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Gold's Gym

Louise of davidsonville, MD June 12, 2009

The gym opened 2 years ago. My husband signed us both up. They advertised that they would have a large swimming pool, large screen t.v. viewing room to exercize in.... To date, the pool is not complete, the room that was supposed to have the large screen t.v. is not present, the place does not use A.C., but placed a few fans throughout the gym... there is not enough fresh air circulating. No one will put us in touch with the owner and I've heard from other members that the owner threatens the workers that if they touch the thermostat they will be fired.

My husband hasn't used the gym in over a year. We are writing to cancel his membership since they haven't opened the pool that they said would be ready summer of 08, then postponed to summer of 09 and is still no where near ready...I have contacted the health dept. about the heat and condition in the gym but they said that it is not under their jurisdiction so I believe the only way to prove a point is with our feet (cancel memberships).... I would like the owner to put the AC on!

Carina of West Valley City, UT May 27, 2009

In November I signed up for a trainer but two days later I told Kyle that I wanted to cancel. He said he would handle it for me and let me know what my cancellation fee would be. I sent a letter to the address I found online since Kyle said he couldn't give me a copy of my contract because he had already sent it in(what a lame excuse). Kyle started ignoring my husband and I and our calls and text messages. I thought it was all done because I didn't hear back anything and had stopped using the trainers(the trainer had told us to speak to Kyle about it).

In January I get a letter saying I owe nearly 600. I called the number on the letter and was given another number to call about the cancellation. After a few calls(leaving messages as noone answered) I finally got through to someone named Keisha and she told me to resend a cancellation letter (I had asked Melissa at the first number to send me a copy of the contract and hadn't received it as of when I spoke to Keisha). So I wrote up a new cancellation letter and a lengthy complaint letter and send it off. I keep calling back the 2nd number. I was given to check on the status of the cancellation. meanwhile Mr. Anderson is calling me about the past due amounts.

I finally get through the 2nd number in April only to be told that since March the Utah accounts have been handled by another company. I am given another number at which I left several messages on the answering machine and once with the receptionist Alli. I never received a call back. A few weeks ago another person named Mr. Dexter contacted me about this same situation. I told him what has happened(as I've told Melissa, Keisha, and Mr. Anderson already) and he tells me he needs me to send copies of the letters I have sent so I send them to the email address he provides.

I sent it 2 more times because according to Andrew they haven't received them. I finally get a response saying I need to send them proof they received it (apparently no one informed me in all this process that the letters needed to be signature certified). So I email them back last week telling them how 1) I was not informed by any of the many people I spoke to that they needed to be certified (the letters) and 2) that I haven't even received any services and how i would be expect to pay over 1500 (they have accrued more months fees during the past months that they have been giving me the runaround) and not get any services.

I got emailed back today after resending the same email 3 times, their response-"We have told you we need proof that you sent your notice. Without the proof there is nothing we can do." Okay so what am I supposed to do now? Pay 1500 so that next month they can say they didn't get my cancellation and I don't get any services?

Matthew of Kennesaw, GA May 26, 2009

Renewed Golds Gym of Acwoth GA membership in Jan 2009. (3yrs for 297). Now am being billed an "enhancement fee" of 39.95/yr per my contract. I was never informed of this fee. I am out of town..but was able to view a scanned image of my "alleged" agreement. Everywhere my signature is supposed to be, it simply states "phone". That's it..no signature from me ANYWHERE nor my initials.

Further they are assessing me a "late fee" of 5 because I'm late. I explained that this was the first notification that any fee was due. She put me on hold and came back later to confirm this would have been my first notification! So why the late fee? I asked. "Because it's late" she replied! She went on to tell me that I should have been made aware via the contract which again does not have my signature ANYWHERE.

This is a scam. A bunch of people will pay the 40-45 and just decide to avoid the hassle altogether. Very disappointing. Can't anything be done? No enhancements have been made to this club. It is worse since they relocated (Machines still have gum stuck to them, tv's are not functioning) Nor was I informed or agreed to pay this fee

Myra of Long Beach, CA May 7, 2009

I was "authorized" by Gold's Gym of Oxnard, CA to cancel my membership since I moved out of the county- to Long Beach. I was assured that as soon as I sent a request letter along with my utility bills, they would cancel the membership. I've contacted them 5 times already, and they keep charging me. I sent the letter w/ delivery confirmation, they confirmed receipt of the letter, still my account is being deducted for monthly feed.

This has happened to my husband with the same company in the past. They are very unhelpful, rude, and refuse to provide any adequate customer service. Doing my research, I see this is a pattern with this company, and I don't understand why they are allowed to continue with these unfair business practices. I just want to be treated fairly with respect, and honesty. I feel nickled and dimed. This has caused undue stress and worry for myself and family. It takes time to follow up on these people, have to call and fax, then have to deal with rude employees in their "Corporate Office" who seem to take more pleasure in seeing customers suffer, instead of trying to fix problems. They never return phone calls. It needs to be stopped. I still have to be reimbursed for these monthly fees- they even threaten to take you to collections.

