Bally Total Fitness

The Bally location I belong to closed on 8/17/11, with absolutely no notice. I walked in for my bi-weekly personal training session, to find that the gym was closing this location effective immediately. I was given a letter, stating the reason for closure, lease terminated by the building owner, with a phone number to call to discuss my membership and personal training package. The representative that was at the gym told me that I would be able to get a refund for the prepaid training package, if I called the 800 number. When I called in on 8/19/11, I was told that I would receive a credit to my credit card for the unused session within 7-10 days.

A few months later, I realized that I had never received a credit, and called the 800 number again, to find out what was wrong. The representative, Renee, could not find any information for me, without a membership number. I had thrown away my card, after the membership was canceled, stupid me, and didn't have that information available. She said she could not find any record of me in the system, after searching by name, maiden name, address, and previous addresses. She took my info, and said I would be contacted by someone the following week.

A month later, I had still not heard from anyone, but happened to find an old membership card, when cleaning my office. I called the 800 number for the third time, spoke to Leticia, and was told that I could not receive a credit for my unused sessions, because there was another club within 25 miles. I would have to file a "case", and Bally would review my claim, and decide whether I should be paid or not. She said I must have received the wrong information from all the other Bally representatives I had spoken to, and there was nothing she could do. I am tired of getting the runaround from this company, and will be sure all of my friends and family know about the terrible customer service, and poor management of Bally.

I called Bally to see if I could transfer my membership to someone else, and was told that when I had come into the club in June 2010, and paid my yearly member dues of $54.00 a year, I authorized them to charge my debit card each following year! In June 2011, they charged my debit card $180! I was so upset, and asked why and for what is this charge for? My yearly dues hadn't changed for over 10 years! It has always been $54! He said I was charged for some promotion they were running! It was news to me! The guy wouldn't give me my money back, but the guy said he would extend my membership until June 2013. I went to LA Fitness in Oakbrook, IL, to transfer my membership the other day, and the guy was so rude, and told me that my annual renewal is $180 a year! Needless to say, I didn't transfer the membership, and Bally wont even talk to me. LA fitness said it is what it is, and that I am stuck with the $180 renewal a year, take it or leave it. Help!

I joined Bally on 4/3/2010, and paid $299.99 for a yearly contract. My account stated that my next bill date was 5/3/2011. On 3/9/2011, I was able to extend my contract for another year, by paying $209 (199 + $10 phone fee), and my next bill date reflected 5/3/2012. Knowing that LA Fitness would be acquiring Bally, I extended my contract another year on 11/29/2011 by paying the same $209 as I did previously. Apparently, LA Fitness never got information from my account reflecting my payment on 11/29/2011. They still have my next bill date as 5/3/2012. I was able to see my membership date (5/3/2013) on the online system on 11/30/2011, but was kicked out of Bally's website on 12/1/2011. Now, I can't get information from Bally, regarding my contract or data, from when the actual transfer was supposed to take place. They refused to help with anything. I was cheated out of $210, and a year of a gym membership.

I'm a member since 1990 - $5 renewal fee. For the most part, the only notification I got was when I went through the turnstile at the gym. At one time I did receive a letter because I hadn't been to the gym in a while. They charged a penalty along with the renewal fee. I paid and asked if I could pay 10 years in advance or if they could just automatically deduct from credit card and/or checking account. The answer was "no". So anyway, this December I received a letter stating that my account was now being overtaken by LA Fitness. I went into the club and obtained my new card. On my second visit with the new card, I was informed that my account with Bally's had expired in October and they could not honor or renew it. I would have to purchase a new membership with them. I've tried contacting Bally's several times via phone and email to no avail.

It's been over 6 business day since I emailed my "General Inquiry Case ID: **" to Bally, and even though Bally emailed me back and told my they will reply within 2-3 business days, no one has contacted me. Bally has all my contact information from the email inquiry. On 09/23/2011, I renewed a 3-year membership with Bally Total Fitness, based on a renewal notice offered by Bally. Although my check (#**) was cashed by Bally, my membership status was never updated to active. Since, my membership was not active when the transfer took place on 12/1/2011, my membership was not transferred to LA Fitness.

I called Bally's customer service line (866) 402-2559 on 1/10/2012, and talked to Jay at extension **, I was told that he will notify LA Fitness, and transfer my membership over. Two weeks later, LA Fitness still can't locate me in their system, I called Bally's customer services line, and got hung up on 3 times, as soon as the representative heard my story. More than once, Bally's sales representatives told me my membership has already been sold to LA Fitness, and they can't see my information in their computer and I know they are obviously lying to me.

My last phone call to Bally was on 1/26/2012, talked to Ana, and once again I was promised my membership will be transferred to LA Fitness in 5 to 7 business days. I just verified with LA Fitness this morning (2/6/2012), my membership still has not been transferred.

In 1984, I purchased a family membership with PacWest, a club near Seattle, WA. Bally bought the club around 1994. They gave me 2 memberships, for me & wife, at same price. In 2003, they canceled my wife's membership without notice. I continued to pay the same price up to present. We continued to use the facility only about once yearly- we live too far away. There was no mention of loss of my wife's membership. Recently, Bally was sold to LA Fitness. LA Fitness only got my membership info, not my wife's. Bally is not cooperating to add my wife in as a member.

I signed up with Bally Total Fitness in 1993, at the Aurora, CO location. That location is closed and they have moved. Now, they are telling me that I have to pay additional at the new location, because I didn't sign up at the Aurora location, which is false. If you check my records, you will see all of my personal training was conducted at the Aurora location. I asked Marc if my membership was good before we move to the new location, and now there is problem. I have been a loyal member since 1993 and know which location I signed up at. The location you guys have on the system doesn't even exist. My membership is scheduled to automatically renew in Feb. 2012, and now I don't have a gym to go to.

I'm not paying an increase, when BTF (Marc) is letting people who originally signed up at the Aurora gym, by-pass the increase. I signed up at the Aurora gym in 1993, thus I should be able to go to the new gym. I need this resolved as soon as possible, so I can return to the gym. Lastly, the staff there is so unprofessional and rude. They need some customer service courses, or need to be fired! That gym needs new management, as soon as possible!

Bally's just responded to my recent complaint on consumeraffairs asking me to "contact them directly. " I believe this is them just making a hollow gesture to mitigate the bad review because:

2) I have written them two letters via post to their headquarters in DC. They have not responded to either.

How exactly am I supposed to contact Bally's directly? Their automated customer service phone number just says they are busy and hangs up, no way to leave a message.

I sent in a cancellation letter cancelling two accounts that were created in my name when they made a clerical error in the office. However, Bally's only cancelled one account. Come their sale to LA Fitness, I get a letter stating my "active" account is being transferred!

I haven't lived near a Bally's in over two years! They are refusing to refund the over $200 they charged me. Of course, they have lost my cancellation letter that lists the two account numbers. This is a terrible experience. I feel completely robbed by them.

I am a Ballys Total Fitness preferred member, meaning I can go to any Ballys location. I purchased my membership originally in Englewood Cliffs in 2003. I have since paid the membership renewals yearly online. Recently I went to the location closer to my house in North Bergen, NJ. I was told they were sold to LA Fitness and my Ballys membership would not be valid, even though I have 5 months left on this year's membership and I am a lifetime member. Ballys' headquarters will not answer the phone when I call the headquarters. I am without resource and feel LA Fitness owes me compensation for my membership as they bought the club with its members.

I've been a member of Bally for about 10 years. I agree with these other people, that the club is extremely dirty, but it's the closest one to my house. Since they've been sold to LA Fitness, the whole system is messed up. They are saying that people's accounts are not located, people who paid for 3 years, now only have 2 years, and they are saying my membership expired, and I have payment confirmation that I paid in May.

I have been a member of Bally Total for about 20 years. Like in most of the cases described here, my membership was transferred to LA Fitness. My dues were drafted from the credit card I used the last time to pay my dues, without my authorization. It is the first time Bally drafted the dues without my authorization, I guess they knew that I would not pay if I learned of their upcoming changes. I would probably keep going to the same club, as there are not that many swimming pools in the area. But the club is disgustingly dirty, beyond any acceptable standards. On Sunday morning at 8 a.m., when I entered it, their garbage cans were overflowing with trash, hair on the floor, backed up sewer in the middle of the dress room floor, with a full condom (sorry, but I could not leave it out) next to it. Absolutely disgusting! I'm in the process of canceling the membership and requesting the dues back. I will never go back there again. I'm also looking into filing a health violation complaint as their conduct is below the acceptable minimum standards and the club condition poses serious health risks.

My problem is identical to J. of Hacienda Heights on January 19, 2012. I transferred a Bally lifetime premiere membership from a member in Springfield, New Jersey. This club is still a Bally's. I have been using my membership for over 10 years in Southern California. Both the Puente Hills Bally's (now LA Fitness) and Diamond Bar LA Fitness cannot find me in their system, because the "home club" is not one of the acquired clubs.

I don't mind LA Fitness buying out the SoCal Bally's locations. But I want my membership transferred over to transfer over.

I opened a membership with Bally in 2007. About 1 1/2 years later, my sister got a membership under my account. After my 3 year membership was over and my sister's membership was canceled (since she was in the military and she did not have access to any Bally's gym), Bally put me on a collection. I spoke with many different representatives and managers from the call centers in Costa Rica, Tijuana, and South Ca and they told me that I was on that collection by mistake. That it must be someone else by my name that they put on the collection list and they used my social security number. All representatives refused to give me the phone number to their corporate office or even just call the collection company to stop the collection. They said they would take care of it themselves and up to this day, they have not. It's been about four months and I am still getting rude harassing calls from the collection agency.

I was a member for 6 years and Bally's closed the 2 locations that were within a 25 mile radius of my home. My contract states I have the right to cancel if club(s) close and no longer open within a 25 mile radius of my home. They let me cancel but will not refund my $96 worth of membership fees I paid for before the location I was using closed. They also did not notify me that the location was closing and sent me a renewal notice and let me renew for another year at $127.07 although, they knew no locations were open within the 25 mile radius.

My wife and I are both living in NYC, and we took over two "lifetime" memberships in 2005 from family members who joined Bally in the '80s at two different locations outside of NYS. One of which is now an LA Fitness location, and one remains Bally.

One of our membership is being transferred to LA Fitness, but per its website, we are not allowed to use any of its gym in NYS since our original membership was not purchased in NYS, unless we pay $30/month extra to LA Fitness. In addition, our second membership was purchased at a Bally location which is not part of the acquisition, so it remains with Bally. The way this whole situation is being handled by Bally and LA Fitness has basically render both of our memberships useless, since we can no longer work out together; we are now members of two different gyms.

When LA/Fitness took over Bally Landmark, I got a short email notice from them that they transfer my account to LA Fitness. I then stop by Landmark, Alexandria VA 3 times and was told their computer is not working. I then called in to check if machine is working yet, the account manager Larry told me I can just change my band card information so I will not be charged by LA Fitness also membership will be cancelled.

I want to ensure he was correct. I called in again and conference with my husband. He said the same story however I start getting a call day and night from them saying I owe them money. Meanwhile, I also sent cancellation form twice to CA address. However, today, I still received a bill saying I owe them money. I had been canceled my membership since December multiple times until now. I need them to stop harassed me and close my account forever.

Bally has been charging me a monthly amount of $26.99 for two years. I just received an automatic withdrawal for $31.99 without any notification. I have tried to leave a direct message online and failed about 6 times. The message "An Unexpected Error Has Occurred" has appeared every single time I clicked on submit. I would love to cancel my membership.

I joined Bally's in 1986 and purchased a lifetime membership (President's Premier Plan) to where I could go any where in the United States. I received email that Bally's sold my membership to LA Fitness. LA Fitness said I can now only go to the 2/3 Bally's in Illinois and they are not honoring anything else. Bally's left me out in the cold after paying several thousand dollars. I pay an annual fee but LA Fitness said that also will be changing. I asked for a copy of my contract. I was told to call Bally's. I wrote to Bally's and they emailed me back that I need to contact LA Fitness. They are giving me the runaround. What options do I have? My home address is xxx *** in Chicago but I am registered under my business address for billing purposes.

It sounds like I am one of 1000's being left out in the cold by Bally's. I bought one of those lifetime Premier memberships 20+ years ago in Chicago, and used in it for a few years until I moved to California where there were no Bally facilities. They did open one in my town and offered me an annual membership deal, which I took and have renewed for 6 years or so.

Now, I am told by my club that my "original club", back in Illinois was one of the ones sold to LA Fitness. But Good News! Even though Bally's will not honor the legal contract they entered with me, taking my dollars in advance for 1 year, I can certainly join my local Bally's Club for a 250% increase in monthly fees! And of course, the nearest LA Fitness is an 8 hour drive downstate, no problem right? I am going to call the FTC, the Attorney General, "7 on my side News" until I find someone who can help me. I can see from this site that dealing with Bally is going to be pointless.

I live in the Los Angeles area. In late 2011, I was notified via e-mail late about the pending takeover of some Bally's clubs by LA Fitness. I hold a National Premier Plus membership which I purchased from Bally's in Pittsburgh, PA in 1996. There was no indication in those e-mails or on the Bally or LA Fitness websites that the terms of Bally's contracts would change. I continued to pay my dues online via single credit card payments each month.

Last week, I went to the club and the employee at the front desk told me that he would be exchanging my Bally membership card for an LA Fitness card. When he issued the LAF card, he swiped it through an electronic card reader and asked me to sign the screen of the card reader. The text on the screen was completely illegible - a series of dashes filled the screen with no visible words. I asked what I was signing. The employee told me that I was confirming my receipt of the membership card and agreeing to the current dues structure - which he assured me was the same as I was already paying. I was wary of signing, but did so.

The employee then asked me whether I wanted a copy of my contract. I was surprised to hear the word "contract" and I said I did want a copy. He went back into the office and returned with a LAF contract -- with my electronic signature on it! The contract indicated that I agreed to have my bills automatically debited from my bank account or charged to my credit card monthly. "Not my preference", I thought, "but I guess I can address that with someone later". However, upon reading further, I saw that my National Premier Plus contract would not be honored in NY. This is disturbing to me since I am a NY native, my family lives in NY and when I'm not in CA, I'm generally in NY. This contract which I had "signed" was not in keeping with the original indications that Bally contracts would be honored by LA Fitness. The terms of my contract were changed and LA Fitness used a very deceitful tactic to obtain my signature on a new and revised contract.

I bought a life membership from Holiday Fitness later on purchased by Bally Total Fitness. Bally's is now purchased by LA Fitness who is refusing to honor the obligations of Bally's.

I was a lifetime member of Bally's since 1999 with an annual renewal fee that varied from $99.95-$129.95, depending on the amount of years I paid for in advance. I found out in Dec. 2011 that I had to visit the club in Deptford to pay the yearly fee, since the club was sold to LA Fitness. Upon arriving at the club, I was given the runaround and referred back to call the corporate office of Bally's. This went on for a month. Neither Bally's nor LA Fitness could find my membership, but I stood in front of the club manager and employees with the ID card from Bally's. I have called corporate at least 6 times with no response or assistance from Bally's. LA fitness also states they cannot help me, because Bally's did not forward my membership information to them. This is totally unfair to every Bally's member that has had to deal with this runaround.

A big thank you to attorney Christopher ** for filing a class action lawsuit on our behalf.

I have been a member of Bally total fitness since 1985. When LA/Fitness took over Bally, I found out that they could not find my membership in the clubs. I started this in December around the 15th. So, I called Bally to find out that my membership had been transferred to LA/Fitness. None of the employes of LA.F seemed to be able to help me.

They just gave me a phone # to call the main office but could not find me. I finely called Bally again, talked with an employee and they told me that my membership was ending Jan. 9th. So as not to loose my membership, I renewed hoping that I would be found by LAF. Is there any thing we can do to help the 1000s of Bally members left out in the cold. Please let me know where I can go to help the 1000s of us.Thank you.

I have been a member with Bally Fitness for last years. Due to lack of time, I stopped using it and called to cancel, but instead I was convinced to keep my membership and pay $140 plus tax a year. This was back in July 2011. Since December LA Fitness bought the facility and promised to honor all contracts, but they refused to honor mine and they charge me this month $26. All my calls to Bally were promises to resolve and send the updated information to Bally Fitness. So far nothing. Please either resolve the problem or refund my money.

My situation is similar to David's below. I transferred a Bally lifetime premiere membership from a member of an Arlington, TX, club which was not acquired by LA Fitness. I have been using this membership for years at Bally clubs in Southern California, which were all bought by LA Fitness. Unfortunately, LA Fitness is not recognizing this membership since it was not one of the "acquired" clubs.

I want to emphasize 3 main issues with the way this acquisition was conducted:

1. The news of the takeover was really hushed up. The Bally sign is still up and showing at most locations. I was not told by email, US mail, phone call, any staff, postings inside the club, prominent website announcements on either Bally or LA Fitness, that there was ownership change until recently when I read it in the news. Had I been notified earlier, I might have been given an opportunity to change memberships for a 2-4 week window in December (according to a Bally phone representative).

2. I have a lifetime national membership and pay membership dues to the parent organization - not to an individual club, so how does LA Fitness exclude national members based on where the original club membership was purchased? In effect, do they really expect national members to reside in the same location for 25 years after they have purchased membership in order to utilize their membership? That is why national memberships were established in the first place - mobility!

3. As a result of this acquisition, my Bally Lifetime Premiere Plus membership has significantly diminished value since it can only be used in a third of the clubs that it could before the acquisition. It is 3 years paid in advance and was worth close to $1,000 dollars before the acquisition. Now I cannot use it.

Bottom line, I want LA Fitness to transfer membership of Bally lifetime national members regardless of where the membership was originally purchased. I will gladly give up the privilege to visit existing Bally Clubs in exchange for LA Fitness national membership under the same terms and conditions as I once had.

"I have been a member of Bally Total Fitness since 1997. I bought my membership from a friend who was a member since 1989. There was a time when you could do that. You bought someone's membership and also paid Bally Total Fitness a processing fee of $100. (Bally is known for their reinstatement fees, processing fees, and all kinds of fees you can think of).

Anyway, I was mailed my annual renewal bill in the mail. I went and paid my bill for the next year at Bally Total Fitness. Two months later, I went to Bally Total Fitness to work out, and I saw that Bally Total Fitness is now LA Fitness. I never was told or notified of this business take over.

I then went to get my LA Fitness card, thinking that there would not be a problem. Wrong! The manager on duty could not find me in the system. I told him that I bought my membership in Wisconsin and have lived in Los Angeles for the last 11 years. He told me that my membership was not part of the new takeover. He said that he could not do anything about it, except that I could sign up for an LA Fitness membership.

No notification. They billed me and took my money without informing me of what was going to happen. Deceitful, unlawful, bad business and completely wrong!"

First of all, there was harassment from an employee. Secondly, I was moving over 25 miles from the gyms, and Bally used trickery of getting a low class collection agency to call me, and repeat recordings of 15 minutes, using up a lot of my mobile phone times over and over. They damaged my credit rating. This is an expensive loss of minutes on my mobile phone.

Bought a Premier lifetime membership with Bally back in 1992. Active member of the club as of today but could not work out anymore due to LA Fitness took over all Bally gyms in the Southern CA. LA Fitness did not honor my membership when I came to work out and told me to buy their membership instead. Furthermore, Bally has all kind of excuses not to work out the issue with their members. Would like to join action law suit.

I purchased a Lifetime membership from Bally's which included a $0.00 annual renewal in concert with countrywide access to all Bally's Clubs ~ I purchased that contract in the early 1980 prior to Bally's construction of the Club located in King of Prussia, PA. I have enjoyed the club and access to other locations since the original purchase/contract.

Bally's recently sold the King of Prussia location to LA Fitness, and since that time, I have been unable to get any information regarding my membership and how LA Fitness will honor the membership from Bally's. The Manager of the King of Prussia Club advised me that I will have an annual charge for using the club but he could not provide any further information. I have not received any information or communication from either Bally's or LA Fitness regarding the sale and how it will affect my Lifetime Membership and my rights to use the clubs. It seems they are operating under some form of questionable legal/contact practice.

I purchased a lifetime membership from Bally's in 1988. I made my monthly payments as set forth in the agreement until the membership was paid in full. My annual renewal fee was $50. Over the course of the past 24 years, on one or two occasions, I was unable to use the gym and would defer my annual renewal fee until I was able again and was always permitted to bring my membership up to date again by catching up my annual membership fee.

My annual renewal fee was due again in February of 2011. Due to health issues, I was not attending the gym at the time. I received a notice in October of 2011 indicating that my 2011 renewal fee needed to be paid by November 10. Prior to that date (approximately the beginning of September); I'd stopped into my local club to pay my annual fee. The staff member that I spoke with checked my account and it indicated that my renewal fee was $156. When I stated that my annual renewal fee was $50, he suggested that I not pay the $156 because that would possibly bind me to new terms and conditions and provided me with the customer service number for Bally's.

I made many attempts to call customer service but their hours conflicted with my work hours, 8-5, M-F. They were closed during the evenings and weekends. I emailed customer service and received a response stating that my renewal fee was, in fact, $50. After many unsuccessful attempts to log-in to the website to make my payment over the next weeks, I eventually emailed customer service in December. I was informed that my account had been locked but was now available. I again attempted to log-in but was directed to the LA Fitness website. I attempted to use my login credentials on that site but was denied access.

Finally, I had a holiday for MLK's birthday so I called Bally's customer service. They informed me that my account had been sold to LA Fitness and said that I needed to call them. When I looked for a contact phone number for LA Fitness, I was given the number of my local Bally's. When speaking to them, I was informed that my membership no longer exists and the only option is to agree to a new membership with LA Fitness.

I renewed my membership because Bally membership afforded me the ability to visit gyms around the northeast as I travel a lot. I paid in full for three years and right after I went to my home gym and was told I could no long use it unless I join LA Fitness along with other locations I go to. I called Bally's customer service and they told me I could go to another location (Rockville center). I informed them that I have been there before and it is one of the dirtiest gym I have ever been too. I decided to try it. It was the worst place I have ever seen. Urine was all over the men's room. Mold was growing in the shower. When I spoke to the manager, he said Bally's only clean once at night. Something has to be done.

I have been a member of Bally Total Fitness since 1997. I bought my membership from a friend who was a member since 1989. There was a time when you could do that. You bought someone's membership and also paid Bally Total Fitness a processing fee of $100. (Bally is know for their reinstatement fees, processing fees, and all kinds of fees you can think of).

Anyway, I was mailed my annual renewal bill in the mail. I went and paid my bill for the next year at Bally Total Fitness. Two months later, I went to Bally Total Fitness to work out, and I saw that Bally Total Fitness is now LA Fitness. I never was told or notified of this business take over.

I then went to get my LA Fitness card, thinking that there would not be a problem. Wrong! The manager on duty could not find me in the system. I told him that I bought my membership in Wisconsin and have lived in Los Angeles for the last 11 years. He told me that my membership was not part of the new takeover. He said that he could not do anything about it, except that I could sign up for an LA Fitness membership.

No notification. They billed me and took my money without informing me of what was going to happen. Deceitful, unlawful, bad business and completely wrong!

I have been a Bally Total Fitness member for over 30 years and continued to renew my membership every three years at preset prices. All of a sudden Bally informs me that based upon my contract they have the right to increase my fee $2 per month for each of the years that I was a member. I decided that since they were impossible to contact directly, whether by phone or email, I would not renew. The initial expiration was in June of 2011. I received many phone calls after that date to renew at various offers.

I finally agreed to renew my membership for another year at $89 and made full payment in August of 2011. I recently received notice that my membership expired in December 2011 even though my payment clearly shows up in the records. Calls are ignored because of "call volume" and I am disconnected. Emails responses from Bally do not address the problem. Is there any way this fraudulent company can be shut down? It appears to be a total scam at this point.

I bought a lifetime membership on Bally's on Colorado Springs and when moved to Florida was told that I could use the West Palm Beach location. I get to find out that this location has closed. I will read my contract. I remember there was a clause that I could get a refund if there was not a location in less than 15 miles but there is not one in that distance. How do I get a refund on my membership? I would like to see how I can get a refund of my lifetime membership. Please keep me informed on what can be done.

I am really angry with this company! I recently received a notice on my Privacy Assist of $1,118.00 from an account that should have been closed in 2005 per my request. Six years later they are putting on my records as unpaid debt. Is this a scam or what? I'm not sure who to write to but they don't have me on file and I've talked to two different agencies that can't give me any information other than how much are you going to pay. Furious!

I purchased a lifetime membership from Bally's in 1988. I made my monthly payments as set forth in the agreement until the membership was paid in full. My annual renewal fee was $50. Over the course of the past 24 years, on one or two occasions, I was unable to use the gym and would defer my annual renewal fee until I was able again and was always permitted to bring my membership up to date again by catching up my annual membership fee.

My annual renewal fee was due again in February of 2011. Due to health issues, I was not attending the gym at the time. I received a notice in October of 2011 indicating that my 2011 renewal fee needed to be paid by November 10. Prior to that date (approximately the beginning of September); I'd stopped into my local club to pay my annual fee. The staff member that I spoke with checked my account and it indicated that my renewal fee was $156. When I stated that my annual renewal fee was $50, he suggested that I not pay the $156 because that would possibly bind me to new terms and conditions and provided me with the customer service number for Bally's. I made many attempts to call customer service but their hours conflicted with my work hours, 8-5, M-F. They were closed during the evenings and weekends. I emailed customer service and received a response stating that my renewal fee was, in fact, $50. After many unsuccessful attempts to log-in to the website to make my payment over the next weeks, I eventually emailed customer service in December. I was informed that my account had been locked but was now available. I again attempted to log-in but was directed to the LA Fitness website. I attempted to use my login credentials on that site but was denied access.

Finally, I had a holiday for MLK's birthday so I called Bally's customer service. They informed me that my account had been sold to LA Fitness and said that I needed to call them. When I looked for a contact phone number for LA Fitness, I was given the number of my local Bally's. When speaking to them, I was informed that my membership no longer exists and the only option is to agree to a new membership with LA Fitness.

In 2008, my wife had a Bally membership, and at the time of signing the contract, the representative stated that if we were to move to a location that didn't have a Bally within 50 miles, that we could cancel the contract. In 2009, I departed from the army, and we sent a letter stating we were moving to a location that didn't have a Bally within 50 miles. Nothing was received, until a few months later, when we got a collection notice for the membership. I have been fighting and disputing this ever since. It's ridiculous that they couldn't have contacted us in the first place. Now, we have to deal with all these collection companies, as it keeps getting transferred from one to the other.

I purchased a Premier Lifetime membership from Bally's in 1990 at the Landmark location in Alexandria, Virginia. It was renewed last July for another 3 years through their Costa Rican office. My friend told me, not Bally's, of the sale to LA Fitness. I tried to use the Landmark location, but they could not find me on their system. I was told to allow a few days to pass so the system could "download" my name from the Bally's computers. LA Fitness has of yet to get my information from Bally's and proof of my payment and lifetime membership status. After more than a month of haggling with Bally's, it is apparent that no one at Bally's is capable of forwarding my account history and membership information to LA Fitness. I am angry and frustrated, and considering in joining the Class Action Lawsuit that was filed in Chicago less than a week ago. If anyone knows of any local class action suits being taken, I would certainly like to be involved.

I have paid for personal training total amount $2373.00. I have been having terrible pains while being trained and requested to stop the training. I have been constantly requesting refund for the money that has been taken out of credit card. I have been given a run around by Bally as well as LA Fitness. The personel speaking to me is very rude and several times have hung up on me. I have followed all the procedures such as provide them with the doctor's note, and fill out a form to request a refund.

Bally's tells me to collect from L.A. Fitness and L.A. fitness tells me since the money was paid to Bally. Both of these company's are very rude and I have tried several times to get the refund but am not able to succeed. I am not happy with their service and I will not recommend anybody to deal with Bally nor LA Fitness.

I have a lifetime membership with Bally since 1984 (28 years). My annual dues are $30.00 per year. My contract originated 28 years ago in Bay shore, NY. I moved to Florida six years ago, and immediately contacted Bally for a change of gym. They told me I didn't need to do this, because my membership afforded me any Bally Gym. I had a Gold Membership and that I could use all clubs throughout the US. I have paid all my renewal fees and have never been late in 28 years!

I went to the gym last week in West Palm Beach, and Bally was closed, I then found out Bally has sold every gym in Florida to LA Fitness. I went to LA Fitness today and they told me that they will not honor the Bally membership since it originated in NY, and there are still clubs there. Basically, they are telling me to go back to New York to work out!

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In 2003, I was in my early 20's and living with my ex in Selden. After we broke up, I got a better job and moved to Long Beach, NY. When I signed my contract, I was told if I moved 20 miles away or more, I could get out of my contract. I moved and asked to be released from my contract. They told me that I needed to file a written letter asking to get out of my contract, as per their policy. I did.

They said that there was a Bally''s within 20 miles of Long Beach but it wasn't as nice as the one in Centereach and even though it was less than 20 miles, the traffic to get there made it a 30 40 minute drive. I did not want to be a member of the facility. I went back and forth, even offered to pay a cancellation fee but was told that under no circumstances was I ever to be released from my contract. When I signed the contract, I am signed up for life and there is nothing I can do but move 20 miles away from the nearest Bally's. Is this legal?

I've been a member of Bally Total Fitness on and off for years. Taking advantage of the yearly rate of $99, I received the renewal form in the mail a few weeks ago and decided to renew. I've now been told that since I was not an active member nothing was transferred and they will not honor the renewal rate that I just received. I'm not being told by very rude customer service in Miami for LA fitness, too bad and the only thing I can do is renew with LA fitness at their regular rates! Ridiculous!

I have been a lifetime member at Bally's since the 1980's. I used to go all the time and paid the $99.00 per year dues. I have not been able to go for quite a few years due to health issues, but went in on 1/11/12 to get going again. I asked about my membership and was told that since I was not current with my dues that L.A. fitness did not pick up my contract. I asked why nothing was sent to me informing me that I had to be paying dues in August of 2011 to be able to transfer to L.A. fitness. Katie could not answer my question. I paid over $600.00 for a lifetime membership and my life isn't over yet. Please keep me informed if a class action lawsuit is started as I would be very interested .

No stars. I am a lifetime member with a Premier Bally's Membership. My club was sold and my membership transferred to LA Fitness, and they now want $156 for my membership fee and I cannot use the gym until I sign a new contract with them! I've been calling ** for more than a month and I cannot get anyone to answer the phone. I, too, am interested in seeking legal action against them. Count me in for a class action suit.

I was left holding a worthless Bally's lifetime membership when LA Fitness acquired Bally's Total Fitness. In December 2011, Bally's confirmed my membership would be transferred to LA Fitness to find out today (January 12, 2012) this wasn't the case. I find myself without access to the club that I was regularly attending on Commercial Ave. in Florida until now. I purchased a President's Membership from Lack ** (Bally's Total Fitness) on July 9, 1984 in New Jersey. I paid over $1000 for the membership to take advantage of the low annual membership fee of $59 and the nationwide access.

I spoke to Bally's again and they confirmed that my membership would not be transferred without providing any additional information. I believe Bally's defaulted on the term of my contract. I would like to find out if anybody is pursuing legal class action against the company or how to escalate the complaint in the company.

