Complain about a product or service

Gold's Gym

Maitreya of Baltimore MD (07/07/08)
I joined the Gold's Gym in Laurel, MD and got in a one year contract. Upon signing the contract I was told that to get out of the contract I will have to show proof of change of address for relocation. so I moved recently within the state of MD. I changed my address online at MVA and got the change of address card. I showed this change of address card to the Gold Gym employee and he said that I have gotten out of the contract. But I just got a call from one of the employees of Gold's Gym telling me that I need to show them my driver's license as a proof of relocation.

Since I have moved within Maryland, I do not need a new license and the address change card is sufficient. But I need a new license in order to get out of the contract at Gold's Gym! This did not make sense to me at all. So tried talking to the manager at Gold's Gym. He was very rude to me and did not listen to my arguments at all. I told him that i could send/fax him copies of my utility bills at my new address and the lease agreement to prove that i indeed moved but he rudely hung up on me.

I do not want to go to MVA; stand in a line; and waste half of my day to get a new drivers license when it is not necessary. And I hate the fact that nobody told me in the beginning that i need a new drivers license and that only a new drivers license will constitute as a proof of relocation.

If I do not get a new drivers license they will keep billing me until December this year.

Denise of Eugene OR (06/28/08)
After I joined I discovered the manager of the gym likes to play very loud, heavy metal music. When I asked if he could turn it down, he told me no. When I said he didn't seem to care, he agreed with me. Then I found that I had overpaid for 6 months of membership fees because they changed billing companies without telling me. I have been working on that problem for over 4 months now. They tell me the check is in the mail.

I did not use the membership I paid for because I couldn't take the loud metal music, and I still have not received the $180 that they admit they owe me.

Sarita of Reston VA (06/26/08)
I took 4 sessions of personal training. I prepaid and completed the training. Then I prepaid for another 4 sessions, and the first session was scheduled, and I was sick, so I called 24 hours before to cancell the session, as is the rule, the trainer said he will reschedule and will call me back. Afte about a week and a half, I had still not received the a call, so I contacted the management.

By this time due to lack of response, and being given the run around for a schedule, I decided I did not want to do the training after all, and asked for a refund. The gym refuses to give a refund. They want to keep the money and not provide the service.

Each session cost me $65.00 and I paid for 4 sessions.

Angela of Mesa AZ (06/25/08)
Last year, I agreed to a one year membership at Gold's gym. I do not like to get involved in contracts, so I made sure that I asked specific questions regarding the agreement. One of these questions was as follows: After the year, what will I need to do to cancel my membership? (I realized because I was planning on moving that I did not want anything longer than a year.) To this, the salesperson replied that it would be a simple process in which I would just call the 1-800, and tell them that I no longer wanted the membership. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, I signed the contract. (The contract reads that I could cancel by calling the 800 number)

When the year had passed, I called the 800 number. Unfortunately, I was then notified that I could not cancel my membership this way (as I had originally been told) and that I would have to call the gym in which I signed up at. Immediately, I called the gym where I had signed my contract and talked to the person who answered the phone. When I told the individual that I spoke with that I needed to cancel my membership, she informed me that I would need to come into the gym in person to cancel. To this, I responded that because I was not in the area this would be impossible. Furthermore, I told the person that this was not the condition in which I signed my agreement. After we went back and forth, the person assured me that my membership would be cancelled.

A few weeks ago, I received a call from the gym telling me that I have a balance on my account. At the time that I placed the call cancelling my membership, I did not have a balance. Given these circumstances, I feel I should not owe anything. It is not my fault that the company changed its cancellation policy or that the person at the club did not do the proper follow-up. I asked the manager to resolve this situation, but she and the company refuse to do so. I am now receiving phone calls regarding this. However, I refuse to pay -- it is the principle.

My credit score could be compromised. Spent hours trying to resolve this.

Chelsey of Louisville KY (06/25/08)
I signed up with golds 3 years ago. My debit/credit card attached to my checking account that paid for my membership was stolen. I gave Golds my new card info to bill me. Because of school and work I faded out on going but figured they would just keep billing me. I figured they cancelled my membership when they billed the wrong card the first time

The Golds Gym's in Kentucky closed down and all became urban fitness ran by Global Fitness I called about my account and they had no record of me.

Now 3 years later I get a collections letter from some company called Maverick & Associates in Kentucky (which is not a registered business) trying to collect $1500 from me!!! This was the first i heard of anyone trying to contact me about the membership. I tried calling them back 3 days in a row and no one ever answered or called back. I had a friend call Global Fitness on my behalf and this is what she found out:

Maverick is a private collector that works out of her home. Urban fitness 'inherited' her from Golds Gym when they closed. Urban Fitness never got any of the past due account records/contracts they were all sent to Maverick. Maverick is not a registered business. Maverick was told by Urban Fitness not to worry about getting the money for the gym...she is to charge her collection fee only (per Diane at the Corporate Office) which is the cost of 1 year of membership = $515.00 this was told to Maverick in the email.

WELL yesterday Maverick called me and tried to charge the full amount. I said to check the email and then she got pissed. She said she wouldn't take payments and needed payment up front or 5 post dated checks. I disagreed and called a friend in legal collections and found out some info.

#1. If no judgement is made I shouldn't be 'in collections' #2 GOLDS was supposed to send certified mail trying to collect the money before turning it over to anyone. I never receied any correspondance by phone or mail #3 If they sold the business to someone else (urban) they should've had them contact me for the balance due and offered me the chance to use the facilties if paid. Urban had no record of my account ever existing.

Right now I am so distressed b/c i go to school full time and only work part time and can't come up with $515.

John of Sandy UT (06/17/08)
I was casually paying my daily fee to get into Gold's Gym for a day with my friends. The manager, who has seen me come in before, walks up to me and asks if I had a membership. I'm paying $10 and filling out this insurance waiver EVERY time I enter. But I say the indifferent no to him. He then tells me to get a membership since the fee is $20 a month with a down payment of $30. Thus, if I paid twice a month to get into the gym, I would have paid the monthly fee to get in as many times as I wanted. So as I was signing up for my contract, I told the manager that I was headed to college in California within three months. Therefore, I needed a month-to-month plan. She concedes and seemingly enrolls me in a month-to-month plan.

I checked in the next month to see why my balance was an astronomical figure of $151.84. A representative, not the manager (since she was seemingly in her everyday business meetings), told me that my primary payment plan was invalid, since my card isnt going through in their system. Not only is Gold's Gym charging me $40.92/month, they're charging me these extra fees. For instance, I was paying with direct withdrawal from my credit card. Oddly, Paramount (the company that handles the fees) says that the card is a bad card. I tell them that it works everywhere else (gas stations, grocery stores, etc), but it just doesn't happen to go through at Gold's Gym. Hmmm.

It seems as if they're purposely not letting it go through so they can charge me the delinquency fees, late fees, and an ESA fee (whatever that is). Anyways, I ask the representative if I can cancel my account because theres no way a high school student would pay that amount for a gym pass. She asks, Why would you do that? Theres an abundance of reasons not to ever go to that gym ever again! But instead, I just say that Im moving to California. She says that I would have to relocate to an area that doesnt have a Golds Gym within 25 miles proximity. Well I told her before that I was going to California, but she said to check out the area to make sure there wasnt a Gym.

Shouldnt a representative know that there arent any Golds Gyms in California? Additionally, she said that since I was on a 2-YEAR contract, instead of the agreed month-to-month plan, I would have to take extraneous steps to cancel my account. After dealing with the cancellation policy (proof of residency, 30-day written notice, and a $100 cancellation fee), I ask her why my balance shows $151.84 for 2 months. She unsurprisingly doesnt know why. By the way, I was supposedly enrolled in the basic program without a personal trainer or any other luxuries.

With that said, how does a payment increase from the original $20 to $40.92? How does 2 months add up to $151.84? Ill tell you how- Golds Gym siphons peoples money through means otherwise called false advertising. I advise new members to not become members at all, but if they must to look through the contract instead of blindly signing it. Also, bring a electronic recorder to actually record what the manager says, so that in case he/she lies, you have proof of what he/she said earlier.

As a high school student going to college in the Fall, it is extremely economically damaging for Paramount to add cheap-shot fees. I understand if my credit card doesn't go through, but they should have at least called me to confirm that it wasn't not going through, instead of adding 3 months of deliquency fees, late fees and other fees onto my already over-burdened balance. Furthermore, Paramount (probably an affiliate of Gold's Gym), without any consent, increased my monthly balance from the agreed upon $20 to $40.92.

Hilary of Seattle WA (06/14/08)
I have been a member at this club since 3/2003. I am a GoLD member and have moved out of state. I wanted ot keep my memebership but change the plan I am on. I have been trying for weeks to reach someone. The manager now a Brian Taylor is never available. I leave messges and no one calls back. The 800 number will not route calls to any senior management and the email address for the Club does not work. They are making it impossible to change the membership and at this point they are going to lose my business. THe staff is completely rude and not helpful - in fact I feel as though my messages are not treated with priorty.

I have been an excellent memeber - always paid on time and I feel I am being blocked on purpose as there is absolutely no way to reach this club. When I left atlanta the club was on a real downward turn but I liked the travel pass benefits so wanted to remain a golds memeber. I have spent hours trying to find a way to reach anyone. I am contacting American express and will be disputing furture charges as the company has left me no choice. This is utterly frustrating. I tried to make a complaint to GOLDs corp but the online form does not work and there is no contact info at all - YOU CANNOT REACH ANYONE or get any address to try and manage the situation.

I continue to accure 49.00/month charges for services I am not using nor can I use. I want this resolved. Someone needs to contact me and their contact methods need to be fixed. I am on a month to month agreement and have th eablity to cancel with 30 days notice but I am being blocked from being able to do so or as I earlier wished to change my memebership type - again this treatment or lack there of has changed my mind about the company in particular this gym.

Michael of Jupiter FL (06/13/08)
Gold's Gym uses a 3rd party billing company named ABC Financial to scam it's members. The contract is a scam, and creates major obstacles to cancelling your agreement. Even after the contract is over they scam you for two months of dues before you can canel.

This is how it works. When you go to the gym to cancel your membership, they give you a form with a phone number on it to call. The reason they do this is that they don't have the guts to tell you that you cannot cancel in person or by phone! They require you to put your request in writing to ABC Financial! Then they require a 30 day notice on cancellation. This gets them two months of dues on every person who cancels their membership! They truly have figured out how to scam you legally! I plan on doing all that I can to expose these scam artists. ABC Financial and Gold's Gym...co-conspirators!

A minimum of two months of dues

Alix of Cypress TX (06/04/08)
I recently returned home to Texas for the summer, after living in Utah to attend college. I wanted to cancel my membership, so I called the gym I had a membership at and asked to have my account cancelled. They said that they couldn't cancel it there, but could give me the phone number for corporate headquarters, where, theoretically, I could cancel my account. When speaking to an employee at the corporate office, I asked what steps I would have to take to cancel my account. I was informed that there had to be a reason to cancel (such as moving- apparently just wanting to cancel a contract is not reason enough), and that if the reason was relocation, that I had to provide some kind of proof of relocation. This could be in the form of a lease agreement, a utility bill, a check stubb, or forwarded mail.

My mail is not being forwarded to me, I am living in my parents' house, and therefore my name is not on the utility bill, nor do we have a lease agreement. I am currently employed as a private nanny, and recieve private checks. Thus I have no check stubb. When I explained my situation to the employee, I was informed that there was no other way for me to prove my relocation (they don't accept bank statements). When I replied that I needed to cancel, or I would have to pay for the next two years until the contract expired, she listed off (again) what proof of relocation they accepted, and said there was nothing else I could do.

