Complain about a product or service

Gold's Gym

Sarah of Annapolis, MD November 26, 2008

Golds Gym Annapolis is a pretty crappy facility but we joined that one because it was inexpensive, close to our house and at first my son loved going to the daycare. A few months into our membership, the daycare worsened dramatically. One of their trainers has a son who is Autistic with behavioral problems (violent outbursts) and thus got expelled from school. As a result he was constantly in the daycare and chose my son as a friend, a friend that he loved to push. I felt bad for the mother and the child and instructed my son not to push back because Ethan didnt understand.?

After numerous issues I grew increasingly frustrated and started to worry for my sons safety so I complained to the manager. One day Ethan pushed my son off the top of the slide and enough was enough and I talked to the manager again. Two weeks later to pick up extra cash Ethans mother started working in the daycare and one day I walked in with my son and Ethan took his water bottle pushed him to the ground and squirted him in the eye and his mother just stood there looking at me.

At this point the manager again assured me that they had contacted the district office and Ethan was going to be banned from the daycare and the issue would be taken care of. A week later I was on the stairmaster and one of the employees came up to me and said its Ethan and Rafe.? I thought they had a little scuffle until I walked down and my sons eyelid was puffed up like a boxer and had blood running down his face. Apparently Ethan thought it was a great idea to push Rafe from behind slamming his head into the wall. I never got even as much as an apology from his mother.

Four hours in the hospital and five stitches to the eyelid we made it home with a slightly traumatized Rafe. I asked Golds to reimburse me for the hospital bills and have been bounced around for close to three months. I wrote letters, and made follow-up phone calls but they showed utter lack of concern and I would never recommend a Golds Gym to anyone. I cannot say how frustrating this experience has been for me!

My son has a scar on his eyelid and I have over 600.00 worth of hospital bills to pay.

Kendra of South Jordan, UT November 21, 2008

I signed a two year contract for my son who is a minor so he could join Golds Gym. I was told that at the end of the 2 years he could choose a month to month option if he wanted. The 2 years was up in November 2008. He went the use the GYm on November 4 and was told his contract was up and he was turned away. They asked him if he wanted to renew and he said no.

On November 20 they took his monthly fee out of my checking account. I called them and asked them why they were taking money from my account on an expired contract; they did not have my permission or knowledge. They stated the contract had an automatic renewal when it expired. I asked them why they turned my son away from the gym if they planned to take my money.There was no explaination. I was told that I needed to give 30 days written notice to cancel the contract. Gold Gym is dishonest. They lie, cheat and steal to get every dollar.

I do not give money away, This could have been spent on groceries instead of paying for nothing.

Brian of Baltimore, MD November 13, 2008

I've been a member at Gold's Gym for 4.5 years. I signed a 1 year contract. When I went to cancel my membership, I was told there would be a cancellation fee, even though my contract had been expired for 3.5 years. When I demanded to know why, they told me that in the fine print of the contract, the contract automatically renews upon expiration, so technically I'm still under contract. When I demanded to speak to someone higher up the chain, I was directed to a Mr. L, who was rude, belligerent, and not accommodating in the least.

I was then informed that I would not only be charged the breach of contract fee, but I would be charged my next month's membership fee as well, because my contract dictates a 30 day notification period. This is clearly the exploitation of a technicality, and one that I've never heard of any other gym even trying to get away with. I'm disgusted and will never use Gold's Gym again, and I will tell this story to all of my friends, family, and coworkers.

50 breach of contract fee, and 52.99 next month's membership fee.

Jodi of Richmond, VA November 12, 2008

I have seen several similar complaints on this website. Lindsey went through the terms of our contract with my husband and I when we signed up. We did NOT want a two year contract. Both of us remember her saying that the membership was CANCELLABLE with payment of a 50.00 fee.

We signed a long contract. On the back, it states that you can cancel for a 50 fee (as represented by Lindsey), but ONLY if you are moving to a place where there is no Gold's within 25 MILES. The unconsionable contract then allows them to get proof that you are moving (and it is their SOLE discretion what that proof is) including your new phone number, address, and employer's information.

When I called to cancel today, I was told to call some other company (connexion or something) that is affiliated with Gold's billing. They had no copy of the contract, but told me I could not cancel and were rude about it. I then called and spoke with Lindsey at Gold's. I told her she had said that I could cancel for a 50 fee, and that my husband and I both remembered the statement. She flat out denied it was true, and told me I had signed a binding contract and had to pay the remaining 9 months no matter what.

The contract is unconsionable, the substance of it was misrepresented to us, and it is in Gold's Gyms sole discretion. Even the cancellation provision AFTER I've paid them for two years is crazy. It automatically changes to a month-to-month contract at the conclusino of the two year period. I cannot call to cancel until AFTER the two years, but HAVE to cancel 30 days before my next payment, or I will be charged that fee. They FORCE you to pay an extra month this way.

I will never give another dime to Gold's Gym again. I hope my remaining 269 is worth it to them.

Jenifer of Duluth, GA November 11, 2008

I signed my initial contract, declining the option to have an automatic renewal. I drew a clear line through the option, as the fine print states. this gym uses the same for for all transactions, so when I left my deposit, I signed the bottom of the form to confirm my payment, because I have the receipt for this payment. Somehow, this confirmation of payment became a new contract, 2 days after the original was signed. Everything that I declined previously was now acceptd.

i never asked for or signed for automatic renewal payments of facility fees. Now when my contract was up and I had paid off the year, I start receiving collection letters, stating that I haven't paid the bill. Back and forth with ABC(collects the payments for Gold's), I sent in my contract and all the info I had highlighting the obvious line through the options I declined.

