Kayla Itsines fans in uproar after paying for ‘free’ app

SOUTH Australian fitness queen Kayla Itsines has left some of her most loyal followers angry and out of pocket after the launch of her smartphone app.

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FITNESS queen Kayla Itsines has left some of her most loyal followers angry and out of pocket, with her smartphone app accused of causing bill shock and breaching customer privacy.

The 24-year-old Instagram queen from Adelaide rose to worldwide fame after releasing her Bikini Body Guides to women across the globe but has since set her sights on developing a smartphone app called Sweat with Kayla.

The free app, launched late last year, has workouts, fitness tips, shopping lists and meal plans for the “largest female fitness community in the world”.

It offered fans a three-month trial for free but according to frustrated users, gross privacy breaches, technology glitches and surprise charges turned them off.

Fitness guru Kayla Itsines. Picture: Nick Clayton

The Sweat with Kayla smartphone app.

Frustrated women have taken to social media criticising the app after being charged $19.99 a month through their Apple accounts despite discontinuing its use.

“Yesterday I was working out and the app froze on a circuit … I ended up just using the timer on my phone,” one user wrote.

“Beware! 1 week free also automatically sets your Apple ID to subscribe and debit without your approval … Misleading to say the least not worth $20,” another disappointed user wrote.

Others have complained that the app shared intimate measurements and weights of users as well as email addresses and photos without consent.

Ms Itsines’ public relations manager Bec Sealey said the company had not received any complaints about privacy or cost issues.

“We invite our customers to contact our team ­directly if they experience any such issues so that we are able to resolve them,” Ms Sealey said.

“As always, we have the interests and wellbeing of our fitness community at heart and welcome contact from any of our customers should they require assistance from our team at any time.”

But those who tried to contact the Kayla Itsines customer support service about their concerns were forced to post on her Instagram page to get her attention.

“Hi Kayla can you please get someone from your team to contact me,” one desperate customer wrote.

“I’ve sent an email but no reply so far. I was really loving the app but now I am a frustrated ­customer.”

Originally published as Kayla Itsines fans in uproar after paying for ‘free’ app