Complain about a product or service

Bally Total Fitness

Child Care

Among its many failings, Bally appears to do a poor job of accommodating parents with small children.

Bally • Sales Practices, Contracts • The 12-Day Rule • "Lifetime" Contracts • Moved Away • Maintenance • Child Care • Opening Late • Headphone Policy --- News • Bally's Customers Hope To Exercise Their Rights

Deborah of Tamarac, FL, writes:
I signed up with Bally Total Fitness 10/95. At that time the manager that filled out the paperwork told me that child care services was available to me as long as the child is 2 yrs and older. In February of 1996, I went to the facility and was denied child care. They told me it was not part of my contract (Platnium). I told them that they allowed me to use the service before and I was not told this. Also, that upon joining, the manager assured me that it was part of the services I was entitled to.

They called the manager at this location (Bay Plaza), whicih was not the location where I signed the contract. The manager, Gary, was very rude and told me the only way I could get child care is if I upgraded to a more expensive contract. I refused. I made several attempts to contact the manager who originally signed me up and was always told he was not available.

I then wrote a letter of cancelation to the company with an explanation of what had occurred and asked that my contract be cancelled because of false information given at the time I signed on. I also cut up the membership card and enclosed it with the letter along with the contract. I never received a response.

Months later when they did not receive any payment, their accouting department called me and I explained what had occurred. THe woman told me she understood and would note the account. I never heard anything else. A few months ago, I received a letter from a collection agency requesting payment of this bill.

I am currently trying to purchase a home and because of this issue on my account, I am unable to get a mortgage. I am emotionally stressed out because of this and it is preventing me from improving my lifestyle.

We assume Deborah kept a copy of the letter and still has her contract. If so, she should send a certified, return-receipt-requested letter to the company and the collection agency, explaining the situation and citing the clause in the contract that the company violated. If there is no such clause, Deborah may have to negotiate a payment plan.

Mira of Utica, MI, writes:
This complaint is for Bally Total Fitness. They DO NOT have one facility that has a child care department. Would anyone know why? I have been a member for serveral years, just moved to Michigan last summer and I havent been able to use the gym. I have my niece using it because the membership is paid for and I couldn't use it.

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