Complain about a product or service

Gold's Gym

Dale of Tallahassee, FL April 14, 2006

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 April 13, 2006

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 April 12, 2006

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 April 4, 2006

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 April 1, 2006

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 March 29, 2006

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 March 28, 2006

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 March 14, 2006

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 X. Arteaga of La Quinta, CA March 8, 2006

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 March 5, 2006

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.

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