peterneiko
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Az- My brother and I spent 15 yrs in this carpet and upholstery cleaning franchise. After 3 different owners, constant changing franchise agreements, oversaturation issues, price wars within the system, low resale values and questionable moral behavior on part of the franchisor we decided to walk away empty handed after 15 yrs. We did not owe them a penny, transferred all proprietary equipment, eliminated all trademarks and symbols, removed all listings for our former business name from all directories, and so much more. Now nearly 6 months after the end of our contract they are sending me threatening letters because I put what was originally my personal phone number, then my business number back in my name as a personal number. They are demanding I disconnect it or esle they will take legal action against me, and hold me liable for attorney fees and court costs. Included in these threats are accusations that my actions constitute patent and trademark infrigement.
I left with a resulting debt of about 70,000, wasted 15 yrs of mine and my brothers life with nothing to show for what was suppossed to be our IRA, didn't owe them a cent and they are still harrassing us. Also, even though the FTC requires the franchisor to list former franchisees in their offering circular, they do so while listing the phone numbers they force their franchisees to disconnect in accordance to their franchise license agreement. Thus a potential franchisee can't contact that former franchisee because the numbers are disconnected. This is so even years after the fact.
Since franchisees basically have no rights, and few states have any laws regulating franchising, franchisors are basically unregulated and can do whatever they please. Any comments would be appreciated.
I left with a resulting debt of about 70,000, wasted 15 yrs of mine and my brothers life with nothing to show for what was suppossed to be our IRA, didn't owe them a cent and they are still harrassing us. Also, even though the FTC requires the franchisor to list former franchisees in their offering circular, they do so while listing the phone numbers they force their franchisees to disconnect in accordance to their franchise license agreement. Thus a potential franchisee can't contact that former franchisee because the numbers are disconnected. This is so even years after the fact.
Since franchisees basically have no rights, and few states have any laws regulating franchising, franchisors are basically unregulated and can do whatever they please. Any comments would be appreciated.