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THERAPISTS BEWARE!!!!

I was contacted by Selina Garrison of Well Kneaded Massage by telephone on November 4 for an event to be held on November 5th. I canceled TWO of my own clients for an opportunity to work with what I believed to be a national company. As of today I have not been compensated for my time. Selina has not returned telephone, texts, emails. I have filed a report with the Better Business Bureau, the Ca. Board of Consumer Affairs, the Ripoff Report and ABMP.

I have contacted a lawyer. I'm wondering if there are other therapists out there that have worked for her? I think we need to spread the word about this "company" and save other therapists the aggravation of dealing with this woman!

 

*UPDATE! AS OF JANUARY 6, 2011, I HAVE YET TO BE PAID AND/OR CONTACTED BY SELINA GARRISON OR WELL KNEADED MASSAGE.

I have placed calls to with no answers yet to:

  • The Pa. Board of Labor and Industry
  • The Los Angeles District Attorney
  • The Los Angeles Labor Commissioner
  • The company that I worked at for Well Kneaded

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Permalink Reply by Abram Herman on January 7, 2011 at 5:31pm

ABMP has contacted the individual to let her know we have received reports of contract disputes and encouraged her to resolve them with the individual practitioners. Because ABMP is not a third-party arbiter, we encourage parties of interest to resolve disputes directly; should legal assistance be necessary, ABMP members may elect to use the discounted services available through the providers listed at http://www.abmp.com/members/account_discounts_for_members.php#ABMPS...

Massagetherapy.com’s Referral Service is offered as a resource created to help bring massage and bodywork clients to practitioners. It is for consumer use only and not for building solicitation lists for contract services.  Including such a legal notice is common practice, AMTA’s service has similar cautionary language.

ABMP members interested in job listings may access them at http://www.abmp.com/members/career_development_classified_ads.php

 

Regards,

Abram Herman

Membership Coordinator, ABMP

abram@abmp.com

800-458-2267x635



Relax & Rejuvenate said:

Couple of interesting wrinkles out of this...

 

1) Who was the client? They certainly would never use WKM if they knew what went on. About  3 phone call investigation would land you to the person who signed the contract with them

 

2) If ABMP does not want their listings used to get work to their members -- there are plenty of legitimate businesses, like ours, that sometimes need to contract a therapist in South Boston, VA, for instance -- then they are doing their members a dis-service. Since ABMP does not have job listings like AMTA, then missing out on just 1 opportunity could have paid for your membership.  Consumers can make appts and then not show for them either, which is a waste of an MTs time as well.

Permalink Reply by Karen Spence on January 7, 2011 at 5:49pm
@Abram, Thank you for the information.
Permalink Reply by Julio Ortiz on January 8, 2011 at 7:53am

Thanks Mr. Herman, I really appreciate ABMP contacting WKM.  I'm wondering if ABMP actually spoke to Selina or left a message?


I'm also wondering if there is any way to find out who was/is Selina's/WKM insurance carrier?


Abram Herman said:

ABMP has contacted the individual to let her know we have received reports of contract disputes and encouraged her to resolve them with the individual practitioners. Because ABMP is not a third-party arbiter, we encourage parties of interest to resolve disputes directly; should legal assistance be necessary, ABMP members may elect to use the discounted services available through the providers listed at http://www.abmp.com/members/account_discounts_for_members.php#ABMPS...

Massagetherapy.com’s Referral Service is offered as a resource created to help bring massage and bodywork clients to practitioners. It is for consumer use only and not for building solicitation lists for contract services.  Including such a legal notice is common practice, AMTA’s service has similar cautionary language.

ABMP members interested in job listings may access them at http://www.abmp.com/members/career_development_classified_ads.php

 

Regards,

Abram Herman

Membership Coordinator, ABMP

abram@abmp.com

800-458-2267x635



Relax & Rejuvenate said:

Couple of interesting wrinkles out of this...

 

1) Who was the client? They certainly would never use WKM if they knew what went on. About  3 phone call investigation would land you to the person who signed the contract with them

 

2) If ABMP does not want their listings used to get work to their members -- there are plenty of legitimate businesses, like ours, that sometimes need to contract a therapist in South Boston, VA, for instance -- then they are doing their members a dis-service. Since ABMP does not have job listings like AMTA, then missing out on just 1 opportunity could have paid for your membership.  Consumers can make appts and then not show for them either, which is a waste of an MTs time as well.

