LA Fitness Memberships Consumer Reviews - Page 2

TAMPA, FLORIDA -- I am very upset about how LA Fitness is treating us by discriminating us. They simply canceled our membership saying our kids are crying in the kids club without any notice. They have been very hard and talking very rude from the day we joined the club. They started talking badly in front of other customers. Personal trainers threaten you to join the personal training program.

I have been being LA Fitness member for years. The only thing I don't satisfy is their cancellation policy. I have no idea why can't I do that online. I have to send an mail to their office and the letters can never be received by them...

I signed up a trainer service in the last May and on the second of I signed up I called that club and let their manager who helped me to sign up I want to cancel the service and at the time he said he will do that for me. I was okay about his reply and just left that away; however, on the next month I got my CC bill and found out they still charging me for the server. So, I wrote a letter to their office and let them know I want to cancel the service, and I have been waiting for few days... never got reply back, so I decided to do that through my CC company.

I did a dispute on the charge on my membership fees. After almost a month my CC company refunded my initial membership fee, so I thought LA fitness has canceled my membership for the trainer service, but I was wrong they kept charging me my monthly fee. So I did another dispute on the monthly fee, and I wait for another month, this time they sent me my agreement to my CC company and told them I have signed up the service that's why they charged me. So I sent an letter to them again and it was never been received again. And they kept charging me again. I was like I can never cancel it once I signed up.

After that I went to my club and asked one of their employees about that, and she said she will ask that manager for me and get back to me later. Well, I have been asking she for few times but she still said couldn't contact that manager or he is off... And I gave up this time. I believe she won't be able to help me too.

Recently I called their headquarters office and talked to a guy, on the first time he said he needs to locate my information and asked me leave my number and will call me back later; however, he never called me back. So, on the next day I called again and this time he can located my file, then he told me I have balance and kept telling me I need to pay, and he never listened to my explanation, so well then I have to told him I will call him back. Now I think I can only to ask my CC company and see what can they do for me.

WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA -- My wife and I joined earlier this year. After the pushy salespeople were finished the 'manager' comes up who looks like he inhales steroids but they only work on his upper body. He tells us he will train us for free just to 'see the results' but we need to sign up for training. He also tells us we're set up for 1 hour trainings. Well, after 2 months of no one doing an assessment we finally get one done (after losing weight on our own--no personal training). This guy sends these young kids to train us and does nothing but eat and walk around.

Later when we finally get a trainer we like, we find out that we're locked in with the training sessions for a year and we only had 1/2 hour sessions. By now this 'manager' is gone but they just transferred him to another one of their gyms to rip someone else off.

We spoke to the 'owner' who seemed sympathetic however we get a letter from him that says the only way out of the contract is to payout the personal training... even if we cancelled the membership. Now today they took out the membership fee and said 'You didn't mail the letter to the corporate office'.

No one told us we had to go in, cancel and THEN send a letter by snail mail to corporate to get the membership cancelled. Please understand they got paid for an extra month because we didn't cancel within their 30 day time period last month and now paid again this month. Also, you can cancel the membership but can't cancel the personal training.... meaning you can't go in the gym and use up the personal training... What kind of sense does that make?

Avoid this gym at ALL costs! Although this 'manager' has left, they are still only after your money and once you sign a contract you are SCREWED. Find another gym ANYWHERE but DO NOT go there and fall into the trap that is LA Fitness!

1350 SOUTH LOOP 288, DENTON, TEXAS -- My wife purchased me a membership and personal training sessions at LA Fitness in Denton, Texas on December 7th, 2010. At that time she was charged as follows: *$146.12 for initial membership fee, *$222 for personal training set up and first month. She was then billed for these additional sums: *$32.46 on January 5th, 2010 for another month of membership fees.

On January 14th, 2010 I visited the LA Fitness in Denton for my first trainer session which was to include a fitness assessment. When I arrived for my appointment the trainer was sleeping. I woke him up at his desk and he took me over to begin working out on weights. I asked him for a tour since I had never been to the facility. He took me on a tour. He did not know the locker policy for the facility. He then took me over to do some free weights. I told him that I should receive a fitness assessment first. He said he could not do the assessment, and that the proper trainer to do it was not there. He then said I needed a trainer booklet, but could not locate one to give me.

He said, "That's corporate fitness for you. Corporate fitness sucks." I asked what he meant by that. He stated, "LA Fitness fired me from the Lewisville store. The Denton facility was opened too early and we don't even have a scale to weigh you on for the assessment, or the booklet you are supposed to receive." He then was given permission to give me the fitness assessment on my next visit, even though he stated that he was not officially allowed to administer assessments. When I arrived home, I contacted his supervisors and spoke with them about getting a refund as I did not feel comfortable patronizing LA Fitness in Denton after this experience.

