A sad note from Butterfly Life franchise owner Sunshine:
It is with much sadness and a heavy heart that I say this.
An ex- BFL franchisee from Atlanta, Georgia, Cynthia Holt, who lost her club, was in debt beyond repay, whose home was in foreclosure- has ended her life. All of the details are uncertain at this time.
As sad as this is, it says a lot about what destruction and despair many are facing. No one ever thought anything like this would happen, but it has. You will be missed Cindy.
All of our thoughts and prayers are with the Holt family and Cynthia’s friends.
Feel free to share your thoughts below.
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I would like to add my condolences to Cynthia;s friends and loved ones.
This type of tragic situation needs to be stopped.
States Attorney Generals need to get on the ball and start investigating these franchisors who have in essence bilked millions of dollars out people who's only thought was to grab a part of the American dream.
This is a tragedy that is needless and seriously needs to be addressed by every state these franchises are sold in-someone needs to be held responsible for these tragedies as they continue to happen to hundred and hundreds of famlies.
The government has lost countless MILLLIONS of dollars due to default from faluty concepts and con men.
This madness needs to be brought to a screeching halt
CB
CB
Cynthia,
Please know that your passing has only turned up our fire.
We are going to fight the fignt in your honor girl!
You will always remain within our hearts and both you and
your family in our daily prayers.
If you have never lived with on going depression, you can not understand. It is more than a sadness today. It is more than a few tears because you are unhappy. It is a medical condition that in some cases can be treated. That is if you have the money to see a doctor. Or insurance to provide you with therapy,. Many people who have invested everything into a venture hoping that it will provide them with a future-have lost everything. There are days when you don't eat because there is no food. There are days you sit in the dark because the power has been turned off. There are days when you can not even get out of bed. Then the day comes when all your efforts make you feel like a failure. You have no fight left in you, you have no will left, you have nothing to keep you going. You ask "Why me?" "What did I do wrong?" You ask to go to sleep and never wake up again-but then your eyes open and you are still here. Another day to face the hell you live within. And then another day....until one day you believe you can not continue. The thoughts run rapidly-you push them away-they come back even stronger-you fight harder-until you have no fight left. You give up-the end comes. The pain and despair is over.
A life is over.
The FTC IS DIRECTLY AND ABSOLUTELY RESPONSIBLE for enforcing the rules they make to govern franchisors. The Department of Corporations in California and it's equivalent in other states are suppose to provide protection for people in their state who are investing in franchises. The enforcement does not exist because they turn a blind eye to the real problems and unless they are publicly challenged, it seems no protection occurs. WE, THE PEOPLE, need to make a lot of noise in order to get their attention. I'm sure they don't want to be bothered, but they can't ignore us if we ALL join in this fight together.
Should WE, the franchisee's all write seperate letters or could someone pen a letter that everyone could use as a template and then just add their story?
I think a lot of people might send letters if they had a basic letter to start with.
Is any one willing to write it? Not just BFL franchisees but all franchisees could send a letter to their state representatives and we would have a bigger voice!
Should WE, the franchisee’s all write seperate letters or could someone pen a letter that everyone could use as a template and then just add their story?
So far, six franchisees have posted their stories here at UnhappyFranchisee.com on this page:
https://unhappyfranchisee.mystagingwebsite.com/2008/08/butterfly-life-franchise-discussion/
Feel free to include this site and page in any correspondence with officials and/or media. Also feel free to add your story. Request the interview questionaire by emailing me at unhappyfranchisee[at]gmail.com.
I think a template letter is a great idea. Do we have an Attorney that would be willing to guides us with verbiage for something like that pro-bono?
If we could get a letter we could get to the interested folks our in respective groups of interest and email it to our Representatives, state & federal and our State's Attorney G's.
Carol Cross seems to be very educated about the franchise law.
I asked her if she'd be willing to write it on:
http://www.franchisepick.com/is-butterfly-life-a-great-fitness-franchise
(See the comment Carol Cross wrote on Linda McBride's story here at Unhappy franchisee)
Yes we should all contact the appropriate officials. But do not ever write a letter thinking that suffices. Don't let Denny ,Janet, Cathy, Mark, Susan (his wife) Tom,(Lisa, his wife) ever forget we are here. This is the crew that has been together scamming for years. They stay together because come on Denny, Janet who would hire you. You have two names on your resumes, Mark Golob and Tom Gergley, not stellar.
And MARK MASTROV where are you . You bailed them out of Linda Evans, your sister is listed as a franchisee on the 04-05 UFOC but we can't find record of a club. I believe she confided to a franchisee that the walls can talk. Supeonas may be the answer. MARK MASTROV WHERE ARE YOU?????
Franchisees are dying literally, see franchise pick.com. These are your boys!!
We will stay on them and YOU. Your name is all over this. IF you didn't authorize it are you fighting it. Because we all bought, with your name and backing.....how could we go wrong!!!!
MARK MASTROV WHERE ARE YOU?????
I think a template letter is a great idea. Do we have an Attorney that would be willing to guides us with verbiage for something like that pro-bono?
If we could get a letter we could get to the interested folks our in respective groups of interest and email it to our Representatives, state & federal and our State’s Attorney G’s.
Isn't the AAFD supposed to be advocating for Butterfly Life franchisees? Bob Purvin is a franchise attorney with, I'd assume, all these agencies you mention on speed dial. He recently gave the head of the FTC an award for creating the level franchise playing field franchisees enjoy today. Perhaps the AAFD could provide a sharply worded letter notifying the appropriate agencies about what's going on here... on their letterhead.
How much has Butterfly Life paid the AAFD to date? Even if it's not sent on their letterhead, think they might throw in the drafting of a letter pro bono?
Has anyone asked Bob for such a letter? What was his response?