I was robbed at Bally Gym on Rockville Pike on 1/10/2011. Some other 10 people were also affected in that spree. Thief broke the locks on the lockers and stole wallet, key, etc. Lacks security at the facility - do not recommend this chain.

We have been continuous primer tennis members of Bally in Tacoma, WA since 1991. Suddenly, on Dec. 1, 2011, the club was closed down and memberships were transferred to LA Fitness. Unfortunately, LAF does not have tennis facilities so we cancelled our membership with LAF. Our dues were paid on an annual basis with the last payment on July 1, 2011. Thus, there were 7 months of our dues that cannot be used. Now we are looking for a refund of the remainder of our dues.

We inquired about refunds at LA Fitness and were told that LAF is not responsible for any prepaid dues and needed to get our refund from Bally. I have tried online at the Bally's website and by telephone to get through to someone (all are automated phone numbers) for a couple of weeks to no avail. We are hoping that Bally would have the consideration and honesty to refund longtime members of their club dues for the unused portion of their contract. The club has now been closed for almost 6 weeks and there has been no communication from Bally. Where to go next?

My experience has been horrible in the past 2 months. Apparently, Bally sold many of their clubs to LA Fitness. I had a lifetime membership with $99.00 per year dues. I went to my regular gym in Levittown one day and I was told they couldn't find me in the computer. I was so confused because that's my regular gym and I wasn't advised in away way ever about the buyout.

Finally after I got tired of waiting, someone advised me that I could use the gym for another week and then I would have to join LA fitness. I was so upset. What happened to all the money I paid for a lifetime? I called Bally's Corporate and I called LA fitness. Both places acted like they didn't know anything about how the issues were being resolved. Finally, I got a call from Michelle at Bally's ** on December 16th, 2011. She said that there was an error and that she was submitting my contract to LA Fitness so I can be added and it would take a few days but she wasn't sure how long.

I waited patiently through Christmas and new year's as they kept on telling me at all the nearby LA fitness gyms that I wasn't showing up on their computers. After the new year, I became angry and called Bally's once again. Then I received a call from Martia ** from Bally's advising me (via voicemail) that she was apologizing because my contract is not being transferred and she would submit for me to get a "prorated" refund for whatever difference I didn't use from the $99.00 I paid for the year. But mentioned nothing about the fact that I had a lifetime membership.

I learned that LA fitness bought many gyms. 'If" you were originally signed up at that gym, and your contract was in that computer hard drive, then your membership was honored for use at LA Fitness. So the rest of us are out. How many people realistically stay at the same location for 20 years? We were sold memberships that can be used nationwide in all their existing locations that were on their geographical maps at the time. We were advised that we can use them all. Now, half of those locations are non existent. Its not fair that some members that signed up get to continue to use their gyms and some of us can't.

Since I have done everything I could to work this out with Bally's Total Fitness, I have been left with no alternative but to start a lawsuit. I am currently in the process of considering the next steps to take to get justice.

I have a lifetime membership to Bally's that originated in Chicago, IL (since 1986). Bally's never notified me of LA Fitness buying out Bally's and the conditions that may affect me. I am told that some of Bally's still exist in Chicago. Can I use both LA and Bally's if Bally's is still in Chicago? Also, will I be able to use the clubs state to state? When I stopped by Bally's today, I was informed that as of December 2011, Bally's no longer exists. They gave me a key tag ID and have taken a new photo. But they did not give me a photo ID. Why the photo? They also gave me back my Bally's card. The club (87th & Danryan) Chicago Ill did not have anything in writing about the takeover and couldn't tell me where to get the documentation. If my membership has changed to not benefit me, I would contact an attorney to complain.

Have a lifetime membership since 1975. Originated with Jack LaLanne - acquired by Bally. Bally recently transferred all active accounts from their Lake Grove, NY gym to LaFitness, Lake Grove. I went to pay my fees this morning and workout and was told that it no longer existed. I have been to both Corporate Offices and both "Customer Service" lines. Bally claimed that they did not know of our accounts and that they cannot help us.

Bally took action here that affected the property of others. They did not notify anyone in writing of the risks that would surround this transfer they saw fit to make. I believe that you legally have made a mistake. I am going to seek legal advice with a Corporate Attorney and see if they aren't others who might benefit by placing your organizations' arbitrary policies under legal inspection in a "Class Action Suit".

In the past, Bally, you forced us to do this and we will do it again. I hope you have the time and the money for it. Would it not be simpler to resurrect those "dormant" - "trashed" membership account numbers and carry on with good business practices.

I have a lifetime membership, signed and honored during your last corporate upheaval that should be honored for our lifetimes.

I am a Lifetime member for $69 dollars per year. I sent an early payment for next year. They cashed the check and never forwarded the payment to LA Fitness. Their website does not submit, you can't get a human on the phone, and they waited till December 1 to cash my check, the day the accounts switched hands. They also always bill you early but sometimes don't send the bill when due.

I have the same story as many others who have just posted complaints. I have a lifetime membership to Bally's that originated in NY, but I live in LA. LA Fitness bought out Bally's here and I am told that because Bally's still exist in NY, I cannot use the gym in LA.

I have been a Premier Plus member of Bally Total Fitness since 2000. I added my fiancee to my account and also purchased sessions with a personal trainer. Five years ago, I moved from Cleveland to Chicago, a fact that Bally knows because they send me bills here. My trainer was fired, along with the rest of the staff, and no one has told me how to redeem my sessions or when I can expect a refund. Also, I have been told that I am not welcome in LA Fitness because Bally retained my membership. I have 7 months left on my paid term. No one from Bally answers the phone and LA Fitness just plays dumb.

My fiancee's membership, which was started in Chicago is getting him the same treatment. He can't get into the clubs either. Has anyone in this forum gotten results? If we all bond together can we get a class action suit against one or both of the clubs?

Bally's in California got bought out by LA Fitness. Now, they will not honor my Premier Plus membership that I have had since 1994. I paid them for the year in September and can't even get a refund for that.

I left for vacation on 12/2/11 and returned home on 12/13/11. I went to the gym on 12/15/11 only to find the gym closed and a note directing me to the nearest LA Fitness. After several weeks of waiting for my membership to transfer from Bally's to LA Fitness, I learned it did not transfer because the membership originated in Ohio, and those Bally's were not sold. I've been going to Bally's in Michigan for the past five years. Now I'm without a membership.

At the end of my three-year membership I began the cancellation process with Bally Total Fitness. After waiting on hold for approximately one hour I was instructed to mail in a notice of cancellation, which I did. This was in May 2011. I am still getting billed in January of 2012. I have made repeated attempts to get this rectified even going so far as to say just quit billing me and you can keep what you owe me in overcharges! This is the biggest scam I have ever seen. They will not let you cancel! Do not ever join this club!

I joined Ray & Clair Stern 1967 at Stones Town in San Francisco which became Jack La lane, Holiday when I upgraded in Colorado 1982, then Bally's when I moved to Baltimore in 1990. I have no health club now because I am told LA Fitness did not buy Bally's in Colorado.

My membership started in San Francisco and I have been going to the gym for over 40 years. Now, at 70, I am told that I have to buy a new membership with LA Fitness. I have paid on time for all these years to keep my blood sugar in check, now I can't exercise because my contract has been trashed.

I have a lifetime membership at Bally's in FL. LA Fitness is unsure what to do. Either way, I have no club to go to even though my membership is still valid. I live in FL where there are no longer and BTF clubs. BTF said I would have to go to my original club, but that's in CT. I should not have to go to CT from FL to workout in a club that I paid for. That is the stupidest idea that ever came out of BTF.

I have been a premier member of Bally since 8/15/1984. I received a letter telling me my membership was transferred to LA Fitness. I have tried calling Bally and did not get to a real person. The machine said my number was no good. I called LA fitness and they wanted to charge me $300 for their membership. I only paid Bally $100. I have used this membership in Illinois (where it was purchased), in Cleveland, and in Dearborn, MI.

I have paid my dues the last 6 years even though there was no Bally near me because I wanted to keep the membership. After all these years, I can't believe any company would treat its members like that. I would like my Premier membership back which was between $800 and $1000.

I have been a membership owner since 2006, when first enrolled decided to pay extra $10.00 for the Childcare benefit. When the contract was active for 4 years I will pay $29.99 for the membership plus $10.00 for the Childcare. When my contract expired and went to month to month payment, the Childcare disappeared from the computer system and the gym. I was denied by the service, so I talked to corporate office people and I was told my contract will be honored.

Since July last year I made calls to have the Childcare benefits back in the system and notes were entered in my account letting everyone know I did have a childcare benefit. My membership was sold to LA fitness, now the notes and Childcare benefit is gone again. Customer service from Bally Total Fitness refused to help me after numerous calls, phone number from corporate office denied me. LA fitness have told me to get something in writing from Bally but they refused saying they did not have any information any more. I was even accused once by a manager at the Bally of steeling the service from the gym. Bally total Fitness **!

I have premier membership since 1984, $59.00 annual membership fee. Without notice, they sold clubs to LA Fitness without transferring my membership with the same or close to same membership or giving me advance notice with options. I feel they should compensate me $1000.00 USD.

Any Illinois Bally members having trouble with getting their memberships transferred to LA fitness? Please send us your stories and any information! Thanks!

I was in Bally's yesterday in Rogers Park, IL. I showed them my membership card (premier member). These dues are paid until April 2012. They looked up the card in their computer and they said that it was "coming up" in the system--they gave me the customer service number to contact. The representative stated that they are no longer transferring any memberships to LA Fitness. Only yesterday, other members were getting new cards without a problem. Has anyone else had the same experience? My yearly dues are pretty lowis this why? Please help.

I lodged a complaint against Bally with the Minnesota Attorney General's office. I just got a call from Lisa ** (AG Office), who said the state has reached an agreement with Bally and LA Fitness that our contracts, in full, will carry over. She said just go to LA Fitness, and get a new card. LA Fitness should have your contract details.

My wife and I are no longer able to use our membership at Bally's/LA Fitness and we still have four months left before our renewal . We have been premier plus members for over 15 years and now we have nothing to show for it. Are we screwed or what? I hope this falls in to some kind of lawsuit. They should not be able to do this to people.

I purchased a Bally premier plus, lifetime transferable membership over twenty years ago. Bally has sold all their operations in Maryland to LA Fitness and transferred my membership without my authorization. In doing so, they are in breach of contract with long term members such as myself. For example, they will not honor my membership when I visit family in Boston, unless I pay for yet another membership. I will gladly join in any class action against them. This is absolutely outrageous.

I called the Bally's membership renewal number, and was told by the automated service that my Premier Plus membership had been assumed by LA Fitness. I am fuming mad, since I purchased this membership several decades ago, for the price of $800.00, and to be disrespected in this manner without even a letter of notice is totally unprofessional and dead wrong! Please help! If there is a class action suit, please count me in.

When I went to the gym this morning, the clerk tried looking up my membership and she stated that she could not find it. Then, I realized that I signed up for Bally's in NY and not PA. According to the clerk, LA Fitness bought the PA membership and not NY. This explains why she could not find my information. What's interesting is that when I signed up for Bally's in NY, I was still living in PA. I thought nothing of it because my Premier membership allows me to use any Bally's in the US. Now I am being told I have to travel to NY to use a Bally's gym or terminate my membership.

you over to an automated message that says the account is being serviced by LA fitness.

I called LA fitness and they have no record of the account, I called Bally again and after over an hour, my call was answered by a sarcastic person who simply said LA Fitness is having a problem updating their database and that my membership was transferred. Two weeks later, LA Fitness has no record of my account and they switch me to the new account section.

I purchased an upgrade to lifetime Premier/Premier Plus membership with Bally on 4/25/95. This membership gave me access to all of Bally's fitness network, and a fixed lifetime annual membership charge. It seems now that LA Fitness has acquired 171 of Bally locations. I am being affected by this change.

My membership has been downgraded to a one location membership, and I am being told that the only way I am able to patronize other LA Fitness locations, is to upgrade my membership to their VIP program with monthly dues. I feel if they acquire our contracts, they should be honored as written. It seems I am not the only one who feels this way about this merge or takeover with LA Fitness and Bally.

I had a Premier Plus Bally's membership since 1989 with annual dues that I have not paid this passed year since I have been hospitalized twice with two operations and have not gone to a gym. Now that I tried to go I have been getting the run around from both Bally and LA Fitness, which I just found out took over my club. I was told finally after making numerous visits and phone calls that I am no longer a member because I lapsed in my dues and was not transferred to LA Fitness. I was never notified of this status or take over and was told I can purchase a new membership from LA Fitness. I told the salesman that I have paid about $3000 in 88 and have always paid my membership at a club when they told me it was due since I have taken time off over the years. But probably never over a year.

I think thousands of dollars and annual fees should count for something or some correspondence from Bally's. I have been very happy with Bally's or Jack ** when I joined until this point. I have traveled and was always glad I paid for the gold membership that I could use anywhere. I would have given 5 stars; now it appears I am not even a member. Help or can you add me to some law suit? I need to get healthy and cannot afford LA Fitness' prices of $60 a month. I can not go to the gym without buying a new membership and need some advice on what to do.

I am a premier plus lifetime member. My home club is listed as Sheepshead Bay. I have lived in Suffolk County and used the Lake Grove facilities for the last 20 years. Since Sheepshead Bay was not sold, I was denied access. There is no club in Suffolk county I am qualified to go to. I feel this is wrong.

I have a paid 1 yr membership through Bally till 3/16/12. However, no record as per Lakeland's Bally which is now LA fitness.

I've been a member since '98, and would like to join a class action suit, regarding the transfer of membership to LA Fitness, as soon as there is one. It started when I recently spoke with an LA Fitness rep this morning, who was advising me that my billing information needs to be updated. That's when I noticed my bank account was being charged exactly $4 more in May per month, without my permission, by Bally. Since inception, my contract as been increasing annually, from pennies to under a dollar, with no exact amount, for cost of living. I noticed in May 2011, that I was charged exactly $4 more per month, without my authorization.

Today, I spoke with both Bally and LA Fitness twice, with not one of them having any billing history info, only what I was currently being charged, the $4 additional. Now I know I should've caught this billing error earlier, but I haven't had a billing issue for the past 13 years, so it slipped through the cracks. Now that I caught it, I believe I have the right to find out why I was charged more money, without my authorization. I got nothing but dead ends. So, if there is going to be any sort of lawsuit against Bally, I'm in. LA Fitness doesn't even have my original contract, and I've tried both corporate and local offices.

I purchased a Gold membership in 1988 in a NJ gym (that is still apparently open and was not bought by LA fitness). However, I live in NY and used to go to the Bally in Bay Shore New York. There were no Bally Total Fitness nearby that I can go to anymore and LA fitness said they don't have our information in their computer. Bally Sport said I could upgrade and pay higher prices. Problem was, I bought a lifetime membership that I am current on dues with ($33.00 a year) and I cant go to the gym.

It seemed to me they breached their contract to me and I would like to be added to the class action suit. Not to mention the gym in my town which I had an additional membership with, closed 2 months after I gave the $499 for a year upfront. They need to have more legislation regarding memberships. Since then, I realized that you cannot buy a membership for more than three years. However, in 1988, I purchased a lifetime membership for $1000 and that was a huge amount of cash back then. Now when I really need it, it is gone!

Bally's ripping off its long term members, you are a fool if you join this club. They are selling or closing existing clubs, leaving their current members with no access. Why would you join this organization?

I have a Bally's Premier membership. I originally joined U.S. Swim & Fitness in 1984. This membership transferred to Bally's. Now, even though I pay an annual membership fee, I can't get a refund. I intend to inform the Minnesota Attorney General about this abrogation of contract.

I've been a member at Bally for 10+ years, and found out at the counter that they were bought out by LA Fitness. I pay my dues annually, and was told I had until the end of the year to visit the LA Fitness closest to me, then I had to start a new membership. This is ethically wrong on both Bally & LA Fitness. Class Action Lawsuit? I'm in.

Since LA Fitness took over Bally's, LAF say they do not have me in their records. I have been a life member since the 70s and have been in other takeovers with no problems. I transferred to FL from CT in 1989 or 1990. I use the gym 3-4 times a week. LAF told me to call Bally's. I did and they stated at Bally's that I could go to Texas. When asked how, "you can take a plane". Sure! Great answer! But no answer as to where is my record of life membership. I was able to use my membership before at any Bally's. I used both Bally's on US 19 in the Largo-Clearwater area.

I was sold a nationwide subscription to Bally and now they are telling me that they sold all the clubs in Florida. I live in Florida for the last six years and I can't access the gym in Florida.

Bally's is committing a fraud. Long time memberships are no longer being honored unless you upgrade and pay more for the same services. We all must contact the attorney general in our states to get their attention otherwise we lose. Go, the states sits and file your complaint today. All memberships must be honored with no changes. Do something today. Don't wait. Can u believe that these clubs have the nerve to advertise on this site?

I have a lifetime membership and there's no Bally in FL. LA Fitness is unsure what to do. Either way I have no club to go to even though my membership is still valid. Choke the person who made this stupid decision.

I did not hear about this merger until I got a letter in the mail. At the same time, I was planning to renew my membership, which I pay $99 per year. However, I was told that I have to pay the "new" dues of around $160 per year to use only one of the clubs. If I wanted "premier" then that's extra. I have been with Bally's for 9 years. This is a shame how companies like this put people before profits. I also never authorized Bally's to release all my information to LA Fitness. If there is going to be class action lawsuit then I would be more than glad to join .

It is completely unethical that Bally members were not warned that BTF was being bought out/sold by 24 HR./LA Fitness, whoever owns who? I don't know. Worst case now is that long-term member's contracts are not being honored. I am one of those members that pays $100 annually and I am nowhere in the system now. This is complete "ratness." They are totally trying to make more money off us.

I was told after LA Fitness took over that my premier plus contract would not be honored. They purchased the business but not the contracts. This sounds illegal. Is there a class action in place that I can join?

I rate my experience as a total loss and a negative experience with my credit. I signed up for a promotional membership canceled within the 30 days. What happened next was there was no action taken in the computer system. And my membership must have continued without my noticing and now Bally's is listed as an unpaid bill.

I am a lifetime member of Bally's Fitness Centers. I went to the gym this past weekend and they told me my membership is no longer valid! They were bought by LA Fitness. I tried calling Bally's and cannot get a real person on the phone. My annual dues are paid through February 2012! LA Fitness will not even honor that!

I have a lifetime membership with Bally which I paid off, and my dues for lifetime are $5 per month. My contract originated 23 years ago in New York. I have been living in Florida for 15 years. My membership afforded me any Bally Gym. Bally sold every gym in Florida to LA Fitness. They are telling me they will not honor the Bally membership since it originated in NY, and there are still clubs there. Basically, they are telling me to go back to New York to work out.

I think it's disgusting, that they wouldn't make provisions for members who have been loyal, and have moved to another state. Not even recently, I've been here 15 years. I'm mortified now that I have no place to work out, unless I pay an exorbitant amount for a new membership, which I cannot afford. I took a $12000 a year pay cut. To just cut all their members off, without trying to change addresses for members so that they wouldn't lose their privileges, I think it's disgusting.

First it was reported they would honor these memberships. Now I find, they won't. I think something should be done here. This is disgusting of what they did to members.

I was notified by Bally's that LA Fitness had bought them out and my membership was not being honored, and my fees were going up. However if I wanted to cancel I will need to go to a "real LA fitness" whatever that meant since Ballys had no updated system. I found to be inconsiderate, and just plain unprofessional. I had to go 15 miles out of my way to cancel. LA fitness will never get my business.

I have been a member of Bally's for nearly 10 years at the Dale Mabry (North Carrollwood) location. In Oct. 2011, they charged my credit card $128 for my membership renewal. The funny thing is that they were not supposed to charge my card. But I let it slide after discussing this issue with them on the phone (they apologized for their error). My membership "renewed" on Nov. 28, 2011. On approximately Dec. 5, 2011 (seven days into my new membership for the 2011-2012 year, which I paid in full when they "accidentally" charged me in Oct. 2011), I was notified LA Fitness was taking over.

I spoke to LA Fitness and was told, "We are all new here and have no idea what corporate wants. You can use your club through Dec. But after that, it's an upgrade to our LA Fitness prices." I asked for a refund and was told, "Call Bally's. We got no money from them." I called Bally's and was told, "The best thing you can do is try to dispute it with your credit card company because we are not refunding your money. LA Fitness owns the club now. Sorry." This is **, to tell me that they didn't know they were going under a month before they falsely charged me, and then refuse to refund my money. LA Fitness is forcing us to pay their rates. I was told, "They will not accept Bally's contracts as far as pricing. We're LA Fitness." They won't even let us ride our contract out. So, LA Fitness "buying" Bally contracts is a crock of **. Put me in a class action lawsuit.

I received a letter in mail on 12/13/11 dated 12/1/11. The letter said that Bally Total Fitness transferred my membership to LA Fitness. I'm a premier member paid up for the next three years at Bally. I called Bally at 888-210-4725 and 866-402-2559, and I was transferred to a tape saying that I should contact LA Fitness, since my membership is with LA Fitness. I called LA Fitness at 516-355-2302 and talked with Damien, and he didn't honor my payment for 3 years, nor transfer my membership back to Bally. Is there any lawsuit against Bally and LA Fitness?

I am a premier plus member since 1992. I moved from Queens to Long Island in 2001. I switched my local club from Queens to Levittown on their website several years ago. The Levittown location converted to LA Fitness. Bally's switched back my local club to Queens at the time of the switch on their website and LA Fitness of Levittown will not honor my contract. LA Fitness wants me to sign up for one of their plans. Bally's says that I could travel to one of their other locations, which is not convenient and keep my current contract. All of this happened because Bally's never switched my local club on their books and who collected my membership fees, even though I made the change on their website years ago.

I received a letter in mail on 12/13/11 dated 12/1/11. Bally Total Fitness transferred my membership to LA Fitness without consent or assent. I'm a lifetime premier member paid up for the next three years at Bally. I'm also a signature member of LA Fitness paid for the next two years, so the transfer to LA Fitness is worthless for me. I called Bally on 12/13/11 at 888-210-4725. Oscar refused to reinstate my membership. Aren't there laws against this kind of stuff?

I also hold a lifetime membership with Bally's that LA Fitness will not honor. I also would like to be a part of of any legal action regarding this issue. Financial loss, negative health impact, also causing an unforeseen financial burden resulting in undue stress causing your health to deteriorate due to a severe change in lifestyle.

I purchased the bi-weekly plan for my son 12/23/2010 at Bally Total Fitness in Lacey, WA for a Christmas present. I was assured by the club manager the plan could be cancelled at any time, that it was a "pay as you go" plan albeit two weeks at a time. My son went to the club a couple of times and met with a trainer once. He also went swimming once but he thought it was filthy and he got a weird feeling from some of the other "regular" customers and told me he didn't think he would go back and that I should cancel the membership asap.

I called the club and they told me that I had to cancel according to the contract. So I looked up on the contract how to cancel and it said it had to be in writing and to a specific address and it had to be sent by certified or registered mail. In February of 2011, I mailed the letter as stated and never heard a response. Honestly, I don't use my credit card much and have made a major purchase on it in the past, that my bill pay sends a monthly payment out on.

So imagine my surprise when December 7th, I get a letter from Bally's and a letter from La Fitness telling me about the switch (imagine that Bally's went under?). At first I thought odd that they would mail me as my son is no longer a member. So anyway, I checked and since cancelling the membership the way I was supposed to, they have been charging my card 2-4 times a month! Since mailing the letter, I have incurred 22 bi-weekly charges for a total of $286.66. I tried calling Bally's and just got a phone tree with no options to talk to a human and LA fitness referred me back to Bally's (whom I assumed they know they own now).

For all you Ballys member **, we don't want you at LA Fitness. Find another gym.

I have had a Premier membership since 1989; my yearly dues are $89. Every year Bally's would send me a higher renewal price which I would turn down then would send me the regular one. On November 30, I received an offer for the $89 along with an offer to add a family member and/or pay for more years. Nowhere in the letter did they mention the sale, only a deadline of December 15th. I tried calling to ask for more information regarding a family member addition and was told my membership was sold to LA Fitness and I was their problem. I spoke to the LA Fitness/Bally's Tustin and was told I had to pay a higher amount for the membership and it would be only for 1 gym site. Needless to say, I am not happy and this cannot be legal. I have my most current letter from Bally's although LA Fitness tried to take it away from me.

I was sent a letter from Bally's. It states that my Premier membership was acquired by LA Fitness and that they would be honoring my contract which I have had since 1982; the original membership date was with American Fitness who sold it to Bally's. It included everything except rackettball and was usable anywhere there was a club. Now the letter from LA Fitness states differently. I would be limited to only the Bally's club I was affiliated with.

I have repeatedly attempted to contact Bally's for a refund of my membership due to the fact that, no fault of my own, I cannot use the facility anymore. Ever since I joined in February of 2011, there were problems with the pool, the sole reason I joined. Finally in September, the pool and the entire health spa were rendered out of service and have never been restored. I have written emails and called and gone in person to resolve this to no avail. I am asking for a refund so I can resume swimming, which is imperative to my health. I cannot use the other facilities and I made it very clear that I joined because of the pool and that it was within walking distance from my home.

I was swimming at a public pool 20 blocks away which required me to take public transportation and because of the brutal winter last year, I decided to spend more to have something closer to home. That membership only cost me $75 a year and the Bally's was around $350. As low income person, I am in no position to just lose that money as I need to rejoin the public pool before I lose all the momentum and my health further deteriorates. They seem to be embroiled in a battle with the building owners about fixing the ceiling and therefore have kept postponing the reopening of the pool.

At this point I see no imminent resolution and my membership is due to run out by the time it is fixed if ever. Yet they are holding my money hostage. They have been extremely unprofessional, making me wait to speak to the manager at the club for 1/2 an hour at a time and he never comes out. It's beyond ridiculous and disrespectful at this point. Bally's really doesn't seem to care about its reputation which is getting worse all the time. It's just about how many members they can snag and if there are disgruntled ones, so be it, they'll just keep the revolving door turning for the masses whose standards are low and who won't take the time to complain and will hopefully just give up and go away.

After months of calling and emailing "district managers", the club manager and the corporate offices, I finally chatted with someone today online. She refused to issue a refund. I have a transcript of that conversation which I can send. This is unacceptable. They have had my money to invest for almost a year and the club is in shambles, unusable. Besides the pool being out of service indefinitely, the club is filthy and I believe the health department would shut it down if they inspected.

I purchased a Bally's Premier lifetime membership in 1991 which includes dues of $10 per month. This membership allowed me to use Bally clubs nationwide. I received a letter from Bally's dated 12/1/11 saying that my membership had been assumed by LA Fitness. I am told by LA Fitness that I can now only use the Bally clubs purchased by LA Fitness and that I will not be allowed access to other LA Fitness clubs after 12/31/11.

In order to use their other clubs, I am told that I must upgrade my membership and pay an initiation fee. The membership they purchased gave me access to clubs nationwide so why do I have to upgrade to use their clubs? Also, if they purchased my membership, have me in their system and issued me an LA fitness card, why must I pay an initiation fee when I am apparently a member? It seems to me that LA Fitness should honor the terms of the contracts they purchased with no additional cost to the holder. I would like to be a part of of any legal action regarding this issue.

I am one of yet so many Bally's fitness members that was belatedly informed that LA Fitness had bought the Bally's clubs in my state. This has left us with questions, sales pressures, and lies from LA Fitness about what was occurring with our memberships and original contracts. Firstly, LA Fitness staff are not letting Bally members know that the Bally membership contracts were in fact assumed by LA Fitness, which under basis contract law means that they have to honor the terms of those contracts as if they themselves had signed it. It is an assignment of the original sellers of the contract to the new owners. Pure and simple, LA Fitness is breaking contract law and you shouldn't sign any new contract with them, at least without reading it first and if you weren't given it to read first.

That is also a violation of the Consumer Protection Act and you would have a basis in such a case to void that contract. If you did get the contract prior to signing and didn't read it, then you usually only have 3 days to cancel the contract and you have to follow the rules in the contract for informing the company that you are cancelling the contract. In any case, LA Fitness is out and out lying and using various sales tactics to get the transferred Bally's members to sign new contracts. They have told numerous Bally's members that they can't just let Bally's members carry over their old contracts since the rates aren't the same. Well, that doesn't matter since a contract is a contract and they bought the Bally's assets for a very low price because it included all those lifetime memberships as part of the deal.

So instead of paying a higher price for all those clubs, LA Fitness got a great price to account for the difference in future premiums until those members eventually die off or can't use the clubs by their own choice. So obviously, LA Fitness is attempting to scam out of the deal by lying to the now former Bally's members and therefore reap both the discounted price for the Bally's assets and gouge out huge profits from getting those lifetime members to pay even more that what they were originally contracted to with the LA Fitness initiation fee and monthly dues that they aren't entitled to.

All Bally's members who are in this situation need to do the following: File call and file on-line complaints with your state's Consumer Protection Agency, your state's Attorney General, Senator's and Congressmen. You may email and phone your local TV news stations investigation department that loves to showcase these kinds of abuse by companies against their viewing public. They just love to get cameras in front of upset consumers and abusive companies to put on the air and LA Fitness definitely won't be happy with such exposure which will alert potential customers from signing up. You may spend 5 to 10 minutes outside of their facilities, before and after you visit LA Fitness, to warn others about what LA Fitness is doing and how they can do the above steps to help put LA Fitness in the cross-hairs of these agencies, etc, to expose LA Fitness for their illegal and unethical actions.

Also, beware, LA Fitness contracts are geared up to close clubs and force you to pay for an upgrade to access another club, even if you have a multi-club membership. You see, they've set up a scheme where they define club types as "signature", "premier", "premier-plus", "single", etc, but don't identify which club locations are which type which means they can just tell you it's one of the types that you didn't sign up for and you can't prove that they're lying to you since they only label the clubs on their website as "Open Clubs", "PreSale Clubs", and "former Bally's Clubs".

Another scheme is where no matter what type of LA Fitness membership you sign up for, any future LA Fitness facility that they build is not part of anybody's membership regardless of what you signed up as. You can surely guess it, they'll charge you an upgrade to be able to access such a club and then, imagine, they do this for every new facility they build that you might want to use.

They also include an automatic autobill feature so that they can charge your credit card for renewal without your wish to do it manually or only for a set time period. They even state in the contract that they can use any means to find out any one of your credit or debit card numbers to update their database and access your financial institution and get their dues from you. They can use any card or account numbers they search the web or other places that you've bought from and that report your information to the credit bureaus so that they can charge you if you fail to update your financial information or even if you cancel the card you had on file with them.

Gasp, surely that's illegal! Well, it probably is, but they state that's what they'll do and it's in those LA Fitness contracts and once they charge you, it's up to you to dispute it and hope your financial institute goes to bat for you. All in all, LA Fitness is owned by three hedge fund type companies whose goal is to eventually go public and pull the same shenanigans that Bally's did in the stock market and run the value up and then drive it down and do that over and over again to extract a huge fortune for themselves. Beware and be smart. File complaints as suggested. Don't call Bally's or LA Fitness except to cancel your LA Fitness contract as described above if you signed a new contract with LA Fitness.

Calling them is a waste of time and they won't tell you the truth or anything you won't learn about this situation from the many thousands of complaints. A class action lawsuit will probably be occurring and you don't have to sign up for such lawsuits since the lawyers will have access to the Bally's membership records as well as LA Fitness and will mail you information about the class action suit so you can opt in or out. Just make sure your post office has your change of address if you've moved from what Bally's had as your address when you were with them.

