Discovery Point Franchising took my franchisee fee, built the building but didn't check the TN regulations. The net result was I could only have 1/2 the number of students in 7 out of the 8 classrooms. They charged me Atlanta prices to buy the land and build the building in a rural area of Chattanooga. Then when I got my license from the state, they advised me that I could only have 120 students in 7 out of the 8 classfooms. Their other centers hold approximately 240.
I advised them of this and they completely ignored me. When I filed for arbitration (which was required under the franchise agreement), I found out why they ignored me. At the closing, I signed a document which transfered the franchise from me personally to my newly formed business. Burried in that document was a comprehensive release of all liability for anything (and everything) Discovery Point Franchising had done. This even got by my attorney.
To make a long story short, when I filed for arbitration, their attorney said "sorry, but you signed a release of all liability" and the arbitrator said "ok, your claims can't be considered, only the franchise claims".
The net, net was that even if I was at capacity from day one, there was no way I could make my bank payment. The bank repossesed the propert and sold it on the courthouse steps. Guess who bought it??? Discovery Point Franchising! So the propery I paid 1.8 million for, they bought from the bank for 1 million.
I have lost everything I own. I had to file bankruptcy. They even tried to take my home since I probably have 15 to $20,000 in equity in my home.
How, in this country, can a company screw up, and then ruin the person that they screwed? Where is justice for the little guy that trusted these people only to have them ruin me?
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