I asked to be transferred to a supervisor. I was informed that she was in a meeting, and was likely to be so all day. I asked if there was anyone I could speak to, in person, who was in some kind of management position. The answer was no, they were all in meetings. When I asked if they would be available tomorrow, and at what time, the answer was no. They offered to transfer me to the voicemail of the supervisor, although when she will listen to it and respond is beyond me, since apparently she is in meetings during all business hours. I left the message, but I would be shocked if my call were returned. Needless to say, the customer service was terrible, their business practices were poor and unethical, and I would never recommend them.

There is a $100 cancellation fee, I have been billed for the past two months (over $50), and if I request a copy of my contract, it is an additional $10. Not to mention the $100 start-up fee.

Mocha of Ofallon IL (06/03/08)
I am in the military and was deployed overseas for a total of 10 months during the last year and a half. I had frozen my account both times and even spoke with the gym manager that was working there. When the gym was first opened - I paid for a 2-yr membership. He said that the membership was still valid until this summer and that it would still be valid when I returned from my deployment.

When I got back this month and returned to the gym - I was told by corporate that I owed $174. because my membership expired 6 months ago. The manager no longer works there and I tried to explain my situation with military deployments. They didn't care and told me that irregardless of me freezing the accounts while I was gone - that my membership still expired and now I owe them $174.

It's clear to me that corporate has no clue how to deal with their customers and that they are blaming me for allowing my membership to expire. Now, they just want MORE money from me - nevermind that I sacrificed myself for the American dream everyday while deployed in support of OEF for 10 months. As a result - I have terminated my membership at Golds and have bad-mouthed this corporation to anyone and everyone in the military that will listen to my story!

Gk of Union City MI (06/03/08)
I have been a member of golds gym for 6+ yrs and have never had an issue with any staff, or co-member. Until now. I have always worn sports bras or tanks due to the fact I get hot and the AC does not work.As you know sports bras are made to wear alone! without coverage. Well I recently had a breast inhancement, since then I have work the tank style sports bra for better coverage but flip up bottom, exposing only my belly.

I have recently been choosen to be the one for harrasement in the gym by the now manager Rich. He says they are trying to change the image of the gym and make it look like it is not full of beauty gueens and body builder(hello its golds GYM). Therefore covering his butt,kind of!! Says in trying to enforce the rules.....of what his personal issues......EVERY GYM ALLOWS sports bras as long as you are not hanging out,,,which I was not.

I felt singled out, there is not a posting or rule shown to me. How can they just change policy? Fix the AC, the website sells short sports bras....with GOLDS gym on the chest..>>HELLO Anyway, I felt as though after paying many years of money and making many friend I was not longer wanted in the gym. So I was forced to stop payment and pay a fee to the bank to keep them from charging my account.

Brent of Amarillo TX (06/03/08)
I have recently relocated and my wife was left behind tying up the loose ends. When she went to cancel my our membership she was told that I would have to physically come in and sign a cancellation form. I could not believe this so I called and spoke to Ashley. She told me that unless I sent a certified letter or a signed fax that she could not cancel my membership. When I asked why she told me it was to verify that I was indeed who I said I was. I called back the next day and spoke to the account manager who finally canceled my membership through an email.

I feel that Golds Gym uses this cancellation tactic to create barriers to cancellation. My BANK doesn't even require certified letters to do business. There are other ways to verify a person over the phone such as membership number, social security number, adress, and phone number. I am hardly concerned that an individual trying to disrupt my life would call and cancel my membership without my approval. However I am concerned that practices like these used by golds gym are to boost their revenue at the cost of the consumer.

Renea of Virginia Beach VA (06/02/08)
I signed up myself and my 14 year-old son for both memberships and for personal training. I got extremely sick in December and asked the trainer Natalie assigned to me and my son to suspend the membership. All she would reply was I need to check with my manager. My husband brought my son back for 3 more sessions in December and again asked to have the account frozen, and again received the same reply. In December I finally notified the personal training manager Tarin of my concerns via phone message.

The end of January rollls by and no return phone call. I called in February 3 more times and again no reply. Tarin finally returned my phone call on March 3rd 2008. She stated that effective immediately she would cancel my account and refund me the money for January and February. I was billed for March and did not receive any monies back. I finally notified the General Manager Mark who advised that he was sorry and they just swithced to electronic payment methods and my accounts fell through the cracks. In April I went to the gym to speak with him and he advised me that he WOULD NOT refund me the money.

This was after I asked for a meeting with him, Tarin, Natalie, my husband and my son. During that meeting Nataile admitted she lied about cancelling the account. Tarin also lied about not saying she would refund me the money. They offered 1/2 payment for April and 1/2 of December. They said they absolutely would not honor Tarin's claim to refund me the money for january and february. We are talking about 1,100 a month.

When I also tried to explain that the reason for me suspending the account was due to me not working and I could not afford the payments at that time but wanted to resume when I or my husband gained employment. All that said was sorry we cannot do that.

Rodney of New York NY (05/27/08)
Gold's Gym has not provided air conditioning for the past 2+ years during the morning hours. Complaints have not elicited any results.

This results in severe consequences for people with respiratory problems. I have been forced to cancel my membership.

Kelly of Seattle WA (05/12/08)
I'm a month to month member with Gold's Gym. I have no term to meet. Gold's Gym posted notice on May 10, 2008 that their Washington Convention Center location would be closing on May 14th. It was assumed in the notice that members would desire to go to another location 1 mile away. This is not practical for everyone for various reasons. In order to cancel, Gold's requires a certified letter sent to their billing services ABC Financial Member Services. After receipt of the certified letter, membership will be cancelled 30 days after the NEXT payment. Had Gold's Gym provided 30 days notice, I probably would not be writing this. However I feel the policy of the certified letter to cancel membership is extreme in this day and age. I was able to cancel my membership with 24 hours fitness by sending an email.

Caroline of Reno NV (05/11/08)
We started our membership the end of 2007 and we were pretty happy with the gym. The only thing we had an issue about in the beginning was being charged an extra $40. We had paid in full so they eventually realized the error and refunded it a few weeks later.

Just recently (May,'08), my husband went there after picking up our daughter from school. He dropped her and our son off at the daycare and went to work out. In the course of an hour, my daughter was threatened her life, spit on, and hit & kicked by another child. I was at work at the time when she called me crying so hard that I could hardly understand her. She told me that the boy also pushed my son.

From the gym's standpoint, they saw NOTHING. Nothing from the camera that is pointing at the play area or from the employees that were working there at the time. No one called my husband or anyone else to help with the situation occuring in the room. When my husband finished working out, he came in to he find my daughter defending herself from being attacked by the child. He then went outside to get someone to help. MY HUSBAND WENT AND GOT SOMEONE.

Well, the next day I called and asked to speak to the manager. Kyle asked me to come in and talk to him the following day. He said that he would talk to everyone involved and try to resolve what happened. When I came in, I found him talking to Miranda from the daycare about the day before. At this point he still didn't know anything and proceeded to tell me that he would investigate further. Unless I mis-understood him, he led me to believe that the child was not allowed in the gym for the time being and that when he was allowed back in and he repeats this behavior, his parents' membership would then be revoked. No apology was offered my child that day.

A week had gone by and no one contacted me to tell me anything. So, I called and asked to speak to Kyle. He got on the phone and said that the child was not suspended and that he (the child) had apologized to the employees in the daycare. I said to Kyle that that was fine and dandy for the employees, but what about my daughter? Is he or the parents going to apologize to her? He said that was up to the parents. I told him that I would like a meeting set up between myself and the parents and their child. He said that he would call the parents and set it. Still at this point, no apology.

For all those things to happen to my child w/out an adult to intervene as soon as possible, had to have taken quite some time. I told him that his employees would cover their A**(and mind you, I used this word twice and only in the same context) before telling him they didn't do what they were supposed to do. He asked why would they have to do that? Furthermore, he would believe his employees over a child any time. Is he that naive to think that? I got upset and after telling him to call me as soon as the meeting was set up, I hung up.

I noticed later on in the day that there had been a call to both my home and cell phones w/out messages left on the machine or voicemail. I called and asked to speak to Kyle again and was told that he was with a customer. I asked the employee to have his manager call me back - no call back.

The next day, I called again and this time he got on the phone. He said that he was told by the person above him, that the meeting was inappropriate and that if I had any questions, to call Marlene at the Sparks location. Inappropriate?!?! Was it appropriate that this child was able to do this to mine? He gave her information about what's happened so far, he told me. I bet. I went on to say that all I was looking for was an apology from the child & his parents and the gym. Kyle had tried to tell me that he had done so when I came in a week ago. He didn't - I think because in doing so would mean an admission of guilt on the part of the gym. He quickly told me that HE should get an apology from ME because of my language. Like I said before, I used it twice and in the same context. I didn't use any other profanity other than that word because I was getting frustrated, and it wasn't directed to anyone directly.

Customer service is very lacking in this company. Very rude! On top of it all, he started lying about what was said and trying to tell me that I was only remembering what I wanted. I immediately called Marlene, who by all accounts was lacking more so in the customer service department. From the start, she was rude and had no compassion. She asked me if my daughter went to the hospital or if she had any bruises. I asked her did my daughter need to have gotten to that point? She said that, kids will be kids and that she had opened so many daycares in her lifetime that qualifies her to be an expert. She also said that she has 3 kids of her own (boy do I feel sorry for them!). I told her that I wouldn't want her to watch my children, to which she retorted she wouldn't want to watch them anyways because I'm the type of parent that screams fowl every time my children get hurt. She knows nothing about me!

I know how things can happen: at school, my daughter has gotten hurt from falling off the playground equipment or accidentally getting tripped or pushed. Yes, I get that. But, what I don't get is a child intentionally causing harm to another child. What is it about that that's so hard to understand? She kept telling me she didn't understand why I was making such a big deal about this. HUH?!?! I told her I wanted an apology! Sarcastically, she said she's sorry. I told her that was forced, so she went and got an employee to witness her apologize again. She repeated the apology with the same sincerity as before. I told her that I hope her kids never have to go through anything as awful as this and hung up.

Lastly, I called the Reno location again to speak to Ali (the salesperson who signed us up). I was put on hold for quite a few minutes, so I hung up and called again. This time, I asked for him directly. Denny kept acting like he couldn't understand me and eventually hung up. I called back again and asked him why he hung up on me? He said that he couldn't understand me and that I hung up on HIM. Yeah, sure. He finally got Ali. I asked him if I had signed up on a contract. He said yes w/out looking at the contract. I asked him when did I sign up, he put me on hold for over 10mins (I know for sure because my phone has a timer on it). The funny part is, when he got back on the phone, he told me that he had been working out and that he was just about to leave. He wants me to come in and talk to him on Monday. It took him over 10mins to come up w/ that conclusion?

Mike of Tomball TX (05/08/08)
I signed up for a membership with my roommate. I asked Chris, the salesman, point blank if I could cancel at anytime, and he said yes. Six months down the road, when I attempt to cancel, it's not allowed due to the fine print in the contract. Fair enough, the salesman lied to my face BUT I should have been smart enough to read every phrase thoroughly. I continue to pay the dues. Five months later, I walk into the gym to give my 30 days notice in writing.

