Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/23/2023

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I saw an ad on ******** saying FREE 6 week challenge. Naturally I was interested. I get there and meet **** who pulls what's known in the sales world as a "bait and switch". I was baited with the claim that it's FREE. But I was then told I'd have to put down a ridiculous amount of money as a deposit. I explained I wasn't prepared to pay that much or anything at all. He then convinced me by saying he'd cut the costs and split it into two payments. Well, I called a couple days after and asked how the deposit works and that I felt I got hit with the bait and switch. He explained that the deposit would go toward a membership and not to worry about the money. He told me he'd work with me. And that was that. Now it seems the services will be discontinued because I don't have a job and cannot pay them. I already paid $150 for something that was marketed as FREE. He said he'd work with me. So why not just use my $150 toward the membership? I feel like it's very wrong and shafy to trick someone and lie to them.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/07/2023

  Hi ********,

  We would be more than happy to work with you.   We see that you paid $150 down, and use 4/6 weeks of the program.   Your account does show another $150 due as of 5/16, but if you would like to simply apply the $150 toward a future membership we can take care of that for you, and void out the current $150 past due balance. Please feel free to call or stop in and well get everything situated with getting that applied.   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/11/2023

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
  
   Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  ****** was extremely rude to me prior to this decision. I was told by **** that he'd let me finish the challenge, give me time to get the other half of the deposit, and perhaps even give me some day passes during that period. From day 1 he assured me that I didn't need to worry about the money. I felt like Vive was really a good place that genuinely cared about it's members. I paid $150 for a FREE 6 week challenge and then got berated by ******. She called me and told me I'm a grown man and threatened to send the other half of the deposit to collections and said I'll just deal with them then. 

  I wouldn't feel comfortable going back. I'm extremely embarrassed because I confided about my financial situation and then got berated for it. I got told one thing just to be told another. This has been a really mentally exhausting experience. 

  I know I won't get my deposit back, but I really hope moving forward your business will stop hitting members with the bait switch. It's a disgusting sales technique. Why pitch a free challenge that ends up being turned into needing a large (was originally 600 rather than 300) deposit for a membership when you could just advertise a membership that allows you to start with a free 6 week challenge? You should have a more honest business practice. 
  
  Regards,
  
  *****************************