Complain about a product or service

LA fitness

Travis of Santee, CA August 21, 2009

After going through what I have been through in trying to cancel my membership with LA Fitness, it came to my mind that MOST CERTAINLY I cannot be the only person who has gone through this! With the LA Fitness ridiculous membership cancellation policy, it is very obvious the company is trying to milk their customers for every last nickel they can before they leave.

If you want to cancel your membership, would it not be logical to just go to your local LA Fitness and sign some paperwork after presenting ID and then you would be done? You signed up that way... Why can't you cancel that way? If not, perhaps over the phone...on-line. Well, you can't.

You have to go through a procedure by which you have to put your name, barcode, and write cancel on a piece of paper and send it into a P.O. Box in Irvine, CA. If you want to be really official, there is a form that you have to get at your local LA Fitness where you basically put that information and send it in. Yes, you have to get it at the local LA Fitness. They won't even fax it to you! And if you DO go there to pick it up, they won't let you fill it out and hand it to them so they can either mail it or fax it to corporate. YOU have to do it.

I thought it was such a ridiculous procedure that I called the corporate customer service number and when I eventually got someone on the line, they verified that I didn't have to necessarily get the form, I did have to sent in the letter in the mail with my very simple information on it. He said he would note my account to not bill any further and then recommended that I send it in ASAP, which I did. He said I had plenty of time to not be billed on the 17th as I always did as it was over 2 weeks away.

As I describe this, keep in mind why their procedure might be like this. Multiply how many people they do this to on any given day that will not bother going through all I am going through to get satisfaction because of the relatively small amount of money this is. Do this to enough people, it adds up! If you had a simple and logical cancellation procedure, God forbid, you couldn't get the extra 30-40 a month times however many people try to cancel at any given time.

After realizing there was no easy and logical way to quit LA Fitness, I followed their ridiculous procedure as mentioned earlier. Even though I did this, my monthly withdrawal was taken out anyways almost 2 weeks later.

So, I tried to call corporate about it, because that is where I sent the envelope. Makes sense right? Remember, the local club wants you to come in and pick up a form and fill out but you can't give it to them, you have to mail it to corporate. You would think corporate would handle the situation. But they don't. It takes forever to get someone on the phone, and all they will tell you is that they didn't recieve the envelope and they in fact DID NOT notate the account as they said they did from the call 2 weeks earlier and if you prod them to help you by escalating the situation, they will refer you back to your local club, who pawned you off on corporate in the first place.

Well, I dealt with M. Davis at the Sorrento Valley Branch in San Diego and like all other so called "managers", he is probably in his 20s and could care less about anything except getting the next member signed up. Still, he acted like he cared and would "see what he could do" since he believed me when I said I followed the procedure because I knew exactly what it was and I had dates and times.

Well, he said he would get back to me the next day. I heard nothing so I called him the day after and asked him what was up. He said he hadn't called me because he was working on it and hadn't got the answer he was looking for yet... I said, "What is that supposed to mean?"

He basically said he talked to some regional manager named D.Pearcy and D. so far wasn't looking to cooperate. M. literally said though, that he would keep working on it. I asked him "what does that mean, you will keep on working on it?" What will you do differently than what you have done already to get a different result?

He said he will keep talking to D. and see what he can do. M. tells the plight to his regional manager D., D. can't make a decision to help me, and M.'s plan is to keep telling him the same thing over and over day after day in the hope D. changes his mind. I asked M. if I was mistaken or whether this was in fact his plan and Mike said yes,that was was basically his plan. That is a TRUE story as this all is of course!

I told him that didn't sound like much of a plan and I asked him for D.'s number and he wouldn't give it to me. I asked him for ANYONE's number that had the power to help me and he said it was D., whose number he would not give me and he reminded me he would keep trying. He said that I might try to the customer service number again. He actually said that

I don't know if I am just a masochist or what, but I did. After being on hold forever Erin answered the phone and I explained to her my plight. She literally asked "Did you send your envelope in 'certified mail'"? To try to quit LA Fitness, I not only can't do it right at my local club, or any branch club which seems incredibly logical and rational, but now she is asking if I sent my cancellation in via certified mail! Notice, in all my conversations previous in trying to cancel, that was NEVER recommended.

