LA Weight Loss Centers, Inc.

747 Dresher Road, Suite 100

Horsham, PA 19044

215-346-4300

Customer service # for the public: 800-331-4035, 877-524-3571

LA Weight Loss Centers status – Dec. 2008
 

This is a weight loss company in deep turmoil. LA Weight Loss Centers across the country have been closing in waves this year, often with franchise owners and the Horsham, Pa.-based parent company pointing fingers over who's to blame. When a Southern California franchise suddenly closed in October, for instance, the franchise owner blamed the corporate office, but a senior vice president of LA Weight Loss in Pennsylvania told the local paper that the owner took customers' money and closed without giving notice and refunds as the company requires.

We have removed this company from BestDietForMe.com's database of "Top 60" diet programs. We cannot in good conscience recommend this company to anyone until and if things settle down and the company changes its sales and marketing practices. Phone calls to the headquarters are met with a constant busy signal.

An Internet search reveals closures of many centers nationwide, many times abruptly, leaving clients with no way to recoup deposits or receive the products or services promised in their contract. The Attorney General's office in Tennessee is investigating abrupt closures of centers there. Some centers were reportedly selling new memberships a week before closing. The Web is filled with negative reports and complaints by former and current customers.

It may also be true that the LA Weight Loss corporation has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and various state attorneys general offices is getting involved.
Clients need to go to the attorney general’s office to make sure their name is on the list. The attorney general’s office will collectively try to get some money for them.The attorney general’s office is collecting names for a possible class-action lawsuit.

All 400 company-owned centers, bearing the name Pure Weight Loss, with the exception of 6 centers in a few states (AL, LA, MI, OH, MS, FL) were closed on Jan. 4, 2008 and that company is in bankruptcy. This is a very confusing situation for consumers, since the Pure Weight Loss Centers were formerly called LA Weight Loss, and the TV ads and programs were virtually identical.

The company's website does mention a new "Super Food Rx" program, but offers no details about it.

Following are some email communications between a customer and company management:

Why are centers being closed?

Company Response: As a direct result of the global economic meltdown and credit crisis. Consumers are not at all focused on weight loss now. It is not deemed an essential like mortgages, electricity bills, food etc.

Will clients be refunded advanced payments?

Company Response:  We are offering clients the option to either a) continue to receive service via our LA-On-the-Go program, or b) submit their request for a refund. The LA-On-the-Go program was designed for clients who could not visit the Centers. It provides them with weekly one-on-one counseling but just over the phone instead of in the centre. They also still have the same access to optional products.

Comment: The economic slowdown, in this company's case, is a small part of this firm's problems. The company has long been plagued with questionable sales tactics, inadequate disclosure of costs, and customer complaints, essentially mismanagement.