Needless to say, they continue to charge my card. Took an additional 6 months for them to stop charging my card, essentially stealing 400+ dollars. I placed countless phone calls, emails, and struggled to find the address to the corporate office. The weirdest part, the exact same thing happened to my co-worker at the downtown Austin location. I seriously think they are trained in this type of behavior. It is no longer reasonable to believe that all these complaints are coincidences. My advice, stay very far away. The gyms are nothing special and you can find comparable alternatives without the headaches.

400$ my fault for not reading the fine print (I was lied to) & 400$ for them failing to stop billing after I submitted a written request 1 yr after my membership was created. 800 total.

Kathy of Omaha NE (05/06/08)
My story is so similar to others. I signed up last Oct, 2007. I was talked into a contract with 3 sessions with a personal trainer. Ha ! I was upset from day one, trying to find the guy and then trying to tear him away from this body-building client, who was obviously more important than me. I only tried using him one other time, and dropped the last one.

But, the real problem began, when after 3 months, I was very disillusioned about the lack of results and attempted to cancel my contract giving them 30 days notice. Ha ! Yes, I should have read the very fine print better, but you have to believe me when I say that I asked every question in the book about coverage, cancellations, time limits, etc. So, I have been left with making monthly payments for this place, and haven't used it since January 2008.

I have called somebody who knows next to nothing, and sounds like franchisee, and I've written to an address that answers with generic statements not even related to my subject. The contract ends in November, and I already have my letter ready to send in October, before I call them to advise what I'm doing first. This is the poorest example of a business I have ever encountered. It has soured me completely with regard to gyms.

Kathy of Greensboro NC (05/05/08)
I was a member of Fitness Today and was encouraged by the facility to join for 4 more years. I paid the money and Fitness Today closed. I am no where near the facility to go there and do not wish to. I spoke with an employee in Wilmington N.C. and she told me to email the manager of which after I did do that the email failed to go through. So I prefer to get my money back and if I wish to join a gym it won't be 25 min. away from my home, being that I use to go at 5:30 in the morning and then go home and get ready for work.

Chrissy of Dundalk MD (04/28/08)
Me and my BF joined Golds Gym in January and when we signed up we asked the lady if we could cancel at any time and she said yes we could and asked why I had asked. I told her I may be moving to Virginia and there may not be a Golds up there and she said I could cancel at any time there was no contract. It is now April and me and my BF find ourselves never even going, we have went maybe 4 times since joining so we decided to cancel because I really do not have money to afford something I am not using. We go in and speak to a supervisor and he tells us we can not cancel.

I was confused, he said we had to pay until January 2010. I got furious and tried to be calm, I explained the women never told us this and noted we were moving and he said that was what she was referring to is if we move we can change it which is poppycot because she told me before I said anything about moving that we could cancel at any time. I just called the corporate office who told me I have to pay until 2010 unless I move atleast 50 miles away so either I coem up with some false documents of moving or im stuck. Her response to me when I said I am having to pay $45 a month for a gym I never go to is they can not make me pay but there will be consequences like bad credit and such.

Phommalay of Boise ID (04/25/08)
Im writing this letter to you to accomplish two things. One, Id like to have my funds returned to me, that are rightfully mine, and two, to keep this from happening in the future by others speaking out if its happened to them today. On March 17th, I went to Gold Gym on Fairview Ave, and met with Andy Slagle who is the general manager. We discussed signing me up for a member ship at Golds with a trainer. Andy suggest that I sign up and do a 12 week program but I had advised him that because of my move to Austin I was not sure when I would be gone therefore I would like to sign up for month to month service. Andy had agreed that we would not sign me up for any length of time because my need to move to Austin early this summer. After filling out the necessary paperwork and scheduling my first session with a personal trainer Andy pointed out to me that my monthly charge would be $112. After realizing I didnt have my credit card with me to make the payment, I told him that I would call him back later that evening and provide him my credit card number. He suggested I sign a credit card slip in advance, and he would run my card once he had the number. When I signed the slip, it appeared as though it was correct at $112, but I failed to notice there was an extra number one on the slip, incorrectly showing $1112.00 instead of $112.

After I called Andy and provided him my credit card number I said to Andy, so my card will be processed for $112 and Andy even stated again, that yes it will be processed for that amount before he hung up. The very next day, April 18th, I looked through the paper work from the previous day and noticed the slip read $1112. So I immediately called Andy that day and he didnt answer so I left a message and told him I thought he was pulling a payment of $112 and it appeared there was an extra number 1 written on the slip. I also mentioned to him that I was a single mother of 3, and I couldnt afford for $1112 dollars to be pulled out of my account by accident and that we needed to clear up the miss representation as soon as possible. Later that night around 9pm, Andy called me back and assured me he would get it reversed and apologized for the misunderstanding and would get the $1112 credited to my card immediately and to terminate my contract as well. Two days later, on April 20th, I went on-line and noticed that a payment of $2373.55 had been charged to my credit card by Golds gym. Not only was it not the correct amount of $112 and not the $1112.00 that was incorrect, but it was double the amount.

After realizing this, I immediately called Andy again at Golds Gym, and left him yet another message, and advised him of now the second problem. Andy did call me back that day, and apologized saying he made a mistake and ran a payment through twice by accident?. He assured me not to worry and would have it reversed?. Monday and Tuesday went by, and the credit to my card of $2373.55 had not been corrected. After leaving several messages that went un-returned to Andy, my frustration led me to finally call management teams at Golds gym, where I was connected to Dave Soon in member services on March 26th, 6 days after I was told it would be corrected. I met with Dave at Golds, providing bank statements showing all overdraft fees. Dave assured me he would get right on it. On March 27th, Dave assured me again via phone that all was taken care of, and he was waiting for Golds finance department to cut a check so I can pick it up on March 28th?.

On March 28th, I called at the end of the day and Dave apologized and said that everyone who is able to cut a check has already left for the day but not to worry he will get me a check on Monday March 31st. Come Monday everything that Dave had told me the week before has changed and that this has been escaladed to Ryan Wilson the VP of Golds gym. At this point, after several weeks of frustration, I called Golds Gym again and got in touch with Ryan Wilson, VP. On April 1st, I met with Ryan to try and get all of it resolved and all credit charges, and overdraft fees either covered or help in getting them reversed through Golds Gym error. After going through all the details with Ryan, he said he would have the $2373.55 reversed that day, but he would like Dave Soon, member services rep to try and work it out with US Bank to get the over draft fees reversed. I agreed to this, assuming Golds would be able to have US Bank reverse the fees because of their error. From April 2nd through April 14th, I could not get it resolved, almost 2 weeks.

During this time, I was not able to contact US Bank representative, branch manager Bryan, nor Dave Soon at Golds Gym. After finally contacting them, both said they had left message with each other, but neither had returned phone calls during the 12 day period. Finally, after talking with Bryan at US Bank, I contacted Dave Soon again at Golds and advised him that US Bank would not cover the over draft fees due to the error by Golds Gym. On April 15th,Dave told me to get a sign statement from US Bank, and that he would have a check cut for me? to cover the overdraft fees?. Agreeing, and after doing the legwork and running around again to provide the necessary statement to Golds Gym, Dave contacted me via phone, and said he and Bryan had talked and Golds was now only willing to cut me a check for $50 and that I would have to work out the remaining amount needing reversed with US Bank. After speaking with Bryan at US Bank, he had advised me that Dave Soon with Golds gym had told him that I had called and requested Golds to pull a payment in the amount of $2373.55.

First of all why would I authorized a payment for service that I would not be using as well as authorizing an amount in which I know I do not have sufficient funds in my account to cover. Now it appears that Golds gym goes the extra mile to not state the facts in order to get out of their responsibility of covering their mistake. In the end, what was suppose to be $112 a month charge in which was incorrectly placed at $1112.00, and then doubled to $2373.55, cost me a total of $527.00 in overdraft fees. So being a single mother of three daughters, $527 dollars ends up being a lot of money to me and my family.

Im writing this letter to you, so you can possibly help provide me some answers as to why folks at Golds Gym makes simple mistakes, but will not cover their mistakes when glaringly it is their fault. Im not sure how many times this has happened in the past with Golds Gym making costly mistakes, but I dont see how or why this becomes the customers problem. Id like this letter to help me find a solution to help me recover my overdraft fees, and also shed some light on what kind of business operation Golds Gym is providing today.

well it affected me economically because it caused checks to bounce at $37.50 for each transaction as well as overdraft fees of $35 totalling the amount of $527.00

Mona of Amarillo TX (04/22/08)
I paid for a family membership to Gold's Gym of Amarillo in July 2007. My son and daughter went to play raquetball and swim and an employee was extremely rude to them. When I got the membership my daughter was not living with me, but is now, so I told her I thought it was okay for her to go and use my card and if they asked, just say she's my daughter and doesnt have a card yet. When the employee told her she couldnt, she paid the money and started filling out the paperwork, but the employee was very rude, so my daughter told her she didnt have to be so rude and be such a bitch about it. At which point the employee, named A.J. snatched the unfinished paperwork from my daughter and told her if she didnt like it, she could leave.

I contacted the owner (A.J. is the manager, apparently) and he took up for her! He said my daughter using my card was like shoplifting from Wal-Mart. That's ridiculous, as we have a FAMILY membership, and she is FAMILY! Even at that, she was fine with paying when she found out it wasnt okay. No matter what, nothing excuses being rude to your customers like that, nothing. Its just poor business. I have also been told by another employee there that A.J. has had several complaints against her about being rude. But the owner was determined to take her side, over the side of the paying customer.

What ever happened to the customer is always right? I asked for a refund of my remaining balance, and the owner told me they do not refund prepaid accounts. I think that is just wrong, no matter what the paper says that I signed. When I no longer want to go there because of the way the employees are allowed to treat customers, I think I should be entitled to a refund. I failed to mention, that this same employee was rude to me, personally, a couple of years ago. I just let it go at the time thinking maybe she had a bad day. What a mistake that was. DONT BUY A MEMBERSHIP TO GOLD'S GYM Amarillo Texas, if you enjoy being treated respectfully by a business you are supporting with your money!

I believe my refund would be approximately $190-200. So, that's money I am out. But I will never hesitate to let every single person I come into contact with about the service there, and that's alot of people. If I can keep just one from going there, then I will feel compensated.

Scott of Buford GA (04/21/08)
My wife signed up for personal trainer for a 6 weeks session, enjoyed it. Decided to sign up again, the first trainer was not available, so she got a new trainer (a guy). After 3 sessions with this new trainer,she asked the owner if he was an actual personal trainer (certified). The owner said no, but he was working towards it. He had her doing exercises that didn't seem right and her shoulder began to hurt, that's what prompted her to ask the owner. She (we) have asked the owner for her $$ money, he said no. First he offered the reminaing 5 sessions with an actual personal trainer, the her offered her the first 3 plus the remaining 5 for a total of 8 with a personal trainer.

She is out for a while with her shoulder. Just wants her money back for their misrepresentation. The owner refuses. According to the State of GA, someone receiving $ for services like that should be a certified personal trainer and licensed, the young guy was not. Isn't Gold's Gym breaking the law? Yes. I've called the corp office but there is really nothing they can do they say. I've made this complaint and will get a letter from her doctor. Obviously, next step is to get an attorney.

Mariah of Delray Beach FL (04/21/08)
This is Gold's Gymn Customer Service phone line. I called about an issue on my contract and I spoke with a Manager named Christina (she would not tell me her last name) we had a disagreement on an issue, but instead of trying to resolve the issue she called me an idiot and then hung up on me. Unfortunately, this is there Customer Service phone line and I was very offended for how disrespected I was treated. So I had to go back to the gym to have this all corrected.