Truly beyond reproach at this point. I ask her if I can speak to a manager. She says she IS a manager. Mind you, she sounds like she is 22 years old and acts like it too. I ask her if I can speak to someone above her that can help me and she said there is no one like that that I can speak to. She desperately tries to refer me back to my local club again.

Welcome to the LA Fitness Cancellation process. This is for a lousy 33 but for me, it is about the principle of the matter. After what I was going through, I KNEW there had to be massive complaints just like mine online, and sure enough, there is and after reading them, I realize there are many of you like me that just want to live in a world of decent morals and principles and when it is not happening, we have to do what we can to stop it. Shame on LA Fitness for screwing people!

Faust of West Haven, CT July 16, 2009

My wife and I live and West Haven. We happen to stop by LaFitness and look around. We thought it was a good gym, we thought everything sounded right, we thought the people were nice. WE WERE DEAD WRONG. We spoke to David and Joseph G. There two of the Managers in Charge of the place.

David the fitness Regional Manager, bated us with the "Employee Appreciation Day". We where pressured into getting a free session with a trainer. David told my wife and I that he needed some basic information to start the process but nothing would be charged. I checked my Finances two days later and they put a hold on my checking account for 127 bucks. I paid the initial activation fee of 149 then dues for 159, then another monthly fee for 39.99.

From the very beginning this place was a scam. I can't balieve I got suckered. Now I had to cancel my account because they overdrafted my account 2 times. They continously put holds then return money without regard. I have my statments to prove it. I had to call the state attorney General and put this Place on BLAST!!!

Eduardo of los angeles, CA August 7, 2009

I was doing my normal run of exercises one day and a friendly trainer approached me and offered me a "great" trainer program that they were having where for about 400 dollars I would get 12 months worth of training with a trainer, meeting with him once a week. To make the long story short, I asked them to please split the cost in two halfs and asked them "is this the only charge I need to make?" and they said oh yeah! we'll even give you 8 free classes so it is great offer for you", so there I go, believing what they said and swiped my card thinking 400 dollars for a full year of meeting the trainer once a week is pretty okay.

Anyways, it turns out that they didn't give me a written contract, because "they said it wasn't necessary", and now I'm getting charged 156 dollars every month. i called to get the issue resolved, and the same manager talked to me as i was some sort of useless bug telling me that he can't cancel anything because it is a contract and now i'm stuc with 12 months of 156 dollars a month for practically no services at all... and that's in addition to the 29.99 monthly payments i have.

I am now waiting for a call from their California VP Mr.John H which I did today and which I'm guessing I will never get.

I feel used, tricked and I'm very mad. The same guy that was all flowery talking that day has now turned into a major jerk brushing me off as a fly when he was the one that misled me into this contract, which I didn't get a copy of, and was never really explained that it was a monthly charge. I asked him twice about the charge being a one time and he said "Yeah, no worries buddy", and now he tells me the contract is 156 dollars a month. I can't afford that, and I'm going to have a negative report in my credit report if I can't get rid of that charge...

Serafima of encino, CA August 4, 2009

On November 16, 2008 I signed up for a month to month membership with LA Fitness d/b/a Pro Results. On December 2nd, 2008 I signed up for a fixed amount of two (2) half-hour training sessions per month for six months. At that time, I expected to leave the area within six months. I expressed this concern during the signing of my training membership and was reassured that the agreement only lasted for the duration of 6 months.

During the course of these six months I was extremely dissatisfied with the service at LA Fitness. Several trainers caused me extreme pain and discomfort. The trainers that did not, were overbooked. Given this difficulty in scheduling, my training sessions continued to accumulate. Moreover, early in July, I noticed additional sessions beyond the total of 12 I had signed for. At that time, I had a total of 8 remaining sessions, however according to my calculations, if the agreement were to have properly expired on June 2nd, 2008 I should only have 6 remaining sessions.

