Media contact: Janet C. Hart, CFEE (704) 927-8617 office
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Updated Feb. 20, 2009 -- Instead of losing weight, customers lost money when L.A. Weight Loss abruptly closed all 10 Charlotte area locations on Dec. 11, terminating employees and leaving customers surprised. LA Weight Loss Centers in the franchise group that closed include all Charlotte locations, Gastonia, Hickory, Mooresville, Kannapolis and Rock Hill.
The Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont has received
210 complaints since Dec. 12 when customers began finding out about the locally owned franchise going out of business. The Charlotte franchise of 10 L.A. Weight Loss Centers is owned by Rick Rex of Lake Norman. The BBB has been unsuccessful in contacting Rex since the business closed.
Unfortunately, customers have little recourse to recoup money they paid for memberships, weight loss services and special food products - which ranges from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Customers who paid with a credit card should contact their credit card company to see if the card's buyer protection feature for merchandise and services ordered, but not received, may be applicable.
Consumers who paid by cash, check or debit card have a less likely chance to recover any of the money that they paid.
The Better Business Bureau is sending complaints filed against L.A. Weight Loss Centers to N.C. Attorney General, Roy Cooper, for further investigation.
For more information, please visit www.bbb.org or call the BBB toll-free in N.C. and S.C. at 1-877-317-7236.
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