I am one of the victims of the sale of 171 Bally Fitness facilities to LA Fitness. I have a Premier Plus lifetime membership and I have been told that of all the memberships that were sold along with the clubs, the lifetime memberships were not part of this. So the gyms now belong to LA Fitness, but I have no membership with LA Fitness. And because I live in Chicago, they sold all of the gyms in this Chicago area to LA Fitness. I have already filed a claim with the Illinois Attorney General and am in the process of filing with the Better Business Bureau.

I have an Olympic Charter Membership from 1986, in which, I am entitled to use all clubs anywhere. I have lived in Suffolk County NY for the last 12 years, and have used both clubs available to me in my area. I just learned that Bally closed one of the clubs, and relocated it about one half mile away, and renamed it to Bally Sport, to which I may obtain access if I upgrade, however, the second club was just renamed, and I now have no access to a local club. This is a scam, if this happened to you, please write to the attorney general in your area, and put a stop to this fraud.

I have a premier membership with Ballys total fitness since 2004. This membership provided multi-club access. With the acquisition of Ballys total fitness by LA fitness, I was assigned to a club that I never went to and my membership was changed in their system as a single club access. When I called LA fitness, I was told that there was nothing thy could do and I have to pay $19.00 extra per month to have multi-club access.

The manager at the Ballys even put in a note stating the I had multi-club access. Class actions do not benefit the consumer so I am planning to sue them in small claims court to remedy this. Let me see how many of these claims LA fitness can fight. I talked to other members in the Gym who have been duped into sign new contracts in spite of having life time memberships. They were told that their memberships where not purchased by LA fitness so they have to pay $39.00/ month to keep using the facilities.

I am on a bi-weekly plan. I paid 2 months up in advance. I get an email on November 30 telling me that on December 1, LA Fitness will be taking over. I am thinking no worries. On December 2, they deducted the bi-weekly fee. I was very upset as I already paid up for 2 months. I called the number provided for LA Fitness and they were able to pull up my account but said they do not see the said payments then I called Bally's customer service and they have a record of it so I am thinking it will be easily rectified by bringing in my receipt and bank statement showing payment. My home Gym said they cannot help me because they are now LA Fitness and only Bally's can help. Mind you, Bally's is not on the east coast no more. It's all considered LA Fitness now and Bally's said that they already submitted all the accounts and it's up to LA Fitness to update. They said I have to take it up with them. They did not provide the said services so how can they just keep my money?

This LA Fitness/Bally takeover is a mess. I have been paying a Premier membership for Bally's since 1995, which allowed access to numerous clubs. With the takeover, LA Fitness tells me that I have a single club membership, which is incorrect (haven't worked out at that facility since 1996-1997). I've been getting the run around from Bally's saying they no longer have my information on file. Additionally, LA Fitness advises that Bally's should take care of it and they do not have information on any contract history.

I contacted Bally's and LA Fitness prior to December 1st and neither could give any information on the impact the takeover would have on my membership. Now, I see that I was downgraded to a single club membership after being a loyal Bally's customer for 15 years.

Also, I just renewed my annual membership in September of 2011. LA Fitness advises I can "upgrade" my membership starting this month at $19.99 per month. If not, then I will go back to the "single club" access which as mentioned, I never had. Furthermore, no one can explain why a "new" member of LA Fitness would be offered the same deal if the "old" Bally's member paid his membership in full in September 2011 as opposed to earlier in 2011.

I can't see how this is fair. If there is a class action lawsuit, please let me know as I may be interested. I've already submitted a complaint with the Better Business Bureau as well. Hopefully something materializes here because as of right now, no one at Ballly's or LA Fitness has been able to help with this poorly executed merger/takeover.

I have a Bally Total Fitness premier contract and the letter I received from them states that LA Fitness will "assume your membership agreement". I pay $5 per month for life to be able to go to any clubs nationwide. Now I have been told by LA fitness that I can only go to one of their clubs which is my home club and Bally's will no longer honor my membership at their leftover clubs. This is wrong and how do we get change or compensation?

I have a contract with Bally Fitness for a renewal fee per year of $25. The contract was in place since 1984. The membership is a VIP with multiple locations that I can use. LA Fitness stated that they will not be honoring these lifetime memberships.

I was told that my renewal rate of $51 a year would no longer be honored. I was told by Bally's (LA Fitness) staff that my new renewal rate will be LA Fitness's current rate.

I have a signed contract from Bally that dates back to 1979. At that time, I bought the Premier Membership. My annual renewal fee is $44. This morning, I called Bally only to find out that LA Fitness will not honor my contract. Instead, I will get the lowest membership level and it will cost me $19/mo with a signed contract. I already have a legal contract and that contract says "Premier Membership" for lifetime at a renewal fee of $44/year.

I have been informed that LA Fitness will not be honoring Lifetime memberships. They claimed that they did not purchase these agreements from Bally's. However, when speaking to Bally's officials, they states that LA Fitness did indeed purchase these memberships. Please include me in any class-action lawsuit. I have my original contract from 1991 with Bally's and I have a lifetime membership with dues of $1 per annum. I am currently paid up till March of 2016. Ironically, I also have a membership to LA Fitness which I recently purchased for $857.00 for a three-year period. I feel that I should be entitled to a refund as well. Remember that there is strength in numbers; let's keep up the fight!

I recently contacted Bally's Corporate at 1-888-808-9308 and they informed me that they no longer have any information on file regarding any memberships and they all have been transferred to LA Fitness. How convenient! LA Fitness cannot find my membership in their system and I was asked by a staff member if my membership was a lifetime one which I replied with yes, and he stated that is why it was not in their system. They were not part of the deal.

After a most disappointing and frustrating experience with LA Fitness attendants to accept the Bally Lifetime contract, good news as of to date, the LA Fitness corporate has decisively weighed the advantage and disadvantages of the Bally Lifetime memberships and witnessed the acceptance of the Lifetime IAW your prior contract. Just insist on your LAF attendant to contact the corporate office despite their refusal to acknowledge the change.

I have a lifetime Premier Plus membership with Bally Total Fitness. Bally recently sent me the following email.

When I contacted LA Fitness, they told me that I could come to their facility near the Bally's Fitness center near our home, but only till December 31, 2011. LA Fitness also told me that after December 31, 2011 we would have to upgrade our membership and would have to pay a much higher monthly membership fee.

I feel that Bally Total fitness has done something that is unjust, unethical and unfair to so many members around the country. If there is any class action suit against them, I would like to be a part of it. I unjustly lost an agreement of a lifetime membership with Bally Total Fitness.

Don't sign anything before consulting your attorney. It is my opinion that all parties involved must be sued. If you are denied access to your health club and you or your doctor feel that this has had a negative impact on your health or progression to better health, also causing an unforeseen financial burden resulting in undue stress causing your health to deteriorate due to a severe change in lifestyle, then the class action lawsuit just became increasingly detrimental to the prospective defendants involved.

We need to find an attorney for a class action suit against Bally and LA Fitness! I also purchased a Bally lifetime nationwide premier plus membership at $5 per month. It could never increase. Now I'm no longer able to use any gyms outside of NY but I purchased it while living in Florida and have only used Florida gyms. But I bought it from another member who signed up in NY and since LA Fitness didn't buy NY Bally gyms, then I can only use those gyms and not nationwide. I'm screwed cause I live in Florida.

My Bally Fitness membership was sold to LA Fitness on 12/1/11. I received an email at 2:00 pm EST on 11/30/2011 that, as of 12/1/2011, my membership was being sold. I called Bally on 11/30/2011 and explained the Bally club I joined in 1985 that I have not used since 1990, and was residing in Virginia using a Bally club located in the city I reside. I was told by a Bally rep that they would send my info over to the Bally club I have used for 21 years but that did not happen.

Second, I called LA Fitness to cancel my membership since the closest club they have is over 4 hours from me. They canceled my membership but told me I had to call Bally if I wanted to a refund since my membership was paid in full until Sept 2012. I called Bally and they could not find any record where my membership was transferred to the Bally in my area just that it was sold to LA Fitness on 12/1.

Original membership purchase was monthly payments for 3 years and then annual fees. That is a large financial loss for me plus being a member for 26 years. This whole thing is a major let down and poor business practice.

They did not cancel my membership when they said they would. I did not receive my refund. Now I have received a letter stating they sold my "membership" to LA Fitness. Bally's said they had no information on my account since LA Fitness owns it now. LA Fitness said they cannot issue refunds and they received no money for my membership. Now I have to try and deal with the inept and fraudulent Bally's. It's a waste of my money and waste of my time! I have not been inside a Bally's for over a year, why are they even allowed to sell a membership that obviously is not being used at all? How can Bally's get away with lying to so many consumers?

I have been a member since '94. I signed up in North Hollywood, CA which is one of the gyms sold to LA Fitness. Well, I now reside in Fresno where there is No LA Fitness. I am being told I cannot go to Ballys here in Fresno because my membership was sold to LA Fitness! I specifically purchased the membership that allowed me to go to any Ballys! I called customer service only to be told they don't have an answer and I need to go to LA Fitness. There has to be something we can do. This is wrong in every way!

In 1975, I bought a membership that included a lifetime set annual fee and included the ability to use any facility within the Bally Fitness system. At the time, I was living in the Los Angeles area. In 1992, I moved to Colorado and have been paying my annual dues here for the last 19 years. On Dec. 1,2011, I received a letter from Bally's that they have "sold" my membership to LA Fitness being as my "home club" was in the Los Angeles area. Magically, my husband who had bought a much more expensive membership at a much later (1990) date, also in Los Angeles, was somehow "transferred" to Colorado while my membership was not. Since there are no LA Fitness clubs in Colorado, I can no longer use my membership or the club that I have been going to for 19 years and through whom I renewed my membership in January of this year.

Bally gave its loyal members a great example of corporate greed and LA Fitness is providing the shaft by ending and not honoring Bally's fitness lifetime members contract nor any other. I am in Miami, Florida (attending Bally at Southland Mall) and I was informed by the new LA Fitness staff that Bally's has sold all of its memberships with a final expiration date ending 2012 of a calendar year (corporate greed). In which time, all will be subjected to LA Fitness's new monthly rates (the shaft). A Lifetime Membership at a low rate, which is inheritable and transferable is now worth nothing.

Bally not only sold the health clubs but they also sold the memberships of the clients without any care, concern or disclosure to the clients. I have been a loyal member since 1972 and now am being told that I am no longer a member of Bally's because they sold my membership agreement to LA Fitness. I went to LA Fitness today just to be told that after 12/31/11, I can no longer use their club. Although, I am now one of their members, unless I purchase an upgrade with them. They tried to use a hard sale tactic with me saying that I can only get it at this time or the price will go up later. Am I a member or not?

This club is only down the street from where the Bally club that I went to and is now being closed. The club that they are telling me I can go to is over 20 miles away from where I live. Some agreement, I'm no longer a Bally member and I guess I am a partial member of LA Fitness because I can only go to certain clubs but not the one closest to where I live. If there is going to be a class action filed count me in!

My overall experience with Bally's Fitness has been 5 stars until now. I bought a premier lifetime membership at President's First Lady Houston, TX in 1985. Shortly thereafter Bally's purchased them and honored my contract, which was a multi-location lifetime membership with an annual $50 membership fee (has gone up through the years; I now pay $55 plus change annually). I found out today that LA Fitness did not buy the lifetime memberships "because of too low annual renewal fees", but offered me "a deal".

I am paid through 2013. Since I no longer have a gym membership, I want a refund. I have called two different numbers and I cannot reach a live person, it is all automated.

I am so upset over this. I have had this membership for 26 years, which I paid over $900 originally and another $1400 plus in annual fees to keep it active. I no longer have any kind of membership (much less lifetime) and I am owed two years annual fee (through 2013). Is there any attorneys out there that think a class action suit may be in order. If so, please contact me.

Upset with Ballys? Then, let's group together.

I received an email from Bally on November 30th (dated December 1), that they were closing my base club and that LA fitness would, quote, "assume your membership agreement". My membership agreement with Bally was that, I am a premier club member, which means close to the same monthly rate I paid, 12 years ago (has went a little higher each year, but only a few dollars), and that I have access to any Bally. At first, when I called the LA fitness center that is now the base club Ive been reassigned to, they said the indication from Bally is that, I can only access a single club, so I can now only access one single LA fitness club, but they would be glad to upgrade me for a fee, and higher monthly fee.

I said I don't need an upgrade, just the same terms I signed up with Bally. They said to contact Bally. I called the Bally's number, and got a recording that my membership has been transferred to LA fitness. I called LA fitness again this morning, and they changed their story a bit. They acknowledged that all Bally Premier members who transferred to LA fitness, are now only able to access a singe club, even though, as premier members were able to access multiple clubs at Bally. They said it's because the rates aren't in line, and that we'd have to pay a higher rate, to get access to all LA fitness clubs. So, they really aren't "assuming your membership agreement".

Since LA Fitness is not honoring the same agreement with me as Bally fitness, my wife and I will either have to pay twice as much per month, to have the same multi-access privileges, as we had with Ballys, or we wont be able to use any other LA fitness club than the one we've been assigned to.

I hold a lifetime membership with Bally Total Fitness. Bally recently sold their Florida clubs/memberships to L.A. Fitness. Lifetime memberships were not included as part of this sale. I called the Corporate office,but counsel is not in the office. The head of member services is not picking up his phone. I am left holding a membership, which the value is now worthless to me. I can't use it at L.A. Fitness here, and there are no Bally clubs here.

I had a membership with Bally since 1988. I originally paid cash for my membership, and approximately, once every 2-3 years I would renew. Just recently, when the bill came, I didn't pay because I don't use the facilities. The next month after the due date I was charged the renewal fee. I disputed this charge with my Credit Card company, and I was credited. However, once again I am getting charged this fee. I never signed up for auto renewal, and have always paid cash, or check, or authorized the renewal myself with a CC. I am outraged that they continue to get away with this. It is a real hassle for me, because I have to once again cancel my new card, and I cannot use my CC. Not only that, they have no documentation to support this payment. The contract was set up as paid in full, cash. I am furious!

I cancelled my card, having to call other merchants that are paid monthly by this CC, and change my billing info because my CC is not valid. It is a huge inconvenience around the holidays. There were no written authorization for this payment. Lastly, I will not continue to use this CC after this second dispute is resolved, because I cannot trust this CC company anymore, which is really sad.

My membership was supposed to be $12.99. I was never informed that they will take money from my debt card and so I always paid in person at the location. It was not until they keep telling me that I owed more then my bi-weekly membership that I was told why. They offered me to pay $33.99 a month if I kept coming into the store to pay or have it come from my account at $12.99 every week. I went with the bi-weekly payments. But, they are taking from my account $33.99 every month. They are taking money from my banking account, which makes me fall behind in my bills. They are also not clear with why I am being charged $33.99 a month, and they are not making it easy for me to end and terminate the relationship with them.

In December of 2002, I bought a national lifetime membership to Bally's with a $54 fixed annual renewal through the transfer process of Bally Fitness being sold by a former member. The original home club was in Westbury,NY. I live in Connecticut and have used the Connecticut clubs in Milford (which closed years ago), and for the better part of the last 7 years, in Stratford, CT.

I was informed on Dec.1, 2011 that my membership was sold to LA Fitness. When I contacted LA Fitness, they told me that I could go to all clubs, those acquired from Bally Fitness and LA Fitness through December. On January 1, 2012, I will only be allowed to use those Bally clubs bought by LA Fitness. I am screwed because in Connecticut, where I have gone to Bally clubs for the last 9 years, none of them were sold to LA Fitness.

Even though an LA Fitness club is less than a mile from my house they won't allow me to go there after January 1, 2011. It doesn't seem right when they purchased my National membership. I should be allowed to go to any LA Fitness club, either their own or those acquired from Bally in the sale. Please help!

LA Fitness purchased Bally. Now our Bally's lifetime memberships are no longer honored and we have to purchase a membership at LA Fitness to continue going there at a much higher rate **. I think there is a class action suit being formed to help us get through this. Any information here?

I have been a Bally's member since June 2011. Beside the lack of equipment and cleaning maintenance, I have not had a bad experience until my membership was transfer to LA Fitness. After reading my membership agreement, it does not disclose any information in regards to Bally transferring my membership to any other health fitness club at anytime during my agreement besides Bally. How can Bally transfer my membership to another gym without my consent? Is this legal? I spoke with Bally c.s., 866-402-2559 and was advice to call LA Fitness and cancel my membership and was offer a similar membership package with Bally.

Unable to speak with an LA Fitness representative because my cell phone battery died. Called again from the house phone just to be told by an automated service, "Due to our power outages we are unable to take any calls at this time and they have arranged special hours for 12/3/2011 to help their customers with any concern. Called back Bally and was told they are not allow to make any offers to LA Fitness members. Really Bally. I did not agree to become a member of LA Fitness. After reading all the negative feedback of LA Fitness, now I have to waste my weekend on preventing any unauthorized charges from LA Fitness, as if studying for finals is not enough. If this issue is not handle in a timely professional manner. I will be seeking legal action. All of this aggravation is not worth going back to any health fitness club. I should become my own personal trainer.

I bought a paid in full one year membership through my partner two months ago for Bally's and today when I went to the gym, they told me that my membership was transferred to L.A. Fitness. I called Bally's and was not even allowed to speak after 20 minutes and transferred to an automated message telling me to call L.A. Fitness. After calling back, I had to scream "don't transfer me" to talk to a rude employee who told me it was in my contract that they could sell my membership away even though there are no L.A. Fitness gyms near me. Bally's offered me no help, basically telling me I was no longer their client. L.A. Fitness was more helpful but I don't need an gym membership for a chain that's closest gym is 50 miles away. Bally's did not notify us at all, is completely unhelpful and is trying to push this away.

Like someone else who posted here, Bally Total Fitness sent an email notifying me that my home club would be turned over to LA Fitness with one day notice. I joined Bally Total Fitness in 1989 and paid for a premier membership; after my initial three-year term, I was guaranteed a lifetime annual rate of $50. When I spoke to LA Fitness today (12/2/11), they informed me that after my current expiration date my membership would be cancelled and I would have to buy a new membership with LA Fitness (at current prices).

Bally Total Fitness had a contractual obligation to honor the terms and conditions of their contract with me just like I had an obligation to honor my contract obligations with them. Fitness centers across the nation ruin people's credit rating when a person cancels a membership contract with them. Now they need to hold themselves accountable to the same standard and honor the contractual obligations they assume. I'm sure that as contractual obligations go, if a contract is assigned or transferred, the new owner has a legal obligation to honor the terms and conditions of the original contract regardless. I'm sure my case is not unique and I'll be speaking to an attorney about initiating a lawsuit to bring justice to this issue. If you're an attorney and you're interested in pursuing this case with me, please contact me at ** or **.

Bally has sold to LA Fitness, all the locations in Illinois. I am paid through 2013 on my dues. I have had a membership since 1988. I am told that I no longer have a membership with Bally (by a representative on the phone, as of November 30th, 2011). That my membership is now with LA Fitness. I talked with the Century City Mall LA Fitness (former Bally Health and Fitness up until November 30th) today, December 1. Matthew, the manager, told me that my membership would not be honored, but I am more than welcome to come in and sign up for a new membership. I now do not have a health club membership. A new membership with LA Fitness will cost me approximately 10 times what I paid while with Bally. I can't believe that they are allowed to do this. How many other people are in the same situation?

On October 28, 2011, my credit card was charged $119.88 for an annual renewal fee from Bally's. I was neither asked nor consented to this transaction. I called Bally's (866-402-2559) the same day and requested a cancellation and a refund. I was promised a refund and was told that my account has now been closed. I called weekly for about two weeks and was told the same thing, "Your refund is being processed and please give us some time to credit your card." I called Monday (November 28, 2011) and was unable to get through the recording.

When I called tonight (December 1, 2011) I was informed by the automated system that my account has been sold to "Area Fitness" and given a telephone number (**) to call. The number is a non-working number and the only "Area Fitness" found online is located in Canada. I called this location and was told that this was the only one in North America. I called Bally's corporate number (800-247-2494) and spoke to a representative named David (who was pleasant, understanding, and tried to be helpful) and his supervisor "Miguel" (who was rude and condescending).

I was told that my account was sold on November 18 to "Area Fitness" and he is unsure why my refund was not given. He was able to pull up the history of my calls and mentioned that a refund was being issued. When I informed him about the non-working "Area Fitness" number, I was put on hold so he can check the number himself. When he came back on the line, he stated that that was the only number given to them by "Area Fitness" and maybe that the line was busy due to a "large call volume" of people like me, but it was a non-working tone not a busy number tone. I do not understand why or how my account was sold to another company in a middle of a refund being issued and if it was closed as I was told! I have contacted the BBB and my credit card company. Maybe we need to start a class action lawsuit and need to let Bally know that they cannot get away with it!

With one day notice, Bally Fitness sent an email notifying me that my home club would be turned over to LA Fitness which would also take over my billing. I do no wish this and did not authorize LA Fitness to continue billing, but LA Fitness and my home club refuse to answer phones. What's more, the LA Fitness website is falsely advertising the features of the Encino club to prospective clients which is fraud in any book.

I have placed a stop-payment request on my credit card for any future Bally Fitness or LA Fitness charges as they refuse to deal with their customers.

Bally's charged my credit card $119.88 without my permission. I have been a member since 2003 and have always renewed my account if and when I wanted to. I am not on a contract nor did I agree to have an automatic renewal membership fee. This is credit card fraud and I have turned them into the credit card fraud department and plan on pressing charges. This is no different than any other credit card fraud crime.

I plan on talking to a lawyer and suing Bally's! The consequences for me are that my credit card has been deactivated and I have insufficient funds and over draft fees due to this theft. I don't even have money to put gas or purchase groceries. Bally's consequences should be a huge fine!

With the closing of so many locations and the amount of complaints on various sites and backlash on Facebook and Twitter, I see that many feel the same way about Bally Total Fitness. Last year, I was offered a special offer of $64/year. Nowhere on the confirmation did it state that it would be automatically renewed. After visiting the website, I noticed that my bank account was due to be charged $150! I immediately started to call the 800 number on their website only to get a recording stating that there was a heavy call log and disconnected me!

I did not have the option of holding. I e-mailed stating that I did not want to renew the membership. After weeks, someone at the local Bally's informed me that no one answers that phone number on the website if you want to cancel. So she gave me the number that they use. What? After finally speaking with someone who tried to sell me more services, he finally told me that he could not help me cancel. Next thing I knew, the money was taken from my bank account. Furious, I asked how could this be done after I emailed my request for a non-renewal? I was rudely told that I would have to send a certified letter (not fax, not website, not email). I find it ridiculous that I have to "cancel" a membership that I never approved. I was no longer under a contract. Also, how can I add a trainer, upgrade membership, add people, but cannot stop them from taking money from my bank account?

I have used every social media to inform any others of such horrible practices. A report with the Better Business Bureau and a dispute with my bank have been filed. The unauthorized payment has caused financial hardship around the holiday season. The horrible stress and now waiting game is absolutely horrific. With such customer service, I will not be surprised at their demise.

This past Sunday at the location 8181 NW 12th, I received such a terrible service from the Front Desk Attendant. I had few issues of people misusing the Steam Room and I went to the front desk to report it so they can do something about it. Maria, the attendant said that she was alone and she could not move from the desk and she was counting money and she need to do that now. I requested to speak to a manager but she said there was none; in the gym was available, it was just her and no one else. I requested to her to call Bally's Customer Services but she said they were close. I requested then the number, but she stopped talking to me, she kept counting the money, and after 5/6 minutes she gave the number.

I felt very aggravated that a customer of the gym for almost twenty years is treated that way. I would suggest to Bally's Management to check cameras on Sunday, November 27th at around 5 to 6:30PM so they can see what Maria was doing (she was not exactly inside the front desk).

I signed up for a 3-year membership in 2008 and have paid every last penny of that membership till it expired this year. Signing up was my mistake for not reading the contract properly so I paid what I owed. But to keep charging me a fee because my account is still "open" is ridiculous! It's an unfair practice! Not to mention that when I signed up, I paid $200 for 6 training sessions and the personal trainer kept cancelling on me and I only got 2 sessions. I have called their main line numerous times only to be hung up on.

Finally, I got so ** I called the place where I opened the membership. They told me to just press the number that directs you to "paying by phone" instead of "cancellation". I got a representative immediately when they thought I wanted to make a payment! It's so stupid that you can't cancel by phone or in person. They only accept cancellation by writing, even though my membership is expired and I owe nothing on it! I sent the letter and am waiting for them to respond. I would give them zero stars, except the guys at the actual gym I signed up at seem to sympathize. I'm not sure I've heard of any company that keeps charging you, even though you have paid your membership completely and it's expired. If they keep charging me even after the letter is sent, I will have to block them with my bank. When I signed up, I was also told by the sales guy that cancelling was easy and I could cancel at anytime. What a lie!

I signed up for 1 year gym membership for my son Lionel ** 9/21/2010-9/21/2011. I paid all up front. At the end, he was denied access to the gym, but Bally kept billing me: $19.99 on 9/21/2011 and $19.99 on 10/21/2011.

I called on 11/16/2011, and again 11/22/2011, to request the refund of my $19.99X2= $39.98, without success. I heard lot of different stories. It's not fair that Bally bills for service not provided, just because they have my credit card information. I hope you'll look into this matter, and stop them. I have been billed $39.98 for a service I did not sign up for, and not provided with. It's only fair that they credit me back.

If I could cancel my membership now, I would. I signed up with a trainer in June 2011. I selected to make monthly payments. However, when it came time for my July payment to be deducted, I had fraud activity on my debit card and it was deactivated. I contacted the corporate office to inform them & that I would make the payment in person. I did. A few weeks later my bank contacts me about more fraud activity. With speaking to my bank, Bally's attempted to deduct the money not once, but twice after I made the payment. Tried, again to contact corporate. That was a joke.

Now, I renewed my sessions with my trainer. Unfortunately, she has accepted a better job at a different training company. I told her that I did not want to be re-assigned to another trainer. When I contacted the gym (Puente Hills, California), I asked them what were my options. They referred me to corporate. When I asked corporate what my options were, they basically said, "There was no refund. The sessions are for training and not for the the training personnel." When I asked how could I cancel my membership, I informed that I would have to provide a doctor's note that stated I could not perform any physical activities such as exercising or I had to be living in an area where there aren't any Bally's within 25 miles. This type of business conduct is absolutely insane. I had heard many horror stories prior to joining. I guess there's a lot of truth in word of mouth.

I have had an account with Bally's for more than 3 years. They automatically take the money out of my account every month to pay the membership dues. Within the last 6 months, they have reported me twice to collections. I had to pay $200 the last time to avoid ruining my credit, and now they say that I need to pay $93.00 to keep this off of my credit report.

I am a member of Bally Total Fitness located at Capitol Exp 2920 Aborn Square Rd., San Jose, CA 95121. Their phone number is 408-223-4411. I'm speaking for people using the pool in the Bally Total Fitness. We are very disappointed about the temp water pool. We would think the swimming pool would have the pool a bit warmer for multi-purpose pool. As we know, if the pool is used for variety of aquatic programs, the water temperature at the average indoor in the USA is 84 to 86 degrees. The cold water will cause spasms and pain. We don't want to risk my health by getting into an indoor pool with cold water. Our immune system will rebel and so will our arthritis and muscles.

I have been a member of Bally Total Fitness on and off for like 10 years. My last contract was for 2 years. After the two years was up, they still deducted money from my account. I asked them why and they said the contract was expired but the membership was still open. They gave me refund only on the last month but they ran away with my 2 months of payment. This to me is grand theft. I was thinking of renewing my contract but I will never become a member there ever again. It's not right and they know it. This is the first complaint I've ever filed in my life because I don't want other people to go through this.

I made an unauthorized debit of my account for annual membership dues without my consent. I'm on manual payment status. I was getting the runaround trying to get credit back on my debit card so I'm going to dispute the charge with my bank/VISA. If enough people would just go ahead and dispute these auto debits/charges with VISA/Mastercard, Bally's could end up losing their contract with the card companies! Don't bother trying to get your money back - just dispute the charge through your bank or you'll never get it!

I am getting tired of waiting by the door because nobody is there to open up. On 10/23/2011, they opened at 8:40 AM when they were supposed to open at 8:00 AM. On 10/30/2011, they opened at 8:35 AM when they should have opened at 8:00 AM which is on their sign on the door. On 11/01/2011, they opened at 6:25 AM when it was supposed to be at 5:00 AM.

I really want to rate this a zero! Bally's is nothing but thieves, frauds and liars! I had 3 memberships: mine, my brother's, and my sister's. Last year 2010 around Feb, I believe, I canceled my brother's membership because he was moving to Puerto Rico, then in April I called them to inform them I was sending in another cancellation letter for my sister's and most likely mine, they said okay they would stop the account & once the letter was received they will close it. I sent the letter very specific canceling my sister's and my account. I clearly separated my name and my member no. from my sister's and asked for both accounts to be closed! So when I called to confirm, they informed me the accounts were closed & tried their crap for me to be a member again.

So I joined Xport Fitness. A year and a half later, on Monday Oct 17, 2011, I noticed my account was overdrawn by $27. I called my bank & asked how did this happen & they responded it was an automatic withdrawal from Bally Total Fitness. I was mortified, livid, and so emotional because I had little funds left till my next pay day & these thieves robbed me. I explained to the rep this is impossible, that it was canceled over a year ago and they have no business near my account. The representative stopped any future withdrawals from them & I am disputing against them. I called Bally the same day and spoke with Cesear who originally gave me the membership. He was fantastic, his customer service skills deserve a reward he listened to me and we called Customer service together because he too was wondering why they were doing this because he noticed I hadn't been active for that year & I said because I believed it was canceled just like the other 2 as requested. On Tuesday Oct 18, around 11am, we called Customer Service and I spoke with Latisha, explained to her what I experienced & wanted this taken care of ASAP and for them to return my money because what they did was stealing and fraud.

She responded that a letter was received and the accounts were canceled as requested. She asked if I received a letter stating that and I said no, that I didn't get one for my brother's so not getting another one for my sis & myself was not an issue because I called & they clarified it was received,. She stated it was documented that the letter was received and my sister's was canceled but not mine, because that letter was not received. I got upset & told her if they had read the letter properly, they would have seen that both accounts, along with the names, were on there and with enough space to separate them from each other. They would have seen that I requested both accounts to be canceled. Who the heck would want to keep a membership open without using it for a year & a half, and give you guys free money? So she said she would have them look for the letter & told me to call on Thursday.

I called today Oct 20, and spoke with Sheryl. I had to explain myself again to her & she acted as if she didn't give a damn. I requested a supervisor, no supervisor came to the phone. She stated she would take a message and have them call me back and look for the letter as well. I am not playing your stupid games. You guys are making me emotionally stressed & financially incapable of my other bills.

I have been trying to get a refund because I had buyer's remorse. I have had the worst customer service experience of my life. The representatives pass me off and pretend to be supervisors. I asked to speak to a manager and they told me it would be a week before anyone got back to me. I wanted to speak with someone with actual authority but they would never let me through. I am so angry and disappointed as I have been a customer of theirs for 6 years.