Nancy of Columbus GA (04/21/08)
Gold's Gym has continued to draft monthly fees from my checking account since 2004, 3 years and 6 months after I terminated my contract. My contract was for 2 years beginning 9/1/02 through 9/1/04. I last attended Gold's Gym on June 23, 2004. I spoke with Ms. B(706-322-7311 ext.142)locally regarding this problem on 4/3/08 at which time she assured me that she has now cancelled my membership; however, she cannot refund the fees drafted from my checking account for the past 42 months(since 9/1/04), in the amount of $1,680.00.

I was told that the supervisor, Ms. Pate, is the only person who can decide whether to grant a refund or not. I left a message for Ms. Pate on 4/3/08 asking her to please call me either at my home number or my work number but I have not heard from her to date. I just want to recover the money owed to me.

I have been drafted almost $1,680.00 for services that I terminated 42 months ago. I need this money back in my account ASAP, please.

Mary of Austin TX (03/27/08)
I originally became a member of World Gym in the late 1980's and purchased an executive membership that would allow me, after several years, to renew my membership yearly for $64 per year. When Golds Gym acquired World Gym, I continued to renew my membership yearly. It is now March 2008, and when I went to Gold's to renew my membership, they told me that they would not honor my membership any longer at the current rate and they'd be happy to renew me at $299. Gold's Gym did not care that I had been a member for many years and that they had the conditions of my contract on file. This is just bad business and very poor customer service. When I called Customer Support, they were rude and basically said too bad. For those of you thinking about joining a Gym, Think twice about joining this Gym. Obviously, they only care about money and not their customers. They have forgotten the basic principle that customers keep them in business or drive them out of business.

Gym membership not renewable at contract rate. May not be able to renew.

Peter of Valley Park MO (03/24/08)
I spoke to one of the managers at Fenton, MO Gold's Gym location and complained about inappropriate DVD movies and cable channels played at the kids center, namely Scooby-Doo.

He insured me that all DVD movies are cartoon movies and are G rated. He told me that all the cable channels played at the kids center are cartoon channels. I insisted that not all cartoons are suitable for the young children where my 7 years old daughter is the oldest one every time she is in there. My youngest one is 4 years old is not the youngest one there. His response was that they have to satisfy 14 years old children as well.

Not only these response where outrageously absurd but where not true. Today, 3/24/08 my wife went to the gym and found Scooby-Doo & Scooby-Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed which are PG rated movies!

I am also outraged that this manager after I complained to him did not verify my statements and did not remove any movies not rated G?. I found about this when my 7 years old daughter woke up from nightmares and complained about the monsters she saw in Scooby Doo movie.

Allwyn of Katonah NY (03/21/08)
My wife and I joined the gym in Feb. 2007 and signed a contract for group fitness for 15 months by paying $720. In September 2007, Gold's Gym canceled the group workouts and also got rid of contracts. But since we had prepaid the whole amount, Gerard said he will pro-rate and adjust the membership based on new monthly charges and extended the contract until Feb 2009 for the money paid already. We had mentioned that we will be moving out of state soon, to which he said it was ok--that we can cancel anytime. In Jan 2008, when we went to cancel the membership, he said we still have $350 in the account, and when we submit the proof of moving, we will get the money. We sent the fax with proof in Jan 2008, and it's been more than 2 months. We never received any payment. We tried calling Golds Gym Billing and Gerard, and they say Gerard never said the prepaid money was refundable; and they refuse to pay the money back.

Gold's Gym is refusing to pay $350 which they owe for terminating the contract early because we moved out of state and cannot use their service.

Sally of Lake Oswego OR (03/14/08)
My 75 year old mother was visiting St. George, Utah in May 2007 for a month. She went to visit a Gold's Gym with a friend on a guest pass. She was approached by a rep. of Gold's Gym to see if she would like to join. She listened and was told that a Gym would be available to her in her home town when she returned.

Being interested she filled out her application; she was told to put the address of the friend she was staying with. She used her Washington Driver's license as she lives in Washington and owns a home there. They assured her that there was a Gold's Gym in her home town. She paid the entire amount of the 2 year membership as she was offered a 10% discount to do so. Upon return to her home town in Washington she found that there was no Gold's Gym associated with the Gym she joined and there had not be Gold's Gym there for many years. So she was taken advantage of by the rep. of Gold's Gym and they are not willing to do anything except keep her money...which is actually stealing from her. They simply do not care.

We contacted Customer Service. She had to call them and give them permission to talk with me regarding this matter. When I called back, they screened my name and phone number on their call i.d., and would not take my call. Finally I called on another phone and they picked up immediately...so much for Customer Service.

Of course the manager at the Gym says he would never lie to sell a membership or take advantage of a Senior Citizen... that is exactly what he did

Mark of West Valley City UT (03/09/08)
Three years ago I signed up for a Golds Gym membership. In the state I live in there is a three day law in-which all contracts can be terminated. Latter, the same day I signed up, I went back to add my wife to my membership. All seemed well, and they signed her up. Last month when I went to renew, I found that they had overcharged me nearly $200 originally. When they added my wife, they did not charge her the difference for a couples-contract, but the difference plus nearly two-hundred dollars. The salesman said there was nothing they could do about it. I said that mistakes happen, and I would be forgiving, thinking it was a rare occurrence.

I signed up again for another three years, and made sure the pricing was in-order. As I sat down with the salesman and reviewed the contract. I asked him about the checkbox that says "This agreement is NON-RENEWABLE if this box is checked." The salesman had not checked it. When I questioned him about it, he said, We leave it that way, that is how we do it here. When I asked if it would auto-renew if we left it blank, he would not answer, claiming he did not know. I insisted that we check the box. He acted like it was voiding the contract, but when I said I would not sign without doing so, he did put a line haphazardly through the box. I should also mention that he did indeed fill in a rate for a yearly renewal at almost three-times the cost of a normal membership. Strange he filled this in, if he was not sure if contracts did renew that way.

The entire section reads: Following the initial membership term your membership agreement will automatically continue on a month-to-month basis at a monthly rate of $___ for EFT Contracts. The monthly rate may be increased up to 10% per year after the initial membership term. PIF Members may renew at the rate of $___ per person per year. This agreement is NON-RENEWABLE if this box is checked.

What concerns me is that they do not let you know that it is a renewable contract, they even outright lie to avoid the fact.

Case Study: We got a call from our next-door neighbor this week. She found out that her credit-card that she rarely uses has been billed nearly $800 (eight-hundred) dollars for the past 8 months for Golds Gym personal trainer/training sessions. She had signed up for a one-year contract. She had never received a statement or a bill stating that this was occurring. She only was made aware, when she checked her credit-card balance. When she called to ask for a refund, they completely refused. They said they will give her 8 months of training sessions, but absolutely no money back. They also said that a phone call was not good enough to cancel, and they need written cancellation, and if she does not get it to them in the next week, she will be billed for a 9th month.

From the research I have done, it seems Certified Mail is the best approach, but you will still have to fight it. Can you say, Small claims court, here I come. I should also mention that during the year of her contract the personal trainer simply stopped showing up, and she was without a trainer for two months. She had to approach the management before they would give her an extension of the contract, for the time she was not supplied with the services.

In Summary, I like the local Golds facilities. They are not above average by any means, but they are sufficient for my usage. I hate the policies and the deception in the sales staff. 1) Check to see if the box that says This agreement is NON-RENEWABLE if this box is checked. 2) Cross out the lines that contain auto-renewal rates. 3) Pay with a credit-card you want to get rid of, and cancel it immediately afterward. or Go somewhere else.

John of 9465 S. 1100 W. UT (03/06/08)
My wife and I walked into the Gold's Gym on 25th St in Ogden, Utah. We were looking to get a family membership. The salesman sat us down and explained the services and we thought it was a good deal. He then started to dictate to us the terms of the contract. We were aware that it would be a 1 yr. contract. The salesman then told us that the contract would terminate at the end of the year period and that if we choose to continue it then we would have the same payments. We had our kids with us and they were getting restless so I didn't take the time to read through the contract, but rather took the salesman's explanation of it for face value ($800 mistake).

10 months into our contract we were moving so we paid out the rest of the year so that we would be current when the contract closed. Five months later we received a letter from a collection agency stating that we owed Gold's Gym over $800. We never used the service after the 1 year period. I spoke with the General Manager of the gym explaining that the salesman told me the contract would end at the end of the year and that we never used the service after that year, and his reply was sorry you signed the contract and it's the legal agreement. You'll have to pay it. I realize that it's my responsibility to read the contract prior to signing. I knew that I was in between a rock and a hard space. I was hoping for some goodwill on Gold's Gym's part. It's sad that a company would rather trick a customer into buying and drain them as much as possible before discarding them rather than gain the loyalty of a customer ensuring repeat business.

The consequence of this action results in over $800 worth of fees. Almost 1 year's worth of membership dues for 5 months of a contract that I thought had been completed. We were going to take my son to Disneyland, however, now I have to talk to him about the cruelty of businesses and how you can never trust a man with a pen and paper.

Dd of Bountiful UT (02/28/08)
Before my husband and I signed up with Gold's gym, we specifically inquired of Royce, Gold's Gym's representative, if there was a contract of 1-2 years because if that was the case, we would not sign up. I asked him specifically if we could cancel at anytime without any penalty. Once again, he reassured us by repeating back what I had said. Due to current circumstances, we made an attempt to cancel only to find out that we signed a contract for 2 years. I've called their corporate office only to be told that it was fully my responsibility to read the contract. The question I have now is what responsibility does the company have when false advertisement by one of their very own representative? What kind of business are they running? This is not right and I intend to fight back. They must take responsibility!

Cheryl of St. Louis MO (02/26/08)
Two years and three months ago I signed up for a two year membership for my son. He went for quite a while until he carried a full load at college. I knew I wouldn't be able to get out of this contract, so I just let them take it monthly from my checking account. Two months ago I contacted the gym location and asked them how do I cancel my son's membership, and they told me he would have to e-mail them and tell them to cancel membership. We did this, and I am still be debited for $36.00 a month from Gold's gym. Now they tell me that I must come in to the gym and cancel membership. I would like to be able to resolve this. I am not the member, my son is, and he is not available here to personally go in to cancel. What a delimma. I am upset watching this gym take this money from me every month for who knows how long. What to do?

They just keep taking my money, and I have no recourse. I feel helpless with a limited income.

Renee of Stoneham MA (02/07/08)
I signed up for this gym after a surgery as a way of getting some exercise, seeing that I wouldn't be able to work for a few months. I was good about going and walking for about 1 month. After that it was discovered that I would need another surgery. I tried to cancel my membership in house- but of course you can't do that because of there ridiculous policy of writing a letter. So I called the number and told them my story; they said that I would have to be wheelchair bound in order to cancel. Two major surgeries that required me to be on bed rest for 6 weeks each is apparently not enough. When I signed with them, the man said that we- my boyfriend signed up with me- could cancel at any time: no problem. Now as I have been out of work for so, long the $40 a month and the $30 maintenance fee which I was never told of, is really starting to add up. Now I don't even know how to cancel when my membership ends.

No one will help me with this, and everyone is extremely rude and can't speak English. This usually doesn't bother me- but when I am spending $40 a month, and all I want to know is how to cancel it when it is time--they don't even know what I am talking about. I feel as though their policies should be illegal and would love to start a class action or something. The money they are making for poor service is NOT okay with me!

