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Anytime Fitness Complaint - They lied to get us to sign the contract. He get's commission, we get nothing! - Gym Membership
Gym Membership - Complaint
KEIZER, OREGON -- My husband and I were visiting his mother in Keizer, Oregon, when we saw an Anytime Fitness and wondered if their prices were reasonable. We knew we had an Anytime Fitness in our home town of McMinnville, Oregon, but had never gotten around to talking to them about their prices.
We walked in to the Keizer Anytime Fitness and told [the General Manager], that we were interested in knowing more about their gym, but that we lived in McMinnville, Oregon. He assured us that it was no problem, and told us that we would have access to over 1000 locations just by signing up with them.
He offered us a great deal and we signed up under a one year contract. [the General Manager] was FULLY aware that we resided in McMinnville and would be going to the gym there most of the time. He had us try our key's out, and told us that they would work everywhere else as well.
We tried to get into the gym in McMinnville, but our keys did not work there. We had to wait through the weekend for someone to be in the office to help us. When we were finally able to talk to a person there, we were informed that we would not have access to any other gyms for 30 days! News to us, and unacceptable, especially since my 10 year reunion was coming up in two weeks and I had really wanted to be working out up to that date. Our only option, she was kind enough to offer, was to come in during her office hours to work out. This is not the 24 hour membership we were told we were paying for.
I cannot get [the General Manager] on the phone. I called the corporate headquarters, and was informed that nothing could be done.
Apparently Anytime Fitness managers are allowed to say anything they need to say in order to get a person to sign up for membership, even if they are lying and misleading customers. We were told we were buying a 24 hour gym membership that we could use in our location, and our money has been taken, but what we have actually got is not what we were told at all. [the General Manager] get's commission, and neither he nor the headquarters cares at all about us. We're chopped liver.
Do not sign a contract with Anytime Fitness in Keizer, Oregon. In fact, don't sign up at Anytime Fitness at all. You may end up like me, paying money, stuck in a contract, and no gym access.
We walked in to the Keizer Anytime Fitness and told [the General Manager], that we were interested in knowing more about their gym, but that we lived in McMinnville, Oregon. He assured us that it was no problem, and told us that we would have access to over 1000 locations just by signing up with them.
He offered us a great deal and we signed up under a one year contract. [the General Manager] was FULLY aware that we resided in McMinnville and would be going to the gym there most of the time. He had us try our key's out, and told us that they would work everywhere else as well.
We tried to get into the gym in McMinnville, but our keys did not work there. We had to wait through the weekend for someone to be in the office to help us. When we were finally able to talk to a person there, we were informed that we would not have access to any other gyms for 30 days! News to us, and unacceptable, especially since my 10 year reunion was coming up in two weeks and I had really wanted to be working out up to that date. Our only option, she was kind enough to offer, was to come in during her office hours to work out. This is not the 24 hour membership we were told we were paying for.
I cannot get [the General Manager] on the phone. I called the corporate headquarters, and was informed that nothing could be done.
Apparently Anytime Fitness managers are allowed to say anything they need to say in order to get a person to sign up for membership, even if they are lying and misleading customers. We were told we were buying a 24 hour gym membership that we could use in our location, and our money has been taken, but what we have actually got is not what we were told at all. [the General Manager] get's commission, and neither he nor the headquarters cares at all about us. We're chopped liver.
Do not sign a contract with Anytime Fitness in Keizer, Oregon. In fact, don't sign up at Anytime Fitness at all. You may end up like me, paying money, stuck in a contract, and no gym access.
Comments:
Posted by bearkatkitten on 2009-08-11:
Did you get a copy of the contract for your records? That might help in the situation so you don't have to wait 30 days.
Posted by CKron on 2009-08-11:
I do have a copy of the contract, but it doesn't confirm any of the things he told me and it in fact says that any other verbal agreements or understandings do not over-ride the contract.
Upon reading it, it is actually a pretty crappy contract, not in the favor of the customer in any way. You just don't expect that anything is going to go wrong like this, but that is all based on what we were told, which is worthless at this point in time.
I just wish we'd figured this out in the first 3 business days so we could have used the buyer remorse law.
