DRUG ALERT! CALIFORNIA FITNESS – JV FITNESS PTE LTD
SHOCKING!
We have been receiving complaints and information regarding the fitness company in Singapore called California Fitness.
This is a long established fitness company in Singapore providing fitness training, personal trainers, classes and advice with venues across the Republic of Singapore.
Complaints flooded in when one venue closed leaving people stranded without notice and contracts being transferred without authority.
YourVoice is currently investigating and co-ordinating with gym members and behind the scenes staff.
Aggrieved members have consulted CASE regarding unfair treatment. The sentiment of members bombarding Your Voice seems to be a determination to provide enough information to encourage the Consumer group to demand the signing of a Voluntary Compliance Order (VCA). This is an invitation addressed usually to the director of the company. In this case, JV Fitness to voluntarily and publicly agree by court signing that the organisation has committed acts of unfair trading outlined under the Consumer Protection Fair Trading Act unless refunds are granted.
During the flow of information, it is alleged that vengeful victims are gathering information to prove that some trainers of this long standing company are not only self administering potentially lethal performance enhancing drugs such as Steroids. But also peddling them to innocent members of the public that fall into their hands after joining the club ironically to improve their health. On behalf of members we are investigating which are the relevant authorities to forward evidence to regarding this very dangerous risk to the public.
Your Voice is keeping a careful eye on events. Please save this page in your favourites and we will not hesitate to name and shame the employee and the director of the company for all to know.
As they say in the business…WATCH THIS SPACE.
looks like this has happened before in 2011 reported to the Strait Times.Members of California Fitness gym are upset that the gym has cancelled their lifetime memberships just because they did not pay the annual administrative fee of $8.
Furthermore, there were no warnings or reminders sent by the gym when the memberships, which cost $3,000 or more, were cancelled.
The Straits Times reported today that at least four readers had written in with such complaints.
According to the English daily, a consumer watchdog said it received three such complaints this year, and 14 last year.
Mr Lee Chee Kiang, a 39-year-old investment firm director, told The Straits Times that he wasn’t offered the option of paying interest or paying the annual fee in advance when his membership was terminated.
He managed to get back $1,500 of the $4,000 he paid upfront when he turned to the Small Claims Tribunal in July this year.
The Straits Times also reported Consumers Association of Singapore executive director Seah Seng Choon as saying that 44 people had made complaints against California Fitness this year.
Out of these 44, three were from those whose memberships were terminated as they did not pay on time.
looks like this has happened before in 2011, there were 74 complaints against the gym, including gripes on overcharging and sales tactics.
California Fitness first opened here in 1998 and has four branches. It is owned by J.V. Fitness Pte Ltd.
When contacted by The Straits Times, California Fitness declined to comment.
Afer Alittle more research more criminal activity run from this Gym, IS IT A FRONT.
A fitness trainer who lied to his client that he needed $10,000 for his father’s chemotherapy treatment was jailed for four months on Friday for cheating her of $5,000.
Jason Mamangon Sangalang, 30, pleaded guilty to cheating Ms Michelle Joanne Hardie, 39, of $5,000 on Aug 21, 2012, reports The Straits Times.
At the time, the Filipino was on a special pass and employed by J.V. Fitness as a fitness trainer. He worked at California Fitness Centre at VeloCity @ Novena Square.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tow Chew Chi said Sangalang had been working in Singapore for about 2 1/2 years and became the victim’s fitness trainer in June 2012. They subsequently started a relationship.
Two months later, he asked the victim to lend him $10,000. He lied to her that his father had cancer and needed money for chemotherapy treatment in the Philippines.
In fact, his father was involved in a case concerning the illegal possession and discharge of a firearm and Sangalang needed money to pay for his father’s legal fees.
He promised to repay the victim on a monthly basis. Out of pity, the victim agreed to lend him $5,000 which she handed over to him in September.
Mr Tow said later that month, the victim asked Sangalang to show her hospital receipts regarding his father’s medical treatment.
He gave her a fake receipt which bore the name of a “Metro Manila Hospital” with some handwriting and amounts on it.
The victim later found out that there was no such hospital. He could not be contacted after that. The victim reported to the police in October that year.
Sangalang, who was arrested in January last year, has since returned only $500. In mitigation, he apologised to the court.
He said he was truly remorseful and has a daughter to support. He could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined for cheating.
Taken from http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/this-urban-jungle/fitness-trainer-jailed-for-cheating-client-of-5000
This seems to be a trend in Singapore. Open a Gym charge high FEE and then Close. All started from one company CALIFORNIA FITNESS SINGAPORE – JV FITNESS PTE LTD .
Women’s gym Vivafit has shut four of its outlets, leaving its members worked up and seeking compensation. This comes as clubs made it to the list of the 10 industries that faced the most complaints last year – with fitness clubs accounting for the bulk of them.
Vivafit’s management sent members an e-mail last Thursday, two days before three outlets closed, explaining that they “have no choice but to make the painful and difficult, but also necessary decision to file for bankruptcy”.
The e-mail, which was seen by The Straits Times, also said that they were “out of money”.
The branches at Tanjong Pagar, Raffles Place and Marine Parade closed last Saturday, while the one in Clementi closed last month.
Two other franchise branches in Bukit Merah Central and Beach Road are still open.
MANPOWER PROBLEMS
As we tried to grow the business, these challenges got bigger. It has continued to negatively affect our revenues, and we are now at a point where we have no other choice but to close and wind up the company.
MR JONAS OGREN, who opened Vivafit in Singapore.
Ms Geraldine Lee, 46, a polytechnic adjunct lecturer who frequented Vivafit’s Marine Parade outlet, is one of the affected members.She said: “I am so shocked because the outlet was always so crowded whenever I went. There was no sign that they were going to close.”
She added that some seniors frequented that particular outlet.
Ms Lee, who bought her package for $1,500, has filed a police report.
Figures from the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) showed that Vivafit typically attracted fewer than 10 complaints a year.
Meanwhile, fitness clubs accounted for 90 per cent of the more than 600 complaints filed against clubs last year. This pushed the industry into Case’s top 10 most-complained-about category for the first time in 10 years. There were about 40 more complaints last year compared to in 2014. The most common complaint was misrepresentation.
The True Group and California Fitness, including its owner J.V. Fitness, were the two clubs that drew the highest number of complaints.
California Fitness recently closed its Orchard branch, while the True Group closed its Ocean Financial Centre branch.
In response to questions from The Straits Times, Mr Jonas Ogren, who opened Vivafit in Singapore, said it had faced manpower problems.
“As we tried to grow the business these challenges got bigger. It has continued to negatively affect our revenues, and we are now at a point where we have no other choice but to close and wind up the company.”
He acknowledged that the closure was abrupt. He added that while there could be no guarantees, they group was exploring possible solutions – either by re-opening one or more gyms under a different management, or finding alternative locations for members to work out.
Case executive director Seah Seng Choon said: “We want to highlight to consumers that it is extremely important to read the terms and conditions of the contract carefully before signing up for membership packages at fitness clubs, especially for the long term.”
I used to have a Membership to this Gym but I found it to expensive for what it is. I find it really hard that someone feeds on the goals of people. Every one whats to look good, So these people charge a small fortune to use there equipment and for you to train with others. Then they pull the rug from underneath you. THIS IS WRONG SO WRONG