BOISE, Idaho (Legal Newsline) - Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden filed a lawsuit Thursday against a Treasure Valley Fitness company and its owner for allegedly failing to reimburse customers after the company shut down earlier this year.
The lawsuit was filed after 54 consumer complaints were received by the Attorney General's Office against Body Renew Fitness & Tanning and its owner, Dakota Routh.
All six gyms shut down July 9. The lawsuit alleges that before Routh closed the doors, he charged consumers their monthly membership fees.
In an email to members, Routh promised all maintenance fees charged after July 1 would be refunded. These refunds were allegedly never received.
"Too often my office receives complaints about a business that sells thousands of dollars of future services up until the date of its sudden closure, leaving consumers without their money or purchased services," Wasden said. "This type of business practice is not lawful. There is a right and a wrong way to go about business in this state, and Mr. Routh chose the wrong path."
The lawsuit also alleges that Routh tried to collect unsubstantiated debts via debt collection notices. The notices stated the consumer's account would be turned over to "Ada County Small Claims" and would incur $500 in fees.