Slimming Centres - Rip Off

I went to a Slimming Centre last week. At first, they said I need 80 treatments which would cost HK$ 38,000 but I could pay it in installment of $ 1000 which is fine. So they immediately got my bank card and input that amount which I didnt have and which I didnt know. Then I said I have no money, then after negotiating for such a long time, $ 8000 so I gave in and they deduct the money, after getting a free trial, they said Sorry the manager does not allow so I felt so frustrated and I said I cannot afford it, lets cancell it and then she said ok ok $ 16000. Then yesterday, the messager said I need lymp drainage and I was convinced so I paid $1000. I ask how many times I shud do it, she said 20 times which I said I cannot afford it, she said its ok have cheaper plan and the story goes that all they talk about is Money. I did not get the plan. All along the talk etc, they only talk about money and buying the course in one goal. Is there any Slimming Centre that I could go and I just pay as I do. I feel so frustrated. I have to thank my favourite singer for being a endorser to this Centre, it certainly made me depressed. But I admit I am really stupid.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by gill2008 (1304 days ago)

I had the same story but i usually reply harshly to them and tell them to get out of my way and stop selling these things to me again and again. They are disgusting, 2 woman will enter your treatment room and start to tell you that you're fat here and there and you need so and so. I had about 6 treatments and i quitted. But i only paid about HK$5000. The one you can trust is Maria France. I did the complete session with them and I made it clear that I dont want any of your staff to hard sell anything to me and she promised. SO i guess with the name and fame, Maria France is trustworthy than those local types.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by RA (1302 days ago)

Just curious..have been trying to check the slimming centres for a long time.. Can you tell me how does it work , how much can you loose and what about side effects? also what does beauty par zai use?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sampaguita (1301 days ago)

Just dont go to the Chinese ones like where I went. Perfect Shape, the one that is always shown in the Bus with the singer "Janice". All they talk about is Money, so when they get your money upfront, they wont care for you anymore unless you buy other courses that goes with it. Then when you want to book a time, its always full..... I am trying to finish the rest of the treatment and then I will never go to this place again. I was cheated but I had no proof. How I hope I had a recorder then. Maybe a reporter could just trying going to that place especially in Causeway Bay.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Shoe Girl (1301 days ago)

Ladies, save your hard-earned money and lose weight the safest and cheapest way: exercise and diet. Maybe join Weight Watchers and attend their weekly meetings to get you on the right track and help you make healthy food choices. Join a normal gym, not a slimming centre, and go regularly. And don't believe what these so called slimming centres say in their ads. If something sounds too good to be true, it is because it's not true.

Sampaguita, I suggest you contact the Consumer Council and see if they can help you get some of your money back.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Blaney (1299 days ago)

Agree with Shoe Girl. Excercise and diet is the key.

I have been burnt twice with those so called slimming centres. The truth is that the models and the celebtities who are the face of these slimming companies have never used their services.

They just endorse them.

They all do it the old fashioned way... excercise and diet.

If you need any more info PM me

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by notyou (1298 days ago)

ladies, if you go to www.prevention.com, you can get lots of free info quickly. also if you want to sort of cheat and lose weight fast, call movers and shakers. they put you on a machine which shakes you and gives you results like you had a very long work out, but you only go for half an hour. There's one in Causeway Bay and another one, but I'm not sure where it is. info.hk@moversandshapers.net 3571-9881. i've tried it and like it.you pose on the machine while it shakes you.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by preetyinpink (1296 days ago)

I used to get Slimming treatment in Beaute Par Zai too. Now that I am pregnant I am stopping for awhile. I did try few other companies but ended up hating going back to them because of the way they force you to buy this and that like many of you have experienced.
The treatment was great and there is no side effects. This treatment really works. It made a huge difference, my friends could notice that I was losing weight though I did not tell them about the slimming treatment I was doing. I never believed in these treatments before but when I found out they have many clients for slimming treatment, I thought why not as well try it. I always had cellulite problem and now it's so so much better. But they always tell you to have a healthy diet and exercise which I did.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sampaguita (1295 days ago)

Hi Preetyinpink, will Beaute Par Zai ask you to pay the whole course. I went to the Perfect Shape today, my 2nd treatment and when I was about to end, they start telling you what extra treatment you need. Then the girl said I will give you a free trial loosen the cellulite machine. After that, she ask me to sit down and said I need this and that and it will cost me HK$ 21,000. I had enough, I already paid $16,000 and they told me there is no other extra charges. No extra charges but extra treatment to pay. But this time I wont pay. I decided to forfeit the $16,000. All along while doing the treatment I am not at ease, they keep introducing what is good etc etc....I have no confident in the Consumer Council, I dont think I could get back my money. When I surf in web, it actually been a problem to the Consumer Council since 2005 and they have done nothing about until now.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sampaguita (1295 days ago)