I have a loss of $40 a month when I was told I could cancel at any time, plus random fees charges.

Brandon of Fort Myers FL (02/07/08)
I got a membership a few months ago after my father died and thought it would help me deal with those issues. I am 16 years old and went in without a parent to find out more. After the salesman found out I had a credit card, he immediately signed me up. After my second visit, I was uncomfortable going into the spa area where there was a lot of older guys sitting around naked. I complained and was told too bad. Since I am in school, I can only work 2-3 hours a day so it is very hard to continue paying their bill and not being able to use some of the facility. I asked to be released from my contract, and they said too bad--business is business. I am only 16 years old and don't see how if I do not feel safe in this environment, they can continue to force me to pay for the full time of my contract.

They offered to freeze my membership for an additional monthly fee until I'm older (that doesn't really help me now). If I'm 16 and old enough to enter a contract with them, I wonder if my 12 year old brother signed a contract would it be legal, too, to continue forcing him to pay? Seems like unfair business practice to enter a contract with a minor. BTW: They don't do background checks to see if these old naked guys are sex offenders or pedeophiles. It just seems wrong!

They are withdrawing money from my bank account every month, about $30, and the first fee of $100.

Joanna of Twin Falls, ID (01/24/08)
I joined Gold's Gym in December of 2007. They said that my first bill would be in January. The bill should of been $30.24 per month and it was $50.24. When I called the local Gold's Gym, I got the runaround; said people were in when they weren't, no one ever called back and when I asked to speak to the manager they said that she was the one I needed to speak to about the billing and would be out of the office for one week. I then asked if there was another manager I could speak to and he said yes, but she was at a different Gold's Gym. I replied that was fine and asked for the number there. He said that the two different gym's computer systems are seperate and that my information wouldn't be able to be pulled up there so to just wait a week. I told him that was unacceptable. I called my bank and spoke to someone on there and she gave me Gold's Gym phone number (888)827-9262 because she said that they deal with this a lot. I thought that was strange.

I called that number and spoke to a gal named Paula who said that the reason I had extra charges was because when Gold's tried to take the money out of the account it didn't go through the first time and a fee was assessed. A $20 fee! I told her that was ridiculous. She responded that I most likely did not have money in my account, when I had over $1,800. She told me to fax in copies of my bank statement proving that money was in the account on that day with all of my banking information. I did not feel comfortable faxing in all of that personal information to a fax machine that she later told me was not even close to where her office was and it was not a secure location! I called my bank and informed them of why that fee was assessed and the bank said that they would fax in verification that the money was there. I also asked Gold's Gym what other underhanded fees there were going to be added to my membership every month and she informed me that they charge a towel fee. Yes, a towel fee. I guess too many people walk off with their towels and now they have the right to charge every member a $15 - 20 whenever they feel like it. She said mostly just once a year but sometimes more if more towels are needed. Isn't this something that should be included in our MEMBERSHIPS! I am not one to steal or cheat, but if I am paying for those flipping towels, I'm taking 'em.

We will see how this turns out with the money, but I have a feeling that this slow draining of my money is just the beginning.

Dee of San Antonio TX (01/24/08)
I joined a previous gym that was then bought by Golds Gym. Turns out that when they send you a renewal notice, IF you go in and renew at that time (usually 2 months ahead), they use the date you renew as the start of the next year so you are losing many days each time you renew. They also no longer honor the lower price that was promised when they took over so you are no longer grandfathered. I believe the renewal process for Golds Gym should be illegal and perhaps it is.

Each year if you do not renew on the exact day of expiration the customer loses many days of membership and in many cases, months. I had renewed before I caught this one year and now I have to go to the same gym to renew and go on the exact day or the day before my membership expires.

Thomas of Simi Valley CA (01/11/08)
I get nonstop phone calls from Golds Gym and I am not even a member, never have been and never will be. I want them to stop but they at Gold's Gym do not have a way to contact them. I guess I could email them but then what kind of emails would I get from them after they have my address? So I will not and refuse to relinquish any personal information to a company with these means of doing business in America. I called the Local center near my home and was treated like I am a member who is delinquent with their membership fees or pretty much like a criminal.

Mental stress at home and while operating a motor vehicle, cost for the unlimited time they kept me on there fraudulent 800# (8004575375 also 8887972579 and others) which I got from spending MY time trying get this issue resolved using the internet and phone book. I was treated like I am a member who is delinquent with their membership fees or pretty much like a criminal when I called and spoke with Alicia who stated to me, "Well, you must have been a member if we have your #?" and this was after I told her the situation in a polite manner simply that this # is not whom you are looking for. I did not really want $ at first but this needs to stop and not on anymore of my time and if they want to do business like this then they need to be sued so that others do not get the insane treatment I have received.

Heather of Seattle WA (01/03/08)
I have stage IV breast cancer. There are metastases to my spine and to the soft tissue between my liver and kidney. It is very painful, and it is considered incurable, with a poor prognosis. I must spend months in radiation and I am undergoing hormonal chemo. I have been through harder chemo and may have to go back on it. I have belonged to Gold's Gym since transferring over from the previous owners of the facility - about 15 years. I have paid, and paid, and paid for services I have not been able to use since this terrible fight with cancer. I went YEARS unable to use the gym. I am SO SICK that I simply DO NOT USE Gold's Gym. I just do not go there! So why should I have to pay monthly? I WANT TO CANCEL MY MEMBERSHIP. The people who work at the place are making it as hard at they possibly can for me to cancel my membership. I did NOT SIGN ON FOR LIFE. I signed up for TWO YEARS. But they seem determined to drain money from my bank account for the remainder of my life.

They referred me to some financial service in Arkansas, with girls saying they CAN'T cancel my membership. After extreme pressure they said they would cancel it with a signed letter from my oncologist. But they did not accept it when it was faxed. We will try again. Now I need to have a lawyer. My oncologist at SCCA is appalled that a gym would treat a member in this way. I AM A VERY SICK PERSON. I do NOT need the pain and grief that Gold's Gym is causing me.

My cancer has spread and it is worse. Gold's Gym is destroying my health as they cling to their USE OF MY BANK ACCOUNT.  They are draining money from me that I could be using for medicine, healthy food, and some enjoyment of life before I die in pain from breast cancer. The stress from this, from knowing that they have access to my bank account and take out money every month for something I CANNOT USE, is hurting my health. Stress is very bad for breast cancer. Frankly, I think I should get money for pain and suffering incurred in fighting to get my bank account back from Gold's Gym.

Mike of Washington DC (01/02/08)
Tried to update the expiration date on my billing credit card for Golds gym by calling the customer care line, but was told I need to fax in the request along with a copy of the credit card even though only the expiration date is changing, not the number. Recorded the whole call, and you can listen to it at www.myfileserver.info/goldsgym.mp3

Betty of Taylorsville GA (01/01/08)
I signed a 1 year contract on 9/30/05 for my family of 4 with no automatic renewal (still have the contract on file). After 2 years I received a renewal request agreement in the mail. I decided not to renew and followed the contract instructions to cancel as stated in the contract; the drafts all but stopped after 30 days except $10. After 2 drafts, I emailed the corporate office. A few days later a lady emailed me (without introducing herself as being affiliated with Gold's Gym from an email address with juno.com). I read her email and surmised she must be with Gold's gym; she stated she had reviewed my contract and would stop the draft, but that she would not refund the $20 because my cancellation letter did not state my daughters' name exactly as shown on my contract. (I included the names in my cancellation letter only as a courtesy; my contract did not stipulate that I had to list the individual members in the cancellation letter.)

I replied to her--stated the above and requested a refund. A month later the draft was taken again; now it's $30. I've emailed the lady again, and the corporate office through their website. I emailed my bank and am waiting to hear from them. I will be following up with another certified letter to Gold's Gym.

I've lost $30 directly from unauthorized and unlawful withdraws from my account. The cost of this next certified letter is approximately $6 and have used my personal time for the last 3 months trying to get this stopped.

Anjelica of Belleville IL (12/12/07)
My husband and I recently went to Gold's Gym to renew our membership for the 2008 year. We have been members of this gym since its initial opening in 2005. When we signed up we paid for two years (both husband and I) up front so we could be locked into $19.99 per month (for each of us) for life. This was the original contract we entered into. When the 2 year intial period ended we renewed in late 2006 for the 2007 year at the $19.99 per month (paid all this up front instead of the monthly contributions from checking, etc.).

Well today we had an appointment with Cade to renew our membership for 2008. The very first thing we were told (after we got there) was that he wanted to see our original contract from 2005 or he couldn't give us the $19.99 per month. We were a little confused as during our last renew we didn't have to bring in our 2005 contracts. My husband, who is a very good record keeper, informed Cade that we did have my contract but his was misplaced (long story). Cade then proceeded to tell us that he couldn't give us the $19.99 price but could give us the special discount. I asked if they had copies of the original contract and was told no. I then stated well can't you look up how long we have been members and how much we paid and was told yes, but still needed the contract. At this point I think we were so fed up with being repeatedly told, well I can give you the special, that I asked if I could speak to the manager. Cade informed me he was the manager. I then asked if there was someone I could talk to at corporate that could help rectify the situation, and I kid you not, the response I received was, "That would be VP of marketing, but good luck in getting touch with him." It was at that point we got up, said forget it and left. I don't know what is going on down there at this gym but they have definetly burned this bridge. We were loyal, up front paying customers for 3 years and this is how they treat us. I guess the reason I am informing folks of our situation is so others can learn from it and be prepared. A company or location that doesn't keep good customer records/relations, especially in the gym business, is not a place I would recommend.

We are no longer members of Golds Gym after 2007 year. We are going to join a different gym for a higher fee.

B of Cincinnati OH (12/04/07)
I started going to Gold's Gym on Sept 27th. Ever since then they have been taking double payments from my checking account. It has been 2 weeks of my calling, and no one will call me back about this. As of yesterday my bank just went negative because two charges were deducted AGAIN! I will never NEVER sign with Gold's Gym or their new affiliation again. This is ridiculous--and I will be canceling my membership free of charge, per my personal (father-in-law) attorney.

My bank account is now negative, and Christmas is in 3 weeks.

Mary of Kansas City MO (11/26/07)
On 18 October 06, I signed a contract with Gold's Gym to workout there. The doctor had told me I needed to do something for my health. I work two jobs, so doubted my ability to do this but the person I talked with assured me that he would be my personal trainer and that if I didn't show up, he would call and encourage me to do the workout. This was all verbal. I never heard from him again. I worked out probably 5 times that year before Thanksgiving and then never went back because it wasn't working out to take off to go, which is the only option I had. When I joined, I wrote a check for the initial payment and they debited the other $280 from my account. Only once during the year did anyone ever call me to ask why I wasn't attending and this was some woman and not my personal trainer, but neither she nor anyone else ever tried to get me to do my workout, nor did she caution that I should freeze my account or close it out.

