Bally Total Fitness Memberships Consumer Reviews - Page 3

CALIFORNIA -- My boyfriend signed us up for what we thought was a "no commitment" membership at a gym in Mass with 1 free guest pass for 3 months last Christmas. It was one of the worst mistakes he could have made. If you actually read all the ever so tiny fine print the contract is for LIFE (with a few small exceptions (death, serious illness, moving 25 miles away from the gym etc.) Do a Google search on "Bally Scam" and you will find thousands of hits. They use a lot of "bait and switch tactics". They never let most people out of the scam. There are reports of deceased folks being charged a monthly bill.

The only way they claim you can cancel a membership is via their customer service line in California. This is a joke and nothing gets resolved. Luckily we got the attorney general and Better Business Bureau involved and then things finally seemed to shift after several months of work, letters sent by certified mail and phone calls. It appears that we were finally able to cancel our memberships. We changed the credit card # that we gave them and reported them to the credit card company as well. Here is a link to the template we used for our "30 day Demand letter": **. Stay away from Bally gym and spread the word!!

I have seen numerous complaints online against this company about how they give members run-around when members request to cancel membership and how they manage to keep charging customers' account. I wish I researched this company before I got my membership.

In my case, I specifically informed the employee before signing up that I do not want a long term contract. The employee took my information and gave me a multiple page contract to sign. He never told me that he is making me sign a 2 year long contract. After few months of membership I moved to another city and Bally location was not convenient for me in my new city. When I called their customer service they informed me that I am bound by a contract. I informed them about my initial conversation with the employee when I signed up; but they chose not to hear me. So, I cancelled the payment through my credit card company.

Few months later I got a call from collection agency. When I explained how they deceitfully had me sign the contract, the collection agent told me they get that complaint a lot (Therefore I am not the only one they cheated). Yet, nothing could be worked out in terms of acquitting me from payment responsibility. I would like to know who I can legally report it to so that legal action can be taken on behalf of consumer interest.

This company is simply into taking your money! I signed a 3 year contract, with 2 years paid and the last month free. Within 6 months of me joining, they closed the gym by my house! When I asked to get out of my contract because of it, they said that the gym has to be more than 20 miles out of your radius! So, I paid for 2 years, not going because a 20-30 minute drive (depending on traffic) to go to a far inferior gym was simply not worth it. I did get the 3rd year free, but SUDDENLY, I received a letter on Feb. 1st that they were going to start charging me again on Feb 21st unless I notified them.

I called them, and guess what? I was told that I need to send a letter! So, I sent one certified and they received it on the 12th, which they claimed that they didn't get it till the 19th. They charged me anyway! So, I call again and, I'm informed that they needed 10 days' notice in order to cancel, which was not stated in the letter. How will I get my money back you ask? I have to send a letter with a request for a reimbursement and my signature!

SIMPLY JUST STUPID PAPER SHUFFLE GAMES! Trying to discourage people by making it work. I couldn't be more irritated. I would never in a million years sign another contract with them! I sure hope that their customer service employees get paid a lot because they must deal with irate people all day long!!!

Bally's double charged me for the same person for an entire year. I should have watched my credit card statement more closely, but when I brought this to their attention the only offered to refund the last two months, even though both accounts were for the same person! Finally they offered a free year membership, which I had to call twice about and then they continued to double charged me. They still are! And the free membership for a year turned into only 5 months while they were still double charging.

Now my only resort is a lawyer. Now that I have been voicing my concerns, I have been inundated with other people that have been screwed by Bally's in terms of billing. Plus their gyms are absolutely filthy and the staff has no interest in the Customers. Stay away from Bally's.

Bally's is a nightmare and I'm shocked it's still in business. First they blatantly violated the terms of my contract (monthly dues were only allowed to be raised by $1/year) and some years it went up $3, sometimes $4. If you ever need to speak with a human, expect a manipulative or aggressive moron and ALWAYS being on hold for at least 20 minutes. Their gyms generally haven't been refreshed since the 80's - the ones in NYC are particularly gross, think roaches across your mat while stretching - it's happened more than once.

