell all those who ask me what I think of Herbal Magic.  In fact I am so angry at your organization, I have friends in the media I might just contact.   The young lady I saw today also had the nerve to tell me that the little document you made me sign, to benefit from the so called payment arrangement of $200.00 upfront, will be deducted from my refund, as they were my cost to purchase items I did not about, i.e., the supplements, the food plan, the weekly diary, and probably some or all of the items in my welcome bag.  She could not explain why all costs had not been discussed with me, and neither did she offer to discuss them, until I saw what was in the contract - then, she told me that of course, the supplements at an estimated cost of $80.00 per week (and some weeks more), were not included.   So now you know why I want a refund. 

I also request it be given to me in the way I paid -  via a credit to my bank account  Please contact me only for that purpose - to set up a time I can come back in and you can process the credit on my bank card. I don't want to hear from you for any other reason.  If you want the items back that I never agreed to purchase, , please inform me via email of the day you can come pick them up at my home, where I am available between 6-8 pm only.   I am sending a copy of this, for starters, to the above email address which I am hoping reaches your legal counsel, at Head Office.

"end of email"