The representative at the gym made me sign a new contract and then we bought a house, so I had to cancel, and this is how the whole mess started. On that note the guy harassed me every day until I finally came in to renew my contract almost a month earlier.

In August of 2010, my mom received a promotional offer from Bally's (via USPS mail) for a one-year membership (12 months) for $99. My mom previously had a Bally's membership (at least 3-4 years prior). When she informed me of this offer, I thought to myself: I wonder if I'm eligible for an offer like this because I, too, had been a Bally's member in the past. I called Bally's and asked if I could get in on this deal. The representative informed me that I, too, had been sent this offer (to my mailing address, which I never received) and that my offer had expired.

After consulting a supervisor (or who knows who), she came back on the line and stated that they would go ahead and extend the offer to me (despite that it was after the expiration date). I was stoked ($99 for 12 months seemed like a steal)! I asked my husband if it was "okay" as I am a stay-at-home mom and he is my only source of income. He agreed to "gift" me the 12 months (as it was only supposed to be $99). The representative stated that this was a one-time charge and that my husband's account would not be charged (after the one-time charge). The offer was for 12 months and prior to the conclusion of the 12 months, I would receive a notification advising me what the monthly fees would be if I wished to continue my membership past the 12-month period. Then, and only then, upon my agreement and authorization would I be charged on a monthly basis.

I frequented the gym the first month or two as I enjoyed Zumba (I didn't enjoy paying an additional $3 per class but I figured I had gotten a "steal" of a deal, so fine, whatever). Well all of a sudden, without any announcement or explanation, they got rid of my favorite Zumba instructor (hers were the only classes I would attend). I tried giving the new instructors a chance, but simply did not enjoy their classes and it was starting to become a waste of my time and money ($3 every class). Needless to say, I stopped going.

The account is in my name and I pay for both individuals on the account which is myself and my friend Tony. There seemed to be an issue each time Tony tried to use his card. It would tell him to go to the front desk and each time I would have to get on the phone with headquarters so they could fix the problem, which up to this day I do not know what the problem was.

On Monday, 19th of September, he was directed to the front desk. He asked why this keeps happening and the acting assistant manager stated they do not know and he stated he was tired of this happening all of the time. Tony did get angry and a bit loud whereas he ended up cancelling his account and the acting office manager was loud and speaking unprofessionally to Tony.

Tony proceeded to leave Bally's. As he was doing so, the acting office manager had her brother and his friend approach Tony in the parking lot trying to start a fight with him because of the Bally's situation that was happening and the confrontation with the acting office manager. Within an hour or so, Tony received a threatening phone call on his cell phone stating the situation with the acting office manager at Bally's and that they have his address and phone number and that he should watch his back. This is again very unprofessional and we can only determine that the office manager gave out his information from their records at Bally's. Tony has two (2) eyewitnesses to this occurrence.

I signed up for an Olympic gold back in 1993, paying $1,200 startup cost for a lifetime membership of $30 a year (membership number **). A worker at Bally Fitness claimed that this card was no longer valid, despite it stating it was from Bally's Health & Tennis Corporation.

So I then wanted a non-commitment plan for Bally Fitness Center. I was financially unable to pay for the cost every month because my rotator cuffs were severely injured (I used to work at the restaurant) and as a result I couldn't work for 2 years. I specifically told an employee at Bally Fitness that I did not want a contract and they claimed that this was not a contract. They stated that it was a non-commitment plan and that I would only be paying for one month's worth. Giving out false information and because of this I owe Bally's $1,100 2 years later due to their false claim.

I am not the only one who fell prey to this scam. My friends were also tricked into signing a contract and there were news about Bally's having such a case happen as well. I hope to see this person in court, the one who scammed me face to face so that she can tell the truth about how she scammed me and possibly others who have also fallen prey to this scam.

I went to Bally with a friend to join the gym on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, New York (it was only me joining). After being greeted by Igor, he explained the various packages. I finally decided on one that included a personal trainer named Marcus. Marcus was very motivational; he got me excited on joining the gym, and he promised to transform my skinny body in buff form. While I was joining, Igor suggested a joint membership for my friend using my debit card, since he did not have one. So, he convinced us, and we joined together. I was told to return in three days.

I was excited when the day came because I could start "transforming my body". When I got to Bally's a sales representative, paged Marcus to no avail. He was nowhere to be found. After a while, I was greeted by another trainer. He told me that Marcus could not train me because he was with another client and that he (the new trainer) would be my trainer from now on. I was disappointed at this, and the fact that Marcus did not even call to tell me this even though he wrote down my name and phone number on his personal book. After training with this new guy, I noticed Marcus training by himself on a bench. I simply nodded with disgust.

After three days of deliberating whether to cancel my membership for the fact that I was given another trainer and that me and this new trainer did not have chemistry I decided to cancel, but this was only the beginning of my headaches. I went home and called Bally. After pressing different buttons to contact a representative, I was put on hold for "less than 10 minutes", as the operator stated. I waited around twenty minutes. Once I explained to the representative my situation he prompted me to write a letter via Express (overnight mail) all the way to Washington with a written statement to cancel the membership. I went to the post office that day with my letter in hand, and I ended up paying more than $25 in shipping.

A week or so passed, and I received in full what I paid with my debit card; whatever payment in cash would be issued as a check, which I was already aware of. I waited and waited for weeks, and nothing came in the mail. I called Bally again and was put on hold of course. I explained my situation and was put on hold yet again by the representative so that he could transfer me to the right department. After waiting on hold, the phone line got disconnected. I gave up, and decided to go online and chat with a representative on their website. I got through and explained my situation again; he promised that the check was being processed and that I would receive it in the mail soon.

When my check arrived, it was below half of what I paid with cash. I called Bally yet again for an explanation. I was told it was because I was charged for the days I used the facility and the trainer's services, $25 non-refundable fee for the little plastic ID card that they give out and $3 for something that not even the representative knew about. I accepted it so that I could stop dealing with the situation, and I proceeded to cash the check. I was positive that Bally was in the past and that I could go on with my life Bally free. A month past I received my bank statement in which I was shocked to see payments of $9.99 towards Bally every two weeks.

After trying to figure out what could that be from, I realized that it had to be my friend's joined account, even though my account was the primary one, and it was my debit card. He has to cancel it personally? Not a one representative that I communicated with explained to me that I would still be charged for my friend's account. When I contacted Bally and asked for a refund, the representative stated there was nothing she could do, and that the best she could do for me was a month free pass at Bally. Ironically, they can't refund the month that my friend never used because he was sure that his membership was automatically cancelled, but they will offer a full month free of charge?

They had my money; they could care less at this point. The $9.99 charges resulted to me being charged with overdraft fees by my bank. In all, I ended up paying $25 to mail a letter, $25 nonrefundable fee, $9.99 every two weeks (I was charged three times) $3 for unknown reasons, $15 overdraft fee by my bank and whatever I used up at the gym which for 3 days was more than a full month of membership, unless it was for the trainer which I could understand, but it sucks because they changed my trainer without any notice.

I will never recommend them, nor use their facility again. I would agree with another consumer that this particular location is dirty and smelly. Even though it is a gym and people sweat, for a company this big, they could put air fresheners somewhere (just saying).

Bally renewed my wife's and my membership without asking us or even letting us know that our membership was up for renewal. When my wife complained after noticing the charge, they agreed to refund the charge. They only refunded half the charge. When I notified them of the mistake, they gave me all kinds of grief. First, they disconnected me after telling me he's going to put me on hold to look into it. The next guy told me they did and said goodbye. The next woman told me they would refund part of it. And she wanted to know why I used the membership, why it was used shortly after the automatic renewal. It was because I did not know it was up. I lost my job and was distracted. She said she would consider a partial refund. She put me on hold for 15 minutes because I wanted to speak to her superior.

Her superior said I was not due any refund. He put me on hold for only 10 minutes. His superior told me I was not due a refund. She eventually said she would send it up the ladder for review and let them "look into it". This is like those commercials, ridiculing companies who try to wear the customer by passing it around to other employees and putting them on hold, accidentally hanging up on them, giving bad information etc. The unauthorized charge was last October, 11 months ago. They should not have charged my card without notifying me. It would not affect them one bit by doing the right thing and refunding the unauthorized charge, unless they do this a lot.

On 6/2/2011, I cancelled my daughter's membership. I waited for approximately three weeks for the refund, but I have not yet to receive it. I called Bally's on numerous occasions inquiring about the refund. One representative told me that the refund could only be issued by check; so, I waited. When it did not arrive after several weeks, I called again; another representative told me the check had been sent to a different address. At this point, I asked if the refund could be wired back to the account that it was taken from. The representative said, "Yes", and I waited for 7-10 business days as he told me to. I called back thereafter, and they told me that the refund could only be issued by check again.

I realized the phone representatives were inconsistent with their information; so, I started asking to be connected with their supervisors, which added on average 15 minute wait-time on top of the 15 minutes just to get through to a representative. This is equals to a total of 30 minutes to talk to the supervisor. Unfortunately, the supervisors were also inconsistent with their information. Joel said wiring the refund back into my account is possible, and Mary said that only check will be possible.

I gave up on getting it wired. I finally got the check in my hands around 8/13/2011 and deposited the check. Several days later, I found out that the check had bounced. I was charged $15 from my bank for the bounced check. I called Bally's (again) numerous times following this event, asking that $15 be added to the refund ($264) when issued. The last supervisor (employee number :**) that I spoke with at around 3:40 PM today said that they would not give me the $15. It is because I had asked for the previous to be cancelled and a new check to be issued. I was offended at this remark. The old check that was sent to a d0ifferent address should have been cancelled and disposed of. Instead, it was resent to my current address; whereas, the new check was still in the process of being issued.

My husband intervened, and asked to speak to someone in higher authority. She said no one is available. We asked to be kept on hold until someone is. About ten minutes after being on hold, the line was disconnected from the other end. I have never experienced such difficulty and emotional stress dealing with a company/customer service before in my life.

Bally is the worst fitness group in the country as far as contracts, fees, and useless support staff. They do not consider a member as a person, but as livestock. To them, a member is just one more animal by which they can make money. They are rude and generally uninformed. The representatives that I have spoken with often contradict themselves. I am trying to get a refund for several months. Those are the times when I was supposedly stuck in a contract and not attending Bally. I found out that they had cancelled all contracts, and I had been paying monthly on a service I hadn't used for 6 months. They did not notify me at all. And they are refusing to consider my request. I was 19 when they roped me into a contract.

I placed a complaint in this forum on 26 Aug 11 (see entry signed by Alicia in Huntington Park, CA). Bally responded:

"Hi Alicia:

We're sorry to hear about your experience. We will contact you directly to gather additional details regarding your account and see how we can help.

Thanks!

Bally Total Fitness"

I also sent them a certified letter asking for my money back. They returned the two month, $38.00, charge to my Citibank credit card on 02 Sept 11 and on 03 Sept 11, they again made an unauthorized charge of $38.00 to my card. Bally Total Fitness behaves as if they own their former customers finances and can do as they please with other people's money. What's up with that? Their "sorry to hear about your experience" is a canned reply that is not worth the time they spend to cut and paste it. I'm really sorry I ever got involved with them and will talk to every friend, neighbor, relative and even strangers about their dishonest practices. I have initiated proceedings against them.

I am rating this company with zero stars. I received a letter saying I owed $36.00 on my membership. I called and spoke with a representative; she told me to disregard the letter, and that I did not owe it. I then received a second letter; I called and I spoke with someone, who I could barely understand. He was giving me all kinds of dates and reasons why I owed the money. When I asked questions, he started to get frustrated and said, "Maam, are you going to pay it or not? "

I then asked for a supervisor, and he discovered that this money was on an old contract that was not cancelled (it should have been done by the sales person at the gym) when we upgraded to another membership. We currently have two memberships (mine and my husband's), and we have a monthly fee automatically come out of our checking account. So, I couldn't understand why the representative was telling me that no money had been coming in since May; he then said January, then got frustrated when I questioned it. The supervisor said he would take care of fixing the problem, and I shouldn't receive any more letters. Then I received a collection letter from Alliance One Receivables saying I owed the money. When I called them back, they were rude. I've filed a complaint against them with the Better Business Bureau.

I joined a specific location near my house in Salem. They closed the location and when I tried to cancel my membership, they told me that I have to right a letter and until I do, they will continue to withdraw from my account.They have poor customer service and I am sure their response will be passing it on to a service representative and it will go nowhere. They are the worst company to deal with.

I've been a loyal Bally's member since 2001. I called Bally's Cavecreek (Phoenix) first week of September to see if I could bring a guest, and the staff/management on day shift said it would be ok to bring a guest. Today, 09/06/11 at approximately 18:45 hours, I arrived with my guest. I swiped my badge and forgot to check my guest in. Richard Kim asked for the second card. I told him I had a guest with me that I was told I could bring. Kim asked my guest to fill out a liability form which was fine. I was surprised by the content of the form but nonetheless, my guest complied.

After my guest filled out the paperwork, he was asked for identification which I am sure is Bally's standard policy/protocol. My guest complied with the identification request as well. Next Kim acted as if my guest was going to be refused. After Kim looked at my guest's identification which read "Goodyear, Arizona", Kim stated that my guest was not local therefore he was not supposed to be allowed in. Shocked, I asked why my Goodyear Arizona guest wouldn't be considered "local". Bally's allows me to be a member living as an Arizona resident.

Kim got nasty as did another employee behind him, Mike **. Both were saying it was outside of their policy to accept anyone outside of Phoenix. I told Kim that I had paid my premiums timely for11 years as a customer and I had never heard of anything as ridiculous as a stipulation that specifies that my guest must reside in Phoenix. I explained that he is employed by Mayo Hospital in Phoenix but that we both live in Goodyear and have to commute since the gyms closest to us have all closed (i.e. Greenway, Peoria). Kim asserted that he still wasn't supposed to allow him in. Kim and Mike's tone were rude, nasty and condescending. I told both that I would file a complaint for the way in which they were handling this situation.

Meanwhile, two people without badging-in walked through without swiping their cards. I guess Kim and Mike clearly only practice "selective enforcement". My opinion is as follows: It felt as though we were being harassed by both employees. Because I stated to Kim that I would be filing a complaint on the internet and/or with the corporate, Kim stated they would probably give him a pat on the back for following policy. Perhaps, but does the company allow for employees to indiscriminately enforce policies/procedures against who the front desk management decides to harass and let others simply walk through without consequences? Following Bally's policies are one thing, (although they should advise consumers clearly about this ridiculous practice of only allowing Phoenix residents to visit with a guest pass) but the delivery of this aggressive message was most important because the threat of turning us away lingered during our whole interaction.

Once he allowed us both to enter I went to the women's locker room and wrote some information down. As I returned within a couple minutes to return the pen to the front desk, Mike ** said really loudly and embarrassingly, "Ma'am! You are going to have to swipe in again!" Although I had never left the inside of the gym, Mike forced me to come around the spinning entry and badge back in. It was very unprofessional and very harassing of both employees. I thought to myself that with employees in management this lacking in interpersonal skills, perhaps this is why Bally's is having to close doors. Intentionally angering, malingering with, or otherwise harassing members of the gym without cause should clearly show that both may be incapable of management type of positions. Just an opinion, for what it is worth. But I am thinking that I am right on the money because while changing in the locker room, I heard at least 2 different groups of people's conversations expressing their frustration with Bally's closures and its staffs unprofessionalism.

Yesterday, at approximately 4:30 p.m., I went to the Bally's at Worldwide Plaza in midtown Manhattan to find out about membership.

I spoke with a not-so helpful salesperson (didn't get his name) in one of the offices. He took my information from my expired driver's and told me "everything is pretty much self-explanatory" when I asked for a tour and could not give me prices about locker rentals. I asked if I could look around and he said yes. When I asked about the pool, he said I had to go through the women's locker room to get there.

When I entered the locker-room, I was struck by how large it was. It was like a labyrinth with many nooks and a crannies. I wandered around for a few minutes looking for a sign or some indication as how to get to the pool. I saw nothing. I then managed to find my way back to the front desk.

Jimmy ** (who was super helpful) and another staff member (also helpful, but didn't get her name) were at the desk and told me to go through the showers to get to the pool. I did this and finally found the pool, and the sauna, the steam room and the whirlpool. I checked them out returned to the front desk and asked Jimmy ** a bunch of questions about locker rental, classes, etc. He wrote out different prices and different options for membership. I told him I would start my trial membership the following day.

Today I went in at approximately 4:15 eager to work out. Jimmy ** was at the desk. I gave him my expired driver's license and he officially started my one-week trial membership. We chatted a bit and I asked if he worked commission. When he said yes, I told him I'd ask for him when I actually became a member.

I then went into the locker room. There was a staff member there (didn't get her name) who was picking up paper towels from the floor and complaining about the mess. I asked her about the lockers that were available to rent and how large they were. She showed me the rental lockers.

I started putting my things into a locker, changed into my workout gear, fiddled with my new lock to make sure it would open, locked the locker, went to the bathroom and then washed my hands.

I worked out on the second floor. I did weights on the machines (legs, abs) until about 5:30 (all the clocks in the gym seem to have different times). I then went into the locker room and changed into my bathing suit, showered (required by the rules posted) and made way to the pool. I sat in the whirlpool for a few minutes, showered with shower by the pool, went into the sauna, showered again, went into the steam room, showered again, went back to the whirlpool, another shower and then I spent about 15 minutes in the "loafer's lane" of the pool thinking how much I'll get out of this gym and about getting the tour guides I work with at Grayline to join.

I then spoke to Gilbert the lifeguard on duty about the resistance weights. He was very nice and helpful. After that, I went into the locker room, took a long shower, washed my hair, rinsed out my bathing suit and got dressed.

I then went to the front desk and asked the woman on duty if she had a couple of rubber bands to bind my rolled-up wet towel. She didn't, I said thank you, then headed to the elevator.

At this point, somebody grabbed my elbow and led me to a corner near the emergency staircase. When I turned around, there were two undercover cops flashing their badges and asking for my ID. I gave them my expired driver's license and my current ID for the Westside YMCA and New York City Tour Guide License.

"Do you know what this is about? " one of them asked. I said, "No, I don't."

"There's been some things missing from the lockers in the locker rooms. Nobody wants to press charges, they just want their things back."

"I'm not even a member here yet," I said, my voice cracking. I was on the verge of tears. People waiting at for the elevator were staring at what was going on. "I worked out here for the very first time just now. "

"The staff says you were here yesterday."

"To ask about membership," I said, now crying full-on, "and to look at the facilities. I just started my trial membership today. "

"Well, stuff went missing from the locker room yesterday while you were here and the staff said you were in the locker room a long time. And more stuff went missing today. "

"I was in there for about three minutes yesterday trying to find the pool! Today I used the pool and was there for a while. "

It's too late to make a long and painful story short, but I voluntarily emptied my bags with sweaty gym clothes, smelly sneakers, etc. in front of the officers showing them I hadn't taken anything from anyone's locker.

After about 20 minutes, I was allowed to "go free". I then went to the front desk and asked to speak to a manager. I was told there wasn't one on duty and there wouldn't be one there until Monday. One of the police officers said, "Get outta here while you can. "

I am absolutely horrified that Bally's would treat a potential member this way. It was humiliating. Needless to say, I won't be joining.

In 2009, I paid and signed a 3-year contract for myself, daughter and son-in-law. The membership fees are taken each month from my bank account. But my card was lost a few months ago so I updated my new card personally to customer service. Today, 8/31/2011, I received a call from Alliance One, a collection agency, stating that I owe them $150.00 for unpaid dues.

When I called Bally's to find out what happened, they informed me that I didn't update the card for my daughter and son-in-law. Well, it's the same card that they have been taking the fees from for two years. I am the main contact person and they have been charging my card for them for two years.

As a result, I had to pay $150.00 to catch up for the last few months. They admitted that they should have updated the information for them but they "don't know what happened." This is unbelievable. They were not willing to work with me but they gave me a month extra for the "inconvenience." I can't wait until my contract is up. I will never recommend them to anyone.

They debited my checking account without my knowledge or authorization. They took my updated credit card information off the new membership I payed for in full the month before and debited my checking account the next month to renew my old membership.

I signed up with Bally Total Fitness in June 2008 and paid the full three-year membership with my Citibank credit card right away. The membership expired in June 2011 and, without my authorization, Bally started billing the same Citibank card I used to pay for the membership back in 2008. Bally was never authorized to continue the membership and is now withdrawing funds without my consent.

I called their 1-866-402-2559 number five times. The first time, the representative informed me that I need to provide a legitimate reason for not continuing the membership and have to send a certified letter to their P.O. Box 96241, Washington, DC 20090 address. He also indicated that he could not confirm that the money they stole would be refunded.

I sent them an email and the certified letter. I have also alerted Citibank that they are not to pay anymore bills from them and I will start proceedings to get my money back through Citibank if Bally does not refund right away.

This is larceny and fraud and I will pursue all legal remedies available to me in this situation, including contacting the California Attorney General's office and the FCC with a formal complaint.

I've had an account with Bally since 2008. Since then, $19 dollars have been withdrawn from my account on the 9th of every month.

I recently lost my job so money is tight. On the 1st of this month, there was a withdrawal for $19 from my account. I didn't understand why. I had not received a letter in the mail stating that there would be a withdrawal on the 1st.

This had happened before and when I called then, I was told that there was nothing they could do and I was given two months free. This time, I decided to cancel my account and petition to get my $19 back and make sure my account would not be charged on the 9th in addition to the charge on the 1st.

I called on the 8th and spoke with a guy and he specifically told me that my account with them had expired and that I would not be charged the following day on the 9th. I asked him this several times and he clearly stated this on more than one occasion.

The next day, my account wash charged $19 and a $37 overdraft fee in addition to the $19 and $37 overdraft fee from the 1st of the month. I called again and spoke with Cielo (no **). She told me that I could not get a refund and that the guy was lying. I asked to speak with her manager, she put me on hold, came back and told me that she would review the tapes and if the guy told me that I would not be charged, I would get a refund in three business days. She didn't say she would call me back or allow me to speak with her supervisor. I requested her superior again and although she had just talked to him, she said that he was in a meeting. She agreed to give me a courtesy call and ensure my refund. I haven't heard from her at all.

I am very upset. At this point I want my money back for the the double charge and both overdraft fees. This is a huge inconvenience and I don't want to do business ever again with a shady company like Bally.

This Bally Total Fitness club has been going downhill since Wade **, the new general manager, took over about a year ago. I made repeated complaints about the filthy conditions in the bathroom and locker, and he looked up my complaint history, saying that I've complained too much in the past and that my complaints are therefore invalid. He doesn't care that much about the sanitary conditions in this gym, which includes used tampons, pads, and blood all over the place, as well as feces on the floor and urine in the toilets. Unfortunately, the gym has been this way since Mr. ** took over management, since a year ago. Also, I read reviews on Yelp and saw that a number of other members had complained about this same exact issue!

In another incident I had on Saturday, August 6 with a personal trainer, Eileen (or Aileen), I was reprimanded for complaining about the fact that she comes into the pool area whenever she pleases and blocks off 1/3 of the entire lane. She does not set up any divider of any kind but if you cross the invisible line, then she calls her security guards and files a report on you. I find this retaliatory behavior to be highly unprofessional and even worse, Mr. ** condoned it even after I explained the situation to him. I told him that I may have crossed the invisible line once, but not after Aileen/Eileen told me she was holding a training session. Mr. ** informed me that Aileen/Eileen had a "witness" to back up her story. I find it interesting that Aileen/Eileen would justify her vindictive behavior, saying that it was for my own "safety", as if safety really was an issue then they should set up some physical barrier or indication that a session was taking place. She also lied to Mr.**, stating that I "repeatedly" crossed this imaginary line.

I went in today, 8/5/11, to cancel my membership. I spoke with a male employee named Jamie. He told me to write California. I questioned that and he then told me to write Washington. I asked to see the cancellation policy and he said go find your paperwork. I said I wanted customer service's phone number and he again said go find your own paperwork.

I asked to see a manager. He called someone on the phone and told them I refused to leave. A female manager, whom I later learned was named Trish, came out and said, "What!" I was sitting on a bench in the foyer and was conscious of other gym members around and therefore asked her if she could come over to me. She said no, if you want to talk to me you come to me.

I told her she was rude and Jamie ran from behind the counter and told me to get out before he throws me out. I said I'm paid up for the month. They both began yelling and telling me I better get out or I'll be sorry. When I stood up, Jamie pressed his chest to mine and said just give me an excuse. I began to leave and said I was going to report them both to corporate headquarters. They continued yelling and ranting. I never once raised my voice or behaved aggressively, unlike what they both did.

I went out on the street and with my phone, tried to photograph them through the window. But they both covered their faces. I began to look up customer service's phone number. From on the street and while I was speaking to an agent and filing a complaint, Jamie came out onto the street and told me if I didn't leave, he was going to call the police and I better never show up there again, or else. I went to the corner and finished speaking to the agent taking my complaint info.

This specific location in Doral, Florida is completely run down and dirty. The classes are extremely limited and they even charge $5.00 for the ONE salsa class they offer a week. Treadmills are broken... on and on... they take your membership money but don't reinvest in the gym.

This specific location in Doral, Florida is completely run down and dirty. The classes are extremely limited.

Bally spinning class does not have a music equipment and is sharing one CD player for two classes, running at the same time, which means members must bring their own music during spinning class. The fan and air conditioner does not work in class. I've been there for 3 months, and it is still broken. The management will not fix the broken equipment.

I saw on TV a free three-day trial for the gym. I was not aware after the three-day trail, if I did not call to cancel, I was considered a member, and as I walked in Bally, I realize this is not a family welcome gym. The kids seem to be in a small room like caged animals. It was so boring looking. I moved away to DC for two months and I contacted customer service. They would not let me cancel my contact because I had no lease, but I went up to DC to help my sick grandmother. They continue to bill me and claim that I was a making the story up about my grandmother having a stroke and how we did not have the money to pay for a nurse so I went to take care of her.

Now I have a bad job and I am barely making enough to pay rent and they are trying to sue me for a service that I never really use.

I had a contract with Bally's which was cancelled 2 days later.

Reason: I lost my debit and only signed up with my bank account info (which, I was later told, is not the correct way to do it). I found out that my contract was voided when I went to another location in my city. The manager, I guess, told me that the Bally's I signed on with could get in trouble for doing that. But the local Bally's left a message on my phone. Promised a refund. So I didn't sweat it. That was five months ago. I've called several times. "Oh, two more weeks," something about 'their system'.

Today, I actually went about escalating the matter myself (looking at the FCC and Better Business Bureau) because I don't know what the hell this company is doing. It's just ridiculous. If I weren't a student and was already established, I'd sue the hell out of this company. They make me that d*** mad and I've more than accommodating and patient. They don't owe me that much. Just 65 (est) or so dollars but that's hardly the point. Oh and to any reply from a Bally's Rep? Give me my money back! It's not yours and please you're not going to refer anything anywhere. If you did then I wouldn't have to wait damn near six months for a $60-$70 refund.

I was working out at 350 West 50th Street, New York Bally's Sports club doing pull ups using assistance by putting one of my feet lightly on a chair. The manager Luis ** who was also working out took away the chair with a strange explanation that the chairs were breaking and not meant for that workout. He did not suggest or provide an alternative. It was like his way or the highway. I find this appalling customer service and very poor common sense as a chair can take much more weight than what I was putting on it. I always find trainers using chairs. I have been a member for a long time and find this treatment absolutely unacceptable. I have referred a lot of friends to Bally's, but will stop doing so as now I believe that the managers can take arbitrary action against paying customers.

In February 2008, my company transferred me from PA to OH. I was traveling to OH every week for three months until my company transferred my family out.

While in OH, I wanted to join a gym to be able to work out after work during the week since my family wasn't with me. I went into Ballys and told them I wanted a three-month membership since I didn't know where I would be living once my family came out. The person I dealt with said "no problem". Once my family moved out, we settled in an area not close or convenient for me to get to Ballys.

The closest was 20 miles or 25 minutes, and then 22 miles, 27 minutes. And it goes from there. When I called Ballys to let them know I would be cancelling and not continuing after the three months, they informed me that I had actually signed a three-year contract. News to me.

Did I read the very lengthy, small print contract? No. I trusted what the sales guy was telling me. After reading story after story on complaint sites, I realized Ballys must hire the most unethical people in the country. Anyway, because I was being forced to uphold a three-year contract I never wanted, I went to Ballys as often as I could near my work. I had a territory so some were more convenient than others. None were convenient to my home.

In March of 2010, I was relocated to CA. Yes, there are Ballys near me but my work hours have not made it convenient. I'd rather spend time with my family. So, I waited until my three years lapsed and contacted Ballys just last week about cancelling my three-year membership. I was then informed that I had to send a registered letter to them stating as such. That was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard!

They play extremely loud music throughout the club. It is very annoying. When you complain to the manager and staff about it, they are very rude and sarcastic. And the complaints go unattended. This is always how it's been at Bally's since I joined.

The gymnasium chain has made it extremely difficult for anyone to cancel their membership. As it stands, you are unable to cancel membership online, on the phone, or in person at the gym. You can only cancel membership via a written letter to their cancellation department. While I have sent in a letter once, I have not received anything back, and they continue to charge my credit card. This is a tactic to make it difficult for anyone to cancel their membership, and this should be looked at.

I have experienced very poor customer treatment and service from individuals within this business. It is my recommendation that the management team of this facility implement more and continuous training on how to treat customers with respect and courtesy on a daily basis. There was no economic or physical damage. There is and has been tension between myself and the staff members of this business. Members and staff should be able to be within the same environment without tension arising. When tension builds, it becomes an uncomfortable environment for both the member and the employee.

I went in to get a membership because my sister is already a member there and pays only $9.99 per month. They tried to charge me twice as much when I make less money than her, plus, I'm a struggling single parent. At first, he tried to charge me $50.00 a month for myself and my daughter. He pretended like he got on the phone in the next room (my daughter watched him and no phone call was made). Then, he came back and offered me $40.00 per month for both me and her. No way was I going for that! I know that my sister has been a member for a while but **! I want and need to work out for health reasons. It would be better if I could do it with my sister near my home where this Bally's is located.

Not all of the staff are unprofessional but there are some staff members, both past and present, that are looking for something very drastic to take place that will change people's lives forever. I have never seen such self-perpetuating ignorance and flagrant disregard for the safety of others. Unknowingly, Bally's itself is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Be forewarned, Bally Total Fitness is a very dishonest company. The contract that I signed stated that the rates would increase with the CPI, having a cap of 10%. Every year, since 1994, they have raised my rates to 10% which is far higher than any U.S. Inflationary Index. Every Bally member should revolt and force them to fold. There should be a class-action lawsuit against the company.

I paid a one-time check by phone payment almost a year ago for $108. On 03-30-2011, Bally's charged $132.00 on what they call as annual ACH billing for my Bally Membership. I never agreed to an annual auto draft and when I asked them to provide the documents confirming such, Francis said, "We don't do that". When I asked for a manager, I was put in a voicemail box, and my call was never returned. This is bank fraud!

I had a complimentary guess pass that came out a sports jump rope, that was purchased from Wal-Mart. I tried taking the pass to Bally's and they wouldn't accept it, because it was expired since 2006. I asked to see the pass back and they refused to give it back, without showing me the expiration date or allowing me to go to a difference location with it. They wouldn't even honor the advertising ad on television, for the one week pass. The receptionist was very rude and the manager did not come out of his office to talk to me, the receptionist had gone in and out of the room relaying messages. So I was very upset that the receptionist kept my complimentary pass, which I came there with, or paid for, or just being a gift to me and they kept it just like that.