When I inquired into this, I was informed that my fixed agreement had converted to a month-to-month. When I reviewed my agreement it included two (2) clauses that referred to the duration of the agreement being 6 months; the Program Fees table described above that specified 12 Total Sessions; the Service Type table that specified 0 Additional Sessions; a Payment Schedule clause that specified “5 Payments of 88.00 (plus tax) are due on the 1 of each month beginning 01/01/09.

However, the agreement did include one (1) sentence stating that the agreement would turn into a month- to-month in the absence of 30 day notice of cancellation. My attention was not brought to this sentence at the signing of the agreement. Given the information provided, I fully believed that the agreement would expire at the end of the six month term with 12 total sessions purchased.

Once my attention was brought to this term, I submitted the notice of cancellation for both the training sessions and club membership during the second week of July. However, LA Fitness informed me that because my cancellation was received after the billing date, I owed 88.00 for two additional training sessions. Although I expressed my dissatisfaction, LA Fitness refused to accommodate my concerns and demanded payment. I provided a check for the amount due on July 19th.

On August 3rd I received a phone call that because my club membership cancellation was also processed on the billing date of July 16th, I owed 39.99 for an additional month of membership. Given my

I strongly feel the training agreement was misrepresented to me. I am seeking a reimbursement for all training sessions paid for but not redeemed beyond the fixed 12 sessions I signed up for. This amount being 176.00 for four (4) sessions billed the month of July and August. Currently, I have nine (9) sessions left to redeem. Should my request be met, this will leave a total of five (5) sessions to redeem. However, I am unable to redeem these sessions without clearing the outstanding 39.99 due for my membership.

I am concerned that even if I pay the fee, I will be unable to redeem all of these sessions before the expiration of my membership on September 16, 2009. For this reason, I am also requesting permission to redeem any outstanding sessions after the expiration of my membership on September 16, 2009; to use LA Fitness facilities strictly for the purpose of redeeming those sessions after the expiration of my membership.

emily of elmont, NY August 2, 2009

I was pressured into a personal trainer contract for 210.00 a month, I told the trainer I could not afford it,he said I could afford if I gave up not buying lunch,stop buying clothes, etc. I asked if I could cancell any time and told yes, I would be charged for another month after cancelling. I signed up in Sept. 2008 and set up times for trainer to meet me, he would call and cancel sessions and make not conveniant for me, so in January, 2009 I got cancellation form from New Hyde park LA Fitness and mailed in return receipt,I received EMail confirming cancellation,

I was charged another month and then for 2s more, I reported it to my credit card company and they returned it back to LA Fitness,La Fitness then sent thru another charge an sent thru contract I signed, I signed and electronic box and saw no contract un til Chase Bank sent it to me and said I had to pay for 1 year, I closed my credit card and then they sent me letter they would report me to a collection agency, when I called and they said I can buy it out for 735.00, my mother was lending me money for buy out, but every time I called they said the charged on credit card did not reject,

another week went by and then burout went to 850.00, my Mom called corp. office and taled to Alicia and she charged my Mom's credit card doe 850.00 and my Mom was told it was ended, the next day anoth 210.00 was charged, called again and they siad I still did not pay up, enen though Alicia E mailed that I was paid , in total 1,060.00 was charged to my mother's card, which I paid back to her since., this is deceptive trad practices, not full discolure, electronic box signed, never saw contract, I did not want to be sent to a collection agency, so my Mom paid it. I would like to get refund on the 1060.00. We have all documentation, on credit cards and threatening collectio letters and copy of contract with electronic signiture.