I did not and do not remember that there is a clause in the contract that states that they can continue to debit your account whether or not you have been using the services until they receive a 60-day written notice. After the 1st debit, I stopped payment on the $39.99. I had not used their services in over one year. Also, when I tried to give them the 60-day notice that they stipulated so that they could get more of your money no matter what, they made it VERY difficult to get the notice out to them. You cannot do it online and you cannot go to the gym where you signed and simply cancel. I suppose that this contract is legal because I signed it; however, it is a highly unethical business practice. I will argue that they didn't do what they said they would do. I just closed my checking account after the payment was stopped on the $39.99 because they were now running through a debit for $39.99 plus a $25.00 late fee that they have now tacked on to the $39.99 since payment was stopped. That way they can get around a stop payment. This is ridiculous. I belonged to a gym for 3 yrs in another town where I lived and when I left, the account was closed with a smile and a thank you and I never heard another thing from them.  Am I better off to just give them the money and tell everyone far and wide of their unethical practices? It doesn't seem fair that they should be able to perpetrate this kind of scam without some kind of recourse.

I live from paycheck to paycheck and don't have extra money to give to Gold's Gym. I would think that the money I paid for an entire year when I didn't even use their gym would have more than compensated them. They basically got the money for no services rendered.

S. H. of Bulverde TX (11/10/07)
So, I end up moving out of state October 23, 2007 and want to find out how to cancel my membership. I ask if I have to transfer my membership or do something else. The way he worded his response led me to think that I could not cancel.

So I look further and find out that you need to give the billing company Conexion, more than 30 days notice. I find out I am leaving in the middle of the month, so what the hell am I supposed to do. Needless to say, I am charged $50 dollars to cancel and for the month of November and I am already out of the state.

I will never use Golds Gym again they rip you off with hidden fees and rush you into signing the contract. Oh, and the billing company Conexion, they are highly picky about proof of your new address, something with your name just wont work.

Kathy of Annandale, MN (11/02/07)
My husband signed up our family for a 12 month membership at Gold's Gym.  During the sales presentation the salesman wrote down some notes that the Silver membership had a free month and no enrollment fee. The contract was signed on 12/10/06 and expired on 1/10/08.

However, when I looked at the contract, I noticed that in the area where it showed the recurring fees and terms (extended fees) it appeared they were charging us for 13 months. The so-called manager could only ramble on about proration.  She could only tell me that that's how the computer figures it.

The contract clearly stated that the first EFT draft was to occur on 2/10/07, however, it occured on 1/10/07. Since day one we have had trouble with this gym. 

Suzanne of Chicopee MA (09/26/07)
I fulfilled my 24 month contract and filled out the paperwork to cancel the contract 45 days before the end of the contract, fulfilling the requirement of giving a 30 day notice. Since then I have been billed for 2 months membership fees.  I followed their rules to the letter and am still being charged for a membership with should be canceled.

Rhodesia of Prattville AL (09/26/07)
I became pregnant in Sept. 2006. I had my GYN write a note to Gold's Gym to cancel the membership. Unfortunately, the membership was only frozen until Sept. 2007. I had an unexpected charge for $49.95 from Gold's Gym this month. The manager, Johnny Stackley, stated that there was nothing that he could do. I went to my physician and got a note. I gave Mr. Stackley the note stating that I was having anxiety attacks and I was highly stressed. Mr. Stackley stated that this was not good enough. I would have to get a note stating that I was totally disabled.

Barbara of Mcallen TX (06/10/07)
I was sold a promotional enrollment to open in January. The gym opened in late May. Additionally, the cardio equipment tv monitors have so much glare form the huge windows you can't see a thing and they are not doing anything about that.

I lost 4 months on the contract = $129.84

Len of Carrollton TX (03/12/07)
While having my car in to replace the rear breaks they said it was time to do the Transmission & Fuel injector service. Since they told me that it is recommend by Ford service manual to do this I had them perform this service. I picked up the car on Friday drove it home and di not drive it again until Sunday. When driving it the Check Charging System light came on. The first thing Monday morning I took it back to Goodyear with the problem. One of their mechanics drove the car said it was charging even though the Check Charging System light was still on. They said that the message the alternator meant it was bad. However we had never gotton that message in the 26 months (we bought the car new) we have owned the car.

We finally gave in and took it to the Ford house for diagnosing & repair. It turns out thet the problem was a cable that had been damage during the Transmission service. This is a $42 cable that the Goodyear store attempted to repair (I have the dammaged up cable in my possession) and it is the root of the problem and why we were getting the Check Charging System message. However since this cable was shorted it also damaged the Alternator and it had to be replaced too. So I had to spend in excess of $1000.00 to fix damage done during the time my car was at Goodyear.

Andreea of Delray Beach, FL (03/06/07)
I joined Gold's Gym over a year and a half ago. Beginning of last year, I made numerous phone calls to find out how to cancel my membership.

One told me I could send a letter and my membership will be cancel immediately.  Other one told me my membership would be cancelled in 90 days, and so on. A dozen sides of the story.  I sent in at least 10 cancellation letter that were misteriously lost.  I sent a certified, signature upon receiving letter and they had no choice but to admit that they had received the letter and cancelled my membership.

But they did not stop charging my account. I was being randomly charged between $90-$146.  I eventually had to change my account number to stop them from charging me.

Catherine of Englewood FL (02/07/07)
I purchased the new Fortera SilentArmor Tires 11 months ago. When I last had them rotated the front alighnment was off. After paying $70 to have the front end of my 2004 GMC Envoy alighned I was told that it wasn't the alignment but a defective tire. When on the right front pulled to right when on left front pulled to left. I went to Goodyear and the Manager concluded defective tire.

When replacing tire I was informed that due to tread they could only credit part of cost and would charge me $90 (I paid $150 each new) I called Goodyear and she offered me a deal of about $85 I told her that after all the tires I had bought from them over the years I expected better (this was the first claim I ever had) at that point she got a VERY snippy attitude and told me take it or leave it, I told her I would never buy Goodyear again, she said fine I could pay over $90 for the replacement tire since I felt that way.

I didn't have a choice couldn't drive with defective tire (am praying for the other 3 and the replacement) my next letter will be to the CEO of Goodyear. The manager of the Goodyear shop said that other customers had been treated better with less of a claim than mine and that he thought it was because I am a woman. In this day and age I would expect better!!!!

Lynn of Auburn CA (12/28/06)
Concerns Good Year Marathon Radial D rated trailer tires 225/15 Our fifth wheel came with 4 of them on. There was a recall and we got all new tires. Those proceeded to start wearing from the inside out also. My husband took them to Good Year and got a reduction in price you know pro rate as good tread still (Not much of one!!!) and got all new tires again. This was about 3 years ago. The trailer has been approximately 7,000 miles or less since then. We keep the tires covered in our driveway. Guess what they are bubbling and wearing from the inside out AGAIN.

One blew out on freeway and almost caused us an accident. A piece of the tire went into our bedroom window and we had to buy a new window. Now a rvdealership just pointed out to us another tire has 2 bubbles in it. Again they have perfectly good tread left on them. We are going to replace them tomorrow. WE are NOT going to buy Good Year brand tires!!!

Good Year should be shot for selling them as trailer tires. The rv people who put them on there must be in cahoots with Good Year and get a huge discount and they should also be shot. I would not recommend their trailer tires to anyone. I think if I find a consumers place to complain like the attorney general or whoever I shall send them a copy of this letter to. 

Thomas of Gaithersburg, MD (12/21/06)
For six years I was a relatively content member of Gold's Gym.  After moving out of state, I called to cancel my membership. On day one, I was told I would receive a cancellation form by fax. It never came. On day two, I was again told I would receive a cancellation form by fax, in the next five to ten minutes. It never came. When I called again, I was told that it was against policy to correspond by fax!

Then I was told I could send someone to the gym to cancel for me. When I asked how on earth this made any sense, I was told that sending someone for me would, in fact ,be inappropriate, and that it was just a suggestion. Some suggestion. Some help. Some gym.

It was easier for me to transfer funds to purchase a home, and to cancel insurance, both of which I did by fax, than to cancel a stupid gym membership. Oh, I was also told that the manager was too busy to be bothered with my issue.

John of Boynton Beach FL (11/10/06)
On numerous occasions this gym has had janitorial/public health issues. The showers are so filthy it is not only appalling, but a possible OSHA (mildew/mold) issue and definitely a public health concern. I visit this gym usually 5 days a week and recently had been out of town for a few weeks. After I got back, I resumed my visits to the gym and the shower stalls have the same dirty spots/mildew as they did 2 months ago even before I left. The walls, fixtures and curtains are slimey, have stains, snot and other disgusting things on them as well as gum on the floor, hair in drains, underthings left on soap dispensers at times.

I have asked if they even have a janitor and the front desk personel couldn't even say yes or not for sure. They thought one had been fired and didn't know if anyone else was hired to replace them or not. I personally have NOT seen a cleaning person there in the last 6 months in the day or night. The carpet in the locker room is also getting constantly soaked from water and dryed out with a fan on the floor. There is mildew/mold spores I'm sure all over the place there. I have complained to them numerous times to no avail. It always falls on deaf ears and I'm tired of this.

Robert of Tacoma WA (10/10/06)
I have a 2002 2500 hd silverado pu and have had to replace both of the front bearing hubs the truck only has 87,000 miles on it and there is lots of other people that have complained about this problem.

Replacement has cost close to $600.

Marissa of Reno NV (09/02/06)
Gold's Gym, in my opinion, simply wants you to sign up in their gym, take your initiation fee, take your credit card number, and after the initiation fee and the locked in your 12-month membership fees, they can easily trash you. Especially if you are a Senior member and would not look good in their TV ads. Their customer service, or lack thereof, is very poor; the facilities were only clean initially; thereafter, machines were not maintained properly, TV connections missing in machines, and locker rooms lack sanitation.

In this particular gym, the recumbent bikes in the women's workout room smelled of stale urine. Ugh!!!! After so many problems with the manager and some of the staff, I canceled my membership and requested refund of the remaining two months. I never received a refund and never considered the numerous, valid reasons why I had to cancel earlier. They are just money-grabbers!!! Customer service is an alien word to this Club. I have been a member of one other single health club for over 20 years; never have I been treated so badly at any facility until I joined Gold's Gym.

I forfeited the enrollment fee of $299.95 and $59.94--a two-month fee. The way I was treated so badly left me discouraged and distraught and hesitate to join another health club again.

Darrell of Ft. Myers FL (08/14/06)
I am a Florida licensed correspondent mortgage lender with approximately 35 employees. I wanted to offer my employees an opportunity to go to the gym as a company benefit. Unfortunately, my secretary contacted Gold's Gym.

We were told that they would be happy to offer the company membership, then I learned they went to each individual employee and had them sign a 1-year contract. One of my employees did not have a credit card to give them so the gym representative told him that he would not be obligated until he gave them a card number. The employee did not give them a card number and has never been to the gym but now they are threatening him with a collection agency.

They constantly charge dues against the employees' credit cards and apply my company check to future dates. What was intended to be a nice thing for my employees has turned into a nightmare for us all. My employees, needless to say, are not happy about this. I asked if I could get my employees out of the agreement  and the manager responded, "There is no way in hell they are getting out of a year contract".

Harry of Tallahassee, FL (07/24/06)
When I was signing my contract they told me I could cancel any time.  I signed the documents believing the Golds' sales manger words but when I tried to cancel they told me that I have the contract till OCT 2007, and no matter what, I need to pay till that date.  I am paying them $43 every month without using my membership.

Marjorie of Snellville GA (07/21/06)
We received a collections notice stating we owed Gold's Gym money. Our contract was paid in full for the twelve month period March 2005-March 2006 and was automatically deducted from our bank account monthly through March 2006. After our contract was not renewed, the deductions stopped. Now they are saying we rolled over to a month-to-month contract and have sent our accounts to collections. We did not authorize a month to month rollover and did not renew any contract.

