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Bally Total Fitness

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

We get so many complaints about Bally Total Fitness, it's a workout just to sort through them. Maybe the most important thing to know about all health clubs is that the contracts are legally binding. If you want to cancel your membership, you must do it in the manner specified in the contract -- in writing, via certified mail, usually. Otherwise you end up like Kathleen (below).

Kathleen of Waterford, MI (8/4/05):
In April of 1990, I went to the Waterford Balley's (which at that time was called Vic Tanney) with my sister-in-law to see what it was like. The girl that met with us talked me into joining. After I filled all the paperwork out, she told me that I needed to bring back a cancelled check to verify my checking account. She also informed me that if I wanted to cancel that I should contact them within 4 days. The following day I called and cancelled the membership. I was then under the impression that everything was taken care of.

Now 15 years later, as I am trying to get my finances in order to buy a house, I find out that I was turned over to a collection agency and I owe over $1100.00 to Balley�s. 15 years later!

Amanda of BALTIMORE, MD July 20, 2009

I paid my contract amount in full after 3 yrs of dealing with their harassing phone calls. They then renewed my membership without my permission and are trying to put me in collections. Getting through on the telephone is useless - they tell you the call volume is too much, for you to try back and then they hang up on you. It took me 4 calls in a row for them to put me in a queue to talk to someone. Nice how they don't hestitate to call you every minute of the day if you miss a payment, but you can't get through to them.

Arman of Los Angeles, CA July 16, 2009

I became a member of Bally Total Fitness more than a year a go. The guy who was helping me gave me a paper and asked me to sign, I was going to read the paper, but he said "you don't need to read it, since I told you every thing you need to know" ((YES OF COURSE I DIDN'T NEED TO KNOW IT IS A 3 YEAR CONTRACT)) I trusted him and I signed. I started the gym, but in the first day I when I saw that they gym smells, the machines are so old and so dirty. I called them to cancel my membership but they said you can not since you have a 3 year agreement. what am I suppose to do? I don't have money to hire a lawyer, but I really like to give them a good lesson. what they do is not right and moral! it is rippof.

Bao of Lawrenceville, GA July 16, 2009

I had signed 3 years pre-paid membership contract with Bally. The contract was due in 2008. After that, I joined YMCA. In May 2009, I received unbelievable deals from them-one-year membership for 99 with prepay. I could not resist the deals, so I joined on the phone. The membership would start June 28, 2009, but I found out the one close to my house had closed the door before I activated my membership. I called them to explain what was happened, but they refused to give me refund, they claimed as long as there was one location within 25 miles from my house, I had no right to cancel the membership. The one they asked me to go was 25 minutes one way from my house.

I called my credit card company to charge back, but the most ridiculous was that they claimed they had my signature in the application, which I signed in 2005 because they had played tricks in the promotion flier - Once you accepted this promotion, you had agreed to renew your old contract”how smart they are!

Even if it was their fault I had to cancel the membership, they still refused to give me a full refund. Actually, it is just 99, but I am angry at their deceptive business practice.

Jodie of Walnut Creek, CA July 15, 2009

I joined Bally Fitness in Walnut Creek, California in October of 2008. I signed a 24 month agreement after speaking with three different staff members, taking a tour, and considering the location and quality of that particular location. Within three weeks of signing the contract I noticed surface cleaners, towels, soaps, etc. were not being restocked. When I asked the front desk clerk why these items weren't being restocked I was informed that the Walnut Creek location was closing within two weeks.

I was extremely disappointed that I was not informed of the closing when I signed on nor was there any information posted anywhere to inform me of such plans. I spoke to a supervisor and complained I was upset for not being notified of the closing upon signing and asked to void my contract. The supervisor remembered helping me when I signed on, apologized and said he would void my contract. He had me sign a form, told me I would be charged for the first month, I agreed, and then left.

I did not get a copy of the form I signed while quitting my contract, but I had confidence in the supervisor to complete my request. It's been many months now and I'm disputing the credit card charges of membership dues and I'm being harassed everyday with phone calls from Bally telling me I owe monthly membership dues and that my contract is still valid. When an employee of a large corporation has you sign a form and tells you your contract is void you should be able to walk away with assurance that what you've been told will be handled properly. Also, I feel their phone customer service is extremely unprofessional and rude.

Ruth of Colorado Springs, CO July 10, 2009

The swimming pool has been under construction and not usable since February 2009 and I keep being told they're working on it. I joined the club because they did have a pool and steam room. It's now July 10, 2009 and the pool is still under construction.

Dana of Washington, DC July 10, 2009

I joined Bally's and then hired a personal trainer for 14 sessions, I contracted with one specific trainer, the fitness director of the center, Steven Carter. I attempted to contact him for to schedule my sessions, it took over 3 weeks with him avoiding my phone calls.