My wife spoke with '**' and '**,' both fitness trainer supervisors. Both indicated that they would not refund any money. *$172.00 on January 19th, 2010 we were billed for another month of trainer fees. *$32.46 on March 1st, 2010 when my wife received threatening phone calls requesting that we pay for another month of membership or we would be have 'credit problems.' My wife stated, again, that she wanted the membership cancelled and our money refunded. LA Fitness refuses to refund ANY moneys.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA -- I have been a member of LA Fitness in Atlanta for several months now and am truly surprised at all the bad reviews I see especially about Pro Results. Granted there are going to be unscrupulous fitness trainers and salesmen wherever you go but no offense I have to wonder about some of the circumstances regarding cancellation and was it really that hard. I was also approached about the personal training by the young manager of Pro Results who was somewhat pushy.

But even I have to admit he knew what he was talking about. And was very friendly and professional and even offered a trial basis making it very easy for me to cancel as at the time I really didn't think personal training would benefit me and didn't feel a male trainer would understand where I was coming from.

When I cancelled I got my money back no problems and was not charged any further. All my experiences with LA Fitness ProResults the staff have been nothing but friendly and professional with the LA Fitness manager never failing to ask me how I'm doing and inquiring on my results. I recently met with a female member of ProResults who did not attempt to pressure me into anything was very happy to address my concerns, including my phobia of weight training because I don't want to bulk up.

She showed me the machines I needed to use, outlined a plan, and even said that I may not need personal training if I knew I could stick to it and totally understood my monetary concerns and advised me to think about it. Just to be sure due to all the horror stories I read, I checked my account and saw no other charge than my usual membership fee. LA Fitness or ProResults has not been dishonest, rude or unprofessional with me at any time. They adhere to any of the terms they put in writing on the contract (I still got my copy) and have been very helpful with my long term goals. So in the event heaven forbid I do cancel it will be because of me and not them.

P.S. I am NOT an employee of either entity. BTW I have been a member since 24 Jan 2009.

PLANO, TEXAS -- According to my contract with LA Fitness, I would pay $115 initially for my enrollment fee on or about November 29, 2005, with the remainder of the fee - $111.22 - to be paid no later than January 31, 2006. On my December 19 visit to LA Fitness, they mentioned I still had the $111.22 due, and I paid the sum in full. On or about January 25, the salesman who I purchased my account from (**) left a phone message saying I had a balance due still. I called him and left a message stating I had paid the balance in full previously. He did not respond. On February 1, my credit card was charged an extra $111.22 by LA Fitness.

I called LA Fitness on February 2, 2006 requesting information regarding the charge, and was told that I would need to speak to Alex regarding the charge, and that he had transferred to the McKiney store and would contact me. After receiving no response, I contacted LA Fitness a second time, when I was asked to bring a receipt for the payments, despite the fact they were able to tell me on the phone exactly when I made both payments. I then physically provided LA Fitness with statements reflecting both charges, and was told I would be contacted regarding a refund. I have did not received any refund or information regarding my account.

After filing a report with the Better Business Bureau, LA Fitness refunded my credit card for $111.22 on 04/04/2006, however illegally charged my credit card *AGAIN* for $111.22 on 04/10/2006. All the calls that I've made to the corporate office have gone unreturned (Specifically I was told to contact **), and the manager at the local gym says he cannot help, as billing is handled at their corporate office. LA Fitness has been holding my $111.22 hostage for nine fricking months now. I'm in the midst of another process with the BBB, or else I'm calling a fricking lawyer.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA -- I joined my local LA Fitness specifically because they were offering dance classes I was interested in. I have my own gym equipment, so I do need to use their treadmills, etc... The classes were supposed to start in August. I asked the manager and/or front desk staff every other week when the classes would start and received a different story each time. I was 'encouraged' by their manager, Noelle, to try some other 'aerobic' classes while waiting but I have two bad knees and can't handle kickboxing, step aerobics, etc...

Four months pass and the class was still not available and they couldn't tell me when they would come online. I asked for a refund because I wasn't using the gym and wanted to take that money to the gym next door (Crunch) that was now offering multiple dance classes. I was given the runaround for three weeks and finally was told that 'someone from corporate' was going to contact me - that was a lie.

The person 'from corporate' ended up being a manager from another LA Fitness encouraging me to come to their location for the classes. It's a 20+ minute drive. No way am I driving 20 minutes one way for a 45-minute class. That's why I joined the one next to my house - convenience! I didn't appreciate being lied to that corporate was contact me either.

I called corporate myself and was told they wouldn't refund my money because I had used the gym. I explained I used the gym while waiting because the manager kept telling me to try the other classes to see if I'd like them. The corporate rep said I had used the gym regularly and had even been there in the last week (of our phone call) and therefore was not entitled to a refund - not even a partial refund. I hadn't been there in two months because I stopped even trying the classes prior to my LASIK eye surgery. She said there was no way her system was wrong.

I contacted the BBB and filed a complaint. LA Fitness's response was that they offered to 'freeze my account' at no cost to me (wow, how generous) until the class becomes available at the location by my house. Apparently, there's no guarantee they'll get the class and they'll just keep my $400 indefinitely. I filed a rebuttal through the BBB and hope something will come of it. I even said I was willing to accept a partial refund so I can afford classes somewhere else... They are completely unwilling to do that. The thing is this... after being repeatedly lied to by LA Fitness, why would they think I would want anything to do with them? They're crooks.