Total monetary amount Gold's Gym says we owe is $297.00.

Amanda of Carrollton TX (06/21/06)
The Gold's Gym Customer Service Center should be renamed because they offer no service whatsoever. While trying to cancel my membership I was kept on hold for over two hours. This is the worst service I have ever received in my life. I cannot recommend Gold's Gym to anyone.

Shannon of Round Rock TX (06/19/06)
My husband and I both got a membership when we moved to Austin 7 years ago. I canceled mine over a year ago because I got tired of how I was being treated and no one seem to want to help me anytime I asked. I also got a cheaper better gym to go to. When my account was canceled they also canceled my husbands by mistake so they said. So after they re-instated him the first did not have his name spelled right and so they could never find him in the system then we went to cancel a month ago and they were caught still taking the bank draft out. When I called them on it they still did not have his name spelled correctly for the past 6 years and they had our address from 3 years ago. Then their excuse for not canceling the account correctly was a computer glitch. I am so tired of dealing with them and I would never recommend them to anyone.

Khalid of Jacksonville FL (06/19/06)
When I attempted to cancel my membership with Gold's Gym I had an extremely difficult time. I was not under contract, however I was forced to pay for months of service, which I did not even use. I faxed another cancellation notice. I tried to verify that my cancelation notice was received (4 Hours after I had sent it), and was told to call back later. When I asked to speak with a Supervisor I was forwarded to voicemail, and no one ever returned my phone call.

This has taken up much of my time. I simply want to cancel my membership, and prevent them from deducting money from my account.

Ruth of Roseville MN (06/18/06)
Gold's has an outrageous contract to begin with. It states that no verbal agreements count as being part of the contract, and it also states that no one can get out of the year's contract unless they are permanently and totally disabled, or move at least 25 miles away. In either case, proof on paper must be provided. Also, the contract automatically renews at the end of a year. The contract must be voided within 30 days of signing, but the character telling you about it says that it has to be voided 30 days before the first charge date a month into the official membership, and then gives a free trial more than 30 days long. They tell many lies, all in the name of getting a person to sign the contract, and then act like they said nothing. I asked wait a minute, where does it say I can cancel any time for a free refund in this contract? and he shook his head and said never mind that, just listen to me. The manager there, Dave Castor, says that everything between the Gold's Gym employee and the potential customer is just personal, and doesn't represent Gold's Gym in any way.

I went through a lot of stress getting this resolved, but since I WROTE DOWN in the contract that I could get a full refund and terminate at any time before the date the guy gave me, I got this resolved. Otherwise I wouldn't have. These people are like a concrete wall. If you have a similar experience, Please: file your complaint with the BBB, AND your state's Attorney General's Office. They need all the complaints they can get before they can help everyone on a larger scale.

Theresa of Alexandria VA (04/26/06)
Went in for a 1 week free trial. Was sent a bill in the mail from "Conexion" saying they would charge my credit card monthly for a membership. I NEVER signed anything, requested a membership, or gave them any payment information. My name was on a false account with someone else's credit card. This other person had been using the membership in my name. No one has returned my calls or emails and all have beenvery rude and unprofessional. It has been 1 month since I have been contacting them and still nothing.

Heather of Falls Church VA (04/26/06)
I joined Gold's in October because it was closer to my home - even though I belonged to another gym. It was cheaper but a bit too far for my morning workouts after moving. Gold's opens at 5 - sometimes - 3 times in the last 2 months they have opened late and not just a few minutes - around 6AM leaving its members standing around wondering what they pay for. They are over priced and I would rather go to a lesser known gym that is of the same quality but at least when you get up at 4:30AM to work out they are open. NEVER AGAIN

Dale of Tallahassee FL (04/14/06)
I have tried over and over to cancel my membership and they just won't do it. They then try and send me a letter stating that if I don't pay they will do what they do to make me pay out the rest of my contract. How in the hell can they do that. When you try and cancel they don't want to give you the form so that you may do that. Then they want to complain when you don't pay them.

My bank account is always at a negative because of them hitting it all the time.

Tim of Reno NV (04/13/06)
This was a corporate membership through my work that i signed up for in March of 2005. We were all promised that the Gym would be open for buisness in June of 2005. When we found out after paying that the gym would not open on time i tried to cancel and they told me just to wait until it did open and go in. It finally opened in mid october of 2005 after I had already joined another club because i didnt want to wait an extra 4 months for it to open. So I went in and filled out the form to cancel like almost everyone else did at my work. Then a couple of months went by and they started taking money out of my account again saying that they had denied my cancellation.

So after being pushed around to different member services people, i finally got someone to cancel the membership and put in for a refund. well the refund never happened and now a different person in member services says that they will not give a refund since i didnt cancel in three days of signing. Well how am I supposed to know in three days that i dont like it if the gym is not even open? We were promised alot of stuff at the gym that never came. They talked it up on paper but it was not everything they said it would be when it opened 4 months late. I never used the gym so I feel that I am entitled to a full refund.

Phillip of Rockville, MD (04/12/06)
Last October, I went to the nearby Gold's Gym and talked to Patrick. I was hesitant about signing up, due to the high costs (I am a high school student). I knew for sure that I was gonna leave the membership in 4 months, so I specifically asked Patrick if that was possible and he reassured me that I could leave after a minimum of 3 months membership. I started with an initiation fee of $50. Now, after more than 3 months, I submitted my cancellation form to only realize that Patrick secretly put a 1-year obligation date (till October!), intentionally hiding the fact and legally binding me to keep paying. I desperately sought him again in the gym to demand an expanation, but I was told by the manager that he was already fired for deceiving other customers likewise.

I can't believe how the business manipulated and abused me. I really can't afford to pay $40/mo till October (already paid two more months after submitting cancellation), and the corporate office never receives any calls.

Carmen of Los Angeles CA (04/04/06)
I had enrolled in Gold's Gym last year under the impression that you are allowed to cancel anytime. However, after the 3rd month of being a member I found out I was pregnant and i could no longer be going to the gym to do intense workout. I was in a tight budget having a child at home and the monthly fee for the gym was $60 a month. Besides that I had a previous C-Section less than 8 months ago and I couldn't exercise any longer.

After bringing a doctors note to the gym and letting them know abou this they still refused to let me cancel. I thought that was absoulutely crazy because i guess they need to see you practically dying in the hospital in order to cancel your membership. I had to get a second doctors opinion to finally get them to cancel my membership without any fees. They had tricked us in the beginning by telling me and my husband that it was ok to cancel any time at all.

Bonnie of Spokane WA (04/01/06)
Never again will I use Gold's Gym!!!! I had told them I was moving away, 50 mile from the nearest center. They would not let me out of the agreement. Being ignorant of THEIR contracts, I had to do so in writing. Well, I understand this.

they made additional charges to my account after I had moved away. Rounding up to $800 worth for a whole year. I tried to fight it, they had sent out a collection aganency to collect it. I just ended up paying them so this matter would not go no further. I will never go back that gym again. I had joined a gym where I was paying "by the month" and cancel at any time by coming into their facility, speaking to a rep. upfront, and canceling right there if I chose to do so (which I did after 2-years of using their facility). I never received a bill from this one particular facility and enjoyed the benefits they offered. They offered MORE than Gold's gym had for the same price.

Jack of Old Hickory TN (03/29/06)
My wife and I took the tour as we were looking to join a gym. We have a 3 year old and as soon as our guide heard that the fact that they had FREE child care during our workout was the big selling point. Now after 9 months of FREE childcare they want to charge an addition $10.00 a month. We signed a 2 yr. contract thinking that it meant they had to stick to their end of the bargain. Not so. We called the location and was told to call the corporate office. We called and had to leave a message.

Finally after 2 weeks we got a call back and they stated that in the contract it says they can change that policy. Anyway, you don't have to look very long on the internet to find a lot of complaints about Golds Gym. As soon as my contract is, yes I plan on completing my end of the bargain, we're changing gyms and sending a certified letter telling them so. I hear it's nearly impossible to cancel your membership. 

Glenn of Greatfalls MT (03/28/06)
I had to sign a contract of obligation for twelve months. My payment was $38.00 per month that totals $456.00. I found there was very poor parking and the gym was over crowded and you had to wait for machines. When I asked about how to use the machines I was told to get a personal trainer (thats about $150.00 to $250.00 depending on what you want. after six months I gave up and quit going.

At the END OF MY CONTRACT I informed them they were no longer allowed to automatically deduct from my checking account. I was informed by them that they would continue to deduct payment until I informed them in writing at least thirty days ahead of time that I was terminating membership.They(Golds) claim (and it says on their contract) that the contract does not expire and they may continue to charge people for their membership even though they havent used the facilities in months and have notified them that you are not renewing your contract. We are paying in advance for use of the gym so why do we have to continue paying when we arent using it and no longer belong.

Jared of Belleville IL (03/14/06)
I came into Gold's gym about two months ago to sign up for a membership. My thought was that I would walk through the door and fill out paperwork, I would then be given a card, pay for my first month and leave. This was NOT the case. When I came in, I filled out a set of paperwork that asked me questions. I put that I work all day, and would only have opportunitys to work out after 10 PM. That's why I chose Gold's gym. I was introduced to Jeremy, who seemed nice enough. Jeremy read my paperwork, and insisted on showing me around before I signed up, despite my anxiousness.

I obliged, and after the tour, I was more ready to sign up as soon as possible. My friends spoke so highly of the gym that I couldn't wait. When it came time to talk business, that's when it changed. Jeremy presented me with three different options of membership, and I was under the impression that these were the only three. The first was over a thousand dollars, the second was over three hundred, and the third was one hundred and sixty-eight dollars.

I earn a modest living and my ONLY option was the one hundred sixty-eight dollar package. I grudgingly agreed, even though all my friends had told me that they paid one hundred and eighteen for their initial membership. I assumed that the price had gone up since then. Jeremy then introduced me to Amy, a personal trainer, while I wondered why I was meeting her at all. We set up a meeting for later that week, but as I said earlier, I don't have time in the day. I walked out with a sense of accomplishment, but as I got to my car with no membership, and one hundred and sixty-eight dollars missing, I wondered what had just happened. I came back later that week and was told that Jeremy was sick, but he was the ONLY one that could grant me membership.

Then I was told that I still owed one hundred and eighteen dollars. This was a shock to me, because I simply couldn't afford it. I had already given them one hundred and sixty-eight dollars, with no receipt! I called back later that week to speak with the store manager, Julie. It was very difficult to reach her, but she was very understanding on the phone. She agreed to help me, but it would have to be at a time when she, Jeremy, and myself were all present. She told me she would set a meeting and call me back, I never received a phone call.

As I said, I earn a modest wage, and one hundred and sixty eight dollars can make or break me. I've felt the effects of losing money, but I still don't have a membership. I only wanted to work out late at night, and now I've all but given up on my money. I think I was treated unfairly. Why would they take my money and run as if to say, "Ha ha, gotcha!" when as a business, they could make more off of me in the long run by charging me monthly and providing good service. Why wasn't I told about any of the other membership options? Why wasn't I important enough for Julie to call back? Why wasn't I told about the WHOLE deal before I signed up?

Sonia of La Quinta CA (03/08/06)
Attempted to stop automatic gym membership deductions of $20/monthly for the last two years w/o any resolve. Daniel was the member; he became completely and irreversibly (blind & on dialysis) disabled in January of 2004 and Gold's will not stop the automatic deductions from my account, in spite of the many requests, including formal bank submission forms.

