Greenville Woman Says Finance Company for LA Weight Loss Wants Money Even Though Business is Closed

An Upstate woman says the finance company for LA Weight Loss wants money for products she says she never received.

By: Dianne Derby | News Channel 7
Published: October 19, 2009

LA Weight Loss claims it's helped millions of people lose weight fast. That dream of quick weight loss ended just as fast for consumers like Rebecca Odell when all of the offices in the Upstate closed by the end of 2007. She said she didn't get more than $1000 of prepackaged food her mother helped her finance through GE Money. But she said since then GE Money has been asking her mother to pay up.

"They kept calling morning, day, and night 24/7," Odell said. "I said, 'It would be different if I could get my product but I am not getting anything or nothing from ya'll'. I said, 'Why am I gonna pay ya'll this money if I'm not getting the product'."

7 On Your Side asked GE Money the same thing. Two days later Rebecca told us they called and told her that her mother wouldn't owe a thing.

"They told me I have a zero balance now because of your help and you calling and talking to them for me," said Odell.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs says if a business does close its doors you are not obligated to pay for products you didn't receive.

"Even if payment was done on a credit card and it was already paid for it can be obviously applied back to their credit card," said SCDCA's Maria Audas.

The SCDCA has received 28 complaints for LA South which owned the LA Weight Loss centers in the Upstate. Five have been refunded, but they said they expect more in a second wave of refunds.

Audas said the most important part is not to continue paying GE Money for products consumers didn't receive from Upstate LA Weightloss locations.

"If they're not receiving product they should not continue to make payments," Audas said. "That's going to make it very difficult to determine what to refund."

Rebecca said she did make two payments totaling about $100. Now it's up to her to decide whether she'll file a complaint with the state Department of Consumer Affairs to get her money back.

News Channel 7 was not able to get in contact with LA Weight Loss for comment by the time this story aired.

GE Money would not comment due to confidentiality. They would only tell us customers with disputes should contact the number on the back of their card or statement.

Remember if you have a dispute with a company that shuts down contact the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs for help. They may be able to help you get your money back. You can contact them at 800-922-1594 or click here for a link to their complaint form.