Aren't you in Washington?

I'm an attorney as well (newly minted). If he threatened to ruin your credit, made harassing telephone calls etc., check your state's debt collection laws. Some states have statutes that prohibit certain tactics in order to collect a debt and provide for statutory damages for each violation. If your state has such a statute you could pursue a small claims action for damages or consult with an attorney and bring suit in district court. it may give you some leverage.

Sounds like he subscribes to the Patenaude/Fanger philosophy of martial arts business management.

It's nowhere as bad as Fang Shen Do. It's probably closer to ATA. Rank graduations every 2-3 months where everyone passes, join for a year and you don't get to spar or train weapons while everyone does then they upsell you to the 3 year blackbelt program for an even higher price, expensive but optional seminars, full body armor for the rare light sparring session, etc, etc. I think I saw a check written for a black belt test that was over $1000, which might explain why most blackbelts I've seen were middle aged lawyers and corporate types.

Anyways, it's been three days and I still haven't received a response. I'll give it a few more days before I ask the billing company and send the school a more formal request through certified mail.

Aw, I want to go visit the school if it's accepting open challenges. Aren't you going to share?

I'll be happy to share as soon as I have a copy of the contract in hand. Otherwise I need to egg them on to take me to small claims court so I can make a counterclaim.

I'm not far from Thousand Oaks so....

If you post the name and location, it will come up on Google search so other people don't fall for the same bad deal. Or you could just send Omega a Private Message with the school name and location.

Not licensed at all, so not subject to the bar rules yet but in California unconscionable releases work I hear tends to work favor of injured

I'm not far from Thousand Oaks so....

:O are you secretly Bas Rutten?!?

I'm not far from Thousand Oaks so....


Omega... I just caught up on this thread. Sorry for missing your earlier post. I'm down, providing it's on the weekend. Soon if we do though, my wife & I are having a baby in a few weeks. But yeah, let's check this place out.

Okay, it will definitely me a weekend.

I would be town for a roadtrip, depending on the date.

Alright, back with updates. I sent an email to the school asking for a copy of the contract and they told me to contact the billing company. The billing company (AAC[Affiliated Acceptance Corporation]) was very cooperative and I received a copy of the contract in the mail in less than week after contact. My memory is a bit fuzzy since it was a long time ago, but I don't think this was the contract with the specifics; however, I think I have enough evidence here to make a claim.

http://redspiderdesigns.com/contract.pdf

"All health studio contracts must be in writing.3 (http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/w-10.shtml#endnote3) The contract may not require payments and initiation/initial membership fees that total more than $3,000 not including interest or finance charges (this amount increases to $4,400 on January 1, 2010) over the contract term.4 (http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/w-10.shtml#endnote4) The duration of the contract may not exceed three years, and the contract may not require payments for longer than the term of the contract.5 (http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/w-10.shtml#endnote5) That means that a four-year contract would be unlawful, and that a two-year contract requiring payments for longer than two years also would be unlawful. It also means that "lifetime contracts" are prohibited. The contract must state the length of the contract term in a size equal to at least 14-point type, above the place for your signature.6 (http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/w-10.shtml#endnote6)"

Source: Overview of California's Health Studio Services Contract Law: Legal Guide W-10 - California Department Of Consumer Affairs (http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/w-10.shtml)

School: http://www.kungfuusa.com/

The main school is in Pasadena. I think Omega might already be familiar with this place. I hope you guys have fun checking the place out.

I used to do business with AAC. They are a reasonable company. Feel free to put a stop payment on and force them to come after you. As for kungfuusa I don't know them but if I know of one of their blackbelt. Not too impressed. If I go over and accept their challenge it would be quite fun.

I just got an email back. Yes, my friend got his blackbelt from these guys.