Simon of NORTH MIAMI, FL July 31, 2009

I joint LA Fitness at North Miami Beach (Located on Miami Gardens drive) 2 months ago and used it barely for a week. The place is filthy and you can faint from the bad odor in the male's locker room. The rugs are full with gums that turned black after the place was not vacuum steamed for ages. I am afraid to walk barefoot there knowing that they are not cleaning the rugs least I get foot illness. There is potentially something wrong with the air circulation there and they refuse to fix the problem although they keep telling you we are going to take care of that.

I spoke with cuter service in my location, a week latter with the assistant manger, then with the manger, then with the national number, all tell you what you want to hear and absolutely nothing was done to mediate the problem. I can't understand this; it will eventually bite them back when more and more people find out that they are not what they try to sell. They surely don't fulfill their promises to their customers during registration; Oh, any problem you have, don't worry, come to me and all will be taken care of, after all we are happy when you are happy and when you do actually need them, forget it, they are so busy into fooling new customers to join, that they totally don't care if the place rat.

With all the complains against LA Fitness, a good and vigorous lawyer will be able to pull here a very hefty class action law suit for miss presentation and perhaps even fraud. Please be careful, they are very smooth in pulling you in and all somehow looks good when you are eager to join, but then you find out the truth. BE CAREFUL!!!

George of Pembroke Pines, FL July 29, 2009

I signed up for an LA fitness membership on 7/22/2009. I was given a contract by the sales representative for a multi-club membership, 0 initiation fee, 34.99 a month. The contract was given to me and I accepted the terms, and gave them a credit card for payment. LA Fitness informed me that they were going to give me a 7 day pass and I was to return after the pass expired to initiate my membership.

I returned on 7/29/2009 and spoke to the representative, Ray Diaz (phone# 954 610 2471). He informed me that they would not be able to honor the rate given to me on 7/22/2009 even though I have a contract executed by both parties for the aforementioned rate. They informed me that the rate that they offered "did not get approved", even though they offered it to me, put it in a contact, and accepted my credit card information.

The manager at this location did not offer any remedy when I said that I would not accept a higher rate. I called the corporate office and spoke to Nina who offered little to no assistance. She informed me that even though I had a contract that they would not honor that rate. I Requested that they honor the contract and they refused to. The wanted more money for the membership.

Melissa of Belpre, OH July 21, 2009

I was told in Northridge, CA that I could not cancel my membership there because I was on a "renewal" and had to cancel through corporate. I was told to show proof of my new address via a bill. I sent it certified mail on 7/6 and it was received on 7/9. A week later I called to ask the status and Christine claimed they had never received it.

I told her I had confirmation from the USPS that it had been received. She then demanded I fax her the proof of my certified receipt and a bill with my new address. After several attempts at calling and leaving messages, I have yet to hear back from her and receive my money. I wonder how much longer this will go on? I'm not sure I will ever return to an L.A. Fitness in the future.

Julissa of North Miami Beach, FL July 7, 2009

I was a member for the past 3 years,always paying on time even when i only used them 3 times in a year.Recently my work reduced my hours and consequently no job so i cancel my membership by a written letter as requested in the contract with 30 days notice.They treaded me to send me to collections so i paid 3 more month and send a letter to cancell the service. Today i received a letter with no signature saying invoice statement BC F1489536 with outstanding balance of 42.44. this is crazy i don't have hours or money to pay this people for a service that i cancelled a while ago and that I haven't use in 12 months.I am really stressed about this because i did everything and more but these people plays with collections and my credit is the only thing i have.They need to honor their committment of 30 days notice to cxl policy with no more charges.I feel not been able to fight back because they put you on hold and don't even sign the letters that they sent you.

Jeanette of East Point, GA July 6, 2009

Iwas thinking that I was the only person that had experience such a horrible time trying to cancel my membership with L.A. Fitness. I was thinking of joining again, however my experience was equally as bad trying to cancel. I needed to cancel because my work schedule no longer allowed me to workout in the mornings, boy was this a mistake. First of all I alerted the trainer that I work with first, then the front desk. To make a long story short I had to cancel the credit card, in order to stop the charges. How can they get away with this, how??

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