Bally Total Fitness has raised my monthly dues from the $15.00, my contract called for. When I called to inquire, they told me that it was because the premium increases annually at a max rate of 10% and a minimum of $1.00, after the 48th month. When I asked them to tell me which paragraph of my contract contained this clause, because I was unable to locate it my copy, they were unable to provide this. Which was due to the fact that they were unable to locate my contract, they also refused to tell me when their contracts began including this clause. In addition, they charged my credit card for an additional month of services, despite having cancelled both my membership and ACH account prior to the withdrawal date, then refused to refund the money.

I signed up for Bally Sport Club. They charged an increased fee to access Sports clubs instead of Total Fitness. Bally then closed the Sports club, but refused to provide any refund for a three-year membership, stating that there are Total Fitness within the 25-mile radius of where I am located. I should have at least received a reduction to the Total Fitness cost.

On Monday, 2/28/2011, a club representative called me to let me know of a special they were running at the club which would let my husband join my account at a discounted price. We went in and signed him up paying first and last month's membership and a $29 "card" fee for using automatic payments. This was fine with us. Now, 14 days later, we go into our gym only to find out it is closing for good on March 25! To top it off, a payment for the gym came out of my bank account this same morning!

I called the Member Services number given to us and they will refund pro-rated membership fees but will not refund the "card fee". I feel it is unbelievable that they would sign us up only to close 14 days later and not even give us a warning. The customer service representative told us they had at no charge, upgraded us to a national membership--the next nearest club is more than 50 minutes away!

This gym is horrible and only keeps getting worse. The staff here is probably at its worse since I started my membership years ago. The equipment is always defective. If you are a female, you must bring in your free weights because they keep everything locked up and only have 10 lbs available if you have them hold your ID when you are using them. Forget trying to use kettle balls or exercise ball because they are only available if you sign up with a trainer.

I'm still waiting to find out results to their environmental test they were doing last week. I'm sure the gym is invested with mold from all the leaks throughout the gym being captured by buckets. Air conditioning in exercise room is non existent so exercise at your own risk.

When I go to use the basketball court, almost every time groups of six or eight or 10 show up, organize to play a full court game. This is done while there are other people using court to just shoot baskets. I have complained to management people several times. Once I was run over by one of the players after they started a game without saying anything to the people that were using the court prior to their arrival. I was told by Bally management that these games have priority. I showed Bally staff the sign on their wall that states only three consecutive games can be played. Bally staff are not familiar with this sign. This is not enforced.

I was told by Bally staff that gym was too far from office for them to patrol. I was told I could step in and shoot at the open hoop during the games.I also have tried many times to use hot-tub facilities, which a lot of times don't work, or is cold, or sometimes is green. I have tried several different Bally's locations and all are filthy--showers broken, water leaks inside walls, urinals leaking inside walls, urinals water running constantly, automatic flushers stuck. Out by the pool area in the shower, a bunch of small flys lived there. The concrete surrounding the pool is black from mold.

This used to be a well-kept facility. Recently, the managers have been getting younger and younger and they are very immature to run and maintain a large facility like this one. The work out area looks clean and the members who are older help keep that area maintained during the daytime hours by wiping down the equipment after using it. The aerobics room is filthy. The floor looks as if it has not been swept or mopped in days.

The facility policy and procedures for members and guest are posted but not enforced - street clothes and shoes are now allowed anywhere in the gym. The pool area is really disgusting. Guests have to literally spit in the steam room floor in a corner that has a large puddle of water because it's not draining properly and there are worms crawling around the floor. I stepped in the puddle, not aware of how deep it was, and the spit landed on top of my foot.

When I went to report it to the manager, Dwight, he was sitting at a small table in the lobby with another young man, and they both thought that it was funny when I asked who the manager was. I explained to Dwight the situation in the steam room and his response was, "We can't help that members spit in the steam room." Wrong answer! Spit goes at the bottom of your shoe, if at all.

I pointed out the very skinny reddish brown worm crawling across the floor and that the whirlpool is always down. He didn't seem to care. He has poor customer service, especially for a manager who is trying to promote business. He has no idea who he was talking to, where I work, or what I do for a living. Dwight only had to apologize that this happened to me; not get defensive. I know he didn't spit on the floor. Shame on that ignorant person who did it.

I asked Dwight how often the pool area is cleaned. He replied with confidence, "Once a day." That's a shame. Over 100 people use the pool area every day, all day, and they clean and sanitize the pool area once a day. I have never seen it done, and I go to the gym at different hours.

I signed up for a six-month temporary membership and paid in full with my credit card. My membership was up in November. In January, Bally's automatically started hitting my credit card for membership dues. I specifically told them that I did not want my account hit for monthly dues as I would not be using this gym all year round. I was told that it would not happen, but it did anyway. I never authorized these transactions and I feel that this is unfair trade practices.

My daughter was in high school and she was 16 at that time (she's 30 years old now). She came to work out with me at Bally's. A Bally's rep talked me into signing her up for a membership. I asked if my daughter was old enough; the rep said yes so I signed her up. The next day, my daughter went into the club to work out and the receptionist told her that she had to be at least 18 to visit the club. She told them, "I have a membership." She showed them her card and high school I.D. ( which is what the guy who signed her told her she had to show to enter).

I said, "Well, I want to cancel the contract." They told me that I had to call the corporate office. They still did not allow her in. I called the corporate office and tried to get out of the contract but was not allowed to do so. I recently received a notice from Bally's telling me that I owed them. I called them and explained what went on. By the way, the guy who signed her up was terminated for writing up bogus contracts! And they are not budging about making me pay. What can I do?

My daughter joined Bally Fitness during her last year in high school, and when joining, she told them that she would be going to college the following year and might have to cancel her membership. The representative at the time assured her in front of me that this would not be a problem, and if there was no Bally's where she would be locating to, then she would be able to cancel her membership with the appropriate notification.

I had to co-sign for her as she was under 18 at the time. She regularly paid her dues, and when it was time for her to go to college, she notified them but they told her that she could not cancel for any reason. Even though she continually contacted them to say that there was no Bally's where she was going to college, they still insisted that she could not just cancel her membership! They were very rude to her about it and kept harassing her for payment.

The gym is very, very unsanitary. It is not clean at all. The classroom floors are full of dirt, dust and hair. Also, the female bathroom, at least, is very filthy. I don't see a difference even with complaints. The staff is not engaged or does not care at all. Many of them were on their cell phones even when checking in clients. Because of them, I have developed fungus on my feet, dirt on my clothes and hands. Some of the equipments are damaged and the mats are black with dirt.

On January 3, 2011, my visa debit card was swiped for $65.11. I was informed by the Bally representative that the card was declined. However $65.11 was placed on hold on my card. The transaction has been pending since January 3, 2011. I have contacted Bally Total Fitness along with the billing department.

About seven years ago I lived in Cleveland, Ohio. I opened an account with Bally's and within the first week I needed to cancel for medical reasons. I was told to send in documentation which I did. Now there is a garnishment against my salary. I have contacted the Marshal's Office and asked for a hold until the investigation was done. They said no. I spoke with a Linda from this office. I also contacted the Attorney's Office and spoke with Mindy who said, "No, my account will not be place on hold for further investigation." I have unsuccessfully tried talking with a supervisor and have had no luck. I have a garnishment against my salary for an account I cancelled the right way.

My right to privacy was violated. A young lady at the front desk came into the men's locker room and refused to leave. This, of course, occurred as I was completely naked without covering going to my locker after the shower.

I paid for a membership in August and canceled it the same month. In November, I received a bill for that month from them saying I restarted my membership. I called them and they said I never canceled and without certified mail I won't be able to get refunded for my bill.

I used to work for this scumbag organization. I'm not kidding when I say hiring on is worse than working for our sorry government. I signed at leastT 25 documents to hire on as a part time substitute group exercise instructor.

I found out right away that most Bally's are like a tired old YMCA except in worse disrepair.

Having taught at a number of other clubs (national and small boutique), that it was like teaching a class filled with geriatrics, most of whom were opinionated and rude simply because you did not teach the way the "usual instructor did".

I have a college degree and three certifications in health and fitness training from an accredited entity. I know how to create and build a class, but it can't be done when you have a handful of duds who are going nowhere in their fitness program, trying to tell you how to instruct. I've left that crap-hole and will never darken their doors again. I noticed they're getting their "* sued in Texas for DPTA fraud. Call it a little comfort for a miserable experience and bad mistake on my part.

Having spent a total of four hours yesterday and today on the phone with Bally Total Fitness (Bally's) customer service representatives, I find my issue still unsatisfactorily resolved. After a trip to my bank yesterday afternoon I learned that Bally had submitted an unauthorized automatic withdrawal of $108 from my checking account. I never authorize automatic withdrawals unless I personally submit a payment over the phone or internet. There are no yearly or monthly authorized withdrawals in my account.

I was very surprised when Ballys was taking out my yearly dues 10 days early without my permission and before I had made a renewal decision. At no time did I sign or accept any automatic payments for Ballys. I was told by them that by paying last year with my debit card this put me automatically in the yearly withdrawal category. I was not told this at the time of payment and if I had been informed of this practice I would have paid in cash. Also, I have never heard of any such policy, something has to be signed and agreed to before access to a private bank account. My Quicken program alerts me of bills due and the check-in desk at the gym lets me know if money is due and I pay at that time. This automatic withdrawal came as a total and costly surprise.

This policy violates banking and privacy practices and at best is unethical. My bank account was completely blindsided by this unauthorized withdrawal and I am left with bank charges and no access to money. I have spent many hours attempting to have someone in customer service give me some reasonable help. They are not trained to do so and are not given any real power to help the customers. I think they are just there for sales. I was told after many phone calls that they would put a rush on a refund for me. Of course, this does not cover the bank charges incurred as I had checks out on the illegally withdrawn money and does not pay for four hours of my time. As it is close to the beginning of the month this hidden and illegal policy of Ballys has forced me to become overdrawn at the bank and to incur overdraft fees.

According to my bank, Ballys could have stopped the payment with a simple call to Visa acquiring an authorization code stopping the payment. Bally representatives were unable and unwilling to do this and my refund will come in seven to 10 days. The refund policy is much to late to stop late fees and to correct my checking account. Of course I can spend even more time correcting their mistake by coping my bank statement and submitting it to their incompetent offices.

My husband has a membership with Bally's. We renew it annually in November. We moved this summer from MI to MN. I never received any billing information from Bally's. Oddly, I noticed on my current credit card bill (October) that there was a charge for an amount that looked like the annual dues from Bally's. I was confused as I or my husband had not renewed it.

Today, I called Bally's to inquire about this. They did have our current address information provided to them by the post office. They told me that the account was set up as an auto-pay. I let them know that the account was not set up as an auto-pay and to change it. The representative was polite and did so. She insisted this was something I did. I insisted that it wasn't! I wanted to document this in case this is happening to others. We want to continue our membership with Bally's but do not want them billing our credit card without our authorization.

I signed up for the membership at the Bally's in Colorado Springs, Co. The guy just handed over to me a lot of papers to be signed. He stated, "I have told you everything, please trust me." But he was lied about the length of contract; it was 3 years instead 2 years! I called to cancel the membership but they did not respond and hung up !

I've been a member of Bally's for years, even through they declared bankruptcy in 2007. Now amid rumors that they will close their Port Chester, NY facility, the gym is being totally neglected by its management.

Many men's locker doors are missing and have not been replaced, broken exercise machines are not fixed, soap dispensers in the showers are not regularly refilled, and ceiling water leaks are handled with collection buckets on the running track, not with repairs. It certainly looks like they're planning to close, but they continue to market new and renewed memberships very aggressively.

Recalling many investigations of Bally's for financial and ethical malfeasance, I am very wary of continuing my membership.

Back in 1997 ,I got a membership to Bally's Total Fitness. However, a few months later. I got married and moved to a house out in the country. I moved more than the allotted miles for cancellation of this contract. I mailed in the paperwork requested shortly after moving to cancel my membership. I haven't heard anything from this club since.

Then about a month ago, I got a letter that my pay was being garnished by some creditor. I called the local clerk of courts to find out who this creditor was and they told me it was a collection agency regarding a debt with Bally's, that the court date was in 2006! Four years ago. I have not gotten anything from them, had no idea that there was even a hearing! What do I do? I'm not real good with this law stuff. This was cancelled 12 YEARS ago. Now I'm on disability from work and am getting my pay garnished. I am unable to even pay my car payment alone by my daughter's Christmas. I feel like the world is closing in on me and I can barely walk down the hall. I have a ruptured disc in my back and feel completely helpless. Please help me!

We signed a three year contract. Two years in, they have changed managers three times. The gym is so hot. It is uncomfortable, classes decreased, hours decreased, childcare center hours decreased, son not allowed to attend Zumba if he is late or not allowed to leave and come back and he is special needs. Childcare closed four times in a month unexpectedly supposedly because shorthanded but manager never there at that time.

Originally, I signed up only for two months with personal training and they agreed with me to sign up only for two months because I was supposed to move out of that area and I did. But Bally fitness took money out from my credit card so I called the Bally fitness corporate and they said there is a cancellation policy which is a 30-day notice and a letter stating reason of cancellation. But they never informed me about it and never sent me some kind of paper that those policies were written. They just took money without reasonable and formal information. This is a horrible company.

I am being contacted again to pay for a Bally's Total Fitness membership that I cancelled. I signed up in Phoenix, Arizona. I sent a cancellation, in writing, when I moved because there are no Bally Total Fitness centers in Lubbock, TX. Now a debt collection agency is contacting me to pay $787.50. I complied with Bally's notification that states if there is not a club within 30 miles,which I think is excessive, but I complied nonetheless. Bally's is notorious for this type of tactic and I will not be harassed by a collection agency when I complied. I seem to have no recourse, but can they call me daily?

I am a disabled veteran that only uses the pool for physical therapy. The pool has been closed for repairs for about a month. The notice said, "The pool will be closed for repairs and opened on November 1." Well, when I came to use the facility on November 1, I was told they had problems and it wouldn't be open until November 8. This has interrupted my therapy and caused me to have a relapse and severe pain in various areas of my body and to add insult to this, I'm still being charged for services not rendered by this facility. This was not a part of any contractual agreement I made.

About 6 months ago, I sent two doctors' notes that my husband is not able to go to Bally's because of medical problems. I received a letter stating that they accepted the notes and closed the accounts. Now I am getting collection agency calls stating that we owe money. I will not deal with the mismanaged business practice! ! My credit report shows it as closed. I will file a harassment complaint and sue. I am told we owe 1000.00 dollars!

I signed a 3-year contract for a "one club" membership at their Kew Gardens, New York location. At the time, I was living in Kew Gardens and was a flight attendant based in New York. This one club membership only allowed me to access this particular location and not their nationwide locations. In February of 2007, I was transferred to our Honolulu base, which is also my original hometown, and wrote to the company to cancel my membership as I wasn't going to be able to use that "one club" location anymore. I gave them my new address in Hawaii.

A month later, I moved to Korea as an English teacher and a friend of mine came to visit me with mail she received from my old residence in New York. One of the letters was from Bally's. Again, I wrote a letter detailing my new position in Korea and sent them copies of my Alien Identity Card, electric bill, and Certificate of Employment detailing my address in Korea, as well as my personal mobile number and the number to my school. These documents I then faxed to the number provided in the letter. I assumed the information was received as I received no phone calls, letters or any other phone calls from family or friends saying that something was amiss.

Three years and a few months later, I get a call from my mother saying she received numerous calls on her phone from a company called Monarch Recovery Management, Inc. There were numerous people calling my mom so she gave me the information to contact them as she was getting inundated from the frequent phone calls and different points of contact.

I called the contact person and explained my situation and that I am still living in Korea. This collection agency was very unprofessional and offered no help or advice for me to correct this situation. I feel that I've been judged guilty without even presenting my side of the case. When I looked on the internet, I found numerous complaints regarding Bally's from people all over the country. It's sad, but it helps to know that I'm not alone and I now feel that I'm not some "criminal" which they've made me feel like. When I called the local office of Bally's where I had signed my contract, they told me to contact their corporate office. Since I'm calling from another country, I'm finding it difficult to reach any parties that can help me.

I updated the expiration date on my credit card info, which they've had for years, and our auto-payments quit. We started getting warning notices. The website info looked fine, but didn't work. I sent a message to customer service twice and there's no response. I went to the phone number, but there's no option to talk to a human, no option to leave a message, no way to reach anyone!

I'm making manual payments till I figure out what to do. Looking for a new gym.

My son is getting out of the Army and is considering which gym to join. All gyms offer a week trial if you listen to the sales pitch. The sales manager refused a free week unless my son said he would commit to sign up first!? It makes no sense to me. They even refuse a tour with a driver's license. After my wife and I caused a big stink, they let him work out for a couple hours. Needless to say, he's looking elsewhere and we might too, since they closed the pool, basketball, and racquetball courts.

I joined the Bally Total Fitness Club so I could use their swimming pool. The swimming pool was so dirty and I complained to the club many times. There was no improvement. The cancellation was a big headache even after the contract had finished. There was no mail address provided in their website. We could not cancel the membership after the contract expired, either by phone or in person. I got a skin problem during the time when I used the pool and I am still in the process of cancelling the membership.

I joined Bally many years ago, with a huge down payment, and "lifetime" enrollment. The deal was that you paid $39.95 for three more years, and then you had no more monthly dues. Lies! They have never stopped billing me dues, although after many complaints, they did reduce them to $12.00, which was supposed to be all I would ever pay. But they keep raising the dues, and every time I complain, they tell me there is no such program, and I must pay the now current dues.

Also, they have closed 3 of the local area gyms, and the only one remaining open is a dive. There are broken equipment everywhere, dirty pools and shower areas, and high theft in locker rooms. I have since quit, and purchased a home gym, for much less than Bally has ripped me off for, and still can't get them to stop billing. Is there a class action suit currently against BaIly? Although class action suits rarely benefit claimants much, they do at least punish scamming companies, and the lawyers make some money.

On 6/10/2008, I asked for a 2-year contract with Bally Total Fitness like the deal that I saw on a television ad. An employee, Tracy **, told me that she will sign us up for the 2-year contract. After 6/10/2010, I noticed that I was still being billed after 2 years. By the time I went back, a company named Crunch Gym had taken over the spot. I asked them if they can handle my situation and they told me that they're not even affiliated with Bally Total Fitness, and told me to go contact Bally instead. Even after my 2-year deal, as well as the closure of Bally in Lake Forest, they still continued to persistently charge my bank account.

I came to the club with my kids at about a little bit after 2 pm when the guy at the front desk told me that the childcare opens at 4 pm. I came back at about 4 pm with my kids and he told me that I would have to pay for childcare (of course, I was **). He told me that the reason was that the policy had change. I don't know how the policy can change within two hours. Anyway, I call my husband on the phone to speak with the manager Mr. ** and all of a sudden I was allowed to stay. He said only my husband's card has access to childcare. Still upset, I drove home, called back Mr. ** and explained to him why I was upset. He told me and the kids to come back and that he would love to have us come back and so on.

There was no apology at all. I felt as though they don't give a ** and only care about the money. I was in the process of thinking about changing clubs, but now I really don't plan on staying. And then on top of that, Mr. ** told my husband to give home his number so he could explain to him what has happened with me. Of course, he never did. So this is how they treat their loyal customers. They really stressed me out. I was crying because I thought that if I was with my husband, this would have never happened. They didn't give me any explanation or an apology.

I called the health club in an attempt to renew my old membership. She then told me I needed to call member services where I spent 35 minutes listening to a recording that asked for my membership number. I don't have a membership so I don't have a number. I then called back and talked to Carol again. I told her I would like to talk to someone other than her at which point she hung up on me. So I called back and she hung up again. I tried to contact someone at this location for about 2 hours and each time I called she hung up the phone on me.

I was not rude and did not yell or swear. I was totally polite and yet she refused to answer any of my questions and would not let me speak to anyone other than her. I was going to sign my entire family up for memberships but now I would not use your clubs ever again. I have never been treated so badly in my life and I can't see how you stay in business with employees like her. I suggest that you terminate people like that or you will never get anyone to use your clubs ever.

Someone in Miami, Florida with the same name as my wife opened a new account at Bally's Total Fitness. My wife's name is Alexandra ** and at the time we originally joined Bally's in 2003 while we were living in Miami. The woman who recently (in 2010) opened a new account is named Alexandra ** and opened the account on a Mastercard. Neither my wife nor I have a Mastercard credit card.

So as a clerical error, Bally's began to send this person's bill to our home in Lakewood, Colorado. We haven't lived in Miami since 2003. My wife, thinking it was her bill, paid it but then realized that it wasn't in fact her information. As soon as she realized what happened, we both called Bally's to report the error, switch the billing back to the person who opened the account and get our money back. Some ** on the phone told my wife we had to 'write a letter' to Bally's to cancel the account.

I called and wasted an hour and a half of my time talking to two different people telling them that this was their mistake and that I not only wanted my money back, I wanted the account switched back to the person who opened it. Considering this glorious age of modern technology we lived in where information is commonly stored in databases, I assumed this would prove to be a fairly simple task. I was told to look for a letter in the mail confirming the cancellation but instead received another overdue bill.

I am livid. I have paid these fraudulent fools for eight years now without ever missing a month and now they do this to my wife and I? Someone needs to sue these people into oblivion. If they are doing this to us, they have to be doing it to a lot of other people.

If they don't cancel this account, I am getting a lawyer. This is illegal. It was a mistake on their behalf and they cannot legally do this to my wife and I. I know my rights and this is fraud.

My fiance and I joined Bally in Ann Arbor about 2 years ago. We were relatively happy with the gym, despite ignored suggestions about improving the pool area. Six months ago we relocated to Atlanta. Since there was no gym that was convenient to our new location, we decided to cancel the memberships. Relocation is a valid cancellation reason as per agreement with Bally (a ridiculous document that makes it virtually impossible to cancel a membership).

We went into the gym in person to cancel and were told that we had to call the headquarters office, they couldn't do cancellation on site. Annoying, but fair enough, we called headquarters and were put on hold, and disconnected, then given the run around.

It was about the 4th phone call when we were told that they couldn't do the cancellation over the phone or online. We needed to send regular mail to a P.O. Box in order to cancel the memberships.

Anticipating the coming problems, I sent the mail with delivery confirmation which I received, so I know the letter got to the post office. Yet, I heard nothing from Bally and they continued to deduct the monthly fee from my check card account.

I am a nurse from Dallas out here temporary on working contracts. Bally is walking distance from where I am staying temporary for the time I am in CA. I joined on September 14. My first statement was I do not want to have any type of contracts and go only month to month. I have no idea where I will be from one month to the next until I can get on at the VA in Long Beach. I stressed that at all cost. I was assured it was a month to month and could cancel at anytime.

On the 17th, I had my working contract in Bakerfield which I have spent the last month there at a VA Clinic. I am going for a second month also starting October 18. I went to Bally twice before I left. I just checked my bank statement and they have taken another month out which they did not have my permission to do as it was a month to month. I, at one time, joined Bally at home in Dallas about 3/4 years ago. I canceled within the 30 days and it was like pulling teeth to get them to stop taking out and return my money.

These people need a nasty dose of reality. They falsify, lie and ruin peoples credit. It's like dealing with car salesmen and we know what a ** those people are. I would love a class action suit to be brought against them. I think you would have many candidates. I am sure I will have to cancel my CC before this is over. But I also know I will be talking to the corporate office too. Bally has been lying and hoodwinking people for years. It's time someone took this seriously and did something about it. Are you sure that Bally is not part of the federal government?

I went to the gym on 10/07/2010 at about 7 pm and checked the sauna to see the temperature. It was running again at 165 degrees when it should be at 185 degrees. I went to speak to the manager (Derek) because I have a complaint about this. I said why should I pay the fee for this gym if I am not getting what I come here for and he went off and said that I was threatening him and told me not to come back. I asked him if he had any intention of fixing the problem and he made it very clear that he would not fix the problem. At that point I said there was no reason to come back.

I registered for the 7-day guest pass online to "try out the class." The directions to register asked for my email address to send the guest pass coupon to, stated that I would need to print the pass and bring it to the Bally specified (Capitol Exp). Approximately 16hrs later, the Capitol Exp Bally called my cell phone to ask when I am coming in. They emailed me and called again the next day twice in a harassing manner. I began receiving large amounts of spam 2 days after I signed up with Bally. I called the manager of this location, Mr. Joel *** and told him that I felt I was being harassed and never agreed to be contacted when signing up for the pass.

I asked him to delete my contact info from the Bally system and send me a confirmatory email stating that my email would not be distributed to third parties. He agreed though never sent the email. Day 4, I get another harassing call from Bally's from an employee named Joe, who hangs up on me when I ask to speak with the manager. I call the number back and speak with Joel *** again who says that he is sorry he did not delete my info and would do it now. I again ask for the confirmatory email which he still hasn't sent.

6 months ago I called Bally to cancel my membership; I paid in full for the remaining amount left on my account. The representative at Bally said once we have paid we would not continue to pay for any more services from them. Now I have received a credit card bill saying I owe $29.00. After calling bally they said that the only way to cancel the membership was to send a written letter saying that I cancelled, even though we called 6 months earlier to cancel. I feel that this is a scam.

I have a lifetime membership since 1989 and I always pay my one time yearly fee at the Ballys fitness that I go to regularly. I paid last year with my debit card. As I was checking my withdrawals from my checking account, I discovered that Ballys had taken out my yearly fee. I called the club I go to and was told that I signed up for the auto payment, and that I had sent in a letter giving my permission which I never did. I asked to be taken off the auto payment plan but the rep said he couldn't do it.

So I got online and found a customer service phone number and I called it. I asked to be taken off the auto payment, but not to withdraw my yearly payment because I did not want to cancel my membership. The guy said I would be taken off the auto payment, and when I asked for a confirmation number, he said they didn't have one. So I asked him to send me a letter confirming that I was indeed off the auto pay.

Instead, I recieved a letter today that stated that I asked to cancel my membership which I specifically said otherwise. What they have done is against the law, and I am going to call my lawyer to file a class action suit. This is so illegal, and I am going to fight this to the end! Also, I am going to report them to the Better Business Agency and file a complaint with the Attorney General's office.

At this time, I have not been able to get to a customer service person, but the damage could be that they have access to my bank account and they have cancelled my lifetime membership.

On Jun 21, 2010, I renewed my membership with Bally Total Fitness in Torrance and was double charged. My bank statement showed that Bally Total Fitness processes my check for the one year membership but at the same time, auto debit my account for the same amount.

I spoke to the representative at the center in Torrance about the charge and was told she will submit a refund request and I should receive a refund within 30 days. After waiting for more than 40 days and never receive the refund, I checked with the representative at the center again and was told this time that I need to follow up with the corporate office on the refund.

I called corporate office on August 06, 2010. After waiting on the phone for over 10 minutes, a representative answered, look up my account history and told me that a refund checked was issued to me just the day before (August 5, 2010), check number: ** and I should be receiving it in 10 business days.

I waited for more than 2 weeks and never received the check. On August 27, 2010, I called corporate office again. Again, a representative answered, looked up my account history and told me that a refund checked was issued to me just the day before (August 26, 2010), check number: ** and I should be receiving it in 10 business days. When I told him that this is the same information I was given when I called last time on August 06, the rep responded that he does not see any history in my account that any check was issued prior to August 26, 2010. He said there is nothing he could do and suggested I should wait for 10 business day for the check.

Three weeks went by without receiving anything from Bally Total Fitness, on September 16, 2010, I called corporate office again. After being on hold for more than 15 minutes, a representative answered. As I anticipated, he (Roy - Agent ID: **) told me that he looked up my account history and that a refund checked was issued to me just the day before (September 15, 2010), check number: ** and I should be receiving it in 10 business days. I told Roy that this is the same answer I got from the previous two calls and question this company's intention on giving me the refund. Roy responded that the account does not show any record of any refund that was issued prior to September 15, 2010. There is nothing he can do, and I can take up the issue with his supervisor. When I asked to speak to the supervisor, he said they all are busy with other phone calls, he will transfer me to the voice mail where I can leave my membership information and contact phone, and someone will get back to me on the issue. I was transferred to the supervisor voice mail (Kelly **) to leave a message. No one returns my call.

At this time I felt like I have been scammed, Bally Total Fitness unauthorized debit my account, and give me a stall when being ask for the refund.

I've been a member of the Blue Ash Bally Total Fitness Club since 1995. On August 30, I paid $115.02 to renew my membership for the next year. On August the 31st (the very next day) the club shut down permanently. On September 3, when I went to go workout, I saw this and called Bally's immediately to request a refund. I had paid for the club and it shut down the very next day.

I was told that the matter was being escalated and I would receive a refund within 10 business days. I called Bally's today (9/16) and was told that I would not receive a refund because there was another club only 13 miles away. I informed the person that if they got on mapquest and mapped the two addresses, they could easily see the two clubs are actually almost 25 miles apart. There are no plans to put any new clubs anywhere nearby and I am fresh out of my $115.

I joined Bally's in Middlebury, CT about nine months ago. During this time I have made numerous complaints about the cleanliness of the facility. The pool has a film all around the waterline, the floors are disgusting, toilets are broken, machines are broken for long periods of time. The last straw came when I signed up for Zumba classes the day after I signed up. I had to leave town for a family emergency and was going to be gone for one month. I was unable to make it to the classes.

I called Bally's in Middlebury and explained my situation and asked for the $30 to be applied to the next session or a refund. I was told absolutely no. They do not refund and will not put it towards another session. I explained again my situation and was basically told "tough luck". I then asked to speak with the manager. The person who I had been talking to told me the manager was busy and would call me back, which she never did. I then emailed the headquarters and explained my situation. They emailed me back that I should talk to the facility I go to. I explained that I did, then they said they would forward my complaint to the Vice President of Bally's, whom, of course, I never have heard from.

I want out of this facility immediately as well as my $30 refunded. I will never recommend Bally's to anyone.

The contract was canceled for myself and my wife with Bally Fitness a year ago, and Bally Fitness keeps pulling money out of my account. Help! Monthly charges are taken from my credit card without my permission.

I had a membership there. I signed up for some personal training sessions and paid $75 for 3 more. I injured my ankle (sprained it so bad I would have been better off breaking it). I was in touch with the trainer and he let the training sessions expire while I was recovering and going to physical therapy.

About two years later, I was laid off from my job. I called there at least 4 times and just got an answering machine. I could not afford to take a train into Manhattan to go to the gym (cost is almost $15 round trip). The nearest Bally's near where I live is a $30 cab ride away each way and I do not have a car. Bally's would not let me put my account on hold until I found a job again. They had no sympathy for someone being unemployed. They just kept charging me $70 per month.

Finally I spoke with my bank and they said the only option I had was pretend I lost my bank card and file for a new card. Then they started calling me and threatening to send me to a collection agency. I am still very angry with the way they treated me. Unemployment in NY is about $200 less than the other states in the metro area. I had to use credit cards to buy food. I couldn't afford a gym membership when I was unemployed.