Upon reading it, it is actually a pretty crappy contract, not in the favor of the customer in any way. You just don't expect that anything is going to go wrong like this, but that is all based on what we were told, which is worthless at this point in time.
I just wish we'd figured this out in the first 3 business days so we could have used the buyer remorse law.
Posted by justthefaxx on 2009-08-11:
That's exactly why companies get away with many of the things they do. They get customers (victims) to think they're verbal agreements are binding.
Posted by CrazyRedHead on 2009-08-12:
Never sign a contract until you read the whole thing. Written contracts always override verbal agreements. This is why many companies get away with these type of things, the customers never read what they are signing first. You could be giving away your first born or your soul.
Posted by BokiBean on 2009-08-12:
Its a pain, but Mcminnville and Keizer are about 20 minutes away aren't they? Just use the one gym for a month then let the other gym know you want that key!
Posted by knowitall2 on 2009-08-12:
Boki, I think they are farther apart than that. I know the traffic in the McMinnville area is horrendous most of the time, especially rush hour and weekends, so even what looks like a 20 minute drive, would probably take much longer.
CK, sure sounds like a shady way to do business, but at least after 30 days all will be well.
CK, sure sounds like a shady way to do business, but at least after 30 days all will be well.
Posted by BokiBean on 2009-08-12:
Thanks kia. I too, think its pretty shifty to promise a 24 hour membership nearby and just not deliver.
I realize people say to read the whole contract so much. I agree they should, but people just don't do that, and I don't think its fair to blame them if a business promises one thing and then just doesn't deliver via the terms of the contract.
We bought a house and didn't sit there and read the whole contract! In fact, we'd probably still be sitting there reading it if we had.
I'm beginning to think the whole fitness gym industry is full of poo.
I realize people say to read the whole contract so much. I agree they should, but people just don't do that, and I don't think its fair to blame them if a business promises one thing and then just doesn't deliver via the terms of the contract.
We bought a house and didn't sit there and read the whole contract! In fact, we'd probably still be sitting there reading it if we had.
I'm beginning to think the whole fitness gym industry is full of poo.
Posted by Fitness Forever on 2010-02-23:
Sounds like you people had a misunderstanding with the manager of this gym. Is it possible you did not explain to him you lived in McMinnville and would need to use it right away? I know this business and the manager very well, he would never lie to sell anyone a membership! Did you talk to him before posting this little story? I'm sure everything worked out for you by now. Maybe you could think about leaving an updated comment for people to read about?
Posted by jimcolt on 2010-04-12:
My wife and I own an Anytime Fitness Franchise (they are independently owned) in NH. Our contract which comes from Corporate, clearly states the rules about using other clubs. We also ask that each new member reads and understands the contract before signing it. The clerk from that location should have asked them to join the club that they were going to use, however, in all fairness.
Anytime Fitness is a great company, so please don't knock the whole chain of independant franchise owners for one issue....I suspect it was a mistake by the clerk more than anything. If you came to our facility and explained your dilemna....we would let you work out for the 30 days, then we would transfer your membership.
Jim
Anytime Fitness is a great company, so please don't knock the whole chain of independant franchise owners for one issue....I suspect it was a mistake by the clerk more than anything. If you came to our facility and explained your dilemna....we would let you work out for the 30 days, then we would transfer your membership.
Jim
Posted by FLHR on 2010-09-27:
I'm afraid you will have a harder road ahead of you from here. When your contract is over you can only get out of the auto-renewal by contacting the owner/manager of the gym you signed up at. Then it's up to them if they want to contact ABC financial to terminate the contract. They probably will not. I'm in that situation now and have done everything possible short of taking it to court. The Anytime fitness is in Golden CO. The owner, Louie McKee, is available to sign contracts but makes himself unavailable to provide something in writing to terminate them and full of straight out lies over the phone.
I would suggest starting as soon as possible to terminate your contract. It appears the gym owners and ABC have a well forged scam going and unfortunately Anytime corporate will do nothing about it.
Good luck!
I would suggest starting as soon as possible to terminate your contract. It appears the gym owners and ABC have a well forged scam going and unfortunately Anytime corporate will do nothing about it.