Permalink Reply by Karen Spence on January 8, 2011 at 11:23am


Julio Ortiz said:

Thanks Mr. Herman, I really appreciate ABMP contacting WKM.  I'm wondering if ABMP actually spoke to Selina or left a message?

I have been in contact with Mary @ABMP and she emailed Selina and copied me on the email


I'm also wondering if there is any way to find out who was/is Selina's/WKM insurance carrier?

I know for certain that she is not insured with neither ABMP nor AMTA at this time. She was, at one point, insured with ABMP.

Permalink Reply by Chance Ryan on January 11, 2011 at 10:43am

Since ABMP was the medium which this company contacted you, then u have a calim against them, put pressure on ABMP to pay for the money your out, I'm sure your attorney will tell you this as well.

 

Or seeing as how it's under 1000 then you better off moving on.

Permalink Reply by Karen Spence on January 11, 2011 at 1:58pm

Chance Ryan said:

Since ABMP was the medium which this company contacted you, then u have a calim against them, put pressure on ABMP to pay for the money your out, I'm sure your attorney will tell you this as well.

ABMP has been cooperating with me regarding this situation and I will not put pressure on them to pay for something someone else did.

 

Or seeing as how it's under 1000 then you better off moving on.

Yes, I am out approximately $245 and although it seems minimal to you, tell that to at least 15 others that she's screwed. I'm certain that her children had a fabulous Christmas

Permalink Reply by Laurie on January 11, 2011 at 2:28pm

Karen, I appreciate your efforts in trying to recover the money owed to you by WKM and I hope you find recourse in your claim. 

You raise an important issue for all therapeutic massage business owners. Although this is one specific company, we as good business people should be asking for a monetary deposit before we commit our time and efforts to a project. Many studios, clinics and spas have no issue requesting a credit card number to secure the service time for a client. Paying a deposit for any type of contractor (home repair, painting, etc.) is not unusual and massage should not be any different. When working with a trusted client, maybe a deposit can be waived, but for all other get a deposit up front.

Permalink Reply by Julio Ortiz on January 12, 2011 at 11:02am

Hi Laurie,

You make an interesting point. I think that's a great idea.  How would I go about doing this as an independent contractor?


Laurie Russell said:

Karen, I appreciate your efforts in trying to recover the money owed to you by WKM and I hope you find recourse in your claim. 

You raise an important issue for all therapeutic massage business owners. Although this is one specific company, we as good business people should be asking for a monetary deposit before we commit our time and efforts to a project. Many studios, clinics and spas have no issue requesting a credit card number to secure the service time for a client. Paying a deposit for any type of contractor (home repair, painting, etc.) is not unusual and massage should not be any different. When working with a trusted client, maybe a deposit can be waived, but for all other get a deposit up front.

Permalink Reply by Bob Saxton on January 15, 2011 at 10:53am
Uhhh, I have a question?  On these jobs that therapists go out on for such agencies: Are the therapists required to give tax  and other identifiable personal information?  And if so, how can there be any assurance that this information has been safeguarded.  I mean if people aren't paid, phone calls and emails not returned, etc etc etc....then how can one rest easy knowing their personal information hasn't been compromised?  It's bad enough when Bank of America loses peoples information with all their corporate safeguards, but these smaller outfits as described here, is therapists information in shoe box somewhere?  Kind of makes ya wonder doesn't it.
Permalink Reply by Karen Spence on January 15, 2011 at 11:08am
Bob,
We are not required to give any information outside of name and address if we make less than $600 in a year. She has my SS# and I am NOT happy about it. I've contacted the LA District Attorney's Office.
Permalink Reply by Karen Spence on February 25, 2011 at 3:44pm

Anyone here who has fallen victim to Selina Garrison or Well Kneaded Massage may find this intereting

http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx

Permalink Reply by christine renee obrien on April 6, 2011 at 10:27pm
i have worked for them befor and had no problem getting my check. have you got yours yet?

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