The Consumer Protection Association in Taiwan (CPAT) yesterday said it is opening applications for customers to join a class-action lawsuit against True Yoga Fitness, which abruptly ceased operations in Taiwan on Oct. 1.
Those who have not received full refunds can apply through Dec. 15 by filling out forms available on the CPAT Web site and mail them back with receipts or other proof of purchase to the CPAT office in Kaohsiung, the association told a news conference.
Lawyer Liu Shu-ching (劉淑清) urged affected customers to join the lawsuit, calling it "the last line of defense" after the chain went out of business, leaving many unable to reclaim losses from paid subscription fees or unused classes.
Photo: CNA
Singapore-based fitness chain True Yoga Fitness suspended operations at six out of 13 outlets in Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan on Sept. 23 without prior notice.
The company later announced on Sept. 30 that it would cease all operations from Oct. 1 and begin bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings, citing heavy losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and a weak economy.
If more than 20 people suffer losses in an alleged consumer rights violation case, consumer protection groups can pursue a class-action lawsuit on behalf of members, according to the Consumer Protection Act (消費者保護法).
The victims do not have to pay court fees or appear in court, the CPAT said.
For more information, victims can call the CPAT at (07)9700726, contact the Executive Yuan’s Consumer Protection Committee, or reach out to consumer services centers in their cities, the CPAT said.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong effective from 5:30pm, while local governments canceled school and work for tomorrow. A land warning is expected to be issued tomorrow morning before it is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, the agency said. Taoyuan, and well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties canceled work and school for tomorrow, as well as mountainous district of Taipei and New Taipei City. For updated information on closures, please visit the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Web site. As of 5pm today, Fung-wong was about 490km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point.
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
Almost a quarter of volunteer soldiers who signed up from 2021 to last year have sought early discharge, the Legislative Yuan’s Budget Center said in a report. The report said that 12,884 of 52,674 people who volunteered in the period had sought an early exit from the military, returning NT$895.96 million (US$28.86 million) to the government. In 2021, there was a 105.34 percent rise in the volunteer recruitment rate, but the number has steadily declined since then, missing recruitment targets, the Chinese-language United Daily News said, citing the report. In 2021, only 521 volunteers dropped out of the military, the report said, citing
Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals. Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said. Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury
RSS