ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, June 28, 1996 TAG: 9606280038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
A Christiansburg diet center abruptly closed Sunday without prior notice to its customers, leaving some feeling high and dry.
Form-You-3 sent out letters to its customers this week saying the decision to shut its doors came only a week before the actual closure at the advice of its accountant and attorney.
"We are deeply sorry that this has had to happen, but our backs were against the wall and we could take no more expenses," according to the letter, which was signed by Leslie Adkins. "I wish each and every one of you much success, but we have to look out for our own livelihood."
The center, which is an independently owned and operated franchise, has administered diet programs and weigh-ins from its office in Christiansburg's Food Lion Plaza for at least three years, said Phil Grom, vice president of operations at Form-You-3's corporate headquarters in Canton, Ohio. Leslie and Jerry Adkins are listed as the franchise owners, Grom said.
All that remains in the office is a receptionist's desk and a row of empty cubicles. There is no sign on the door informing customers about the shutdown. At the time of the closure, Grom said the center had about 15 to 20 active members.
Glen Adkins, a family member who said he also was involved in the diet center's operations, said only that the family will be talking to a lawyer and corporate headquarters about what to do next. He referred all other questions to attorney Dan Hamrick, who could not be reached for comment.
Several Form-You-3 customers, who did not want their names used in the newspaper, said they were angry they had not been notified before the closure. They said they have been given no information about where they can continue their diet plans and whether any of their money will be refunded.
One woman who joined the program in April had paid three installments - $183 in all - of the $338 she owed for a yearlong membership. She has stopped payment on two checks that were postdated.
"I feel fortunate that I was able to save some money."
Customers said the initial start-up fee for a yearlong diet program was around $400, though at times the center ran specials. It cost $80 to restart the program after that. Several customers interviewed for this story said they went to Form-You-3 for their regular weight checks last week - some as late as Friday - and were not told about the possibility of a closure.
One woman said she recently noticed that the center was running out of Form-You-3 food products and did not seem to be replacing them. In recent months, she also rarely saw other customers at the center.
Customers said they did not have complaints about the diet plan itself, just the way the center closed.
"Financial difficulties happen all the time but you just don't close up, leave the building empty and you show up for your regular weigh-in day and nobody's there," said one woman who has been a customer for three years. "For overweight people, it's a dependent thing. It helps you emotionally and psychologically ... it's like the rug's pulled out from underneath you."
Grom said each diet center provides monthly information to corporate headquarters about average weight loss per member, general business and financial data and royalties - none of which was provided by the Christiansburg office for more than a month.
"They've provided absolutely no information to give any insight as to the performance of their business," said Grom.
The corporate headquarter's legal counsel is examining the matter. Grom said people who want a refund should contact Leslie Adkins.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 linesby CNB