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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

JENNIFER of SAN ANTONIO, TX April 25, 2009

My husband and I were promised a free year membership if we paid the reminder of our dues by a certain date that we owed. We would get new card numbers to get a new ID made. This was over a month ago and still nothing. My husband and I lost over 600 dollars to Bally's promising us something we never got. We're thinking about switching gyms that will treat us better and get more with our money. If anyone is looking for a gym. DO NOT GO WITH BALLYS!

Gisselle of East Meadow, NY April 23, 2009

Please be advised that both my sister and I stopped into our local Ballys Total Fitness at around 11:00am to cancel our memberships. We did this because we were informed by an agent via phone that a cancellation fee is applied if the transaction occurs via phone and not at our fitness center. Upon arriving at the fitness center, we were informed that we could not cancel our membership at the location and that it must be done over the phone. We were provided with a phone number to call. Upon dialing that phone number we were not even provided the option to hold for a representative. Instead we were informed that the call volume was extremely high and we should call back at a later time.

Now at 7:43pm, we are still getting that same message. The representative at the Levittown center told us there was an option to cancel via the automated service. That information was inaccurate in the sense that the cancellation menu only provides review of the cancellation policies and not the option to actually cancel, but instead to speak to a representative, which can't seem to happen because of extremely high call volumes that last more than 8 hours.

Javonne of Augusta, GA April 20, 2009

Javonne of Augusta GA (04/20/09)
I was a college student home for the summer and I wanted a place to work out while I was home. I joined Bally's in the summer of 2003. I told the rep that I only wanted to join for the summer as I was going back to school in the fall. She said that it was no problem and explained the cancellation policy to me. In August I cancelled my membership and paid my last fees. I then left for college (in Japan). When I returned I found out that they had been charging me the entire time I was gone. When I called I was told to send them proof that I was living in another country.

I faxed them all of the documents they needed and was told that it was sufficient. I just received a call from a debt collection agency wanting over 1,000. I explained to them that I thought this was over in 2004 and asked if they have the documents I faxed in. They said the those documents were not sent over with my account and that I could settle for 500. This is ridiculous! What can I do?

I presently owe over 40,000 in student loans and my husband and I are barely making it with two children. We want to buy a house someday and dont need anything else on our credit report.

Charlie of Las Vegas, NV April 19, 2009

Charlie of Las Vegas NV (04/19/09)
I am writing on behalf of my best friend, who does not need to be named. My friend joined the Bally Total Fitness in Alexandria, VA on October 2008. She needed help with her fitness and assumed she bought the second best package they had. Along with the 3 year contract she was suckered into came a free personal training session. The FREE personal training session was with Eyaya and went great. He was very knowledgeable according to her. She didn't buy the personal training package that day but was considering it.

Cutting to the chase...On October 28, 2008 (Few weeks after joining) this animal contacted my friend and told her he had a cancellation from one of his clients and if she wanted another personal training session. My friend agreed. That day she was brutally raped and sodomize by this monster. He was recently convicted and sentenced to 30 years on March 5, 2009. Even after letting Bally's know about what happened and having the Alexandria Victim Program write on her behalf, Bally's still refuse to let her out of her contract and send her bills every month. Please let me know what I can do to help my friend. As of now she is healing and unable to handle this herself right now.

Nancy of West Covina, CA April 16, 2009

Nancy of West Covina CA (04/16/09)
When I first visited Ballys Total Fitness in Mesquite, TX for a week pass; I was falsely pursueded into signing a 3 year contract. I was told by Tim Cartwright, that it was a 3 month and I could cancel within 60 days if I wasn't satisfied. At first I kept saying that I wasn't interested in a commitment with any gym. He insisted, saying all I had to do was show up to the gym a total of 15 times or so and that if in those 60 days I wasn't satisfied, I could cancel without any penalty fee. I kept saying no and yet asking what the catch was and he kept telling me the same story.

I finally agreed that 3 months trial was fine. Immediately once the transaction was done I realized it didn't in fact say 3 months. I asked him about it and he said it was just a misprint and that as we agreed if I visited the gym and wasn't satisfied, within the trial period, I would have no problems canceling. It sounded great so I tried it. I did the number of visits and wasn't happy with the results; the gyms I attended were stuffy, dirty, and the front desk people were never behind the counter to scan me in. I found myself scanning my own card in after a few visits. I decided with the price of gas, it wasn't worth the trip and canceled within the trial period with a letter to Ballys. Yet, they kept pulling payment out, so I put a stop payment on them.

I ended up moving to California and months later there was a letter sent to my old house saying I owed them money. I tried to call to have this fixed and there is never a live person to talk to. I canceled, a cancel is a cancel. I followed their trial period and was pushed into signing a misleading contract. I don't believe it's right for them to do this to anyone. I've read similar complaints. How is it that they can get away with this? Can't we all just file a class action law suit against this shady company? I don't want this to go to my credit and I owe them nothing.

I have been stressing over this and just want them to stop screwing with mine and other peoples lives. The supposed money I owe is growing and there is no live Ballys customer service rep to talk to about it. I am stressed over this matter and would like a solution.

Debora of Fresno, CA April 15, 2009

Debora of Fresno CA (04/15/09)
I signed up at Bally's with a work out partner. We work two hobs and can only workout at night. We selected Bally's only because it had a24 hr gym. However, this winter without any prior notification, Bally reduced the hours at the 24 hr gym and it now closes at midnight. We get off work at 12:30am. We were told by one of Bally's manager's that we would always have access to the 24 hr gym. They refuse to work with me. At first telling me it was only temporary but the 24 hr access is still not available. They have also allowed three of my co-workers out of their contracts for they same reason. But will not allow me out of mine.

They have been taking the monthly fees and i have no gym to workout at.

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