Finally, I met with him twice, the 1st time, he was late and complained about his personal home life, he worked with me for only 30 minutes, the 2nd time, he complained to me about how the center was unorganized, how the other trainers take payments under the table, all kinds of nonsense, he also criticized my form and stamina after 1 session, is that not why I am in the gym. He walked away and left me alone doing the exercises and ended the session quickly when his next client came in. To top it off after two sessions, I should have had 12 remaining, he put in the system that I only had 8 remaining.

Trying to get Bally's corporate to hear me and correct this mistake and horrible experience, proved unsuccessful. Therefore, I have cancelled my Bally's membership, however, Bally's will not cancel the remaining personal trainer sessions, they stated I could get another trainer perhaps, I no longer want anything to do with Bally's, I spent an entire day of the phone with membership services, when I asked for the general manager of the club, they gave me a name will Spencer and a disconnected phone number, I later found he was out of the country and there was no one left to talk to. In other words, when you contact Bally's, is basically sorry charlie after they get your cash.

Therefore, I am seeking legal representation and would like for the local news channels to do a feature on corrupt practices at Ballys, I want a refund of all my money from the personal trainer sessions and the remaining refund from cancelling the membership. Bally's is a rip off!!!!!!!!!!!

Patricia of Cherry Hill, NJ July 3, 2009

When I entered the gym this morning (July 3, 2009), it felt a wall of heat hit me. The gym felt like a sauna - definitely not a good environment for exericising. I approached a staff member at the front desk (no name tag, a muscular black man) and asked him if something was wrong with the air conditioning. He gave me a dirty look and repeated my question back to me as if I was an annoyance to him. I told him the gym was very warm and could he adjust the thermostat. He told me no, only the manager can adjust it and he wouldn't be for another hour. He gave me an attitude - poor customer service.

I approached another staff member (a young white woman with dark hair, again, no name tag) and asked her about the air conditioning. She was more friendly, but told me that only the maintenance man can adjust the thermostat because it requires a special code to be entered and he was off today. I approached another staff member (because at this point it became clear that you get a different answer depending on who you ask) and he agreed with me that the temperature is unbearable and confided in me that recently Bally's corporate offices have directed that they keep the AC set to a warmer temperature to save money.

I would estimate the temperature in the club at about 80 degrees which is not only uncomfortable, it is UNSAFE for people who are exerting themselves during exercise. It was so uncomfortable in the club, I was only able to tolerate half my workout before I had to leave because I was so hot. It was a waste of my morning. Since nobody at the club could (or would) address the problem, I asked the front desk for the phone number for the district manager. When I got home and called the number, it was a wrong number. I made several more calls and was unable to speak to any manager, nor could I get a live person on the phone at the main corporate number. How is it possible that no staff member at the club was able to adjust the THERMOSTAT? Shouldn't that be something that employees are able to do? Why was there nobody there who was in charge and could address this issue?

Secondly, if it is true that Bally's corporate has instructed their gyms to raise the temperature to save money, this is completely outrageous since the most important thing when exericising is to have a room that is a comfortable temperature so as not to get overheated and pass out. If Bally's really wants to save some money, they could easily afford to lay off some staff members. Most of them are unfriendly and rude and not helpful and the ones who are not rude are at best ineffective at addressing any issues that need to be addressed.

As an aside, the "lifeguards" at the pool are frequently literally sleepingon the job which is another recipe for disaster. Bally's is definitely going downhill. I have never been able to get any problems addressed effectively at that club and now I cannot even physically tolerate exercising there with this new air conditioning situation.

George of Philadelphia, PA July 2, 2009

Signed the contract when I was working full time. Only work 3 or 4 days a week now because of the economy. Have written to the Corporate office to have them cancel my contract and take the account off of ach, because can not afford the monthly payment due to rent, car, household bills, food and daughter in high school. Bally's will not cancel unless a doctor fills out a form stating that it because of a medical condition. I do not know what to do at this point because every time they put the payment thru to the credit card it takes it over limit and there is an extra chatge for an over limit fee. What do I do at this point.

Nancy of San Diego, CA June 25, 2009

Out of town frequently on business; advised several times that I could not 'freeze' my account unless "contract" paid in advance. Did this; tried to charge me 4./month for inactivity but waived this when I complained, but now say that since I didn't pay it, they don't owe me the additional time;

local gym closed while I was away; even though my contract was on hold, they resumed billing month-to-month at the end of my initial contract period with NO authorization to do so. Have had no use of their facilities since I put my membership on hold in 6/08; they refuse to extend my paid up portion even though the only other gym is at a very inconvenient location.

Have lost a year of membership paid in advance. New location not only inconvenient (it's 20 miles away instead of the required 25 miles away), I have significant pain in my broken/injured back with driving more than 10 minutes.

Susan of Buena Park, CA June 23, 2009

The pool is so disgusting. It hasn't been cleaned for ions. Often the water is so very cold no one can use it. The showers are scary. They are SO dirty. Often there is no soap in the dispensers. The staff are totally incompetent. They are not friendly and seem to be totally disintered in helping anyone. I say good-bye.

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