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Review content:
The Facts:
While working the evening shift a woman of Eastern descent (possibly India/Pakistan) walked into my office and said she wanted to speak to me about the cancellation policies of St. Louis Workout. I greeted her warmly offered her a chair and closed the door slightly halfway to reduced noise levels and give her my full attention.
The young lady announced that she was a recent graduate of Washington University and would be leaving the area very soon. Knowing this she canceled her membership with St. Louis Workout the year before (the Union Avenue location, near the Washington University campus).
The woman was in her early 20s, carried herself with poise, dignity and nobility, and she had large expressive eyes, which soon began to tear up as she described the situation, (but she did not cry, for she was so insulted).
She explained how she had just noticed that for over a year after the cancellation of her membership contract and while she was finishing up her studies at Washington University, St. Louis Workout was going about the business of deducting funds from her account. The young lady was so well poised that she took measured control of the indignation she felt. She managed to suppress the unworthy and unjust treatment handed to her by Kevin Harman (senior vice president of operations at St. Louis Workout), his mother Mrs. Harman (behind the scenes operations, formerly the smoothie lady) and other staff members who were screening her calls.
This young lady and recent graduate of Washington University was so well mannered that she would not allow herself to express her anger with me a new staff member.
She was stern and direct while asking key operational question but respectful of my presence, she knew that I had no knowledge of the St. Louis Workout situation (I had been working there two weeks, this young lady was aware that I was relatively new).
I took a closer look at the contracts, and I noticed that they were in transition The terminology and the legalese were changing slightly but significantly the location of the cancellation policy was relocated in the newly offered contract so that the cancellation policy was easier to see. I suspect so that it does not appear to be as hidden as it was in the previous contract and address any issues with respect to suing the company on legal grounds of presentation.
Even so, it is not the written word and the terminology that was the problem with the contracts.
It was the unspoken manner in which they are enforced.
At the drop of a hat, ABC collection agency will become involved in your life in some cases ruining the lives of men and women who are just getting started with major financial responsibilities, romantic obligations, marriage, the purchase of transportation and a home.
As an employee I had access to files that were in the process of being removed from the server, but they moved too slowly... they were fully aware of the cancellations that were filed by people who walked into the Union Ave. or the Crestwood location.
It was (and is) a business practice to intentionally charge the client's of St. Louis Workout sometimes for years after the cancellation.
After that I cut my hours short and let someone else come in my position, I took my last check, and then announced that I would not be returning.
They are the scum of the Earth, truly, I felt dirty just being around them, the mother, and their underhanded policies ...
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