Bakersfield dog training center abruptly closes, customers demand refunds and accountability

Several clients who purchased sessions at The Zoom Room dog training center in northwest Bakersfield are now left without services after the business suddenly closed without notice.

Margo Perea, like several others, said she found out over the weekend: “We never got a letter, we never got a phone call, we never got anything received regarding their closure. Not even the last time we were there, which was maybe two or three weeks ago, his last practice, they never said, “Hey, you know, just a heads up, we’re going to close.” “

It wasn’t until she Googled the phone number to reach staff that she knew no one would answer the phone.

“It said it was permanently closed, so I kind of freaked out and called and no one answered and I called back and left a voicemail,” Perea said.

We also tried to call, but no one answered. Instead, we called the owner, Jared Vaughan, but that also took us to a voicemail.

Perea told us she started attending the facility in January. Like many others, she paid for expensive packages ranging from $20 to $1,500 that would allow her to bring her puppy.

Perea said she was forced to pay $1,500 for three sessions and was worried she wouldn’t get it back.

We stopped at the store to see if there was a sign telling people it was closed and there was, but next to it was also this bright pink handwritten note.

Without a name or phone number, he directed people wanting to talk about a refund to the address of a house near Calloway Drive.

When we told Perea this, it frustrated her even more: “Why are you forcing your customers to drive more or work harder for their money? For me it’s very basic, I wouldn’t go,” she said.

The Eyewitness News investigative team went to the location which was a house listed under Vaughn’s name…when we knocked, no one answered.

Although the owner has yet to address the sudden closure, the Zoom Room franchise sent a letter to some customers stating:

Dear Zoom Room Bakersfield Customers, We hope this email finds you well. As you know, Zoom Room Bakersfield closed its doors this past weekend. This closure was as unexpected for us, here at the brand level, as it was for you. As a brand and franchise organization, we are investigating what happened and whether reopening is a possibility. As a brand, we are 100% committed to our customers and will do everything possible to try to reopen the establishment as quickly as possible. We will pass along any updates relating to Zoom Room Bakersfield as best we can. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify that Zoom Room Bakersfield is part of a franchise system and therefore operates as a locally owned and operated small business. As such, responsibility for refunds and related matters rests with the small business owners of Vaughan-Ballou Inc. The franchisor, nor any other separate franchised establishment, has any responsibility in this regard. If you have prepaid services on your account and would like a refund, please contact the business owners at [email protected]. We appreciate your patience and understanding with this situation. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the store owners at the email address provided above. Sincerely, Zoom Room Franchising, Inc.