I was sent back a different contract from what I have(which turned out to be the processed payment stub)with a different date, and different options selected, my information was incorrect (even my name was spelled wrong, I would think I would know how to spell my own name)and the lines with my (supposed to be) initials, were NOT mine. This supposed contract, contradicted everything I opted for in my original contract. If I was really on automatic renewal, then why didn't I receive a payment book like I had the previous year, or why didn't I receive a reminder letter at the time the bill was due, rather than three months later. I paid the agreement that I signed for off in May of 2007. As per the letter I received from ABC Financial, my renewal was supposed to start in July, but I did not receive ANY information from them until the end of September, by that time they were sending me collection letters, adding interest to a bill I paid off four months prior.

All of this not to mention the fact that I had multiple issues with shady personal trainers. Depositing checks (after I was told they were destroyed) for an account that I closed out and had provided new checks for. The owner didn't care, he wouldn't even acknowledge the error. He stood right at the front desk and watched me debate with the lady at the desk, watched me ask for a manager and said nothing. When I did finally find out who he was, I was told that wasn't HIS problem, I would have to work that out with the trainer that accepted the check.

All of this occured within the first six months of my memembership, so I knew from there I wasn't NOT!!! going to renew a membership with Gold's. I had not been to that gym in months and did not plan on returning. I paid them off with the intent of never having anything else to do with this company.

Now not only, do I still have this bill that I paid in full 18 months ago, but I have a collection company after me, this has gone on my credit and I can't manage to speak to one sensible, rational person, who is capable of reviewing this information using an ounce of common sense.

Mary Lou Groft of Westminster, MD November 8, 2008

I am a member of 2 years and I received a postcard in the mail with large colorful coupons. The body of the postcard contained a message. Most people are too busy to read the message and just clip the coupons, throwing the rest away. Fortunately I read the message. The following is an excerpt. Every year in January, we upgrade the gym with new equipment and facility improvements. Every January, Gold's Gym will assess each member a 35.00 annual facility fee that will be billed to your account. This is the first year they have done this and I don't believe there is anything in the contract I signed to the effect that I have to pay anything but my monthly membership fee. Is it legal to debit someone's checking account without permission? I am very upset about this fee.

Nancy of Murray, UT November 8, 2008

I signed the membership papers with the explicit promise that there was no membership and that it was a month to month membership. I even signed a waiver I would not be charged should I decide to quit. That was a deceptive lie. I felt something was wrong, but the saleman assured me that I had nothing to worry about that the money would be deducted until I decided to leave.

After two months, I could not face going into that gym. It is dim, dingy and dirty with little privacy. I called corporate office and was told that I must pay for the remaining 23 months. I was shocked and dismayed and faxed in the document I signed that proved I didn't owe anything should I want to quit. They are deceptive liars. I intend to take them to court should they try to take any money out of my account again, on principle if nothing else. Maybe, just maybe, someone will listen.

Crystal of Elyria, OH November 2, 2008

I've had problems with them taking money out of my account on several occasions. I was checking my bank account to see if my monthly payments had gone through yet and I noticed that they had taken 11.84 out of my account 12 days ago and I haven't even been there in 2 weeks. so I called and asked why they had taken the money and the guy [asked] HAve you been tanning and I [said] absolutely not. I haven't even been there. he [said] well I'll put a trouble ticket through to get your money back. but it shows tanning activity  and I [said] no way. I have a friend that owns a tanning salon why would I tan there?

I am sick of them taking money out of my account when they are not authorized and then having to wait weeks for a reimbursement. why should I be penalized for their ignorance. I would close my bank account and reopen a new one but I've had the account since 02 and def don't want to do that and calling their corporate office generates no results because they never call anyone back.

Well if I hadn't caught their error my bank account would have definitely bounced and I would have incurred a charge and it wouldn't have been the first time that their negligence caused this to happen.

John of Woodbridge, VA October 28, 2008

Would not honor advertised price of 29.99/month with first 3 months free. Instead offered 299 down and 29.99/month. Can you say misleading and misrepresentation?

Lisa A. Thommen of Parkville, MD October 28, 2008

I am extremely dissatisfied with my treatment by a Mr. Lamb at Gold's gym in Towson. I just called with an issue on my account, in which an extra 25 was taking out of my account last month. He said there had been an issues because my payment was late, and that was a 'late charge'. I informed him that my payment had not been late. He said he couldn't look it up because he was in the middle of two other things. He said if my payment was late, which it wasn't, they would charge me 25. I said it wasn't late, but if it was, there is nothing on my contract about a 25 fee. He said 'there should be'. But there isn't.

I also asked if there was a problem with my payment, why wasn't I notified. He said I was, in the mail, which I wasn't. He was extremely rude, acted as if he was bothered by my phone call, and didn't have time for me. I told him I want to cancel my account, and he said Read your contract, you can't. I am EXTREMELY dissatisfied with this gym's customer service. The gym itself is dark, dingy, with broken and old equipment everywhere. I regret joining this gym, and would like the people at Gold's Corporate to be aware of this problem.

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