If you are (were) a member at the Mequon Swim School (formerly Swimtastic) and tried to take your kids to their lessons last week, you were probably greeted with a locked door and this
This is a letter from Cindy Salentine, the owner of Mequon Swim School letting customers know that they will be closed permanently as of July 15th. If you have remaining pre-paid lessons or swim camps, you have two options:
- You can contact the Franklin Swimtastic location at 414-421-7946 and try to arrange something through them.
- Your other option (which is not stated in the letter) may work if you paid via credit card. Contact your credit card company and explain the situation. I had several friends do this and their credit card companies reversed the charges for the remainder of the lessons (which should be about half of the amount you paid.)
Also posted on the door is the summons stating the pending lawsuit by Swimtastic against Ms. Salentine. While it is not stated, I am guessing that Ms. Salentine violated a non-compete clause when she was asked to leave the Swimtastic franchise and kept the customer list and same staff to open Mequon Swim School.
It’s a shame as both Swimtastic and Mequon Swim School provided excellent lessons in a very comfortable environment (warm pool water!) and we will miss our weekly lessons there. Perhaps someone will take advantage of the already custom build structure find a way to offer quality lessons there again.
UPDATE: After speaking with people covering this story for FOX 6, I have been told that Swimtastic IS allowing Mequon Swim School customers to finish out their session at either the Waukesha or Franklin locations.
Anonymous says
Mrs Salentine was forced to close by Barrett and Susan Wainscott of Swimtastic swim school. She asked to stay open through the remainder of the summer to help her clients but Wainscotts refused. Wainscotts also refused to accommodate any of her clients after the close. And before you start assuming why a law suit was started, get your facts straight, your assumptions are false and will get you in trouble.
Anonymous says
Maureen,
It has been brought to my attention that you are posting false accusations on the situation between myself and Swimtastic corporation. Neither of us deserve your amateur opinions. You will be contacted by my lawyer. I’m sure with your vast expertise in journalism you know LIBEL is against the law.
Cindy Salentine
Wisconsin Mommy says
Cindy –
Thanks for signing your comment this time.
You’re right. Everyone is getting Swimtastic’s side of the story since they’re the only ones talking at the moment. I’d love to include yours in the post. If you’d like to email me a statement, my email is in the sidebar. Or if you’d prefer to talk in person, feel free to email me a phone number and a time when you would be available to talk. I look forward to posting a retraction for whatever facts are wrong in the original post.
– Maureen
Jackie says
regardless of what side you take, the ones hurt by this are the kids. Shame on Swimtastic and Mequon Swim School for not being able to resolve thier differences and have now penalized the children who looked forward to thier swim classes.
Josh Quinn says
Ms. Salentine,
I run the consumer investigation division at FOX 6 in Milwaukee and am Katrina Cravy’s producer for CONTACT 6.
We are running a story on this issue and will air it Sunday night at 10pm. We’ll be discussing multiple issues, including the lawsuit against you. We have tried to contact your attorney, Steve Cain, multiple times but he has not returned our calls. We also tried to call and email you but both have been disconnected.
If you’d like to participate in this story or learn what will be in the story, please contact us – or have your attorney contact us -before Friday, July 30 at Noon.
Thank you.
Josh Quinn
Producer
CONTACT 6
FOX 6 Milwaukee
(414) 586-2131
joshua.quinn@fox6now.com
Wisconsin Mommy says
Jackie – I could not agree more. I don’t really have a “side” on this one. We were huge fans of the school both when it was Swimtastic and Mequon Swim.
They were, by far, the best place around IMO with a comfortable waiting area, fantastic teachers, and warm water. I have honestly never had a complaint or seen anything to give me concern about bringing my family there.
I only became aware of this when people who I had referred to the school called and told me of the closure and expressed frustration about the lack of notice and options.
We will miss the school very much and wish it had been able to stay open!
Melissa Lasko says
Hi Maureen – Kudos to you for broaching this topic. Clearly there are a few “sides” to this, and you’ve handled what quickly morphed into a somewhat ugly situation with tremendous class. Even better, you and another commenter (“Jackie”) have reminded all involved who REALLY is getting hurt here. Keep up the great work!
Best regards,
Melissa Lasko
Anonymous says
Maureen –
Thank you so much for posting this! My children, ages 5 & 2, attended Mequon Swim School. I paid $359 for lessons, which was not an easy decision for my husband and I to make. I work part-time so that I can be home with my children.
The money is an issue, but the bigger issue is that I have two very disappointed chidren. I did attempt, on more than one occasion, to contact Cindy Salentine, but she did not return my phone calls.
I find it abosolutely reprehensible that Cindy would take my money, knowing that she was going to be closing her doors. Cindy, if you are reading this, I am wondering how you sleep at night. You have my contact information, get in touch with me and let me know how you are going to make this right.
Thanks again, Maureen! I did not know about your site before this incident. You have gained a follower!
Sincerely,
Amy Kay
Jackie says
I have filed with my credit card company for the remaining classes we did not receive. I’m hoping that they will be able to credit me. If Cyndi knew she was going to have to close the doors, than yes, how does she sleep at night? If this is something that Cyndi didn’t know and there is a chance she will be opening her doors again, than I would think it in her best interest to refund the money to all of us who trusted this business. Isn’t there a law against taking money without providing the service promised? I have friends who paid for the whole year that are out a lot of money!
Wisconsin Mommy says
I did finally hear from Cindy (via her lawyer) claiming that she did not take money knowing the school would close. Mr. Cain stated that Cindy was only made aware of the case when she was served on the 17th. Of course, those of you who showed up to classes on the 15th and saw the letter in the window may not buy that one.
I have received many emails from people who lost a lot of money in this mess and a number of them have been able to get some back through their credit card companies.
I wish I had more I could tell you and had a way for those who had paid by check to retrieve their money as well. Maybe contact Ms. Salentine’s lawyer and see what he can tell you?
Sue says
It is interesting to read all this as I was also affected by the closing of the Mequon Swim School this past summer. My husband and I saved all winter and spring to be able to sign up all three of our kids for lessons. It was quite frustrating to receive the letter on Friday 7/16 informing us of their closing when a week before (on 7/9) I received a voicemail stating they would be closing that week (week of 7/12) for routine pool maintenance. Besides losing about two-thirds of the over $500 we paid for all three kids, we lost time to find another place to do swim lessons.
My children were extremely disappointed as they were just getting used to their teachers and classes. We were grateful to Waukesha’s Swimtastic as they were more than willing to accommodate the kids.
What was most angering for me was the impersonal form letter I received that had no explanation as to why they were closing and what was going to happen to my money.
I’d be interested to hear what comes of this lawsuit.