SINGAPORE — Customers and employees of two gyms, X Fitness and Kyklos Studio, are seeking answers after gym outlets reportedly closed without notice.
Gym websites and social media pages have been removed, and the Kyklos Studio mobile app does not display any classes for customers to book.
The man behind both studios is said to be Mr. Atlas Ang. This isn’t his first foray: In July of last year, he reportedly unexpectedly closed a cycling studio in Midtown East, moving all classes to his gym in the Gr.id mall.
Customers at the outlet, called X Spin Club, were unaware of the sudden change and had been having trouble getting refunds for classes missed due to the change.
Mr. Ang, 31, is registered as a director of the Hong Creatives advertising company. He has four other companies registered in his name: ACSG 1, Kyklos, X+ and XSC 1.
Online business records showed that all four companies deal in training courses for sports and games. The former employees claimed that these companies are associated with Ang’s gyms (X Spin Club, X Fitness and Kyklos Studio), which have closed and reopened in the last two years.
Requesting anonymity in interviews with TODAY, three former employees claimed they are owed up to “a few thousand” in wages.
The founder of sportswear brand Vaultage, who also did not want to be identified, alleged that Mr. Ang has failed to return approximately S$3,000 worth of products to him since he ended his association with his gyms in August last year.
The police have confirmed that complaints have been filed against X Fitness and Kyklos Studio and that they are “investigating the matter”.
Gym-goers, mystified by the sudden closure, said Mr. Ang’s fitness studios have been poorly attended in recent months, sometimes as few as three people for a session intended for 40 participants.
X Fitness and Kyklos Studios sell class packages to their clients. The more class credits you buy, the cheaper each class will cost.
A client who wanted to be known as Ms. TK said that she made a police report about the loss of S$99.
The 41-year-old director of a media company said, “On September 1, (X Fitness) launched a promotion where you can get a one-month unlimited membership for S$99, on the condition that you have to do the payment through Pay Now directly to your account.”
He then had to register his credit card details on the Kyklos Studios mobile app to make recurring payments for an additional two months.
“Normally, the studio sends the receipt by email (when I pay for the classes), but this time there was not,” he added. Ms. TK said that she had been a regular at X Fitness since last year.
His last package was activated through the app last Saturday, but the next day he realized there were no classes to book on the app.
“On Monday, I texted the studio manager to check if there were classes, but didn’t hear back. I tried to contact X Fitness through Instagram but the account disappeared… I contacted the instructor who said he couldn’t reach the studio manager,” continued Ms. TK.
“That’s when I realized something was wrong.”
More than 20 people have been buzzing on the TikTok social media channel through videos and comments that they have unused credits and are unable to reach Mr. Ang or his team.
WHAT THE CASE SAYS
In response to inquiries, Melvin Yong, president of the Singapore Consumer Association (Case), said that he received a complaint against Kyklos Studio and X Fitness between September 8 and 13.
“Consumers complained that they had unused fitness class sessions with these businesses, but were unable to book classes because the businesses ceased operations and became uncontactable,” it added.
One consumer stated that she had paid 700 Singapore dollars for 50 spinning classes, but was unable to book any.
Mr. Yong said, “Case had informed these consumers of their avenues of recourse, including the option of taking their claims to small claims court.”
Another X Fitness customer, who wanted to be known simply as Lynn, visited her outlet at the Gr.id shopping center in Dhoby Ghaut on Tuesday, hoping to find out more about what happened.
All he saw was a closed door, he said.
“I have been attending classes since 2021 almost four times a week and I have about seven classes left from a S$380 package I bought in May 2022,” he added. These remaining seven classes amount to S$133.
“The company app has been revamped in the last year, so I thought the lack of classes in the app was a bug.”
Both she and Ms. TK said they have been trying to contact X Fitness, but have not heard back from Mr. Ang or his employees.
ALLEGATIONS OF PAYMENTS DUE
Fitness instructor Jeremy (not his real name), who had worked with X Fitness for nine months, alleged that Mr. Ang owes him around 300 Singapore dollars for the spinning classes he has taught. This was for classes he led after he quit and was still working to fulfill his month’s notice in the studio, he claimed.