I have been a member of Bally's Total Fitness for almost a year now. I came from the center in Syracuse, NY. I moved to Manhattan and now I use the one on 6th Ave. I have to say the difference is night and day. The one here in Manhattan is terribly maintained. There is only one bottle of machine disinfectant and often there are no paper towels even when there is disinfectant for the machines. In Syracuse, there were employees whose sole responsibility was to keep the machines, the floors, and the locker rooms clean.

In Manhattan, the machines are an epidemic waiting to happen. In the exercise room I found the same ball of hair that had been on the floor the previous night was still there! Does that mean that they do not sweep and mop the floor either? My fear is that there will be a terrible outbreak of MRSA or H1N1 and it all could have been prevented by a little maintenance. There could be terrible economic or physical damage if these unsafe and unsanitary conditions are not rectified.

On August 23 2010, at approximately 4:30 PM, I walked into Bally at Rockville center with my wife and 2 children. I was hoping to work out with my wife and leave my kids at the kids club. The gentlemen at the front desk informed me, that my kids would not be able to stay at the kids club because the kids club starts at 6:00 PM. I explained to the gentleman at the front desk that if they could please let me leave my kids at the kids club, and I would check up on them, this is something that this gym has let me done before.

The gentleman said he could not help me. I then asked to speak to the manager, Brian **. I asked Mr. ** if he could consider this because this is something that they let me do in the past. Mr. ** was very arrogant and discourteous. He told me, that never happened at that gym, basically calling me a liar. Mr ** told me he was the manager there since October. I told him that this courtesy was given to me last summer. Mr ** did not care or speak to me in a respectful manner.

He told me that the kids club started at 6, and he did not want kids in the gym. Mr ** then became irate because my wife took the kids to see the pool. He said "there go your kids walking around the gym, that's a problem". I told him that my wife took them to see the pool, and that she was a member, when he stated with a very bad tone that he didn't see my wife.

I've been a member of Bally's for 14 years and I never had a problem. I know that Bally has its rules and regulations, but the way Mr Brian ** talked to us, was very unprofessional. He never even bothered to ask me for my name. I feel that a gym that welcomes kids to their gym should be a little more considerate, and thoughtful on the way they handle kids, and the parents, who bring them. Mr Brian ** left a sour taste in my mouth, and I am honestly considering canceling my wife's and my membership, and going somewhere else, where I may be treated with more courtesy and professionalism.

They renewed and charged me for a membership, which I never authorized! I called to cancel, and having been calling several times since. They said that they would give me a refund. Every time I call, I get a different date as to which I'll get my refund. The latest is that they needed approval to give my money back, and it'll be another couple few days. Is it so hard hard to get a straight answer out of them? It didn't take so long to take my money in the first place, but it sure takes a long time to get it back! I'll never join again, and I've been a member since 1987! They caused my account to go overdrawn! Not to mention all the times I've had to call and sit on the phone waiting.

Firstly they were high pressure sales; secondly I was told it was a monthly membership and I could quit any time I wanted. Thirdly, the trainer hit on my wife, the list goes on and on and on. When I tried to quit my membership, they kept billing me. So I called the gym and now they say I have to write a letter to corporate to quit a membership when at no time did the sales monkey ever say any such thing. So I called my bank and blocked all transactions from them. Then they sick the collector dogs on me for the better part of a year now. They want bloody near $800 and that will happen when Satan skates to work. I paid for the time I was there and used the membership. I will not pay for services and use of a facility I did not use. They have hounded me with collectors at home and at work. I reported this to my credit (it wasn't that great to start with but this doesn't help). Isn't there a law about calling me at work?

In 2006, I signed up for a membership at Bally's Total Fitness and I went to cancel the membership within the allotted time limit which was 30 days because I was no longer in the Albany area. The thing was that when I went to cancel the membership, they told me that I couldn't cancel the membership because I haven't visited the gym enough times but they never told me this when I signed up. In other words, this is deceptive an unlawful business practices. I never went to the gym and they never cancelled the membership. I can't get any answers as to why this happened when I have called the collection agency, law firm, and Bally's themselves and what their motive was for ripping me off. It would be very nice if someone could help me with this.

I have also been looking on google recently after I had my wages garnished and realized that people have been ** by Bally's for years. There have been so many complaints on consumer affairs. They put me into a collection agency and I spoke to an attorney who told me not to worry about Bally's because they won't garnish my wages and to ignore it. They placed a judgement against me and I just received an income execution from the Sheriffs Department on Friday telling me that they are going to garnish my salary until I have paid $2212.48 total for the three year membership which includes legal fees. The membership was only $1713. I have also been harassed constantly.

I tried to cancel my membership, and now there is a judgment against me that is effecting my credit. I did call them and they tell me I need a doctors note to cancel the membership. Now, the company is no longer in my county. Please help me get the judgment off my credit report.

First, they ripped off my personal trainer money after the guy just left. They never refunded me the money. The manager is an annoying and has a bad attitude. In addition, most of their aerobic machines are broken. I lost money on a personal trainer that was just a mess. You feel a negative attitude whenever you go there.

I was on a month to month membership at this gym and wanted to add my family. I was told by Junior that all memberships were individual memberships now. We shopped it around and found another gym that offered family memberships, thus saving us some money. We had to call the corporate office to cancel, and they tried to sell us a deal on a family membership. Local and corporate obviously don't align. When we attempted to cancel my month to month membership, they told us we would be charged $25 to cancel on top of the $19. They just took it out of our bank yesterday for the month to month charge.

When asked if they could fax a copy of the agreement we signed showing the cancellation fee, we were told that was another charge of $10. When asked to speak to a manager at the corporate level, we were told there wasn't one present to talk to. I've read numerous scans on how Bally's continues to charge members who cancel and the hidden fees. I'm appalled by the fact they treat their customers who've kept them in business with such disrespect.

I signed a contract on 01/01/2010 at 9:35 pm for myself, my wife and a guest pass for my son. I explained to the salesman Jessica D. L. that the only reason my wife and me are joining bally was because I'm 65 years old and had a heart surgery last month. So I needed to get into the silver sneaker program with my wife and a pass for my son to see if he likes the program.

The next day I visited the spot at one in the afternoon but after two o'clock, I was informed that there is no class for the silver sneakers today. In the reception 10 minutes later, I was informed by the manager that the girl was out for a few days. 5 minutes later, I was informed by one of the employees that because not enough people to do the class, my son went to one of the workout machines and one employee told him that he is too young to be in there. The company will not allow underage kids inside the workout area because of the insurance. He left the area feeling bad because it is not what the salesman told us. I went by this morning at 8:00 am to get the ID and for someone to tour the place. I was notified that because my Vista Healthplan Insurance is not in this program. I am not allowed to do the silver sneakers, I was upset and I told them that I want to cancel my contract. They told me I have to call 1800-. That's when they told me that I had to write a cancellation letter and that is what I am doing now.

I would like to inform you that this bally fitness center in homestead needs to have more organized employees working. One employee tells you one thing and the other tells you a different thing, they all fight for customers. I called to have information on July 1st in the morning and I had more than five telephone calls and three emails from different employees trying to take the lead from Jessica D. As a courtesy, let me tell you that I think you will be losing a lot of members because the attitude of your employees before the contract and after the contract, after the contract they treat you with little priority. I payed $75.21 for my subscription, and $75.21 for my wife subscription.

I went to Bally's to inquire about their gym in may 2008. At the time, they told me I was signing a 2 year contract for $41.00 dollar a month and I would receive the third year free. So in April 2010, I called to make sure my contract would be done in May. They in formed me that I had signed a three year contract and that the 3rd year wasn't free. Be careful what you sign. Make sure you read even the fine print. I will never make this mistake again.

Bally promotes a "free guest pass" good for 7 days. I registered online and printed out the pass, and took it there on 7/9/10. The employee took the pass and said I'd just have to show my personal ID (driver's license) to return. I returned on 7/15, and "Jamie", who claimed to be the manager, wouldn't let me in, claiming my name in the computer showed "no activity", and repeatedly demanding the name of the employee I'd dealt with the prior week. Incredibly rude and arrogant, he finally threw me out. I guess their franchisees don't want to honor their "free passes". The place was a dive anyway.

A month ago, my best friend was physically and verbally attacked (totally unprovoked) by another female at the club. So far, the managers have done nothing about finding or identifying the perpetrator who disappeared soon after the attack. They seem more concerned about their image (! ) than the safety of their members. The suspect is still at large and probably still using the gym. And with her short fuse, it will definitely end up in another more volatile situation. But Bally doesn't care.

The big mistake my friend made was not calling the cops on the woman (for the attack) and Bally (for not protecting her). She says she was in total shock and never thought of it.

I purchased a rowing exercise belt from K-Mart in the Bronx. I partially ruptured my Achilles tendon in my right ankle from the repeated use of the exercise equipment! I used a cam boot from almost a year to help me walk. I'm still experiencing pain.

My membership expired on June 28. On June 13, I went to renew my membership at the club. A nice representative there told me it would be $65.99 for the year. So I paid the money and was happy with that deal since my membership was more last year, $110. So I went in the club on July 3, and am told I have a balance of $54.00. The manager, Millie, was very nasty to me and insisted that she couldn't help me, and that I have to call the 866 number, even though that specific club charged me the money.

I called the 866 number and spoke to Jerome, who told me that the $65.99/year wasn't my discount at the time, but to make me a satisfied customer he will get rid of the $54.00 charge. I figured everything is good, until Saturday when I went back to the club to workout. I asked the woman who originally charged me and happened to be working that day to help me. She said she would talk to her manager and get rid of the $54.00 charge. So I went to work out today, and they still won't let me in. Now, keep in mind I paid on June 13. I haven't been able to work out since then. Basically, they are holding the money I paid them hostage until I pay them another $54.00 which I never agreed to pay.

Today, I called the 866 number and got put on hold for what seems like a short eternity, and spoke to a very nasty representative who now said that I need proof of this offer or else I have to pay the $54.00. As if being charged for it at my club isn't proof enough? After arguing this point back and forth, I asked to speak to the supervisor. She huffed and puffed and put me on hold again.

The supervisor at the 866 number told me that the $65.99 I paid will enable me to go to the club twice a week. Funny they mentioned this now. The other option is to work out and not get billed again until February, since I already paid 6 months' dues. I will cancel in February. I don't trust these people with my credit card anymore.

Oh, and for the record, the review about the Denver gym is true. My boyfriend's father lives there and had his wallet and his iPhone stolen right out of the locker. The management could care less that there are thieves running around the club robbing their customers.

I opened an account which was supposed to be on a month-by-month basis under my friend's account. I was told to pay the one-time initiation fee and pay $42.00 a month, which was supposed to be both our payments together ($21.00 each). But it would be automatically deducted from my credit card. I signed a contract and was told that it was for a month-to-month account and I can cancel at anytime. Because I don't live that close to a Bally's gym, I decided to close the account on January 2008.

I was told at the gym that I was under a two-year contract and I was not going to be able to cancel. When I asked to speak to the manager that signed me up, I was told he was fired a few months earlier. I was told to call the corporate office. Every time I called, I was always placed on hold for hours and I could never talk to anyone to get this settled. I was never contacted by Ballys and I could never get through to corporate. So now the amount is in collections. But one thing I don't understand is why I paid for a year at $42.00 and they said I owed a $1000 pay-off. It has caused a lot of stress on me and my credit score went down at 19.

How the ** is someone supposed to lose weight when one of your location brings in a sheet of cake to share with your customer? I thought that Bally's was a place that would help me not work against me. All of your so called trainers are fat. I guess that, that's alright but I'd rather cancel my membership and go to Planet Fitness.

I was misled into signing a contract that made me responsible for two other people by Mr. **. He told me that the first month's payment needed to come from one account. After that, the bills could be severed and each of us would be responsible for ourselves. At the end of them month, I noticed that two months worth of dues for three people had been deducted from my account. When I called customer service and told them I wanted to severe the bills, I was told that they had no way of doing that.

I called Cumberland to speak to Mr. ** and I was given the run around. I attempted to call customer service a number of times. After speaking with a manager, I was told someone would get back to me about the matter. The next thing I heard was from a collection agencyor should I say multiple collection agencies. They sold my "debt" to a couple of companies so I had people calling and harassing (name calling, threats, etc.) me and a different company is sending me letters. Both companies were requesting different amounts. Again, I contacted Bally's and sent statements to the companies. I never heard anything back until the next collection agency would take over and the harassment would start all over again. When I went back to the Cumberland Bally's, I was told that Mr. ** had been fired because of his deceitful practices. They told me that the only people who could help me would be customer service.

In addition to impacting my credit, their minions are still coming after me. I just received a call this morning threatening a tax lien against me.

My contract ended in January 2010 and Bally Total Fitness continues to withdraw money from my bank account. I called the office and they told me that I must send a letter that stated I am canceling my contract; otherwise, I continue to be a month-to-month member. I was never informed of this procedure. At the end of my contract, Bally's should have sent me a letter explaining that my contract was going to expire and that I had two choices: either cancel membership by writing a letter of termination or automatically become a month-to-month member if I took no action.

At the beginning of my contract, I had problems with the facility at Slauson Avenue. I was bothered by the fact that I was being charged for a class because the instructor was an outside instructor, but in reality he was an employee of that facility. At the moment, there were several problems at the facility. I made a complaint and was informed someone would be sent to the facility for inspection. I never received a call back with my concerns. To this day, Bally Total Fitness continues to withdraw $19.00 per month from my account.

Through my place of employment, we are able to join any club without a contract, going through Global Fit and paying only $10.00 a month, I was told that I can cancel any membership any time and I will owe nothing to any club. I choose Bally's and this particular one was the only one closer to my home, again, It was very difficult to be able to exercise since it's tremendously overly crowded.

I called Global Fit and spoke with Shawn at 8:00, and told him I wanted to cancel the membership, which was done back in 2005. All of a sudden, I received a letter on June 25, 2010 from a collection agency by the name of NCC at Main Street in Dickson City, PA 18519-164, claiming that I owe Bally's the amount of $966.09 and they are giving a 60% discount of $386.44 if I pay it before the 30-day period that they are giving me, and if I do not pay it immediately in that time, they will take me to court and my credit will be ruined.

I contacted NCC and asked for Mr. Matthew ** at ext 213, and spoke with Mr. Thomas ** who announced to me that the name of Matthew ** was a generic or phony name, that he is the one in charge of all the collection letters. He was very charming, but he asked me to give him a credit card name and number to pay the discounted amount and I told him that I was not ready to do such thing because I will not pay for something that was long time ago canceled, and I needed copies of the contract, bills and the 3 late payments notices sent to me.

He could not answer to that, all he wanted for me is to give them my credit card number, I do not feel comfortable with this company either, especially after what he said, that I only have less than 30 days to pay this bill or they will take me to court. They are threatening me to take me to court and ruin my credit if I don't pay this amount before the 30-day grace period that they are giving me.

I canceled my membership last year in October. My contract was for 2 years and that ended on 09.29.2009 and I called because I didn't want to go on with the membership. They said that it's okay and that the membership will be cancelled. However, they keep charging to my account, 96 dollar every month. They don't want to refund that money for 8 months. What can I do? They don't stop taking money from my account and they don't want to refund that money.

In 2005, I signed for a Deluxe Personal Training membership at Bally Total Fitness in New Jersey, membership that they financed to 36 months. In other words, contract with an annual percent rate of 15.68% plus $10.00 a month, according to them are monthly dues. After 2 years of paying this unfair and expensive contract, I received a letter from Bally (June 2007) claiming that the state of New Jersey had passed a law imposing a 7% sales tax on members' initiation fees, membership fees, dues, renewals, and tanning services effective June 21st, 2007. As a consequence, Bally adjusted my monthly payments to include the alleged tax. What seemed shady to me was that they (Bally) adjusted the monthly payments to include the new tax to the months I had paid since 2005.

After I sent my last payment in 2008, 2 months later I received a letter claiming that I owed last month payment plus late fee, payment I sent thinking I had miscalculated the date. About 6 months after that letter, I received another letter claiming that I owed them $23.00 in unpaid taxes, amount I decided not to pay. I think this company made me pay more money than what I really owed. The people who talk you into signing these long term contracts just care about that and don't even give you time to read them. It's 2010 and after looking back at that contract, I feel ripped off.

I have been a member of Bally Total Fitness for almost fifteen years. On Monday, June 14, 2010, I attended the gym with my husband who lives out of state. Although I have a guest pass, I was told that I must pay $10.00 since he lives out of state. The desk personnel, Teresa, and the club Manager Dave told me it did not matter that I had a guest pass. Since my husband lived out of state, I was required to pay the $10.00. My issue is that the Bally's on Central Avenue does not honor a guest pass and nor does it not value its long time members. I am requesting a refund of the $10.00.

I'll try to keep this short. Bally plays dirty. They don't care about their customers. As long as their classes are full, it's fine. There's a popular Wednesday night spin class everyone clamors after. Space fills up pretty fast so you have to try to get your ticket quickly. That either means you make a reservation for 2 bucks that day (one ticket per person, as the rules state), or you show up 30 plus minutes early to get a spot. Well, neither of these options work. See, in order to get a spot in the class, you pretty much have to be part of a clique of one of four girls.

They rule the class; they're the cronies of the instructors that may even be a little flattered by this. But Bally doesn't seem to really mind this. Nobody seems to mind. The fact that each girl hoards 6 or 7 tickets a piece to hand out to a special group of friends doesn't seem to phase anyone at this dirty establishment. So I, a membership-paying sucker, falsely believe that I have a fair spot in this class. No go. These spinning hags pretty much have dibs. I'm going back to 24 Hour Fitness.

I purchased a lifetime membership with Bally Total Fitness in 1989. After paying the upfront membership over the first 18 months, I was transitioned to a monthly fee which increased to $22/month by 2009. After paying the upfront fee, I could cancel my membership at any time. After Bally's closed the club near my house in June 2009, I decided to cancel my membership. In the course of a month, I phoned Bally's 18 times to cancel the membership and was disconnected each time before being transferred to a representative. I then sent a letter to their head office in Norwalk, CA requesting membership cancellation, but was billed again the following month. I finally decided to call and choose another option that was sure to be transferred to a representative. I was told that cancellations cannot be taken via phone. They had no record of my letter requesting cancellation.

I was advised that I would need to send a certified letter requesting cancellation. I asked Maria (the representative) why there was a prompt for cancellations and refunds if neither could be handled by phone. I did not get a clear answer. I left a message for Mark ** (Maria's manager) who has not had the courtesy to return my call. It would appear that Bally's deliberately devises ways to prevent members from canceling their membership. What a sleazy company. Bally's will not acknowledge my first written request to cancel my membership because the letter was not sent certified. They continue to bill month-to-month fees. After all of the similar complaints I've read in the past two days, I believe it is time to organize a class action suit.

For three days there have been no paper towels available to wipe down the equipment. The classes are over populated, and ventilation is poor or non existent. There are no available reps on the floor between the hours of 6-10 a.m. Woman's bath room has roaches near the water cooler. Bathroom stalls are often without soap and toilet paper. Classes do not start on time. There are no posting of rules to wipe down machines. Germs. People are sweating and when they finish there's no materials to wipe machines. The class rooms are with poor ventilation and being over packed to the entrance door and no AC.

I asked to cancel my membership and was told that I needed to contact corporate headquarters. I did and was told that I needed to submit a letter. I got the address and sent the letter and 6 months later I realized my account was still being deducted each month. When I called they told me that they never received my letter. They did claim to check their records to see if I called when I said I did but said they found no record, which is a lie because I did call and find out what I needed to do (which was send a letter). But they say they could not find my call. I called the 800 number when I got the address to cancel my membership but the customer service number is an 866 number.

I was told that all the calls come to the same place and they could not find my call. Bottom line: they owe me $25/month for 6 months. I knew this would happen. I told myself when I sent the letter that this would happen, but of course I did not keep a record of that letter. It's a bogus way to require cancelation anyway. I suggest that anyone canceling a membership also cancel payment on the card that they use to make payment, keep record of any phone calls and send cancelation letter via certified mail so they do not conveniently get lost by Bally's. The consequence is $150.

I purchased a package in 2005 for $3000.00 for private training lessons and would like a refund. The services were never used and I moved to an area that did not have a Bally's Fitness Center. I called years ago and did not get a response so I called again and was told to write to the company and try to get a refund back to me. Please help me resolve this situation soon. I am not able to work out anymore because of health issues.

I cancelled my membership in December 2009. I had a family plan and only one contract number. I cancelled that contract but they keep billing me. They claim that I have multiple contract numbers on that contract but I only have one. I have tried mailing them and they refuse to cancel the remaining members and keep billing my credit card. I try calling them but their automated system hangs up to me when I push the button to talk to a live person (which it has been doing for the past six months). I have also tried going into the club and they bring up a contract that doesn't match to what I have received.

I responded to a free 7-day trial that Bally Total Fitness had sent me. Well, I went in and was told I had to pay $10 per day if I wanted to use the 'free' pass. I thought maybe the gym thought my intentions were just that of getting a free 7 days so I told the guy I would prepay for my membership to start the following week. He said that would be okay, but I had to pay $10 for each of the 'free' days! A fraud company.

I have been a member of Bally's for quite a few years now. I recently started going to this particular Bally's. The service is terrible. I take a cardio class and spin class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I usually am there by 6:15. I stand on a long line to sign up for spin which starts at 7:30pm. My cardio class begins at 6:30pm. I was told that I could not sign up for spin until 6:30pm exactly and if I wanted to sign up before, I had to pay $2. The line gets so ridiculously long that it blocks the staircase. They don't even sign everyone up at 6:30pm on the dot. It always goes past the time. By the time I sign up, I find myself fighting for a spot in my cardio class. I also tend to get to my spin class at 7:30pm only to find no bikes are available for me. I think that is absurd, especially when I wasted 20 minutes of my life waiting to sign up for it. I pay a membership specifically to avoid these situations. I have had no such problems like these with any other club.

If I try to find a manager to speak to, he manages to disappear and not be available or I get someone who claims to be the manager for the moment. If I do get a manager, he gives me sorry excuses about how Bally's claimed bankruptcy and things are a mess. That is no excuse. They have terrible managerial skills. When you stand in line to get into the cardio class, you have to fight your way to get it. It is overly crowded and people push and shove to get in. They barely let the class that is in there to come out. If there were ever to be a fire, no one would survive. It is a major fire hazard to block an entrance in that manner. There is absolutely no order and something should be done. The money I have paid to go there is definitely not worth it. I leave there more stressed than when I came in. I strongly recommend another gym to anyone who may want to join.

I tried canceling my membership, but they directed me to stop automatic payments, which I did twice. Of course I'm being charged every month even when I live now in Chehalis, Washington and there is no Bally Fitness around 25 miles. I call them and send them emails, but nothing happens and they keep charging my debit card. Due to economic situation I cannot spend more money on a service I don't use.

On March 16th, Bally Total Fitness in Milwaukee, Oregon tried to give me the wrong kid after my workout. They are supposed to use the matching security bracelets but never check them to make sure the numbers match. The daycare attendant, Melissa, told me in a phone conversation, that she "didn't even know why they had them." And the club manager, Ivan, told me that he would personally make sure it would never happen again. I just can't put my trust in them ever again.

I signed up for the club a few years ago and have only 6 more months on my membership as well as my now 4 year old daughters. I chose this club because of the daycare. It was the #1 priority to me in the club I chose. I am a stay at home mom who, if I go to the gym, have to take my daughter with me. I cannot continue to go as I can't take her with me to the daycare in fear that they will give my daughter to someone else.

I am trying to have both memberships cancelled and all money refunded as of March 16th. I have made numerous calls to the 1-800 # as wells as the club, but I am getting little response.

Please see the attached letter that I sent to the Accounting office on March 16th for more info. I'd like this story brought to the attention of other parents that use this club as well as any other officials. I think it's really unsafe. They keep telling me that it only happened once and that it was an isolated incident. In my opinion, it only takes once to lose your child.

I keep receiving "special offers" addressed to my mother. I continually write on the offers that my mother has passed. After the 6th mailing, I tried calling every number that was on the letter. It is impossible to speak to a live person! After calling the 5th telephone number, I called an actual gym. They informed me that there is no way they can inform their corporate office to take my mother off the mailing list. Every time something comes in the mail with my mother's name, my daughter gets upset. It is a constant reminder that we have lost someone precious in our lives. I find it hard to believe that no one can stop these mailings. I will continue to write "she's dead" on these mailings. Maybe one day they will stop.

I've been trying to transfer my membership over to my granddaughter for the last 8 months to no avail. I have sent in all paper work required. It's very stressful.

I cancelled my membership on April 14, 2010. Being the horrible and outdated business that Bally's is, they make you write a letter and send it via snail mail in order to cancel your membership. They do not take cancellations over the phone or via email. However, my credit card shows another monthly charge from Bally's on April 21, 2010, which multiple people in customer service refuse to refund back to me. Is Bally's management aware that the year is 2010 and normal businesses utilize technologies such as email and fax, both of which are much for efficient than a letter via sent via the USPS? Or heaven forbid that the customer service person on the phone should process the cancellation.

It couldn't possibly take any longer than it takes them to explain the letter writing process and give out the address. I have to wonder if this antiquated process is an underhanded ploy used in the hope that another billing cycle will have passed in between the day a member actually wishes to cancel and the time they receive and finally process the request. Do not join Bally's. They are an unethical business. I am forced to pay for another month of membership that I did not want or use, then had to spend lots of time on the phone with their incompetent customer service people trying to get it refunded.

I was deep in thought, almost oblivious to my environment, as I went through my reps and sets on the various weight machines. Suddenly, out of the blue, one of the Bally's staff came over to me to ask me if he could speak to me privately. I have always had a friendly relationship with him as well as most of the staff there. So, I jokingly responded, "What did I do?"

He did. As gregarious and friendly as I may be, this accuser was one of the few people at the gym that I never worked out with or engaged in any conversation with for any short or extended period of time! Wave hello?

I cannot remember waving, speaking, or looking at him in months! Following him into the bathroom? I go to the bathroom when I have to answer nature's call. period! I had never gone out of my way to follow him or be anywhere near him anywhere at anytime! I hardly even noticed his presence! In fact, he is significant as one of the select few people that I do not say hello to, workout with, or engage in friendly conversation with at the gym at any given time! I had not spoken to him or waved at him at any time that day, and I was on the other side of the gym as far away from where he was located on the workout floor as possible when the gym staff came over to speak with me.

I responded calmly. "I have not said hello to that guy today or any day in months. In fact, he is one of the few people that I do not workout with or engage with socially at this gym. I have never stared at him today or any day or followed him into the bathroom. I do not even take showers or get undressed at this gym. I go home right after my workouts since it is usually too crowded, and it takes too long to shower and get undressed and dressed again here. The only thing that I can make of this outrageous accusation is that he clearly has some issues that have nothing to do with me. In fact, if he could attack someone as far removed from him as me, than he could just as soon pick on anybody here. I suspect that it's not me or anyone in particular that bugs him. It's the diversity in general at this gym that he is uncomfortable with that makes him feel the need to intimidate and shame people with attacks like this specious one. I think he should consider going to another gym."

After hearing "my side", the gym staff member went over and spoke to my accuser. By the way, my accuser was next to a man who I am told is the gym manager named Tim **. This manager was hovering around us while I offered my thoughts to the gym staff person who had first approached me. Later, I do remember my accuser going out of his way to workout at the bench right next to me. I reported this to the gym staff, and I suggested a private meeting face-to-face with him in the office with one of the staff present. They suggested that I avoid a direct confrontation at this time and wait to see if anything else happens.

I continued my workout, and I continued to spot him out of the corner of my eye. It's a crowded gym. It is inevitable that you will be sharing the same space at the same time several times during any workout along with exchanging glances with others in the crowd at any given moment. Now, I had to be aware of not looking at him (even though I never had in the past) and not being near the same equipment at the same time (even though we had never worked out together)!

Who knows why I was the target? I do know that this gym manager, identified as Tim **, has made no attempt to check in with me regarding my safety, to hear my side of the story, or even to offer support since this incident took place. This is despite the fact that we have made eye contact, and I have been in his presence on several occasions at the gym since this incident took place. No attempt to apologize has been made to me.

Sensitivity training pertaining to cultural diversity and homophobia seems necessary for the gym management and staff at the Bally Total Fitness located in Hollywood on: N El Centro Avenue Los Angeles CA, 90028. I am owed a written and verbal apology from the gym manager Tim G. at the Bally Total Fitness in Hollywood. His negligence in choosing not to check in and offer any support or hear my side of the story while engaging in listening and speaking with the gym member who made the false accusations against me is unfair and discriminatory treatment.

His failure to even bother to introduce and identify himself to me during and after this incident while engaging with the gym staff that spoke with me and the gym member who falsely accused me is unacceptable as it indicates bias and unfair treatment. I should not be disrespected by being ignored and not addressed by the manager after such a specious and false accusation was directed at me. Thank you.

My complaint deals with the lack of well-maintained and updated equipment at the Bally's Total Fitness Club located in Chicago at 87th and the Dan Ryan Expressway. This club has outdated equipment that is 1st or 2nd generation in nature and are rarely used. When compared to the other clubs in the area, the equipment is well below standard. In addition, equipment is frequently broken such as treadmills, stair master, fly machines and takes weeks if not months to repair. This club has been neglected for the 5 years I have personally been a member. One fly machine was broken and taken out of the gym some 7 months ago and has yet to be returned; simply unacceptable. Someone from the corporate offices needs to come out to this club and do a detailed audit: with a goal of updating and replacing several pieces of equipment. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter. Certainly, the 60 people who have signed a petition of complaint would be willing to work out a group deal with the new L.A. Fitness Club opening in July costing Bally several thousand dollars a month in membership fees.

Hello to everyone who have had a Bally's Total Fitness problem related to consumer fraud and deceptive business practices. I am in the process of collecting as much information on consumers that have been misled and abused by those thieves and fraudulent company, ruining consumers credit reports, using tricks and fraudulent promises to make you responsible for a fitness contract you never agreed to. They were reporting me negatively to the credit bureaus for 7 years affecting my credit score and history terribly since I was 18 years old, and now they resold the fake debt to another collection agency after it fell off of my credit report, trying to ruin my credit again.

Please write to me at ** if you guys are interested in taking part of this law suit with a brief story about your experience with Bally's (if you don't have the time for right now, at least copy and paste it from your consumer complaint website enclosing your contact information such as telephone number and or email address so I can contact you as soon as I have everything ready). This is so I can put a case file together and take it to a few different attorneys I know since I am gonna at least be seeking financial compensation for all the damage they have done and emotional stress caused. If you are in CA, it's even better since that's my state. The more people willing to join, the bigger, powerful and credible the case will be. I have so much free time right now and I can do this for you! I am just really upset at this company because they also target young adults and teenagers. The vulnerable consumers with no experience and I was one of them.

In early 2009, I signed up for a membership in Phoenix. I asked for a month to month membership knowing that the goal was to get into shape so I could start hiking outdoors with my husband. When they signed me up, they set me up on contract and asked me to sign. I refused to sign stating I did not ask for a contract. I was willing to pay the higher month to month because I knew it would be for a shorter period. They tried to get away with it, and I should have walked out then, but didn't. They set me up month to month with a membership and trainer as asked.

The trainer experience was a nightmare. I had times of showing up and the trainer didn't, times the trainer would call in sick. I was promised my first session free, that didn't happen. Finally, in June 2009, enough was enough. I asked for the steps to cancel. The requirement was to send in a registered letter with a request for a return receipt. I did what was requested. In July 09, the membership did not cancel. We went to the Bally store and spoke to the manager Mike. He said he would take care of it. All he did was to move my monthly installment date from the first of the month to the end of the month. It again came out the following month.