BTW, I mean I paid $16,000 and its only my 2nd day. I still have 40 treatment to go. Its only the 2nd treatment, they are already asking you to buy this and that.
And also they know I am a diabetic. I stop eating at 5:30 as per their advise. I suppose to finish at 8pm but they force me to try this and that and ended up leaving their centre at 9:40pm. Around 10pm in the street, I start feeling dizzy and I knew my sugar level is lowering but they said I cannot eat after 1 hour. But I feel danger so I ate around 10pm. I guess they dont really care about your being. Perfect Shape, are you going to close down so you need to squeeze money out of your customers. I told them I have no money, I live by cash and they still want to squeeze my $200 from my bag. And to the Actresses and the Singer Janice, do you feel guilty to those who look up to you. I am stupid I admit.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunshin (1294 days ago)

This thing happened to me in Marie France. I wasted $30,000 for nothing. I think they don't really care as long as they get the money. You go for onething and they will pour you with everything. Marie France being such a reputed company, I wanted to try them first. They can get so expensive and they won't leave you until you buy a package. My treatment was $30,000 which is after discount from $48,000 or something like that. On top I had to add another $5,000. I didn't even finish all my sessions coz they always come up with something or the other.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sampaguita (1294 days ago)

Dear sunshin,

Bad experience like me. They took advantage of my weekness, my emotional weekness. Were you able to get some of your money back?

Rgds

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by kiwi-lj (1293 days ago)

Hi,

Sounds like joining slimming center is a very bad idea. We all have some part of our body that we don't like. I"m not saying to accept the body weight, but rather exercise, diet like the others.

For me, I tried juice fasting. I found it really helpful, read several books about detoxing, juice fasting and still drink juice every morning, sometimes with some solid food. I've lost a lot of weight especially around my waist. I feel happier and healthier. I"m very happy with the result and am sticking to the juice breakfast as much as I can.

So all the best with diet. The thing is to try something that is healthy and that makes you comfortable, not some pushy saleslady who tries to squeeze every penny out of us!

A friend once told me, to maintain a healthy body usually means we need to have a complete change of diet, and I agree completely, cos it is what happened to me.

good luck!!!

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by preetyinpink (1290 days ago)

Hi Sampaguita,

My slimming treatment is very reasonable comparing to what you all have paid. I don't pay more than $8000-$9000 for 20 treatments and they give 4-5 treatments free. Sometimes I buy more,sometimes less. But yes you have to pay full amount first. I am surprised that you paid so much money in first go.
If you want more info you can call them to check thier prices. Good Luck!!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by mammamia (609 days ago)

Hello girls! I am 165cm, I weigh 61 Kg and my personal trainer at PURE fitness told me that I am "extremely obese". This is HK... after that he tried to sell me some personal training sessions.
I certainly am not skinny but if you tell a young girl something like that you can lead her to anorexia. They simply don't care.
I know girls who define themselves as "fat" when in any other country in the world they are considered absolutely normal. Do we really need to adapt to their way of thinking? Do you really think that skinny is beautiful or healthy?A woman, from where I come from, is supposed to have shapes otherwise would look like a child. I have seen Chinese models from close and they look like cotton buds. Yes I am a bit frustrated with this way of thinking. In HK I got in a shop to buy a pair of jeans, an adult shop, and they told me they did not have my size (I am a 44). It is funny how everything can be relative to the place where you live...I admit that I have thought to go to a slimming center, but can we really let the cotton buds dictate the rules for beauty?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Shoe Girl (608 days ago)

Absolutely not, Mammamia, don't let the cotton buds dictate at all. I would probably say that if you're 61kg and 165 cm it would be more accurate to say you're on the underweight side rather than "extremely obese". I hope you didn't buy the personal training sessions. Do you think that perhaps the personal trainers get a kickback and the more average normal-weight people they call obese, the better it is for them. So definitely take it personally; it's Hong Kong and it's obviously for commercial benefits.

It does get frustrating when you're shopping for clothes as most of the sizes you find in clothes boutiques here are actually children's sizes in most countries of the world. I love shopping in Europe, Australia and US and finding I can fit into small sizes.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by hfranchineau (331 days ago)

Hey girls! I am preparing an article about the issue for the South China Morning Post, and I could use some testimonies...Do you mind contacting me? My email is: helene.franchineau@scmp.com

thanks a lot!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by witches (331 days ago)

Slimming treatment is NOT the only way to help someone got slimmer. Dietary control (ie a more balanced diet) and exercise are paramount as well. Slimming treatment is supplementary and works. However, in Hong Kong, you can see from the more recent programmes on TVB that even dietians are not regulated not least the so called slimming centres.

They hire a number of beautician and dietitian, with salaries based on commission. This is quite natural that they tend to sell very hard. This is well known. As such, you should hold your gun and buy those plans and treamtments that you consider necessary. Dont buy anything that they suggest. You should have first developed chemistry and have a feel with them to see if they are trustworthy. If you try a few treamtments and the shop or beautician never sell you any products, this is a nice starting point.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by punya (101 days ago)

This is tragic: A girl with some serious weight problems which is putting her life at risk just sitting there and uploading her awful videos. http://tinyurl.com/7rlhwpb

(I am based in Hong Kong)