Hotstone Yoga closure leaves Hong Kong customers seeking refunds

Hotstone Yoga has closed its Hong Kong studios, leaving hundreds of customers facing potential losses on prepaid classes and membership packages. The company notified customers through its WhatsApp number shortly before operations ended on Wednesday. The notice, issued by law firm Cheung & Co, said Hotstone was shutting down after considering its business operations and other circumstances.

The notice invited people with claims, debts or other rights against the company to submit supporting documents by email. It also said affected employees could contact the relevant government department about their rights and that Hotstone would provide documents where reasonably practicable. Hotstone said it would pay September wages and refund September class fees by October 5.

Customers remain concerned, however, about money paid for classes extending beyond September. One customer, Chan, told the South China Morning Post that she paid HK$11,880 for 63 classes in July but had attended only 19. She said she doubted the company would return the balance.

Chan said a WhatsApp group for affected customers had almost 500 members on Thursday afternoon. She also alleged that some customers had been encouraged to buy additional classes on Sunday and Monday, shortly before the closure. She said packages costing up to HK$29,700 for 180 classes had been sold and that new members were among those affected.

Chan said customers had contacted police, the Customs and Excise Department and the Consumer Council, while some had sought help from credit-card companies. Customs said it had received reports and would take enforcement action if it found breaches of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. The SCMP said it had sought comments from Hotstone, police and the Consumer Council.