After a series of major surgeries, Melissa* had finally found a yoga studio that suited her unique needs. Melissa was delighted when, for Christmas, her husband bought her 20 classes. âI was doing the classes and it was going very well. There was no arm work which was perfect because of the mobility issues with my arms,â says Melissa.
When the yoga studio changed ownership, the new owner decided they would no longer offer this special type of yoga. Melissa was hesitant but tried her best to participate in the new classes. âI couldnât do half the poses,â says Melissa. âThere was a fundamental shift. The other classes absolutely did not work for me.â
Melissa told the yoga studio she wanted her money back for the unused classes and the yoga studio refused. Feeling frustrated, she visited Consumer Protection BCâs website looking for help. âI saw something [on the website] that described a situation very similar to what I was going through,â says Melissa. She decided it was time to contact Consumer Protection BC.
â[The investigator] was very professional and extremely helpful,â says Melissa. âNow, I had someone advocating on my behalf.â Consumer Protection BC contacted the business and stated that because they had changed the services they were offering, Melissa was within her rights to cancel. In response, the yoga studio agreed to cancel the contract and provide a refund.
When asked what advice she would give to people who are in a similar situation, Melissa stressed the importance of contacting Consumer Protection BC for help right away. âWhen you try and assert your rights, [businesses] can get downright nasty â itâs easier and better for you mentally to seek the help thatâs out there.â
*Names changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
Curious about your rights when it comes to gym memberships?
Do you have a membership to a gym or yoga studio? Are you signed up for dance lessons, personal training or self-defense classes? These types of contracts are ongoing and physical in nature and theyâre known as continuing services contracts. By law, you have certain cancellation rights. Find out more.
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About Consumer Protection BC
We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If weâŻcanâtâŻhelp you directly, we will be happy to provideâŻyou with as much informationâŻasâŻpossible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website atâŻwww.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
I fell into a scam by fleur alpha face cream. They offered a free sample. I live in a rural area and it takes mail a long time to get here. I had just gotten it and they went back to my credit card and charged me $160.00 for what they called âaffordable â face cream. I have been trying to get a refund as I only have an income of $650.00 per month.
Hi Melody, sounds like the free sample was a way for the company to get your credit card information so they can put you on a subscription. This is a common scam and we have written a blog post about it in the past (click here to take a read). The post outlines how to cancel the subscription and more. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to contact us.