He made copies of my return receipt and allegedly faxed it to corporate. My husband and I have spent countless hours on the phone along with numerous email requests to the corporate office of Bally. We are now in May 2010 and Bally still is charging me a monthly membership. They have still not canceled my membership. I have finally canceled my credit card, I am at a loss with this company. Someone please help! This is an overcharge of $300 plus in membership post the cancellation. There's no telling how much time and effort has been lost, driving back and forth to the Bally office to deliver copies, canceling my credit cards. The emotional stress is ridiculous!

Hello everyone that have had a Bally's problem, I am suing those thieves and fraudulent company ruining consumers credit reports, using tricks and fraudulent promises to make you responsible for a fitness contract you never agreed to. They ruined my credit for 7 years since I was 18 and now the resold the fake debt to an other collection agency after it fell off of my credit report trying to ruin my credit again. I am gonna at least be seeking financial compensation for all they've done and the more people I have the bigger and credible the case will be. I have so much free time right now and I can do this for you! I am just really upset at this company because they also target young adults and teenagers. The vulnerable consumers with no experience and I was one of them.

I am a previous member of this club from when I lived in California. Periodically, I get emails or U.S. mail with "new" offers for membership renewal and have taken an offer or two in the past.

On 4/19/10, I received an email offer to "restart" my membership. The offer is for "only $99.99 for 12 months.*". The asterisk indicates the "fine" details or small print. In reading this small print, the only mention of this offers dollar amount increasing, is if you do not choose EBPP (Electronic Bill Payment Program). This would add $5/month to your amount. Otherwise, there is absolutely no indication that there is a difference in price if you choose either to pay up front or in monthly payments. The only reference to this is the following: "Your future renewal will be charged to the same credit card, and you may elect monthly or annual billing.

If you select annual billing, we will send you a reminder notice approximately 30 days before your annual renewal will be charged. These preferred rates apply only to memberships enrolled in Bally's EBPP. " It goes on to mention certain "additional charges", but only for Personal Training, Specialty Classes or Kids Club. When I spoke to Bally's at the phone # listed above (I called 3 different times because the first 2 people were rude), they told me the following: They all told me that there were (4) "offers" they were allowed to make to me on their "computer screen". Two of these offers included 2 or 3 year contracts (which I was not interested in).

The other (2) offers were for 1 year. The difference, was 1 year for $99.99 if paid "up front". If I chose to pay "monthly", they "could not" give me the $99.99 offer. They said it would instead be, $15.99 re-joining fee + $9.99, the first month. Every month thereafter would be $9.99 per month. This is a difference of $35.88 more for the year. To some people this may not amount to much, but to me it does. Not to mention the Principle. I wholeheartedly believe this is "false advertising" and "bait and switch". The fine print in their email offer in no way states that paying monthly would change the offer amount. I told them this and they did not care nor offer a compromise. They basically told me it was my problem and that the email did not matter, only what their computer screen said. I told them I expected to get the offer that was extended to me, through my email, in "print". They would not budge. How is this not false advertising?

One of their members told me about Bally. He offered me a 14-day free trial to go try it out because my membership at my club is about to expire. So I went the first day. I wrote down all my information and I started working out. When I finished, I went to ask for my ID on my way out. As I walked to the counter with the Bally's employee, he was like, "You had a 7-day free trial, right?" And I remember he saw the paper when I first got there, when he told me that, he made me feel uncomfortable because I thought he was joking. So he kept asking all types of questions. He asked me if I was a member somewhere else, and I told him the truth that I was a member somewhere else, but that the contract was about to expire. He said just because I was a member from somewhere else, I had to pay the next time I show up which was gonna be $10. I requested to speak with the manager inside, but he wasn't there. He told me to come back tomorrow.

So I went to work out, I showed my ID, I went into the locker room to get dress. As I was getting dressed the employee showed up with the manager of Bally requesting to see my ID without saying who he was. He demanded I show him the 14-day free trial, but I couldn't because the other employee had put it in the trash the day before. They stand there with no professional manners, and I ended up paying $10.

I do like Bally a whole lot, but with people like this running the place, I just don't think I would ever become a member because they should've told me when I first got there. And they should put on the 14-day trial that if you are a member, not to even try it because if you do and go, you will feel like a clown trying to get into the show with a fake ticket. By the way this Bally is located at Woodbridge, Prince William County, close to Lowe's.

I had updated my credit card information but did not update it with Bally's. I contacted Bally to update my information and to make a payment on my past due balance. I have two account numbers with Bally's, both in my name. When I contacted Bally's, I provided them with both accounts. The customer service representative provided me with the balance for both accounts. I made the payment. The representative assured me that she has the correct credit card information and that the payments will be deducted when the next payment was due. I then started to get calls from a collection agency. I informed them that I do not have a past due account.

I then contacted Bally's again. I was assured that everything was alright and the payment would be taken out on its due date. The payment date arrived and the payment was not taken out so I contacted Bally again, provided them with both accounts as I always do when I have to contact them. This time, the representative informed me that they did not have the correct information and provided me with the balance that I owed. I made the payment. I also informed him that I was getting phone calls from a collection agency. I provided him with the number to the company. He stated that he would contact them and that my payments would be deducted on time. I did notice that the payment being taken from my account but the payment was too low.

Again, I received calls from another collection agency. I called Bally's again and I provided both account numbers, this time, the representative informed me that one of my accounts was charged off. I was very upset. I requested to file a complaint against every representative that I spoke with. She informed me that she would put in my complaint. She also said that she would do a call back to the collection company and let her supervisor know. Again, I continued to receive calls from yet another collecting agency. I contacted Bally's who informed me that no complaint was made and one of the accounts was charged off. I asked the representative why would I pay one account and let the other one go into collections.

When I contacted the office, I provided both account numbers and each time, I was assured that payments were being made for both accounts. I asked to speak with a supervisor regarding the matter. She told me that no one was there. I informed her that I contacted Bally several times and I was told each time that the matter was being taken care of. I stated that as a consumer, I trusted that the matter was being handled and that I believe that Bally's as a company did this to me on purpose.

I wanted to cancel the membership I had for my girls because they moved out of the area and there were no Bally's within the 25 miles area. I contacted the corporate headquarters and spoke to many people who told me what to do. They told me to send a letter stating that they moved, and I did. In the meantime, my girls came back to Encino. I called Bally's and resumed their memberships. Because of the moving issue, I fell behind on my membership dues.

When I called to tell Bally's that my girls were back and that I wanted to resume their membership, she told me that I needed to bring my account current by 3/29/2010. I paid everything (all the past due plus the current month) online on 3/24/2010. Only to find out that Bally's had sent my account to a collection agency anyway. I started getting harassing phone calls from Alliance One. I explained to them that my account is paid in full and that I didn't owe anyone any money, but they insisted that I had to pay off my contract and send them over $1,000.00, or they will ruin my credit. I immediately called Bally's and spoke to a supervisor (Manny) and he told me to disregard Alliance and that my account is current and he would take care of it.

But I continued to get harassing phone calls, Every time I get a call I call Bally's and they tell me that my account is current and to disregard the calls. Today (4/16/2010) I received yet another call from Alliance One in which they said they are going to continue to call me and will continue to ding my credit until I pay them. This time Alliance One was very threatening. I again called Bally's for help and spoke to a supervisor, Lance, who pretty much told me there was nothing they can do and that they will not reverse the collection and that I will have to deal with the collection agency directly.

When I signed the contract with Bally's, of which I never received a copy, I was mislead to believe that I could cancel at anytime after the first year, even though it was a 3-year contract. The membership agent was fraudulently misleading. I did as I was told by the membership customer service. I acted in good faith and sent them payment in full to bring my account current and yet I was sent to collection before the due date. The people at Alliance One are rude and trying to use bulling tactics (Jason/Loron). Still they continue to call. Bally's says there is nothing they will do to help me, and Alliance One won't stop harassing me until they get money that isn't owed. I hope you can help me! Alliance One is killing my credit. They are dinging me every month that I don't pay them for my contract, even though I am current with my monthly payments to Bally's. Bally's lack of help and cooperation combined with the alarming threats from Alliance One are making me lose sleep every night. I am finding it harder to stay alert and concentrate at work due to the lack of sleep.

I had signed an agreement as a buyer for a gym membership for myself, a friend and my mom in February. My mom wanted to cancel and Bally's contract stated that I can cancel the agreement within 5 days excluding Sundays and Holidays before midnight. I cancelled exactly on the 5th business day by faxing in a cancellation letter. A few days later someone from customer service department sent me an email and said that my cancellation was denied because it was not within the 5 days. My mom's agreement started on February 12, 2010 and I faxed in a cancellation letter on February 19, 2010. That is 5 days excluding Sunday and Monday because of President's Day. I spoke with a district manger Connie from Bally Total Fitness and she spoke with someone from corporate. They told me if I faxed in my contract and showed them that my agreement started on the 12 of February, then they will take care of it. Because in their computer it shows that my agreement started on the 11th. So I faxed in the agreement expecting them to take care of this issue. I got an email again and they said they denied my cancellation because I did not fax in my cancellation letter. Which I already did in my first fax and the manager told me that they did receive it.

They are giving me the run around because Luke: the store manager who signed me up isn't returning my phone calls. Connie is at different gyms and there's no contact number for her. I have done my part in the cancellation and they are not in the agreement to do their part. I have been getting charged for the last 2 months and they will still not cancel my mom's membership. Then my friend and I are wanting to get out of our memberships because we feel like we were scammed and they had lied to us.

During our sign up, Luke said that there was no problem to cancel and if we wanted to cancel, then we can give them a 60-day notice and we would be cancelled with no problems. I asked if there was a contract he said no, what we are signing up for is a 1 year commitment plan but if I didn't want to commit anymore, give them a 60-day notice. Since Luke has not returned any of my phone calls, I spoke with Bobby, who also works with Luke at the gym, and he said there is no contract and asked when I signed up. I said in February 2010 and he told me it's a commitment plan and that I may give them a 60-day notice and I may be cancelled.

I spoke with Sasha this morning from customer service department so I can cancel our memberships and now they are saying we are in a contract and the only way we can cancel is if we died or had a medical problem, moved and there is no bally within 25 mile radius. I don't know what to do. Bally Total Fitness has not been doing their part. Please help! Funds have been taken out that should not be because I have done my part of the cancellation for my mom. I have a headache dealing with this company because they have lied. My friend and mom are not paying me to cover their part because they are taking what Luke has said and that they are able to cancel. So now I'm stuck paying for 3 people and I do not have the funds to do that.

We can't seem to cancel the membership. We visited the local physical center to cancel. They said they can't cancel. We called the toll-free number (800-638-1343) and they made an exception to cancel it over the phone (March 26, 2010). I also sent them a written letter couple of days after the call by postal mail to ensure that it gets cancelled. They are denying that they have received any letter from us so far (April 12, 2010). I have been charged about $186 since I enrolled on December 23, 2009, even though I should have only been charged for 3 months. 3 times $32/month plus $26 one time processing fee plus one last month ($32) of April to account for 30-days advance notice requirementit's a total of $154. They are refusing to refund back extra $32 they have charged to my credit card and saying that my first month of payment was for 6 days (December 23 to December 28).

This resulted to:

3. General frustration and a constant feeling of being ripped off and the fact that there are hundreds of such complaints against them online and still nothing has been done against them yet.

I signed a 3 year contract on March 9, 2007. My contract expired March 9, 2010. My contract states that I must give 30 days notice prior to the expiration of my contract or it would go month to month. I sent a certified letter to Bally's Total Fitness on January 21, 2010 requesting that my contract be cancelled March 9th. The monthly payment was taken out of my account March 9th 2010 and again April 9th 2010. I contacted Bally's and they informed me that I sent the certified letter too soon. I had to give them exactly 30 days notice, not 29 not 31 and since I gave them over 30 days notice, my account automatically went to month to month. If I want to cancel my month to month, I need to send another registered letter giving them another 30 days notice (4 months extra pay than they had on the contract). Now I have to go to the bank, cancel my debit card and dispute the two months that they took out of my account illegally. Is this not illegal?

I have really been enjoying the facilities at the Willow Grove area in Philly. I just have one problem. Their shower area, pool area and sauna are not being kept clean. Is there a way the problem can be addressed?

I was so insulted yesterday (March 30, 2010 at 2:30 pm) by what appeared to be the manager at Bally's on Clark and Diversey, Chicago, IL. My friend, a gym member for over two years, has been telling me for the last few months about this unlimited 7 day pass for a friend/guest. We kept talking about it, and finally I decided to check out the gym.

I liked it from the beginning, but I'm not the kind of person who makes a decision right away. I know I want to work out, but choosing my venue is not a mere simple choice; it may be for other people, not me. I went to the gym three times, each time for less than an hour. On my fourth visit, the manager began to ask me all these questions in a sort of rude manner.

He asked me, "Are you interested, or are you just taking advantage of the pass?" I said, "Both". It was the truth. He told that my attitude was all wrong. Then he decided, on my fifth day of my 7 day pass, that I could only come back if I wanted to pay. In other words, he made me feel like a criminal, as if I had forced my way there. The only reason why I was there was because I was invited by the gym. If the gym cannot handle a 7 day pass, then they shouldn't invite people to it.

After 5 days at the gym, I was convinced I should work out, but at a different gym. I went to work, and humorously told all my co-workers about my horrible experience at this gym. Now, every time I walk by, I will not think about my first really good days, but only about my last day, when I was treated with such little respect. I do not usually write letters of complaint. I work on customer service, and because of that, I am very understandable when people are not performing at their best. However, I do not stand for meanness or aggressiveness. That is how I was treated at Bally's. I left the gym humiliated.

I stopped my account Feb. 21 2008. They have been billing me for my wife for two years after I stopped. I made my call and they said it would be about a week I will see $416 that shouldn't have been taken out of my account.

I complained to the CEO of Bally's reg an employee at their Fullerton, CA facility. The employee was obnoxious and tried to assert authority he did not have by citing a rule that did not exist, ordering me to wrap a towel around me when moving in the locker room. The manager defended his employee but when I asked for a rule stating the above, he could not show me any such rule and said he was new to the facility and did not know where the rules were lying.

Two weeks after my complaint to the CEO, I noticed one day an employee, wearing gym gear, was hovering around me in the exercise area, without exercising himself. Then the employee who had been complained about, came into the bathroom, saw me and left. After dressing up, when I went out to my car, I found my Compaq Presario laptop and my organizer containing my store credit cards and DMV documents in my glove compartment gone. It was the first theft I had ever had in my 40 years of driving a car.

Bally's management has failed to respond to my three letters, other than a Director of Security calling me on the phone to say I should have no hesitation in going to any of Bally's facilities in my area (Orange county, California). The man is sitting three thousand miles away, trying to reassure me my property and person is safe now. He would not discuss any aspect of any investigation, despite my calling him once and leaving a message. I don't think they are too eager to admit to their employee stealing a customer's laptop on company time, while the customer was trapped in the bathroom which is about as bizarre as it gets.

I have three letters in this regard I would like to send to you to give you the full picture, including details of what has happened till now. Please give me a mailing address to which I can send copies of this correspondence. Thank you.

Bally's pulled out of Utah last year and since that time, I have been trying to find a live person to speak with to find out if they have plans on returning to Salt Lake City in the near future. They keep sending me renewal bills as we were lifetime members and before I renew I would like to know their plans, all I can find is automated phone numbers.

Me and my wife signed a 3-year contract. Our contract was up at the end of October of 2009, so I thought that was that. I joined a new gym. My wife tells me Bally's is still taking money out. So I call and call over and over; it says the wait is longer than 15 minutes and hangs up. Finally I get through and they tell me just write a letter and it's done with. My wife sends a letter and they still take money out. I talk to my bank and they file a complaint. Bally's still takes money out. This is 5 months and they have been taking 20 for me and 20 for my wife. Looking online I found that they will still take money out until they send a letter back to you. I don't know what to do. Please help. $200 off my time spent calling Ballys. If I close my account, we will get bad credit.

A sales rep visited my office to offer discounted memberships to Bally's where I was unsure about signing up. I completed a partial membership application and explained that I wasn't sure about the enrollment tier (individual/family) and for how long I should sign up for. The sales rep was helping many others and I left for lunch. When I returned, the sales rep was gone so I called her and explained that I wasn't interested at that time.

Several months later, I began to see automatic deductions from my bank account and called my sales rep. She referred me to the physical location of the gym, they referred me to corporate who referred me back to my sales rep. Upon speaking to my first customer service, I learned that I had allegedly signed a three year contract.

I wrote two letters to the corporate headquarters regarding what I consider an unauthorized account and each time I would follow up, they never seemed to have my dispute on file. I canceled my credit card and began to receive daily phone calls regarding a balance due. Each time I would explain to the collections department my situation and they stated they would make notes in the system and that I should contact corporate again.

After 11 months, I finally reached customer service manager who also stated there was no dispute on file so I emailed her a copy of all my correspondence. Over the next three months I was told that a copy of my signed contract was being mailed to me, which I have yet to receive. When I contacted the customer service team to find out if my signatures were verified, each time they didn't have record of my dispute. My account was now in collections and affecting my credit score.

I contacted customer service nearly 14 months later to have closure and requested that the adverse credit report be removed until the case is closed. They stated that they did see a dispute on file and that my credit report would be reversed once corporate had reviewed my signatures. In the meantime, they explained that because of my seriously past due balance, my credit was in further jeopardy and if I brought my account current and the case was found to be unauthorized that I would receive reimbursement and my credit would be cleared. So, I agreed to make the full payment due (I was in the process of buying a home).

Interestingly, all activity ceased on my account and when I called back in to find out where my copy of the contract was, the only answer customer service could provide was that corporate was looking in to and for me to give them a few more weeks as these things take time. This is where the story ends. I do not have a copy of my contract, my credit report shows a very adverse report from Bally's and no one in the company can provide me any resolution. The adverse report on all three credit reporting agencies has caused me to receive a higher interest on my home and my cars over the past fourteen months resulting in upwards of $17,000 to date. This financial impact will continue to increase month over month for the next 10 years.

I am currently a membership of Bally Total Fitness. I have been making all my monthly payment on time, every month as an excellent customer. I called the corporate office today to notify them that I will be cancelling my membership and Gloriela was very uncooperative, rude and refused provide me information in order to have this membership cancelled. I am totally aware of my rights and I know I can cancel the membership if this is a justified reason. I asked to speak with a supervisor, she refused as well. I am totally disappointed and I want to resolve this issue as soon as possible; otherwise, I will be taking this matter to the next level. It is the principal that matters in this situation. Thanks. Your prompt response is expected a.s.a.p.! I have been trying to cancel since January and no one seems to provide me with the right information. That's why I am submitting this complaint soliciting your immediate attention.

I moved from CA to MN for work over a year ago and had to find a new gym because mine was no longer within reach. With my job, I move often and therefore have been a member of a handful of gyms, including 24 hour Fitness, Golds Gym, Fitness Elite and Anytime Fitness. None of which I have ever had a single issue with. I joined Bally upon my move and was active in three of their facilities in MN as well as Southern CA multiple times per week.

It didn't take long to realize all their facilities are beyond run down and the class instructors (spin class to be specific) was a joke! The instructors came to class late, didn't look like trainers and the equipment was outdated and in need of maintenance. I decided this gym was not worth the money and contacted Bally to cancel. I paid close to $400 to cut my account off for the remainder of the contract and cancelled it for good. I was told this was done.

As time went by every month, I continued to receive bills from Bally reading "amount overdue." They called from unknown numbers multiple times a day to collect money. When I tried to reach them, they played their game of, "Oh yes, your account is closed." And yet the bills kept coming and phone calls continued. It has now been over a year as I continue receiving the bills and now have Bally on my credit report for delinquency.

They won't be getting away with this scam as I will ensure of that; however, I hope the word gets out that no person should have anything to do with Bally. I have been told that many health clubs are the same; however from my experience with health clubs for more than 10 years and many different facilities, no health club I have known has ever given me a problem, except Bally. My advice: Go somewhere else.

On 2/8/2010, I told Kevin ** (general manager), that there were no toilet seat cover in women's restroom. Then he said, "You women are dirty!" There will be no more paper for you! He said that to me and my friend. I told my husband about that. The next day my husband and I went to the fitness center to confront the general manager to file a complaint. He said, "Give me your membership card, and you better leave the club right now or I'll call the police to cuff you in jail!" I refused to give him my membership card, and we left. On 2/9/10, I called the main office, and filed a complaint. The customer service told me that my contract is still good, I can go to the club any time, and he can't take my card. The customer service suggested to avoid him or go to another location. So, I continued go to the club.

On 3/5/10, while I was working out, he came to me and asked me to leave without any reason. I refused to leave. I told him that my contract is still good. He called the police, and the police escorted me out to the front desk. I asked the police what the reason is. The police told me that the general manager told them that my membership expired. Then I gave my card to the police to check my contract. The computer showed that my membership is still good until 2011. The police asked me to go home and file a complaint. I called customer service and filed a complaint. The customer service told me the same thing," go to another location." I was harassed by the general manager. Bally didn't solve the problem and let the employee continue to harass the customer. I was embarrassed when I was escorted by the police. I don't disturb anybody. There is no reason why I have to go to another location, which is farther to my house. They have no right. They took my money and refuse the services. They treated customers like criminals. They disrespect customer's complaints. All I want is go to the gym without harassment. If they don't want business, they can send me a cancellation letter and all my refund without any cancellation fee. The only option is that I cancel the contract, and they may charge a cancellation fee.

I was with Bally's for a while and when my contract was over, I stopped going. Well, after some time, a collection's agency called me saying Bally's sold them "my contract" and they told me I owe them money. I called Bally's corporate office and they told me my account was paid in full. When the collections agency called me, I asked them what was the last four digits of the social listed in their collections and it wasn't my last four but they still want me to pay it because it has the same name and date of birth.

Anyone can get a date of birth and address but not a social. The thing I don't understand is why this collections is showing up in my credit report. How can it be if they don't have my social? Someone is doing fraud in Bally's. Maybe a staff member did it, i have no idea. There is more members with my same first and last name and it has different addresses where I never lived before. Bally's and the collections agency has put me through hell for some time now. I can't get have this in my credit history. It needs to be removed from my history because it's ruining my life. I can't get approved for some things I really need because of this collections agency. I hope you can put an end to all this and put my credit history back on track. Thank you for reviewing my claim.

I sent a letter to the corporate office expressing my wishes to cancel membership. My debit card was drawn on. I sent another letter, and on March 3, 2010, my debit card is once again drawn on. I want to cancel the membership, and this is a really shabby way to get an extra $70 some out of people! I am unemployed and don't go to your gym any longer, yet you are still drawing from my account! I can join the ** place online, but cannot seem to cancel my membership even as you ask me to follow process!

As fate would have it, I did end up breaking the thigh master. I must not have inserted the ring properly. At any regard, LaQuisha came running up to me with a note pad and bashed me across the face, "I told you not to break nothing," she said sounding more like a diesel locomotive than a customer support rep.

We have been without hot water for months at the Mission Valley club. No one seems to know or even care. Once again, this morning I had to take a cold shower. What is the problem and when will it be solved? This is unacceptable. Why don't you have a complaint number or e-mail for your clubs?

I have been deployed since September 2009, which I spoke with the cancellation Department about the cancellation of my membership. They instructed me to send in a copy of my orders with my membership number annotated on them. I did this and I have heard nothing from them until now. They are still trying to process my account for payments which the account they are trying to use that I no longer have because I am deployed. I have prepared another company of my orders to send to them as a result behind this matter. They are now asking me for a 50.00 relocation fee which I was never asked for before because I am deployed.

I have not checked my credit report to see where this has been posted to my credit report but they have threatened to send this to another agency for collection. I am really disappointed that they are not trying to resolve this issue as I have spoken with them in this matter before. If the matter was not handled the way it was suppose to be handled the initial time, I submitted all the paperwork to them, why has it taken them until now to try to harrass me about payments. I am really stressing over the fact that they are trying to squander money out of me for services they know are not available to me overseas.

In the summer of 2009, I went with a cousin to a Bally which was located in Phila, Pa. on Aramingo St. I like the place and my cousin goes there too, so I signed a contract with the club which was $80 down and $34.99 a month and I can cancel when I want. But then I lost my job and I couldn't afford to pay for it anymore. So I spoke to some one there about canceling my membership but was told I had to call the main office, which I did. But I couldn't get through the first 5 or 6 tries "due to the high volume of calls, we can't take your call at the moment, please call back later". So when I finally did get through, I told the representative my situation and she said I do fit the criteria for cancellation but what if they let me go for free for a month to see if I can get another job or lower my payment each month. I told her I appreciate it but don't know when and if I can find a job. After about what seems like 30 minutes, she tells me, "I'm sorry but we don't take cancellation over the phone; you would have to send it to us in writing." I asked for the address to which I should send my letter of cancellation. A few days later, I sent my letter. I didn't receive a reply from Bally's so I thought it was a done deal. But then I notice on my credit card bill that they was still charging me and it's Feb. 23, 2010. The only reason I didn't notice this was my wife usually sends out the bills. Now I have to contact Bally's again. I also have to call my credict card company also to deal with the the last 3 month of being billed. I don't have a job and can barely afford my house and monthly bills. I'm really trying hard to get by with my wife and son. It's hard enough to get by without such a company that we all think is a reputable company which is nationwide, to scam us.

On August 22, 2009, I sent a letter to Bally at the above address canceling my membership (no. **) with 30 days notice as their contract required. Fees were automatically deducted from my checking account through 10-1-2009. On 10-5-2009, I received confirmation from Bally that the request to not renew my membership had been received. On 11-26-2009, I received a past due membership fee notice for $36.00 plus the fee for the current month for a total of $54.00. On 12-10-2009, I sent Bally another letter to the above address with a copy of my initial letter, their confirmation of cancellation, and the past due bill, requesting they straighten out the problem and confirm that they had not reported a past due amount on my credit report. On 12-22-2009, I received confirmation that Bally had received this information and that again they noted that my membership had been cancelled.

On 2-22-2010, I received another past due notice, which indicated that they would forward this to a credit department and I now owed them $108.00. I have called the 866-402-2559 inquiry number numerous times, but there is no way to actually speak with an account representative. I have e-mailed this complaint to their attention at their "Contact Us" site, again, with no response.

I was thinking about joining, so I dropped by yesterday. Tommy, a manager, told me I needed to sign a 3-year contract before he could show me around the facility. I said, 'How can I sign up before touring the club? That's not logical.'

He got angry and started mumbling something in tongues. Then I could have sworn he was coming on to me in a gay type of way. I asked if I could speak with someone else and he said, 'Oh you're all ready to get nasty nasty.' At that point, I just left the building. I felt economically and sexually violated. I almost vomited in the parking lot from the shame.

It's Saturday morning and it's now 8:45 am and there's a lot of people outside the gym waiting because it's closed. Everybody is mad. it's cold. People are outside the door and others in their cars. I had to pay a babysitter to come work out today and I just joined days ago. I want to cancel now. I lost money -gas money, babysitter money, and time.

The Encino, CA Bally Total Fitness club fired its entire maintenance staff and now there's trash everywhere, especially the men's locker room. At least a dozen lockers have broken or missing doors that no one is repairing. It took three months to fix a blow dryer on the wall. They aren't replacing worn out floor pads. The paper dispenser in the men's toilet fell off so now there's a huge hole in the wall between stalls, so you get to watch the guy next to you take a **. The place stinks like a sewer and here's an amazing thing. The staff can't change channels on the monitors on weekends because they're not allowed access to the remote control. I'm getting out of this dive, this *** at the end of this year's contract.

In February 2007, I took advantage of an internet special that Ballys was running. $19 would allow me to work out for a one month trial period, no strings attached. I was interested in Ballys as it was close to home, but I wanted to test out the facility before signing any sort of contract. As soon as I told the receptionist at the desk why I was there, she called a sales rep (I believe his name was Scott) to the front of the gym and he herded me into an office. He then laid out all of the options for membership, and I sat politely and listened to them all. I told him eventually that I really was not in the position to make any long-term commitment right then and there. I just wanted the trial and then I'd decide. He said that was fine, but asked that if I could make up my contract, what would I put in it? I should've known then and there to walk out.

He returned shortly. I signed for the charge, then was handed a piece of paper with type so light that I could barely see it was there. He told me to sign on the signature line he was pointing to. I asked what it was, and he said just a waiver that excused Ballys from any responsibility if I were to be injured in the facility. I signed, thinking that this was totally normal and we went for our tour.

I left the gym that night and came back only one time subsequently with my daughter. I was not happy with sanitary conditions at the facility and I did not feel comfortable leaving my daughter in the child care room. I never went back again, for this reason and coupled with the fact that I had been offered a position with a new company whose building had a gym on premises.

About a month later I noticed a charge on my bank statement from Ballys for $40. I called the gym and was referred to the corporate office. A rep told me that the charge was the first installment of my 36-month membership! I told her that she was mistaken, I had never signed any contract, let alone a 3yr contract. She insisted I had. I told her that the only thing I signed was a medical waiver and she literally laughed at me and said, "Well, maybe next time you should actually read before signing something." I realized then what happened. The sales rep prepared a 3yr contract had me sign the back of it because of the near-illegible typeface on that part of the paperwork. Had I simply turned the papers over, I would have known. I just never thought that something like this would actually happen with a "reputable" business. What a joke.

I am nearing the end of my contract. I waited on hold with the corporate office for one hour and 14 minutes to be able to speak with a "cancellation specialist." I was given an address to send a confirmation of cancellation letter. I was also told to send the letter as close to the deadline as possible so that my letter would not be lost. Yeah. Nice try. I sent it certified this afternoon and it has almost a month to get there. Let them just try and say that I didn't send it.

I became a member of Bally's Total Fitness in 2008, not knowing what I was walking into. After being a member for a year, I found out that the company I was working for was going to close so the first step for me was to cut my expenses. I called the membership center to get some help. Every time I called, I could never get a hold of a person. I would be put on hold for 15 to 20 minutes and then the phone would disconnect. At this time, I sent several emails asking to be contacted. Finally, I got really tired and sent an email, threatening to call Better Business Bureau and then I received a letter in the mail, stating that I did not meet the requirements for a cancellation. About 2 months back, I lost my ATM card which was linked to my account at Bally's and when they were unable to charge, that is when they started calling me endlessly. I, then received an email stating that if I did not call them by February 25th, my account will be sent to collections. I called them and was put on hold for 30 minutes and when someone came on the line, all they wanted to do was get my account information so that they could charge my account again. I have never in my life dealt with anything so ridiculous before.

On December 2009, I bought a 6-month membership with a free 6-month membership. I bought the package on December 8. We walked up to the desk to redeem our new memberships and were quickly introduced to how things operate at Bally. The front desk girl was sitting on the desk with her feet up, texting. She did not look up to acknowledge us but merely made a gesture for us to scan our membership cards ourselves. I then said we are new members and need cards. This is when I meet Scott. I began by explain that my wallet was stolen and that I did not have the card I used originally to purchase the membership but it was already paid for. When I presented Scott with my new card, he immediately said he could not accept it. The card was a temporary card until my new one arrived. I explained that the number, expiration date, security code and everything else are the same that will be printed on my official card.

