CURVES: “Another Curves nightmare. Please advise!”
We received yet another sad email from a failed Curves franchisee reaching out for advice, this one with the subject line “PLEASE ADVISE ! (another curves nightmare)” Please feel free to share your experience, thoughts or helpful resources:
“It’s a huge relief to know that I have so much company who are walking in my shoes, but will that help??? I had my club for 7 yrs and just closed the end of Aug. The decision was made with only a weeks notice, but it was kind of the only chance because I was supposed to sign an amendment to my lease. Couldn’t do it because the business was already failing. Anyway, Curves was given a weeks notice, which was all I had to give and in all of my correspondence with them, I repeatedly told them I have NOTHING…No money, no credit, nothing in my name….
“Everything I did have I stupidly dumped back into the business thinking that I could somehow rebuild it and save it but then it only kept getting worse. I filled out their initial paperwork and had the equipment destroyed (what a shame…), & sent them the receipt to prove it. They asked me for the 10,000, knowing I don’t have it. Then offered I settle for 4000; told them I don’t have that either.
“I have not yet mailed them back their cylinders because I was told by another owner that it had cost a few hundred dollars when she mailed hers back. I told Curves I was trying to sell some stuff to make the money so that I could send them back. They then told me that I should just write that in the paperwork and send that, but at the same time they told me i hadn’t met the deadline for turning in my closing stuff so it was now being turned over to Legal.
“Last week I got paperwork from Legal stating I know owe everything (totals $28,175.00). It said that I had to respond within 10 days; haven’t done it because I have nothing. I don’t know what to do. I am considering filing for Bankruptcy against the Corporation, but will that help? I’m an S-Corp and I don’t know if since I signed the franchise agreement as an individual initially, does that mean that filing wouldn’t help? The attorney I spoke with doesn’t seem to be all that concerned with the franchise part of it all, but this is all just a nightmare to me without having any definite resolution in writing to protect me.
“I can’t move forward and take care of my family until I have the franchise, the landlord, and some tax issues resolved. It’s a relief not having to go to sleep every night and wake up every morning consumed with the struggle of drowning in Curves to keep it open, but all of that has been completely exchanged for the new nightmares of the aftermath of closing the doors… Does anyone have ANY advice???? “
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
File for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. That is what we did and it was the best thing that ever happened for us. We filed in February 2009 and everything was dismissed by may 2009. We already both have re-established our credit and our credit score is almost 700 already. Curves CANNOT send you any more letters or demand anything from you once bankruptcy is filed. Neither can your landlord. You are protected by the bankruptcy laws. If any creditors, landlord, Curves etc contact you, tell your attorney immediately and hand over all correspondence to your attorney. Don’t wait. File now. I honestly dont know how that SOB Heavin stays in business.
He stays in business Lisa because owners who have had finally taken the rosy glasses off don’t do anything to help prevent him from selling his brand of snake oil to other unsuspecting buyers. Somme owners are trying to get him into court for remedies but he will probably file bankruptcy before he ever pays an award if one is even issued by the Courts. But you can help by working with us to get more publicity out about him and how he uses fraudulent business tactics against his franchisees There are already some expose TV shows coming out about him this next year but we need to concentrate on print articles in magazines. The editor of a major trade magazine called Club Fortune would investigate and write a story if we can show enough interest. All owners need to send him an email telling him about our personal ordeals and how we feel we have been taken. I urge all owners of Curves who feel they have been or are being taken by this SOB to email Club Fortune asasp.
We had our bankruptcy hearing today. I made sure to wear the same suit, tie and slacks I wore to the 2006 Curves convention in Las Vegas, when the world seemed full of promise — before our world collapsed less than six months later.
Sorry to hear about your bankruptcy but maybe just maybe you can move on now. Was it a personal or business (corporation S or C) . A lot of owners who filed on the business thinking that would stop CI from getting a judgment have since found out that they were personally responsible and than had to file personal bankruptcy also.
Please provide a link or email for the Club Fortune contact.
It was personal, chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The trade magazine name was wrong in the above post . It should have been Club Insider and if your interested in telling your story for an article on how and what you have had to endure because of Curves international treatment of it’s franchise owners drop an e-mail to Sean asking it to be forwarded to me.
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