Would like to ask for some advice from you on the following:

I went to this slimming centre to use a voucher for a free treatment. Std procedure register, record weight and consultation. During the initial consultation, before the treatment even start, the consultant alr start to push the 10-session package (RM 3.6k) to me. While she's at it, she explained the procedure and said it might be a bit painful as they need to break up the fat into smaller molecules.

I din say anything and proceeded with the trial treatment. Then the beautician told me the treatment might leave minor bruises. I din think too much into it but boy, the treatment was EXCRUCIATINGLY painful! After that, there was the chili heat wrap. All in, the treatment lasted about 1 hr. By the end of it, my skin were pretty much raw.

After I got out, it's the usual stuff ... the consultant continued with her "gentle coercion" and incessant pushing. I said 'No' she won't give up and kept pushing and pushing. The entire time she made sure to target my insecurities and remind me many, many times that I have cellulite, body fat, flab and that their treatments will help.

Also, I wanted some time to see if I would develop any sort of negative reaction to the treatment. She immediately assured me that should I experience any adverse reaction to the treatment, my money will be fully refunded to me OR they can convert it to other service. In fact, she told me that she would refund my money twice. And said that if I get any bruises due to the treatment, it is normal and would subside in 3-4 days. She said don't worry, they have been in biz for 8 yrs and she herself has been slimming consultant for 10 yrs. The company is reputable, reliable, trustworthy and produces results. Else how can they survive in the market for 8 yrs...

I still said 'No' and she stepped out briefly and came back with renewed vigour. She revised the package abit and threw in some extra treatments and and a gift pack. By then, I was already getting quite worn out and tired and I just wanted to get out. She had been pushing me to signup for 2 hours after the 1 hr trial. There is only so much I can take on being told again and again that I need to tone, firm and slim my body. I finally surrendered and signed up under her verbal assurance of a refund should the treatment not agree with me.

The night of the treatment, I could not sleep at all. Wide awake til morning. Got up, walked and intense pain just jolted my body. I check my thighs and they were covered every inch in bruises. As soon as they opened, I called up the consultant and told her. She said the bruises were normal but couldn't comment on the inability to sleep or the intense pain as 'first time' she heard of it.

I then asked for a refund as I'm not comfortable nor confident that the treatment really suit me. Immediately she said cannot! But she told me yesterday can refund if I experience negative reaction? She said that she never said that and they will only refund if i have heart disease or medical condition of that sort. Wah, when I registered, she asked me for any medical condition and I confirmed don't have alr ma. She also know. Then why did she tell me can refund but never inform that the "negative reaction" = serious medical disease?? She should've just said from beginning that they can only convert to other treatment and not mention the refund at all!!!

She got upset and kept insisting that my concerns were 'ridiculous' and they will NEVER refund my money even if I bring up to NCCC! At this point, I cut the line. No point talking anymore - she alr made it very clear.

After 10-15 minutes, she called back and this time sounded pleasant and persuaded me to hv some confidence in her and the treatment. Told me to be fair and not judge them too quickly just bc I had bad 1st trial experience. Asked me to go in for treatment #2. They are trustworthy and reliable and will produce results for me to see. I malas wanna layan her also - disgusted with the sudden yet fake friendly attitude and just said OK and hung out.

Whole day I was just feeling lethargic. Night time can only sleep 1-2 hrs. Next day, same except can sleep 3-4 hrs. Following day, I went to consult a doctor. Doctor said the bruises had got to the muscles and there's internal bleeding which caused the intense pain. I got medication for the pain and also to help me sleep better at night. I told doc what happened and she advised me to NOT go for further treatment. Doc also said it would be very difficult to get refunded.

So I called the consultant again to discuss for a solution. Again no comment on the pain or insomnia. I hv done my part and paid in full the rm3.6k in advance for services yet to be rendered to me. In return, what can they do for me? She said very vaguely, to have confidence in them and if I follow their advice, I can definitely achieve results. I asked, what kind of results? Can she quantify? She said cannot as it differs from person to person. I told her, since she's SOOOOO experienced, surely she can fit me into a specific customer profile. From the average results of the profile, and the expected yield from the treatment, can't she give me a realistic rough measure so that I know what I can expect? She played dumb and said dunno what I mean and again said I can definitely achieve results. She is just consultant, her job is to help ppl slim down, not talk about expectations or anything like that.

Wah suddenly, she so humble. What happened to the 10 yrs experience and trustworthiness and all that? Talk big, but can't even give any sort of believable confidence. When it comes to my negative reaction to the treatment, she act like doc kept insisting it's normal and OK. When it comes to results, suddenly she is ONLY consultant, not doctor and hence unable to give any sort of measureable indication of what I can expect at the end of the program.

Already this is a lose situation for me. Very regret I actually believed her when she said she would refund 2x. Hope other ppl beware of these misleading and misselling biz.

What to do now? Pls help. Btw, the painful treatment is called MDS.

Could you let us know which slimming center is this?

That is very unfortunate. Which slimming center is it? I think the problem is the consultant herself. Probably there aren't any refund in the policy, or there is such policy but for extreme cases. In order to convince you, she make up a whole lot more story.

When she can't meet it, she simply cannot refund it because there is no such thing, like the 2x refund. That would mean she need to fork out herself. It's a pain when we met this kind of people. Her dishonesty may bring down the company reputation.

I suggest you complain nicely, to other branch, best to the manager. Tell him/her your problem and hope he/she could talked to that branch manager to resolve this issue. Consider this as good deeds so you can help others from getting the wrong treatment.

Just to clarify, the verbal promise on refund wasn't 2x the amount i paid for, rather, she told me 2x that i could be refunded.