My concern here was that he told me that if I did not put a card on file at that location by January 3, I would not be able to redeem my free guest membership. He completely refused to try to rug that card because he said, "It doesn't always work." This led me to believe that it works sometimes and is worth a shot. He just utterly refused to even attempt. What he did do was write us a guest pass. I finally got my official card on January 1. I would have worked out that day but I had to leave for Detroit by 2 pm. I quickly ran out to Bally around noon and I was met at the front desk by Joe. Joe ran my card said everything was good, I just needed to sign something and everything would be all set. I just had to sign a paper. I could not sign the paper because Scott was printing out something at that time. Joe went to talk to Scott and asked if he could do an interrupt function on the print job so I could sign my contract. Scott advised Joe to tell me to wait a moment. I happily waited but began to grow impatient as the minutes passed by.

I had walked in at noon and the time then was 12:30. I had been waiting a long time for a print job. I asked Joe if there was anything he could do. Joe sincerely apologized and went back to the office to ask Scott if I could get my contract printed out. Joe came back and told me that Scott had advised me to wait. I had been waiting for 45 minutes at that point. I told Joe that I had a guest membership that had to be redeemed by the 3rd. I told Joe that I was heading out of town and did not want to lose a chance at that guest membership. I also explained that I was beginning to run late as the time was 1 pm and I had to leave at 2 pm. I asked him since I was there and I had two other prior occasions wherein I attempted to redeem my 6-month membership but I was refused, that if it was acceptable for me to come back on the day of my I return and sign the contract that was scheduled to print sometime that day. I was told that would be fine.

I returned on December 10. I walked in, Joe was there and I asked if I could redeem my membership and get my card. Joe explained he would have to get a manager to do my free guest membership because it was above his rank level to authorize it. Joe went and got Scott. Scott came over, dismissed Joe when he attempted to explain the situation and immediately said, "This is expired and I cannot honor it." I explained that I knew it was expired but that I had made several attempts to redeem it but was never able to due to the fact that some condition was not able to be met up to Scott's satisfaction so I was unable to redeem it. Scott began to argue with me when I tried to tell him about the four times I had been in December and how each time I tried to redeem my card. I then told Scott about the conversation Joe and I had and how that day I was in a hurry and was trying to meet an important deadline. This is when Scott uttered the words that changed the whole course of conversation, "I am a busy man and I have a lot of things to do. I can't control your schedule. If you couldn't make it in to redeem that thing (guest membership), that has nothing to do with me." This is when I saw him red.

I had been there several times. I had attempted to redeem several times. I had been rejected several times. I had never caused a problem. I had paid for my membership. So the question is why I was being treated like a man who walked in and disrespected his club. Scott showed me no respect from the very beginning. After this experience, I came home, called and spoke to a customer service representative. I said that I would like to speak with a supervisor and I was told by the agent he could most likely help me. I spoke with him and explained I wanted to file a complaint against Scott, file a testimonial for Joe and get my 6-month guest membership I was supposed to receive with my purchase. I spent over an hour on the phone explaining everything to the agent. The agent said a complaint will be filed, I would be sent a pass for me to work out at the Mt. Prospect, IL. I tried to call several days last week but I was always told that there were no available spots in the call queue, I am to try back later and I was hung up on.

On January 27, I was able to reach a supervisor, Angel, and explained my situation. He stated that there were no records of a call and no record of a request for a 6-month guest membership. I then asked how I could get one and he explained the offer has expired and I could not redeem it. I am looking for a simple resolution. I want my money back and I think I am initialed to it.

I want to get out of my 3 yr. contract with Bally Total Fitness. This gym and many other locations have very poor cleanliness. Even before the budget cuts, the location above especially has always been a disgusting environment. The place always smells bad above the normal gym smell. Bathroom is beyond filthy and the last time I was there to work out, they had the staff cleaning. Let's face it, they don't give a ** about doing a good job.

The gym for the longest time needed repairs on the roof because of leaks and we would have to work out under those conditions without seeing any attempt to repair because they couldn't afford it. Meanwhile, we paid the consequences having to deal with these problems. The equipment on the premise are constantly breaking down. These are filthy conditions and people working out were no better because they don't wipe after themselves and because they had no cleaning service, the conditions would just get worse and worse. The pool always looks questionable as well as jacuzzi. I could never work up the courage to go in them for fear that I would end up with something. The parking situation is a joke and people many times than not would literally triple park and cause havoc for others to pass and you always had to keep your eyes peeled for the cracks on the ground to avoid breaking your ankle or falling in general.

The place is just a complete disaster and disgusting, a filthy and hazardous environment. I've tried to go to other locations trying to see if they were any better to find out they're all the same in some way or the other and this is why I haven't gone to work out at a Bally location since about February or March of last year. I need to see if you can help me get out of my 3 yr. contract so that I can join another gym closer to my house and with a much cleaner environment to work out in. When I've tried to get out of my contract, they would always tell me that they couldn't. Please help!

I renewed my membership then found out they moved out of town without notifying me. I tried to reach corporate but there is no number where anyone answers the phone. It is all prompts to automated answers. I need a copy of my statement to submit to my health insurance for reimbursement and can not get any prompt for this including accounting. It is all for increasing membership etc. I can not get reimbursement from my health provider if I can't have access to a customer service person. I cannot believe that this company is allowed to give you a constant runaround on phone prompts with any access to a person.

I contacted Bally Corporate Office once I lost my job due to RIF and requested that my membership be modified or cancelled because I had lost my income, I was told no. After several phone calls later, I finally spoke with a customer service rep that was very understanding and willing to give me information on how to go about this and got a reply in writing. I did in fact write an email to BTF and I did in fact get a reply which was "the contract cannot be broken". BTF just filed for forgiveness and protection under bankruptcy but they are not willing to work with me for the same consideration. I say to Bally Total Fitness, shame on you.

I agreed to a 3-year contract that would end on 11/2009. When I called in November to verify that the contract would be over and that was the last month they would be charging my account for, I was lied to. The customer service department said the contract ended in December, so I would still see one more withdraw from my account in December. I complained as I knew the contract was from November 2006-November 2009 only, but they still took money from my account in December. I called once more in December and was assured there would be no more withdraws as that had been the last month. However, once more in January I see another withdraw from my account. I called to complain today, 1/19/10. I was on hold for 1 hour and 20 minutes, after their recording promised a 15-minute hold!

I spoke with Renee in customer service and was told that the contract is a renewable contract, which meant they can renew it automatically as they did in December. I asked why nobody informed me when I called in November and again in December, but of course she had no answer. She said the only way I can stop the contract is in writing. I asked for a copy of the original contract to verify what she told me and she said it would be a $10 fee. They did not want to waive the fee as courtesy and did not want to refund my money either. They assumed that I wanted to renew because I did not tell them otherwise in writing.

This is ridiculous! Consumers should not be tricked into scams like this. It should be illegal for a company to be able to withdraw money from your account without a clear authorization. I never agreed to continue with them after November 09 and they should not be allowed to trick customer in this way. Their customer service reps are not helpful and their waiting times are ridiculous. It's as if they design their system so it would be impossible to reach them or to get straight answers, this way customers will give up on canceling their contracts. I was not expecting money to be withdrawn from my account in January; therefore, I now don't have enough in the bank for a bill I wanted to pay. It's upsetting and stressful that in hard economic times like this big companies such as this one are still taking advantage of consumers.

I had contract with them for three years from June 2006 until June 2009. After the contract got expired, they kept on chagrin me. It was okay with me as long as I keep service with them since they lowered the price from $39 to $19 a month. I tried to get into the gym and they said that I can't get in because my membership is expired and that I need to call for refund and they got me another contract for $24.99.

My other contract was expired so is my credit card. When I signed the new contract, they used my credit card from the new one to charge my old one. I called for refund but they said that I can't get refund because my old is going to get expired by the end of 2009 but at the gym they said it was expired. So I filed a dispute charge with Capital One. They refunded 4 out of 5 for my old credit card and then they refunded 2 of the $24.99 from the new one. So both of them were cancelled due to a charge dispute with my credit card.

I never thought that the easy way to get your money back is by filing a charge dispute with your credit card. Now I don't have any membership with them. If you have the same problem that just do a charge dispute. They know if your membership is expired or not. They just like to play games so they can steal your money.

I've learned a lot from them not to trust Bally anymore. They are thieves. No one would wanted to call for refund and when I told them that I cancelled my membership, they called right away just to make me keep it. They all play games. The best thing that I did is the charge dispute. I got most of the money except one payment of $19 which is okay with me. Hopefully this would help anyone.

I stopped by to try to set up a 30 day membership. I was told I could be accommodated and to leave my number and the manager would call me. He never did so I called several days later. I explained that I wanted 30 days and would turn it in to month if I could get my carpool arranged. They said that was possible, and I set up an appointment to come in. When I did so, the manager wasn't in and everyone was busy and was told I had to wait. I could not wait long and indicated that I had set an appointment. No one could tell me when the manager would return from lunch. I left my number and no one called back. I called again speaking to the district manager and was told that they couldn't accommodate my request, and wanted me to sign up for something long term (1 year). I indicated that I had been mislead and had now wasted a great deal of time and they had just lost a customer.

After reading the other complaints regarding Bally Total Fitness I must say I guess I was one of the lucky ones. I had no problems cancelling my month to month membership as Crystal, the very nice girl at the front desk, was very informative and provided everything I needed to know to cancel if I was displeased, including the address to send a letter to and even down to the day I needed to cancel to avoid further charges. She is now no longer with the company, leaving the rest of the staff a bunch of inconsiderate idiots.

My biggest complaint, however, is with the horrible treatment my child received in their filthy kid's club. After 2 hours of crawling around on the disgusting floor, my daughter's knees were completely black and her pants were ruined and she also had a poopy diaper when I picked her up. The so-called kid's club manager, who was obviously stoned, spent more time caring for her own child (which I'm told wasn't even allowed to be there as Ballys has a policy that the employees are not allowed to bring their own children to work with them) and barely even looked at my child. She was rude when I complained about my daughter's clothing and when I informed her my daughter needed to be changed, she then shrugged her shoulders and said, "Well, I paged you." It's a gym and people wear headphones when they workout--how am I supposed to hear her page? They didn't make one attempt to come and get me so that I could change my child.

After speaking to some other members, I was informed that their kids used to love the kid's club when Crystal (the same girl that signed me up) worked in there and that since she changed to front desk their children refused to use the kid's club. So you're telling me that you had one good all-around employee people liked and you let her go? She left to have a baby but was not returning due to the fact that she had never been offered a promotion. I am absolutely disgusted with the way my child was treated in this facility. As I said this "manager" was so stoned she could barely speak straight and smelled so badly of marijuana that on my last day of taking her, I simply smelled her and turned around and walked out. They really let these people watch children?

This club for the last 5 years has had an ongoing problem with maintaining a hot, clean whirlpool. I have spoken to at least 15 different "management" folks, including several "corporate" individuals. Same old song and dance, always an excuse. Terrible maintenance staff and apathetic management. condescending attitudes. Just go around and around. I have tolerated filth at times and erratic showersI just shower at home. But the whirlpool is ridiculous. If you just want exercise equipment, this is a good club. But if you are looking for a well run, clean, professionally maintained facility, don't go near this place. I wonder what the health department would do if they saw how filthy locker room is at times. Several times I've had skin reactions from the poorly maintained chemicals in whirlpool. They sometimes need to use too much chlorine to offset the less than optimal temperatures.

This Bally is the worst gym I have ever worked out at. The gym is disgustingly dirty and the personal trainers are complete jerks. All complaints are ignored and the gym has went through 3 managers in one year from what I was told. The personal trainers just throw management under the bus when it comes to complaints. The bathrooms are always wet on the floor and when you try to wash your hands, the wet counter always soaks into your clothing if you touch any part of the counter. I can't stress enough how bad the trainers are and how a couple of them talk trash about other members. They ignore any suggestions or questions you may have about the gym, blaming everything on management. Do not get a membership at this gym, try another gym for sure!

I am writing you to complain about Bally Total Fitness. I have been a member since 2003 at the Chicago location at 1303 E. 47th Street and have pretty much been satisfied until recently. I have had several personal trainers for the past three years, but it seems after six to eight months they leave. This time, I had one of the best trainers at the facility since March of 2009 and have purchased numerous training sessions. Come December of 2009, he informs me they fired him and I still have five training sessions left. I called them to inform them that I have had enough. There are no trainers left that I want to workout with. I submitted my letter and a copy of the original contract dated Oct. 15, 2009 as requested.

I received a letter dated Dec. 21, 2009 from them saying my request for a refund of the remaining sessions is denied and to contact them. I have tried and tried, but can never get through all of a sudden. I had previously informed them I do not want another trainer and I want monies returned from the unused sessions. They seem to think this is a joke or something, but I am not laughing. I want my monies returned and they cannot make me get another trainer that is not the caliber that I had. Also I was on a regimen with this trainer that was successfully working for me. The gym at this location is becoming a pit with management that has no clue in what their doing. The gym is so empty due to the recent firing of this trainer and another one is leaving as I am writing this letter. There is a lot of jealously because their clients like them and they make coming to the gym a pleasure.

Back to the matter at hand, I spoke to my trainer, Marcus; he informed me I have up to seven months to get a refund for unused training sessions, so I don't know what the problem is. There is no reason or explanation stated in the two line letter I received from Bally's in Norwalk it just says denied. If I need to get an attorney, I will do so. Because if there are not any suitable trainers at the gym that I want to workout with, you cannot force someone because you want to keep my money. I want a refund for my remaining sessions now. It's just stressful what they are doing at this Bally's location in Chicago. They are very unprofessional and it shows because the gym is always empty now.

i have a membership wit bally's open on 7/17/1989 for $437.00 for 24 months and after only pay $96.00 to renue por year. they have raise the price for the last 15 years, up to $156.00. they ask for the contack. after i founded i call and when to, there corp. office and still they won't honor this contract on my memebership #0005679493006. i have over charge for many years please, put a stop and honor the contract

add more they had nothing to do with my contract but they had to be listed to get a card. They explain to me the 60 day trial to cancel contract.

you can make up the amount of times for your additional person and you can cancel in the 60 days. Please review my history i did what was required of me and my add on since he left to PR.

i was being taken out my bank account for Ballys and amount of $60 something and one of $40 something.

by the club representative, explain that is not correct and they could no do anything about it.

but you can understand my frustation when every conversation can not be in writting , but was verbally and now it stand for nothing in my case and i am held responsible for this debt that i attempt to get fixed.This is what its boiled down to this balance now is in my credit impacting me.

that it was not valid, it required i go 16 times i did and went additonl for my add on to cover requirements cancel within 60 days which i went personally to write it and have it fax that same day. What else did you want me to do? this is what was been instructed to me! Does this make any sense why would i set up 2 account in one same day. WHy can i not reach Brandon?

to get out there so the public can know how you all handle some of your members. Your sales peole do a wonderful job to keep you in contract and not keep you as member. Thank you for your attention. Please respond.

I want to cancel my mothly contract with Bally since a long time but it is unusual that staff of bally total fitness are really rude and never give correct info. One of the staff from bally from Lake osekowo is so mean and i really doesnot like to go to gym and i have no any words for him.

My father has been a member at Bally's/Jack La Lanne for over 25yrs. He went to renew his membership and was told that since his membership had lapsed he wouldn't be allowed the same membership. My father in the past has allowed lapses in his membership never faced this problem. He would just pay what was due and be renewed.

I feel that they are doing this because my fathers yearly dues were so low. $54. They are trying to force him to resign into a new and different contract, which will up what he was paying and terminate his old contract.

My membership expired in May 2009 - I have received notices from Bally's that state those exact words. On those same notices are new terms such as $205.00 per year to join again for a year. When I got to the club to take advantage of this written offer, I was told that I owed $190.00 which was "PAST DUE" in order to get that deal. I have received nothing in writing about this.

I asked for a copy of my contract, manager said, "no". I explained that I had a notice in my hand with the terms above, Manager never asked to see it. I then indicated that I would call corporate to work it out and that I would work out tonight, Manager's response, "no way." When my boyfriend walked up the manager said, "who are you to her?" He explained that we live together and that I bought him his membership! He is on my membership! The manager then told me that he could give me a deal to join for $300.00 on my boyfriend's membership. I said, No that is not what I was offered.

I again asked if I could work out as a guest on my boyfriend's membership, he said, "no." I explained to him that this would be my first work out after a knee injury in May and that I couldn't believe he wouldn't let me work out - particularly given my long term membership, written notice, etc. He again said, "no - that's corporate policy." Here's the funny part, this morning I was able to go on line and get a seven day pass. Last night the manager refused with a ice cold "no way" to let me work out but in less than one minute this morning I had a 7 day pass in my hand. It is unfortunate that Bally's customer service is so bad.

I will never join another Bally's and was very sad, hurt and disappointed that I was treated so badly. These words may not capture how cocky and rude the manager was. I told the manager that I was shocked at his lack of judgment, use of discretion and poor managerial intellingence. As we left, the manager was yelling at us and winking, "have a nice evening."

We are both professionals and I have written to the corporate office about this. At no time did the manager make any customer service type statements, like I am sorry that this is a corporate policy - here's a number of who to call for questions. The manager never offered to take us into his office. He just treated us like thugs who don't pay their bills. This all happened at the front desk.

The damage is to Bally's - I am now searching for a new club to join. Actually Bally's competition has nicer facilities. Also, I am a lawyer and will be reporting this to the State of Michigan attorney general and the Better Business Bureau. Bally is the one that will suffer economic consequences since I will not renew my membership -which I have had off and on for nearly 30 years.

My boyfriend will not renew his membership when it expires. I will not purchase a one-year Bally's membership for my neice for Christmas (something I have done in the past), and if anyone asks me about my experience with this club, I will share how I was treated after 30 years of being a member, and after trying to return after an injury that had me disabled for months.

I with my family, joined the Ballys Fishers Landing club 8/10/2009. The reason I chose this club over any other was its location, as my Husband is a 100% disabled Vietnam Veteran and any further distance would be a hardship for our family as well we have 2 young children to consider, and my own physical limitations. I explained all of this to the Representative "Tommy" before we joined, we joined in Good Faith, and there was no mention, warning or disclosure of a potential closure of that site.

On September 13, 2009 I sent a request for cancellation of my membership and for refund of unused dues and enrollment fees. I have not received a response to this letter and found that dues are still being deducted from my bank account. I called customer service 10/16/09 and spoke with Sheneesa.

1. She found noted on my account that my request for cancellation had been denied. She told me the reason for this denial was that there still are Clubs in my area.

2. Sheneesa stated, it was noted on the account that a $75.00 cancellation fee applies to cancel the contract early if there is another Ballys in the area.

Again I have not been sent any notification of this decision or for the requested funds to cancel. I had trusted my request had been honored, (meanwhile collected dues in excess of the $75.00 early cancellation fee have been and continue to be deducted from my checking account.) I asked Sheneesa, "Where the notice was sent of their decision to deny my request?" She responded "Well it's noted on your account." I asked "How would I know what was noted on my account without coorespondence from them in the first place, how can I respond to their decisions if I am not informed of them. She deffered me to the Administrative Office in Norwalk, Ca by which can only be contacted by mail (the same Office that did not respond to me in the first place. There has been no effort by Ballys to contact me regarding the closure, no contact from Ballys regarding my cancellation request.

Conversely my phone calls to Ballys customer service are sidelined to You must write to the Norwalk office. The Customer Service center is not authorized or trained for these kinds of issues ie: cancellations, stopping EFT withdrawals, etc...

My contract has been up some time ago, and I am currently deployed overseas, because I am in the military. Bally's refuses to stop charging me a monthly fee. My dad has called them, and they lied to him saying my contract has been cancelled, but my account still gets charged. I am still being charged $19 per month for a fee that is illegal!

I had called and cancelled my service. They stopped charging my card for two month. Now after two month I get a paper invoice with threat that I havent paid. I called them, and they informed my service was never cancelled. Exactly same thing happened to all my friends who went there, and cancelled the service at some point of time. This means that their cancellation system is horrible due to which we consumer have to suffer getting unwanted calls from collection agency.

Below is my letter sent to Bally's Total Fitness Correspondance dept. This is what I was told to do and I have received no reponse from them, please help me:

I am writing, in response, to the information received from one of your customer service representatives, while conducting an inquiry into the status of my complaint, that my membership has been revoked.

Observing that several club members were headed for the locker rooms to change and knowing I would not need to change, I told this person that I would just do my last 10 pushups and leave. She replied again in a very unprofessional and expletive filled manner to leave. Ignoring her and beginning my pushups she approached me very aggressively, started to yell at me and said I was in violation and demanded my card. Knowing I did nothing to precipitate this, I refused. This enraged her. She then continued her verbal barrage and said, well i'm taking your car keys, which were on the floor at my feet. She then proceeded to take my keys and begin to walk away. My car keys are my own personal property and no one has a right to "take them". Thus I justifiably grabbed them from her. She then proceeded to kick, scratch and punch me, defending myself I pushed her back, at that point a male cleaning person grabbed me from behind, I broke free. Who I now know as the manager, a short Caucasian woman, clearly not knowing what happened, ran up and told me to leave or I will call the police, I left. As soon as I left I contacted the local Saddlebrook precinct, and filed a complaint with them. They told me to file a complaint with Ballys Corporate before pursuing anything further with them.

After numerous inquiries into the status of my complaint, with out a simple phone call or e-mail, I was told that my membership was revoked on November 27th

No due process, no inquiry into my complaint, obviously no review of the video surveillance.

This is very disappointing. As a major corporate organization, I would think the process would be more balanced then this.

Thus, I expect a proper full investigation or at least a response into my complaint and a full restoration of my account, as well as disciplinary action against bally employees involved in this incident

I expect a response in 10 days of the receipt of this letter, which I will send certified. After 10 days of non compliance, I will take this process further with my attorney and the local Saddlebrook precinct..

I hope Bally's will take this incident seriously and look at both sides of the events, especially when the surveillance video is a hard factual document of what happened.

I expect a timely response.

On Novenber 25, 2009 at approximately seven in the evening i enter ballys union city presented my personal identification because i have lost my bally membership card. after being talked to rudely about not having the card and insulted i was throw out without provacation. i have never missed a payment in years of my contact how can they just throw me out?

I was a good member of Bally, on Monthly contract, paid on time direct from my bank. I signed up my wife for what I thought was the same deal, advertised at $18 per month, actually invoiced $20.02. We decided to quit Bally for a number of reasons... we don't go there and are seniors and my wife has back issues.

Incredibly difficult to quit... you can't just go to gym and quit. It involves letters to head office, etc. all done and I received letter saying accounts closed. But I get letters demanding money or they will ding my credit. They say, by a phone message that involved a 25 minute wait and $10 charge, that I had signed my wife to a three year contract and would need to pay $276 to early close it. This was news to me as I thought she had signed for the same contract as me when we, together, opened the account. I see now that it was a ploy by an employee and they just say, now, we should have read the contract in full.

also, at the time we opened the account it was a $18 offer but they charged me $20.02. They are judge, jury and arbitrator and say that my reasons for quitting are not good enough so pay up. I don't want to pay them but they are threatening to ruin my credit. We are hard pressed financially and I don't see why I have to pay Bally a cent for a closed account that we will never use. They are being very aggressive and high minded.

My daughter's membership was about to expire. The renewal rate was triple the cost that is advertised and announced everyday at the Bally Center. Customer service refused to renew at the "announced" rate and would only allow renewal at triple the price. I was instructed to send a letter cancelling the contract after it expired. I did so, but weeks later received a monthly bill.

Reaching Bally by telephone is impossible, only prerecorded message prompts with excessive wait times no matter when you call. Club management says they can do nothing. It is obvious to me they make it intentionally difficult to cancel a contract after it expires, and they continue to send a bill denying they got your mail cancellation and not reaching a representative.

I FEEL LIKE THERE IS NO ON TO HELP U WORK OUT and my first day there i could just get one person to help me with the equipment and i had to stop a perwson that was workin out how do u do this and how does it work how can u help to make sure that i doin it right. i never seen the lockers room and i just didnt get on help and i woulder y should i be here and i dont have no help and my now my muscle are tight i call up there and they say u just stated then they put u on hold and when they do that u hear them conversation about something diferent so i just dont see my self gettin the help i need. i just would like to get my money back and try something eles that will benifit me better.

I went to workout like I normally do at Bally's on the morning of Saturday Nov. 7,2009,around 10am. I went in the club and handed my card to the girl at the desk to scan it because the machines were broke again and I couldn't scan my card myself. Afer she scanned it, she went on to inform me I had a past due of $39.74 on my account and I wouldn't be able to use the gym with that being outstanding and asked me bluntly "am I gonna make that payment today"?

My first thought was "wow", yes I got behind on my payment due to losing my job and being out of work but I have been a member of Bally's since 2006 and my membership will be completed in March 2010 and I have never, ever been late on any payments to them. I wasn't able to make my payment right then and told her, and the next thing I know the "Personal Trainer" guy comes up to the desk and the girl explains what's going on, now please note there are other members coming in and out of the gym as I'm bascially being "scolding and embarrassed" right there at the front desk.

The personal trainer guy asks me the same question am I making my payment today? I told him the same thing I wasn't able to make it right now, and he goes on and tells me "well WE gotta have a payment this week" right in front of everyone and said I wouldn't be able to use the club, so after being absolutely humilated I just told the girl I wanted my card back and left.

First of all, I had already spoken to customer service at Ballys on the phone and they were well aware of my situation and it was NEVER mentioned I would not be able to utilize the club, and then for the two workers to act like a bunch of "collection agent workers" was rude and totally unprofessional!

I'm honestly not shocked as I see all the thousands and thousands of complaints against BALLY'S long before I even joined. The point to this is they could've taken me aside or to an office and privately told me whatever information necessary not in front of other customers and then to be so rude is uncalled for. I of course like eveyone else am cancelling my membership and have told numerous associates about this event and will never recommend Ballys to anyone!

I am scared and feel that we can catch any disease by the woman and men walking around naked in the public locker rooms, I informed a worker and she said we post a sign, no one is following the rules for lewdness in public, and sitting on benches can pass any disease especially, in these times it is very unsanitary and the rules need to be enforced more, I spoke to the men and they said the same is happening in their locker rooms ..people are walking around totally **** and dripping soak and wet and i almost slip because the floor was soak and wet. I again had to go and get a worker to mop up before i break my neck.this is totally disrespectful and unsanitary and not healthy for anyone that maybe sick. they should make all clients sign a waiver of rules so they have read and acknowledge the rules, because the rules posted are not in sight and was never informed to me and i see no one else.

The worst service any business can provide. I signed a 2 year contract with bally but they tricked me by adding another year. I hardly used the gym. Though it was my mistake not to read the contract before I signed. My contract is almost over I tried calling them for two days to tell them not to renew my membership,I could not get to a representative every time I pressed the cancel button, Finally when I pressed the renew membership and payment option I was immediately connected to a representative. This is not right. He told me I had to write a letter to them by post to cancel my membership. How can one renew a membership by phone but has to write a letter to cancel. This is rediculous. I will never go anywhere near Bally. I stopped going to Bally because it was not clean and smelled really bad. Its digusting

me and my cousin sign contract for 3 years and payment were set up to come out of my checking account. my cousin finds out she was with child after our first or second time going and she move to a city that was 35 miles away . i repeatedly called and faxed bally's proof that she was no longer in the area and to cancel her membership after getting no where i closed my bank account. 6months later they garnished me for 2 memberships which totaled 1900+$ ok but durning the time of the garnishment spoke to c/s which stated when pd in full I would be aloud to come back to the gym. as of july 2009 this was pd in full ( for 2 memberships) i call them now they tell me i need to buy another membership to come back to the gym. i went to this gym 2 times and they got 1900+$ out of me for 2 memberships and i can't finish the membership that i have that ends on may 2010 i have to be scammed into paying for another one . this is not right someone

Contact with health club expired in 2003. Bally's has been accessing my checking acct and illegally withdrawing funds. I am sending certified letter to them to cease and desist, but do not know who else to file this complaint with-this is a complete violation and unethical business practice

I asked the Bally's rep behind the main desk, let's call him John Doe, if he could turn one of the eight TVsfrom the same football game to CNN. This is a request I've been forced to make the last four weekends because one of the managers, let's call him Joe Doe, always turns all of the TVs to the exact same game. I did not enter the office without knocking and I waited until they said I could come in. John gave the standard linehat the TVs were all programed by some invisible man that was not there at the time. I pointed out that Joe Doe had just changed the station from the news right in front of me.

John said I would have to call the main office. I said that eventually someone was going to sue over sex discrimination. I was not offensive. I was very polite. He accused me of threatening him and kicked me out. I left without even arguing with the guy. I did not touch him. I was three feet from him. I did not argue with him because I did not want to be attacked by him. I walked back in to get corroboration from Joe Doe that John Doe had evicted me. Joe Doe tried to engage me in conversation, saying that the men in the gym had all asked him to have all of the TVs on the same sports channel. I told him that I was not there to discuss that, but to see if John Doe would repeat that he was kicking me out in front of Joe Doe. He did. Joe Doe asked for my membership number. I said I would give it to Bally's corporate when I called. Then, he threatened me, saying that he would get my name and address when Bally's got my complaint and forwarded it to him.

I was very upset. Remember I'm almost 55 and have been attending the gym for over 20 years. I went to a neighboring store and called the police. The officer from the Inglewood Police Department came and went inside. He came out and said that Joe Doe and John Doe said they did not threaten me. They accused me of making a disturbance. When I got back, I immediately e-mailed Bally's. By that time, I was in great pain because Joe Doe and John Doe had interrupted the therapy I needed to do to prevent my back pain. They kicked me out before I could finish my therapy. I called back to ask if they would refrain from erasing the tape before I could talk to Bally's corporate since that would prove my case. John Doe said the tapes would not be erased until next Sunday. I have been a member for over 20 years. I am 55.

Four months ago I filled out an application and had my last interview, they collected all my certificates for fitness and CPR & AED and after all this and getting my canceled check for employment, they tell me to wait two more months, I think they playing with me because I am 59 year old trainer, I think because of my age they are discriminating.

On 9/4/2009, The Bally's near my house closed. I sent a cancellation request via registered mail (I still have the stub certifying they got it). The contract states that if there is no club within 10 miles of the previous location, they must cancel. The closest club is 10.2 miles. I'm set up for auto-payment through american express but the payments are still being made. They are virtually impossible to speak to and the service is deplorable. $49.00/month

i've called the customer serv center. told the representative that i was going thr a hard financial period. she said if you pay 25.00 dollars you'll be able to get off this contract. she charge my credit card and then i got the surprise that what she offer wasnt valid. so for that month i was charge 35.00 for the month plus 25.00 that went to satisfy my contract balance. i have to cut in other areas to be able to pay for this. i asked for a refund, denied, and have to keep paying this until contract is exp

The only problem is that facility does not have a whirlpool, Sauna and pool which I need right now. Please could someone take some action to get the fitness center cleaned and in usefull condition so that we can use the facility without getting sick from germs. iF THERE IS SOME WHERE ELSE WHERE i CAN FILE A COMPLAINT PLEASE E-MAIL ME THE INFORMATION

Bally would have cancel my membership when I requested it back on February 26, 2009 I will not be in this predicament right now. It is a shame the way this company is taking food from people's table.