About at the start of June I came across with Spencer’s ad on Seek.com and applied for the personal trainer position they have advertised. The ad claimed to provide promising employment opportunity, flexibility and great training. There was no mention of a contract to be signed as a licensee at this stage.
At the 2nd interview, I had no intention to commit to the position just yet as I had another interview to attend to the very next day. Spencer said that he would not be able to consider my application later on unless I signed a contract which has a 24 hours cooling off period attached to it.
This contract was signed hastily under Spencer’s demand and pressure. Spencer failed to allow reasonable perusal time before signing the contract. It is evident that none of the contract pages were initialled by me as I was not given the time to read it through. He asked me to call the next day without emphasizing that I must call by certain hour. I took his next day meant by the end of business hour the next day.
Spencer claimed that I called 26 hours after the contract was signed which was 2 hours outside of cooling off period hence I was liable to pay him 4 weeks rent which he filed a civil dispute – minor debt of $1,021.10 against me at Beenleigh QCAT against me. Amongst
Our back and forth text messages he mentioned he was a law student and he can get away with it. I found this to be an intimidating statement trying to take advantage of eager, young but inexperienced trainers.
Since then, I have responded his claim and requested for the dismissal of his claim on the basis that Spencer failed his duty of care to me in his request for me to sign the contract there and then. Rather the contract was signed under Spencer’s demand and pressure and his act of negligence.
I hope my experience serves as a warning to other young trainers not to fall into Spencer Wright’s trap as I did.
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