PORTLAND, OREGON -- I attempted to use Kid Klub services at LA fitness last night and was told my membership didn't include this. The guy who signed me up a few days prior, **, never mentioned this to me. Nonetheless he comes over to explain that it costs extra per month to use those services and that he told me about those fees and that I declined. It was 7:30 P.M. and I had only 30 minutes to work out before the Kids Klub closed. I arrived with my kids and obviously wouldn't had done so if I knew that I didn't have this service. I explained to ** that he didn't mention any of this to me during my sign up on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

He persisted that he told me. I reminded him that I even asked him what the kids klub hours were during my sign up and he gave me the sheet with the hours on it. I had received no further information. He left me in the lobby of LA Fitness to speak with general manager and I could hear him telling the general manager about how he told me all of this and how he was right and I was wrong. I walked over to their desk thinking they were going to take care of things or move forward with the issue but no, we basically argued over what he told me and what I heard from him on Saturday.

The conversation then moves over to cancellation and I was handed a form and told they weren't going to assist me further and calling the police. Point is: They called the police, canceled my membership and told me that I wouldn't be receiving a refund of any amounts paid on my account which consisted of first and last months membership fees of approximately $60-65.00 because they claim I breached my contract by arguing with ** in front of other patrons.

Ideally the situation would have gone down like this: "Hey **, sorry for this misunderstanding, let's get you signed up real quick so you can hit that work out tonight. I can take care of the information for you while you hustle in the gym." To be honest, that's all I was looking for. Someone to take care of the problem and let me go work out. Instead, I was called a liar by **, store manager (male) and receptionist (male).

ANDORRA, PENNSYLVANIA -- I was able to cancel my month-to-month membership immediately! They told me I'd have to get a form from the club or print it out from their website and mail it in. (Apparently, this is in the original contract when you sign up!) I told them that that wasn't acceptable, since my next billing was going to be in 5 days. I tried calling the 800-number but the member services option didn't work. So I went to the club and the manager dialed someone from the phone on the reception desk. Great move, since anyone coming in could hear what I said.

I asked the representative to tell me what number I could call in the future for member services - she wouldn't! After I refused the snail mail option, she told me that she could process the cancellation over the phone, but that it would take 5 days, and since today was the 23rd and my next billing was the 28th... wait for it... I would have to pay another month! I told her I'd tell my credit card company to reject any future charges from them.

Finally, she told me to talk to "Brian" at the gym, who would cancel my membership. Who's he? The guy sitting at the other end of the reception desk. Would she need to talk to him to let him know? He's been listening to the call the whole time! Creepy! That would explain why she kept saying "Yes" and "OK" on the phone, but not in response to me. So he cancels my membership, effective immediately, as easy as pie, and sends me an e-mail confirmation on the spot.

Oh, and the gym? There are no towels, the classes were often overfilled. I often had to wait for equipment, and one of the trainers kept bothering me and others in the middle of our workouts to sign up with him for a free training session. And half of their free training session is a sales pitch. Ugh!

HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT -- It is true that the facilities are probably the best in the area (which admittedly blinds LA Fitness' members for a while), but the management is beyond terrible. I have been a member there for 3 years and am finally canceling after being drug through the mud one too many times. I have had a series of problems, mostly related to billing and overcharging. For example, I purchased training throughout my membership and have been inappropriately charged over $2000. That is correct....$2000 - all of it due to employee mistakes.

I tried for 5 consecutive months to stop the monthly billing so that I would quit accruing training sessions, but each time being assured the billing would stop. However, it never did. Not only was none of that money refunded (as was promised on several occasions), I was also inappropriately charged a membership enrollment fee for becoming a member (almost $200) when I had already been a member for three years. This was the result of the current manager deliberately lying to me! He has since tried to cover it up, although I feel pretty confident that everyone knows he lied straight to my face and was not even man enough to admit he lied or had made a mistake.

This is not an isolated incident; I have dealt with 4-5 different managers, a series of training managers, and each time there is a problem the person I am speaking to directs me to someone else or makes a promise they cannot keep. LA Fitness corporate offices are even more awful. The moral of the story is: DON'T GO TO LA FITNESS. However, if you are going to go to this gym, make sure you check you credit card statements each month very very carefully. Do not purchase training - just go to the free classes. Try to avoid signing up for any recurring monthly charges. LA Fitness is much more into scamming customers than into helping them stay/become healthier.

Watch for hidden fees, etc. and make sure to get absolutely EVERYTHING in writing and take down the name of the person you talk to regarding any disputes even if you feel stupid doing it. Based on my experience, it is much more likely that you will feel much more stupid for not having demanded it! Employees often say they will deliver messages, contact a supervisor, etc and do not. As a result of the ineptitude of the LA Fitness management staff, there is never a paper trail and the members get screwed. It is unfortunate that a company treats its members so terribly, but I guess that is part of the problem with monopolies.