Hi guys has anyone had dealings with the franchisee association?

I own a franchisee which we bought 5 years ago, in that time we had loads of help, support and meetings etc.  Now there is no support help or meetings etc, out of the 140 franchisees there is 35 off us (only started contacting people today) who are on the verge of bankruptcy, serious crisis or worse.

We have all individualy tried to contact head office who have said thats the way the company is moving! its your business now run it!

People are seriously struggling and wondered if anyone had dealings with the franchise association and to let me know if they could help or not (there shut over weekend)  Or is there anyone else ie obbdismen (not sure how to spell that sorry) who could assist.

Where all in a bit of a state at the min.

any help greatfully appreciated

Hi Thompson

Don't know of any ombudsman but you must be really worried.  I assume that you signed a contract outlining the support that you would receive from the master organisation?  Are they perhaps in breach by withdrawing support (if, indeed, this is what has happened).  Is it a national franchise organisation?

Best Wishes

Andrea

hi andi2020

Yeah its a national franchise (well known in its feild (cant say the name or industry or people might guess)  It was even on a tv show the other day because of so many of the outlets going bust.  I have learnt of another 2 today alone

I have a friend who was looking into a franchise, so am following your thread Thompson1, I've been internet surfing all to do with franchise and can find no help for you either when bankrupcy is looming.

Will you update if you find any light at the end of the tunnel, as I for one am interested in who can help.

Good luck, I hope that you can pull through, I have my fingers crossed for you.

Hi

Presumably if they are national you must have some sort of contract committing them to at least a minimum level of support which may give you some legal recourse to them.  If there are other franchisees in the same business going bankrupt have you identified the reason why and is it possible for you to bail out before the inevitable happened? 

PM me if you wish to discuss further.

Andrea