2009 PRESS RELEASES
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September 28, 2009
CURVES HEALTH SPA CLOSES IN ALEXANDRIA; ELIGIBLE MEMBERS MUST FILE FOR REFUNDS BY DECEMBER 28, 2009
Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm, 804.786.7686
According to information recently obtained by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Curves, a health spa located at 7590 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, Virginia, closed its door to members on or about July 23, 2009. Eligible members of this health spa who believe they might be due refunds have until December 28, 2009 to file claims.
The Virginia Health Spa Act (Act) specifies that if a health spa goes out of business and does not provide its members with comparable alternate facilities within five driving miles of the location designated in the health spa contract, all contracts are automatically canceled and eligible members are entitled to receive a prorated refund of the unexpired portion of the contract.
According to the Act, it is the responsibility of the health spa to issue refunds to eligible members within 30 days of the closure of the spa. The Act also requires certain health spas to file surety with VDACS’ Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) to protect consumers in the event that a spa closes and is unable to make refunds to its members.
The above mentioned Curves location in Alexandria will be unable to issue refunds. Therefore, OCA will issue prorated refunds to eligible members for the unexpired portion of their contracts from the surety on file.
Members who believe they are due refunds must establish eligibility by submitting a copy of their contract, proof of payment and a completed Health Spa Refund Request form to OCA by the deadline indicated above.
The form is available at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/forms-pdf/cp/oca/healthspas/oca02refund.pdf on the VDACS Web site, or through the Department's toll-free Consumer Protection Hotline at 1.800.552.9963. Press “1” to be connected with a telephone counselor.
For additional information, contact VDACS’ Investigator Sandy Harrington at 1.800.552.9963, extension 54601 or by email at sandy.harrington@vdacs.virginia.gov.