 My son is on a fixed income of under $1000 per month; his care requires much expense and I (his mother and my account) can no longer put up with the injustice.

Jennifer of Saint Louis MO (03/05/06)
When my fiance and I purchased our membership (as a couple) this location was a franchise. We joined only with the understanding that he could bring in powerlifting equipment and powerlift there. We were given permission and the manager showed him a closet where he could keep his equipment.

One day when he went to get it, it was gone. We were then told that Gold's Gym Corporate took over the franchise and that the regional manager Tim, gave away the equipment to another member!!  While I was at work, my fiance went to this gym and confronted this Tim. His attitude was very much, oh well tough luck, the bars are gone.

He told us it was Gold's Gym Corporate policy not to allow personal equipment. We explained that we had been given permission and asked to be reimbursed. He said Gold's would never reimburse us but we could call Mike, the member he gave the equipment to. My fiance called him and explained the mistake and asked for his equipment but the man hung up and wouldn't answer. He also took other people's equipment with Tim's permission. Those other people contacted Mike and were treated the same.

I contacted Tim and told him Mike would not give us the equipment and since he as the manager would do NOTHING, I would call the police and tell them he and Mike stole them. We have witnesses who saw all of this happen. At that point Mike called him and threaten to sue for giving out his phone number and only then did Tim  agree to have Gold's pay for the equipment. The check was delivered along with a cancellation letter and a prorated refund for the enrollment fee.

Crystin of Wilmington, NC (02/17/06)
My fiance and I applied for Golds memberships about a year and a half ago and were signed up by the manager.  This man lied and mislead us.

He told us it would be ok for us to cancel our membership after 6 months or if we wanted, we could tranfer it.  He also told me to put down that I was 18, that it wouldn't make a difference, even though I was under age and had no parent or guardian present.

When my fiance went to cancel, because we were moving, they told us that we had been signed up for a 2-year membership and we would have to pay the full amount.  We had no choice so they withdrew around $1500 from my fiances account.  That was $1500 we didnt have, so we now owe the bank this money.

When we moved back in town I went to the gym because I figured I might as well take advantage of the membership since we paid for it.  I talked to the same manager that signed us up and he denied ever telling us we would be able to cancel or telling me to write down that I was 18. He also told me that there had never been one payment to our membership and that I was no longer a member at the gym.

Ann of Rockville MD (02/10/06)
My 23-yr-old son joined Gold's on some membership deal. Months later he joined the Army. He didn't cancel the membership. I called to find out how to cancel it, and did what they said, sending the certified letter. A few months went by and we began receiving letters from a collection agency. They asked for the documentation which I again provided...but the dunning goes on with the balance growing. Unlike other examples I do have the proof of delivery with the signature. Doesn't seem to make any difference.

Charges being piled on each month.  My son is in Korea and it is still very hard to even communicate with him. By the time I can, the charges will have doubled again.

Bj of Guilderland NY (02/07/06)
On February 11, 1991, I contracted with Gold’s Gym to purchase a two-party membership under a special promotional plan being offered during the “Grand Opening” of the first Gold’s Gym in the area. This “one-time” promotional offer, referred to as the “Charter Membership” (ie: Lifetime)plan (hand written onto my contract), had as its incentive, the opportunity to lock in your monthly membership fee FOR LIFE. The membership fee contracted for was $29 per person or $58 for the two-party plan. In addition, an up-front deposit in the amount of $258 was required to secure this rate.

As explained to me by the Gold’s sales representative, Chad Kies, this deposit helped Gold’s Gym secure some of the initial capital to open the gym and in return I was able to contract a LIFETIME rate – one that I was GUARANTEED would never increase. A win-win situation for both parties. Since 1991, Gold’s Gym has increased its rates periodically but, as expected, my rates stayed at the locked-in rate of $29 per person as initially contracted. On two occasions, during such rate hikes, my rate was erroneously increased but the matter was quickly resolved as Gold’s Gym acknowledged the error, agreed my rate should never increase and corrected my rate back to the $29 per person as stated in my contract.

On January 20th, 2006, during a routine audit of my online banking, I noticed that Gold’s Gym had withdrawn $39 for my January membership fees vs. the contracted amount of $29. This was done without any prior notice from Gold’s Gym having been received, without my knowledge and without any written consent on my part. Please note that nowhere in my contract is it stated that Gold's Gym has the right to deduct any amounts other than contracted, especially without any prior knowledge or written consent.

I immediately contacted Frank Patinelli at the 20-Mall location and was informed that Gold’s Gym had initiated an across the board increase for all members, regardless of the contracted plan originally purchased. Mr. Patinelli stated that Gold’s Gym had mailed letters to its members but I informed him I had not received any such notice. I then requested he fax me a copy of this letter for my review.

Upon receipt of and my perusal of this letter, I was surprised to find two things: 1)The letter was dated November 29, 2005 2)The letter made no mention of the increase affecting those contracted under the “Charter Membership” lifetime plan. First, in regards to the date of the letter: Per paragraph #12 of the Gold’s Gym contract it states that Gold’s Gym must submit, upon a minimum of 60 days, written notice to members of such increases. Not only did I, along with many other Charter Members, NOT receive any such notice, but my rate was increased on January of 2006, thereby not meeting the 60 requirement notice. In addition to the minimum 60 days notice, members also have “14 days (from the postmarked date of such notice) which to notify Gold’s Gym of their intent to cancel”.

Although the membership I purchased under contract guaranteed against such increases, Gold’s did not meet the basic requirements they set forth for any members under contract with them. As a result any member who had an increase to their rates prior to a minimum of 74 days, (60 days minimum notice plus 14 days to respond), has had their rates increased illegally. Secondly, the letter DOES NOT state the increase applies to all members, regardless of the contract purchased and I have not spoken to one Charter Member who received this letter. This further lends to the belief that either Gold’s Gym did not intend to apply this increase to its Charter Members as done historically or that Gold’s Gym tried to pull a fast one of the very members who formed the foundation for their existence.

I believe that Gold's Gym must adhere to the contract I purchased and that over the years, by their actions, have reinforced the fact that my rates were never to be increased.

Judith of San Antonio TX (01/12/06)
First of all I have been a member of this gym for 3 years and have been fairly satisfied until recently. Over the past month I have seen the level of service and cleanliness at this facility drop at an astounding rate. Wanting to give the staff there a fair chance to make things right, I called the club two days in a row and each time was met with a negative attitude by your representatives.

I personally know of three members who have decided to register a complaint with our local health department as well as to no longer come to this center. One of the main problems aside from the negative attitude that your staff members have is that the dressing rooms are dirty and unsafe. I am afraid to go barefoot in this area for fear that I might catch a fungus. I will not even shower or dress in this area since that would mean having to touch the faucets and feel the slime which is present in that area.

I spoke with the manager in charge on 1/11/06 and she stated that she would have the facility cleaned and the problem resolved by the time I came in at 5:30 am. To my dismay the place was filthier than it had been the day before. One other problem is that the facilities operating hours are from 5:00am to 10:00pm but over this last few days I have arrived to find my fellow workout buddies waiting outdoors for your staff to arrive. This is just plain wrong.

Valerie of Lakeway TX (12/20/05)
I paid my anuual membership last year in full. When My renewel came due I sdecided not to renew. I call to see what the cancellation policy was. I was told since I had paid my membership in full for 1 year, there was no need for a cancellation letter it would just terminate. One month later I recieved a bill on my credit card. I called and spoke with Sarah who informed my I did in fact need to send a letter and it needed to be a 30 day notice. So I actually would have to pay for two months.

Breann of Spring Lake NC (09/29/05)
When my mother and I signed up at Gold’s Gym, Amanda lead us into believing that we could cancel our contract at any given time and we asked her several times and she continued to say that we could no matter the circumstances. She also said included with the two year agreement we would each receive a personal trainer and that this personal trainer was already included with our membership. She never once mentioned any terms for cancellation except that we could cancel at any time!

She set up an appointment for us to see a trainer and he told us that we had to pay thirty dollars a session on top of what we are already paying for a membership. I explained to him that Amanda told us that the personal trainer was already included and he told us it wasn’t. I called (NFFS) National Fitness Financial Systems (the company that drafts my account) to cancel my membership and they said that I was in this contract for two years and I explained to them that Amanda told me that I could cancel at anytime. NFFS refused to cancel my contract and brought to my attention that it states on the contract that you have to cancel at any time prior to midnight of the third day after the date of this contract.

I didn’t cancel because my appointment with the personal trainer was about one week after I signed the contract. I confronted Amanda  about the situation and she tells me that I misunderstood her. My mother was there as a witness and the both of us can’t be lying about what Amanda told us. She proceeded to call her manager who to my surprise believed his associate over me. I called my mother and put her on speaker phone to let her tell J.J. what Amanda  said and he still refused to believe me.

I do not like deception. J.J. told me that I was the first person to ever complain about Amanda and that he personally trained her and he knows she wouldn't deceive me or anyone being that, according to J.J. she doesn't receive commission off of signing people up. I want out of this contract and so does my mother because Amanda  lied. A source who doesn't want to be identified but works along with Amanda told me that Amanda  has not only done this to me....but several others.

Nance of Hummelstown PA (08/29/05)
I received a 6 month gift certificate membership at Gold's Gym for Christmas last year. The first day I went, I was given a paper to sign which I thought concerned the gift membership. I was asked for my credit card number, and refused to give it to them since the membership was pre-paid for six months. I was asked if I wanted to decide to continue on a month-to-month basis, and I said yes. I stopped going when my gift membership ran out July 10th.

In August I was billed. I called and told them I wasn't going since my membership ran out. That's when I was told that I had to 'request' to cancel two months in advance. I just settled with them today, to get them off my back and cut my losses, but ended up paying for three months membership that was never used. Something should definitely be done about this practice of theirs.

I was given the gift membership by a friend who knew I couldn't afford it on my own as I live on a small disability pension.  He was horrified that his gift to me ended up this way.

Dustin of Denver AL (08/09/05)
I joined the gym while I was living in Auburn and was a student at the University. I left the school after 1 semester and was told to send written confirmation that I had moved 50 miles or more away from the Gym. I sent all the confirmation to them at the time I moved. This was in February 2005. I have not heard a thing from them until today (9 August 05) when I was called by a collection agency saying that I owed them over $1200 and trying to get me to send a lesser amount as a settlement.I tried to tell the lady, who was so rude, that I had sent in the proper documentation.

She stated that they had received it but since I didn't send it certified mail it was not done properly. I explained to her that I wasn't told that it had to be certified. I asked her why I wasn't contacted immediately to let me know that it wasn't accepted. She stated that it wasn't their responsibility to contact me with this info. Please think twice before signing a contract with this Gold's Gym or any of them from what I have read in these complaints.

Stephanie of Bella Vista AR (07/29/05)
I paid for a gym membership for myself and my husband. It was explained to us that we only needed to put a down payment of $100.00 to join. The enrollement fee was waived. advanceput an additional $200.00 on the membership to reduce our monthly payment. We had signed up becasue this was the only gym within a 50 mile radius of our home and we felt pressured to join. After leaving the facility, my husband and I decided we were not happy with the facility itself and changed our minds about signing up.

We returned 3 hours later to cancel our membership. We were told that we could only cancel with the manager who signed us up and needed to contact him the next day. I contacted him the following day and, after trying to get us to keep our membership, he agreed to cancel our membership. However, he would not refund us any part of our deposit or the money that we advaced on the membershi