After canceling, they continued to take a direct debit off my card for 2 months and it was a huge and exhausting battle to get that rectified. I beg of you - please don't be enticed by their 'too cheap to be true' deals - they are spawned from the devil and should be avoided at all costs.

ARNOLD, MISSOURI -- I was a member of Bally's since 2006 and signed up for a 24 month membership. At the end of that membership, I wrote a letter stating that I did not want it to be renewed. I no longer received any debit withdrawals for over one year. Two days ago, I noticed a Bally's withdrawal from my checking account in the amount of $15.06. I was very shocked because I had thought I was done with them. I called, which took very long, and had to call again because I could not wait the reported 25 minute hold time.

When I finally got through, I explained my situation and was told that after my two year contract ended, I got the third year free and then I was billed for the fourth year which I received two days ago!!! I was shocked... I never received anything in the mail and I was appalled that they debited my bank account when I did not authorize this! I explained to him that my husband is laid off and right now $15.06 is a tank of gas for me and I really need it. Furthermore, I did not authorize it and demanded a refund and stop to any future debits.

He reluctantly gave me a refund, which he says will take about two to three weeks; he was very nonchalant about my situation and even yawned while I was talking. I will NEVER go back to Bally's and you should think twice before joining!

Please do not join the club. Do NOT sign the contract they give. It is all false and they don't follow it in letter and spirit. I am having great difficulty in cancelling the membership. They said it was enough if the primary member in a group account cancels the membership and then the account is closed for good. Even the contract says the same. But once I contacted Bally for not honoring this part, they told me that every person within the group has to cancel in order for the whole cancellation to happen. Till then they would continue deducting money. I am not sure what to do. I am contemplating suing them.

What was even more pathetic was their response over the phone. The lady there acknowledged that they were not honoring what was there on paper and challenged me to go to court. It was really sad. I have never seen more poor service in US. The bottom line is PLEASE do not listen to those sales agent at the club. They just disappear by the time you decide to cancel and after that you are in for a lot of trouble.

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA -- Their month to month membership is nothing of the sort. I was temporarily in DC and I needed a gym membership for a couple of months so I signed up for the month to month at Bally's. They pushed me through quickly and didn't mention that you have to send proof that you are moving out of the area and a cancellation fee to cancel, even though it is supposed to be on a month to month membership with no contract. Make sure you read the paper completely before you sign. I was dumb and signed before I read the fine print on the back.

I am on military orders in a location that has no Bally's and they will not cancel my month to month non-membership unless I send them my orders and a $50 cancellation fee and it takes a month to process so I still have to pay for this month because I didn't give them 30 days' notice that I was leaving, even though I only had 5 days' notice that I was leaving! Also, their personal trainers are super pushy to get you to sign up. When I told them I didn't want it they were flat out rude to me. NEVER JOIN A BALLY'S. They are super sketchy.

PLEASANT HILL, CALIFORNIA -- Worst experience of my life. I told them that I would be there for three months so they set me up with a contract that was good for 3 years and then they said that they would cancel it after 3 months when I moved if I signed their paper. What happened? They didn't cancel it, the man told me I was all good and don't need my paperwork anymore so I threw it out, and then this man quit and Bally's said quote "We cannot and will not contact this former employee and don't honor his word." Not only this, but they somehow "misplaced" my records. It's as if I don't even belong there but I'm still getting charged a monthly fee.

This is by far the worst cue-card reading group of people who claim to be running a business, even though it is a nationwide scam, that I have ever dealt with in my life. Horrible horrible horrible. I want to puke just thinking that I ever dealt with these people.

WOODBRDIGE, VIRGINIA -- I'm on official Military Orders to ship out overseas. In the process of this my orders indicates certain schools I must attend before shipping out overseas. Bally's refuse to cancel my membership indicating that I'll be doing "training" before I deploy overseas. They stated that I will not be able to cancel until my actual deployment date. I will be attending these schools while on base and leaving the base is limited. They will not cancel my orders. The worst gym, customer service, satisfaction, and relations in the world. I do not and will never recommend Bally's. Guess what gym I wouldn't be attending if god spare life when I get back?