Beware of Playsport!

M

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I am writing to any parent consider enrolling their child to Playsports courses. They do not deliver their services as promised and when asked for a refund, have lagged for months with unanswerable phone calls (disconnected for a period of time) and emails (no reply or a reply with excuse that office is closed).
My child has attended only 1 class for Soccer tots in early May and consequent classes were either no show or canceled without reason.
Several parents in our group have experienced the same thing and are asking for refunds without much success. Four months later, I am still waiting for my refund.

Please be aware before considering or enrolling. I hope no more parents are going through this painful process of getting their money back.
 
Had the same problem with them 7 yrs ago! Took me forever to get my refund as well. They promised to return my cheque (not enough sign ups and class was cancelled) and deposited it instead. Took me close to 4 months to get my money back. The owner told me to "Give Him a Break"! Was calling him constantly.
 
7 years ago?? my god.. It seems like no one has spoken out about this. They somehow do end up giving your money back. After a VERY LONG time of chasing and calling. There is something very fishy going on with this organization. When request for a refund, they just say they will handle asap, but unlike a proper company, they do not offer you alternative classes or ask you to try something else. Seems like they are aware they have taken your money for other uses. And the classes are not the key priority of their business.

And the recently had the nerve to send an email to promote their Fall Courses which angers me because they have not fulfilled their summer program commitments and refunds.
 
Calling all unhappy Play Sport parents

Hi, we paid up for classes that didn't exist. They cashed the cheque then cancelled the classes when they should have started, citing renovations at the sports centre. I called the sports centre and there were no renovations. Play Sports hadn't even booked the venue. So they took our money knowing there wouldn't be any classes. I'm thinking of making a report to police. Am interested to hear from other parents, particularly those who paid the money and got nothing in return. I've called loads of times and it just goes to msg. They have ignored my emails asking for a refund.
 
I was recently contacted by my bank that Playports changed the year of a cheque I wrote them over a year ago for a course that was cancelled because of low registration and cashed it recently. I tried contacting them to no avail for a refund. My bank has filed a police report already. But has anyone else encountered the same problem?
 
I have written emails, left voicemails (when the box wasn't full, which is most of the time) and sent texts to withdraw from a current class and to request a refund with no response whatsoever.

First, the class was meant to be held at Stanley Ho Sports Centre, an outside turf venue, which is what my sons begged for, otherwise I would have chosen a different organization. PlaySport sent a text to say that due to circumstances beyond their control, that willl not be possible because renovation at Stanley Ho was underway. Likewise, the initial classes were cancelled at the last minute, so the start date of this semester was pushed back for three weeks. Subsequently, the classes were moved to West Island School, where the text message stated said that there would be free parking and would start at "10 a.m. sharp!". We arrived on time and all parking was gated off and the entrance doors were locked. My husband parked on the street (and received a ticket). We could not gain access to the school for at least 20 minutes. All the doors were locked. We waited along with other families who were equally confused and frustrated. I called and texted their number and received no response. When the guard finally let us in, the class was already underway somehow. No explanation was given about how we were to get inside. The class is being held on a dirty open concrete basketball court. Other parents were also disgruntled about the lack of commuication and the circumstances.

Also, some of them had signed up for mini sports and rugby yet all kids and all ages were grouped into this soccer class. My 2 year old has different needs and skill level than my 4 year old, but they were never separated for different exercises.

I also paid for a uniform for my 2-year-old which was said to be mandatory, yet none of the children other then my eldest was wearing a uniform and the coach on site said he did not have the uniform I had paid for.

None of it was delivered as promised. They cashed the HK$5,950 check right away and now are nowhere to be found. I talked to one of the trainers last Sunday and he said he was equally confused and mismanaged. Besides the Consumer Council, is there any other recourse?
 
A few years back I switched to Ole soccer / tiny tots. Much happier with the classes and organization.
 
Same here. Really bad experience with these people. My son joined their tennis class back in May was cancelled for no reason. I was unable to find them until after September. After long and hours of tracking them and complaining, I guess I was lucky enough to get my refund. But they are still organizing activities for my son's school. I suggest those of you who are not lucky enough to get your money back report to the police.
 
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It sounds as if they take the cheques in without any intention of actually providing the service they are supposed to. I'm going to make a report to police. I've sent about ten emails and a registered letter, and have had two responses: the first that they were handling it, and the second saying they were in Thailand and would handle it on their return. I'm thinking it's either theft or obtaining property by deception, as there was no intention to put on the classes at Stanley Ho and they have had our money for two months now. How difficult is it to send us a cheque - if they have any money, that is. What really annoys me is that we went with them on the endorsement of the Woodlands school, who still put their advertising bumf in my son's folder, rather annoyingly. I'd be happy to make a report to police as a group if anyone else has had a similar experience - not sure of the best way to do this, ie get people to get in touch with me? I'll put a claim into the small claims tribunal of course
 
Janeym,

You should also call Woodland office. I too went on the endorsement from Woodland. I complained to Woodland about my situation and I was told I was first complain they've heard of. I was told that they had no problem with these people but was going to look into it. Maybe enough people call the school, it will stop the school from working with these people.
 
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I enrolled my son into a soccertots course 3 years ago and similar story to others it was cancelled and it took me months to get my money back. I ended up ringing them every second day until I got my money back which I eventually did. I'll never use them again.
 
I've given them a week to pay me back and then I make a report to police and launch legal proceedings.(They claim now they are in Thailand stuck in the floods so can't pay me! It's just one excuse after another) I will be in touch with Woodlands too. They really just take the money for nothing and rely on expat apathy and mobility: people either give up trying to get their money back, or move on. I hope other parents read this thread before parking their cash with Play Sports.
 
Something needs to be done to shut these guys down! We have had the exact experience as others. How is it that after all these years of complaints, they are still in business? For those of you who have filed police reports, have the police been effective at all?
 
That's funny - I called Woodlands mid Sept and they also told me I was the only complainant they had heard from! PlaySport also owes me more than HKD5,000 for cancellation of Sept term sessions. Same story - earlier emails saying they will arrange for refunds, then now no one is answering emails or calls. I even went to their contact address in Wing Kut St today and as expected, no one was there. Neighbours say no one ever comes/goes, so it's just a postal box for our cheques.
 
I think you should email all those advertising on their site ... PIPS, PE*G*BOO (why won't they let me say that?, anyway check advertisers on their site), Shamrock Catering, and send them a link to this thread, this is really fishy.
 
My 3year old joined soccer tots a year ago and rugby tots as well since September this year. I had always been happy with them, and had no complaint whatsoever, right until the start of this term in September 2011. The first rugby tots classes had to be cancelled due to construction at the revue with promise to refund. Then the classes resumed, I didn't think about the matter much since I've been extremely busy myself. Then, one day when we showed up for the soccer tots class there was no one there, turns out that class has been moved to another day of the week, with me having been informed. In any case, my child cannot attend soccer tots on that alternative day. So I simply asked for her to attend another soccetots instead. I am still trying to arrange this, having paid up til end of this term. I must admit their coaches are great and the kids have a good time, but everything seems to have changed start of this term.
 
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