Jeremy said he was concerned about the company’s situation when he discovered that the new instructors had signed their contracts under ACSG 1, rather than XSC 1.
“Why did you register so many companies in such a short time? It was pretty worrying so I thought I should go,” Jeremy said, adding that he still has no answers to his question.
“We used to communicate via WhatsApp, but he kept saying he was busy (after I quit) and I should email him instead.”
A general manager of X Fitness reportedly sent Jeremy a pay stub, although Jeremy insisted that he had not received the salary due.
“I’m still considering whether I should go to the police or small claims court, but it’s another process I’m not ready for,” Jeremy added.
A former instructor, who was self-employed by Mr. Ang last year, alleged tMr. Ang owes her “a few thousand” in wages after he fired her, although she declined to reveal the exact amount for fear of being identified.
“Instructors joined as soon as they left,” he said. “I would train (the new instructors) for a short period of time before they led the spin classes.”
Similarly, another former instructor alleges that Mr. Ang owes him around S$500 in pay, and former class participants allegedly approached her in hopes of contacting Mr. Ang to repay their unpaid credits. used.
“There are people who have spent their hard-earned money to pay for classes,” he added.
TODAY understands that newer instructors who had signed contracts with Mr. Ang were required to pay between 500 and 1,000 Singapore dollars in training fees.
As for the founder of the sportswear brand Vaultage, she alleged that Mr. Ang owes her merchandise that was displayed at X Fitness last year.
“When Atlas first opened his X Spin Club business on Club Street (in the Ann Siang Hill area), he reached out and we collaborate with him often, such as clothing sponsorships.”
“My partner and I decided to leave about 40 pieces of our sportswear for his customers to browse and order online. X Fitness acted as a pick up point for customers.”
Then, when they tried to end their partnership last August, the Vaultage founder claimed that Mr. Ang said the studio was too busy to let Vaultage get his clothes back.
After a heated exchange at X Fitness on August 14 last year in an attempt to get his items back, the Vaultage founder filed a police report against Mr. Ang. He has not yet received the items from him, he added.
“We consulted an attorney who said we can file through small claims court, but we are just a small business,” he said.
TODAY has reached out to Mr. Ang for comment.
WHAT THE LAWYERS SAY
Mr. Joshua Ho, an associate at Luo Ling Ling LLC, said that in cases like this, there is legal recourse for customers, employees and suppliers, but they must consider whether the company has the financial resources to honor their claims.
“In the event that these gyms or fitness studios do not have sufficient assets to satisfy any potential court debt, there may be little incentive for these individuals to pursue their respective claims as the prospect of full (or even partial) recovery is dim. short. Mr Ho said.
“For customers who have paid for gym and fitness packages, they can sue for breach of contract.”
Noting that the amount claimed by these clients is often less than S$20,000 each, he said they could go to small claims court.
This would be similar for suppliers who have supplied your goods or services if your claims are less than S$20,000.
“In the event that the amount of the claim exceeds S$20,000, these providers may wish to consider engaging an attorney to initiate litigation against these gyms or fitness studios,” said Mr. Ho.
Employees can file a claim for breach of their employment contract, which would instead go through the Labor Claims Courts, although the amount of the claim is limited to S$20,000.
However, freelancers don’t have that recourse and would have to go through small claims court, said Ms. Luo Ling Ling, managing director of law firm Luo Ling Ling LLC.
In the event that these gyms become insolvent, Ms. Luo said that creditors can apply for a liquidation order against these companies. However, she added that this is usually done by the largest creditors.
“In such a situation, a trustee would be appointed to liquidate these corporations. The remaining assets of these corporations would be distributed according to the pari-passu (equal footing) principle,” he said.
The pari-passu principle means that each party receives the same treatment and therefore receives the same amount.
“Among customers, workers and vendors, employees are likely to be paid first,” added Ms. Luo.
“As for consumers and sellers, the pari-passu principle would apply.”
He said that for independent workers, they would also be subject to the pari-passu principle and since they are not employees, they have the same status as other creditors.
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