Pure Med Spa Toronto Location Closed

Well, as luck would have it, I happened to be strolling along Queen Street West today only to discover that the Pure Med Spa retail store located at 395 Queen Street West in Toronto has been shut down and closed by the landlord due to non-payment of rent!  According to the "Notice to Tenant," effective August 16, 2010 the lease has been terminated, the locks have been changed and the landlord has taken possession of the location.  Pure Med Spa has also been instructed to remove its goods from the premises.

It's no surprise as Pure Med Spa has been notorious for shutting down locations on a whim.  Unassuming and innocent customers from Temecula, San Diego, Santa Ana, Las Vegas, Portland, San Francisco, Redondo Beach, Sacramento and Orland Park have all been victims of suprise store closures.  I've read posting after posting after posting of angry ripped of customers, and I've come to the conclusion that over and over again, the story goes a little bit like this.

1. Client signs up for treatments/services and pays thousands of dollars.
2. Client books appointments and may be fortunate enough (or unfortunate depending on how the treatments go - more on that another time) to be able to receive one or two treatments.
3. Client tries to book a follow-up appointment but has no luck getting through to anyone - phone rings off the hook or goes straight to voicemail
4. Client pays a visit to Pure Med Spa location only to find that the location has been "shut down" usually due to eviction and/or non-payment or rent
5. Client typically loses balance of pre-paid account with no way to seek restitution for thousands of dollars lost.  Some are lucky and are able to dispute credit card charges (if they are able to file a complaint for non-delivery of services within the allowable timeframe, typically 30 days).  I have read of one case where a woman was able to get her case transferred to another office, though that is not common.  But generally, most people are not so lucky.  A sad but true reality.

This is Just the Beginning...

Burned and scarred, abrupt closures, unfair business practices and thousands of dollars spent on non-refundable services.  These descriptors have become all too familiar for past victims of Pure Med Spa.  Each victim is one too many and in this day and age of social networking, blogging and online media, it's time to take action and have our voices heard.  I am choosing to take action and I am starting today - one blog at a time.

I am a resident of Toronto, Canada and I have been treated unfairly by Pure Med Spa (more on my story in another post).   Upon researching the company, I was shocked to learn that hundreds upon hundreds of former clients have had a similar experiences, and in many cases, these experiences have been devastating and life changing.  With each blog post, forum rant, news article, my heart dropped until it finally hit my stomach.  It is a complete travesty that a company like Pure Med Spa is allowed to continue to operate.

I am a firm believer in the power of social media.  I blog, I tweet, I facebook and in all instances, I have seen the potential to have a profound impact.  And so, I implore all of you reading this blog post today to use your voices - post comments, write a blog, or if you wish to remain anonymous, email me at puremedspacomplaints[at]gmail.com and I will speak on your behalf (and I promise to respect your privacy).  

Take action today.  Here are ten things you can do to get your voice heard:

1. File a complaint with your local Consumer services board.  Many states and provinces have consumer protection laws giving customers the right to a "cooling off period" and/or protecting them against misrepresentation.
2. Take legal action through your local small claims court.
3. Join forces and start a class action lawsuit.  The Class Action Lawsuit Against Britesmile/Pure Med Spa Facebook Group is a good place to start.
4. Write to your local newspaper - you never know where that might get you.  This Chicago woman was able to get a full refund.
5. Blog about your experience.  Lara Gardner is a great example of someone who is making a difference through the power of words.
6. Post your story on a forum.  Pissed Consumer and Complaints Board have hundreds upon hundreds of post by clients who have been treated unfairly by Pure Med Spa.
7. Join or start a Facebook group. 
8. Go viral and make a Youtube video.
9. Get the word out to everyone in your city.  Tell anyone who will listen about your story.  Friends, family, co-workers, strangers.  You name it.
10. Speak to your local politician .