Good luck!
Posted by FLHR on 2010-10-04:
Updating my reply from 9/27/10. I finally was able to get out of the auto-renew anytime has in their contracts with ABC. I did it through contact with the right person in corperates customer satisfaction section. I agree with jimcolt's response that Anytime Fitness is an honest business but unfortunately has a few franchise owners taking advantage of people. When corporate contacted the owner of the Golden, CO club, he was quick to terminate my auto-renew. It's unfortunate that a couple under-handed franchise owners can tarnish the hard work most of the owners put into their clubs and I apologize to them for my previous comment!
Posted by Fred on 2012-04-25:
I bought my son a one year membership to Anytime Fitness in McMinnville, Or. to see if it would help his Agoraphobia. Unfortunately it didn't and he didn't use the membership but maybe 5 times. At the end of the year they just kept on billing so I called and was told to write a letter of cancellation to their accounting department in Sherwood, Or. We did as of the beginning of March 3, 2012 and today April 25, 2012 I just now got a call that they want payment for April. I told the lady on the phone all of this and she tells me I need to let them know at the gym because that is where they make the decisions. Yet the gym directed me to the accounting department and said they would decide on refunding March and would also cancel the membership if I write the letter. They are SCAMMER'S !!!!!!!!!!! I will never do business with them ever again!!!!!!!! I pray they go under!
Posted by DMMcCloskey on 2012-07-19:
I like Fred am in the same boat with Anytime Fitness. I tried to cancel my membership prior to the end of my contract and I understood when they said no. We had a very large unexpected change in income and I needed to at least try. So I sent this asking to end the contract and was sent back a letter telling me no. I thought okay. We will tough it out and pay for the year. I go onto my checking account today to find that they drafted from my account again. I contacted the ABC Financial where they bill as I had been told back when I first tried to cancel that that was what I would need to do. I got to a supervisor, who was very nice and she told me she had spoken with the manager Becky at my McMinnville branch and was told that I would have to go through the branch to cancel. When I got to Becky, who was so obviously not interested in being helpful, she told me I would have to write a letter to ABC Financial to cancel. I called ABC Financial back and was told that they couldn't do the cancellation (although prior to talking to Becky the young man I spoke with told me he had cancelled it??? but when I asked about a refund was told he couldn't at which point I spoke with a supervisor, Tamika, who was extremely polite and helpful). So I called back Becky after seeing this site and reading a little about the business practices of this company. I can't really believe that the original owners, who were featured on Secret Millionaire would approve of the practices that I am reading about by so many of the franchises. Where are you at??? I'm deeply disappointed. I am now told that I have to have a 30 day prior cancellation, when I contacted ABC Financial they will deduct out of my account again on the 10th of next month, I had the other deducted just yesterday the 18th. So essentially I didn't even have a chance to cancel before they will charge me again next month. As my husband said 300+ days doesn't count? I also know that I have read the written contract is binding not what the manager selling you the contract says. Well when they hire liars who are willing to push you through a contract to get you to sign it you might want to rethink that. I specifically asked about the renewal and was assured it was a one year contract. Haha, a one year contract with an auto-renewal. That is omission in the least and a flat out lie at best by the manager when I asked him. I have never dealt with any other Anytime fitness companies but I can tell you I have been a member of Curves and they are beyond helpful, even holding my membership and not charging while I was healing from an injury I did away from the gym. When it was time to end the contract no problem. Done! Nelson's Nautilus, owned and operated by the owners, they had great customer service and never a problem with them. I was in there gym off and on for over 10 years. I will never return to this Anytime Fitness and from what I am reading online my McMinnville branch is one of the worst for being unhelpful. She flat out told my husband there was not going to be a refund. WOW! Now that is customer service at it's finest, if you are trying to get a shop shut down that is.
Posted by dothesepeopleevenlift? on 2013-05-08:
Can't anyone get hurt not reading the fine print?
Buyers remorse definitely comes into play with everything, but why get bent out of shape over rules you didn't know about?
Buyers remorse definitely comes into play with everything, but why get bent out of shape over rules you didn't know about?
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