Cecilia of Pulaski, WI May 19, 2009

I fulfilled my 12 month contract with Golds Gym in Olathe Kansas in December 2008. Informed them of my desire to discontinue membership since I moved to Wisconsin in December. I have faxed copies of my lease as well as a letter stating this in January yet they continued to debit my account once again I faxed everything to them and I received a past due notice yesterday of 40.43. They won't refund my money even though they have been well aware that I moved 12 hours away from the gym.

Medha of Rockville, MD May 11, 2009

I and my husband joined the gym in Jan'09. Only my husbad went to join, the salesperson convinced me that if I joined with him, I would effectively have to pay 5 a month for my membership. That was an unbelievable offer and I asked how he would do it. He said that a lot of people join and he can enroll them under my "Refer a Friend" so I can get the discounts every month.

It's May now, I never received any discounts, I am paying 40 a month and no one would listen. The guy doesn't have any answer, he blames it on the company saying that they are slow in processing. I know it is never going to happen. And I can hardly afford the monthly dues. Just want to warn everyone that please watch out for people making such false promises, you will be paying through your nose.

Eric of Round Rock , TX May 5, 2009

In 2004 I got a membership at Golds Gym in Round Rock Tx, Everything was fine until in march of 2007 a filled out the paperwork to cancel my membership due to a move and a new child. I under stood everything to fine with golds, But 15 months later when i moved back to Round Rock, Golds drafted my acount for the last 15 months worth of fees. They were able to do this because the card they had now had a valid zip code again. It would have been nice to notice this before checks bounced on 2 car payments.

After A visit with Mike, I knew my back side wasn't done getting pounded yet!!! Again calling ABC I filled out the forms again and sent them in. Finally I just changed banks all together. Now I just bought a new house and my credit info was updated and now the phone calls started AGAIN in April 2009. Never in my life have i been treated like the people associted with golds gym treated me. Someone neededs to get a grip on all this type of customer service! Ha So FIVE years and hits on my credit later, I still at square one, asking Can I Cancell yet

Cassandra of Boston, MA April 30, 2009

I've been trying to cancel my gym membership for 6 months. I called ABC financial, the billing company, for Gold's and they stated I needed a doctors' note to cancel the membership. So, I finally get a doctor's appointment and send a letter stating I can no longer participate in gym activites as I was directed to do but the rep at ABC. I send it, as requested, certified mail. Then, one week later I get a letter from ABC that they couldn't cancel. I called and apparently they had neglected to tell me that the words "significant diability" needed to be in my letter from my doctor. I spoke with the supervisor who said she could do nothing for me without these words in the letter. Unfortunately, they had conveniently forgotten to mention this when I talked to them about what needed to be in the doctor's letter. Now, I'm stuck paying the membership until either it expires or I can get in to see my doctor to write another letter. This is the most unethical, ridiculous business model. If you or anyone you know is thinking about getting a Gold's membership please think long and hard first and never let them deduct or charge you month to month. Sign nothing, if possible. They'll keep you paying indefinately.

Greg of Appleton, WI April 21, 2009

Gold's Gym has been overcharging me by 12 per month for 13 months. My wife and I have attempted to resolve this issue for about 1 month. On our first attempt, my wife was told by a represenative of Gold's to contact the finance company. The finance company responded by saying that if we wanted any resolution that we would have to prove that we had paid to much. I went to Gold's Gym and spoke with the manager who said there was no record on their computer that we had overpaid.

After going to my bank and getting a copy of the bank statements at a cost of 70, and compairing it to my contract, the manager, Clay, stated that he would resolve this situation and get back to us within a day or two. A few days later my wife went back to the gym and asked for the manager and he had been transferd and Jeramiah refused to give her info on how to reach him but took down her number and promised a call back. No call was recieved. I called and spoke with Jeramiah and asked for the number to call his boss and he refused to give that info and took my number and promised that I would recieve a call back. No call was recieved.

I spoke with the corperate office and informed them of the situation and recieved a call back refusing to return the money that we were overcharged and offering future services. Our contract is up and we no longer wish to continue to have future services. We want our money back and the 70 that we were forced into spending to prove to them that we were overcharged.

Stephanie of Austin, TX April 18, 2009

I was in between jobs and went a few months without working. Everyone was willing to work with me except Golds Gym. I called them and told them when I expected my next check and that I would be late on March 29th, but would pay them the two months I was behind and whatever the late fee was, I think somewhere between 25-30 is normal. When I went to deposit my check, to my surprise I had fees totally 357 to my account, all due to Gold's Gym. They hit my account every three days. Then, after I cleared that up, they charged my 82.46 on April 7th, then another 57.46 on April 16th.

Bottom line, they cost me 496 because of two late payments, one of which was only 6 days overdue. Nobody will tell me what these charges are for at Corporate. When I do get someone they are EXTREMELY RUDE and basically tell me they can do whatever they want it is in my contract

This was devastating. After a year of being out of work (I was only late on my gym membership these two times), finally thinking I can catch up. This has affected me emotionally, spirtually and has affected my job and my family.

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