The consultant IS the branch manager, unfortunately for me. The advice given to me were dubious too. Told me to stop exercising as I would make the muscles bulkier and the fat would be trapped under the muscle and will result in worse cellulite appearance.

Doc told me that's nonsense. Plus the bruises are harmful no matter how many times that unscrupulous consultant told
me that it's "normal" and that my concerns are "ridiculous" and my grounds to ask for a refund is absolutely "unreasonable".

Pls avoid Mayfair at all costs.

hey girl, sorry to hear about your experience. damn bad lah the beautician.

i would go to that slimming center again and talk directly to the manager. don't go alone, bring someone to give you support.

if they still refuse to refund money after you bang tables and cause a scene, then at least exchange 3.6k for facial products. standard threat such as going to the newspaper and reporting the police works, especially if you still have the receipt. be strong, ok. i hate people who take advantage of girls!

that is THE most absurd i have ever heard. may i know how the "consultant" look like?
is she gorgeous and stuff?? duh..

Chow

TS please dun be shy in exposing the slimming centre...let more ppl know ma...

lolz its that MAYFAIR?

ITS SUCK

how come they can cheat like that?

and you are too fast to pay full cost

put the title as avoid Mayfair la

let all also know Mayfair is terrible.

The consultant of them are always go around outside

and give voucher for free treatment

then suddenly need to pay cuz introduce a lot of treatment with the sweet talk right?ishhhh

LOL Taboo subject.

Asian are more conservative you know

does it make that much difference if i bring a friend with me and cause a scene?

they still won't refund, i think. if they've got the cheek to tell me to take it up to NCCC for all i care, they REFUSE to refund no matter what, unless i can prove that their treatment can kill me or something extreme like that... maybe their biz strategy focus only on attract new "victims" instead of customer loyalty.

and NO WAY am i gonna entrust my face to these ppl ... alr suffer enough. At least my thighs i can hide underneath my clothes ... if they ruin my face, where to hide???

verbal promise as in no black and white? Cant do nuts sis, worst you can do is spread their lies via email. Quite an expensive lesson to learn, now channel all that anger into your exercise regime and do it the right way.

hi mushu,

YES, you need to go see them face-to-face. let the so-called manager know that you're really serious about this matter. it's better than keeping quiet. they will treat you nicely, especially when there are other customers in the shop and you're complaining loudly about how you got conned.

yeah definitely don't go for facial with them, but no harm getting facial products from them, i understand that a whole facial line from facial wash to the eye ampules can cost at least rm1k per set.

of course, need to look at the opportunity cost also. if you can earn back that rm3.6k easily, then... just tell the story to your friends and family and let it go hope u have a better thursday

i have never heard such utter bulls*** before

ts, if you cannot get a refund, doesnt matter, make sure you make it clear to them that you will relate your experience to ALL your friends.

or consult a lawyer and make this year the last year she'll ever be a shitty slimming consultant

its ridiculous...feel like want to slap the 10 years slimming consultant..they have been cases where people die of such treatment..recent one involved wife of former minister

Please don't just go silent on this. Write to the branch, management of the slimming centre and then also forward a copy to the consumer body. Then if no action, file a complaint with the consumer association.

I've heard so many people having issues with these slimming salons but they keep opening new branches everywhere so obviously they're profiting from such things. Then there are people say that the reason they don't lose weight on these 'treatments' is because they didn't work hard enough or is their body .. and don't blame the slimming salon.

Btw the ONLY reason why you lose weight on these things is because they put you on low cal diet. I've gone for a consult before at 3 major slimming salons and they are uber rude pointing out just how fat you are just because you're not 45 kgs! Yeah target weight for my height is that .. how ridiculous. Even my mom who pushed me to go to these places just wanted to walk out when she saw their diet plan and the way they talked to me.

Honestly this seems like the case for most places. I bought my mom a voucher for mothers day at a local place and what happens was they kept pushing and pushing for my mom to sign up for other stuff. All money hungry.

there is no product or mechanism to make a ppl slim without a "EXERCISES and GOOD NUTRITION". believe me. don't waste your time and money search for so called "marvelous slim product". conclusion u get cheated. im sorry

LOL

Fats TRAPPED UNDER Muscles

LOLOLOL

YEAH ... the one who says ridiculous things is HER

post which centre la plz....

Aduh ... Read between the line la.. Said how many times already up there... It is MAYFAIR SLIMMING CENTRE. by the way is tis the 1 promoted by fish leong ?..

all slimming centre is almost the same..I'm also the victim. Sure cannot refund..they will ask u to convert to others treatment but...need to pay extra money somemore..Sigh..No reason for them is acceptable for refund. Girls, please don't buy the supplements or slimming pills, coffee, or any oral intake products from slimming centre..Dangerous! One of the well known Slimming centre who sell slimming coffee can reduce 3-5kg within a week. I personally tried the coffee, side effects are heat beat increase, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite and feel uncomfortable for whole day, so i stopped it. I feedback to the consultant, common answer from them" this is a normal reaction because increase metabolism rate and burning fat". I suspect the coffee contains of Sibutramine (appetite suppresant drug) which can cause people loss of appetite. Anybody tried slimming products with this kind of experience before?

opss sorry could hav missed it...

Thanks for sharing your horrible experience, at least now we know what is behind all that glossy advertising... To be truly healthy and attractive, I believe gals should go for physical activities, not slimming salons.

TS, u should have record the consultant voice and all the evidence and put into youtube and let ppl watch it...

last time one of my ex-colleague also went to a slimming center.. i forgot wad name already. she also face the same situation as TS; luckily she didnt sign up for the course but she got cheated RM 198 for the 1st treatment where they indicated free voucher... -___-'''

This post has been edited by greenie^panda: Jul 3 2009, 04:43 PM