Gym Ripoffs

[BBbox]

Figured there were probably some members on here who would have stories to share to help expose gyms that are ripping us off...

CBC NEWS:

Just how much money have Canadians lost because of unauthorized charges and contracts that just won't quit? And why isn't anyone doing anything about it?

If you're having trouble cancelling your gym membership or were over charged for services, we want to hear from you.

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/gymripoff/

[Delt King]

I don't think it's responsible to just openly bash gyms mainly because they won't have the opportunity to reply to the allegations.

Being a gym owner in the past i've dealt with my share of unhappy customers. Usually it goes something like this.
member: I want to cancel my membership.
me: but you've only been here for 6 months. you have another 6 months left on your membership obligation.
member; i'm not using the gym though
me: i see, that's unfortunate but the gym is still open for you.
member: so anyway cancel my membership now!
me: (sigh) let me ask you a couple questions. Do you go on vacation?
member: sure usually 2 weeks a year
me: and when you go on vacation do you usually stop paying your mortgage because you won't be using your house for two weeks?
member: well of course not
me; so how is the obligation to the bank for your mortgage any different than the one year agreement you signed up for at the gym? You signed both willingly.
member; screw you and your logic pal
me: (at this point a get up from sitting behind the desk) EXCUSE ME?
member: (walks out of gym and proceeds to bank and puts stop payment on his cheque... )

Now he's in default of his agreement, the balance owing is due plus any service charges accumulated. If no resolution is found then he's reported to the credit bureau and collections gets handed the case.

[evoke]

some people are just dumb; not the gym's fault.

[physique]

i jsut sent them a message and signed it with my name and they can call me anytime to discuss it.

they are bashing fitness centers is how i see it. they are grouping us all together and thats bullshit!

i agree with delt king, i dont let anyone out of their contracts, you signed and i asked r u sure u will be in this town for a year. yes i will be.

so i should have the right as a bank does to go after whats owing to me.

[JMP]

Ya dont do that with a cell phone bill do you ? What about cable ...? Come on folks i expect this is a younger age group with this issue .

[bigtavi8]

Good point Dk and Physique. Owning and running a gym is tough shit. Nobody wants to abide by the contract they signed. But since they think oh well im gonna just **** off and not pay thats prolly the worst idea cuz then ur credit score gets jacked. Moral of the story if you sign up for a year use the shit and pay or never go in and still pay. lol.

[Sean Summers]

Where's Andre when you need him. I bet he has some good stories.
SS

[vanskelig]

I had this issue with a martial arts gym, which is maybe different. It started out fine and then the instructor started making plays for people to buy extra shit or you would not get the same level of instruction.

I walked, rather take a small hit on my credit than support a business any longer. He went of business a year later.

My gym memberships are paid yearly, not monthly.

[JacktheThriller]

DK what is your gym?

Anyway I think certain conditions should allow people to get out of contracts.

Severe Illness physical or mental for obvious reasons

Moving to a different town (Especially when job market is so unstable, some people who think they have job security may have unexpected firings or layoff that cause them to move, if it is not a geographical possibilty to use the service i dont think you should continue charging)

and thats about it
my 2 cents

[beserker]

Cal fit in saskatoon is one shady operation. The reason i say this is that a friend of mine who has cystic fibrosis signed on for 2 years, low and behold she is bed ridden sick for 1 month then has to go get a lung transplant....many months in hospital:( It was brought to their attention and , although her literally being on her death bed , still kept taking money from her. I will never ever support a shit gym like california fitness in saskatoon!!!!!:moon

[Andre]

Where's Andre when you need him. I bet he has some good stories.
SS

I have been on both sides of the fence...

My stories as a member...
10 years ago I got royally screwed by Premiere... in a nutshell, I switched locations however I had the type of membership that gave me access to all the locations... 2 years after I switched Premiere locations, the original club I signed up at hit my Visa with 24 monthly payments... maxing out my Visa... I fought it and got my money back... I am sure those of you who have either worked out at or even worked at Premiere have simmilar stories... Back in 2007 Premiere was fined $200,000 by the federal competition bureau as a result of thier advertising practices...
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/280478

Since that experience I would pay my gym memberships upfront... this is the most simple answer on how not to get screwed by a gym...

After Premiere I went to Extreme... my issue with them is the stupid join for $6 flyers they send out daily... I paid my membership up front so it would end after 1 year... even in this scenario, the membership cards they give out come preprinted with 'perpetual membership' written on them as they basically do not give people the choice...

The year before I opened my 1st gym, I signed up a gym in Oshawa called Platinum Fitness as they where in the process of building in Whitby accross the street from where I live... I paid cash in full for both my wife and I (about $800) and on the contract that I was given it was written that I could use the new club when it opens... after months of delays, the new club finally opened... after about a week of using the club I was asked by the person who owns that location (and partner of the original club I signed up at) who I was ... I pulled out my contract and explained my situation... he proceeded to start raising his voice about how the rate I signed up at was too low... I raised my voice as well to the point where we started shouting at each other... he ended up giving me a full refund and I would never step foot in that club again... within a year, the original club in Oshawa went under and the Whitby partner opened a location in Courtice about 5 minutes from the location that went under...

I had a funny experience with Goodlife... before opening my 1st club I went in to the local Goodlife club and asked about membership rates... in order to get rate info you need to sit down with someone and listen to a sales pitch... ok, so I go into the office and listen to the clown who proceeds to tell me how important it is that I work out... the guy behind the desk looks like he never lifted a weight in his life :) He then goes on to tell me about a limited time special offer if I sign up today... I asked about the full price if I paid upfront and he did not want to give me an answer... he gave me an estimated monthly price based on the bi-weekly payment structure (amount x2)... even though there are 26 bi-weekly payments... I walked out just before totally loosing it on the guy!

Try calling most chains of gyms and ask what the monthly rate is or how much it would cost to sign up for a year paid up front... chances are you will not get an answer... I find this to be total BS! Someone calls up my clubs and asks for the rate, it's $30 a month with no other fees based on a year membership... you can pay $360 up front or monthly no difference...

On the gym owner side of the fence... ~10% of our membership dues are never collected... that's a fact of life... our billing system is automated and handled by a 3rd billing company in the States called ABC Financial (The American Billing Company)... the only time people's payment amounts increase is in the case of bounced payment... then the member will be subject to a collections fee and possibly a fee from thier financial institution...

We do offer a $99 'out clause'... for people who want to end contracts early...

We do not automatically put people on perpetual memberships, they need to choose this option... even if they do accept it, they are only a month to month membership once the year is over...

Sorry for the novel :laugh

[vanskelig]

I like your "out clause" as I've never seen that offered anywhere else. well done!

[brody.parker]

I've been on both sides of the fence. I've had a few people not understand the following: Let's say you sign up for a year using automatic monthly withdraws from you bank account or CC, once you've been at my gym for 12 months your 1 year membership turns into a month to month membership(similar to how some apartments work) if you do not wish to continue coming to the gym all you have to do is give us 30 days notice and we'll stop taking payments. People don't seem to understand this and wonder why we're still taking payments from them even their membership was "only for 1 year."