Gold's Gym Reviews

The employee at the gym told me that I would be charged for another month if I cancelled at the gym. He continued to tell me that if I called customer service they would cancel my subscription immediately. So since I had already paid for the next two weeks there was no sense of urgency on my part to contact customer service due to me packing up and leaving the area. So I called customer service a week and a half later to cancel and the representative had told me that I would have to pay another month after I cancel. I advised her that "I was told by an employee at the gym that if I called customer service that you could cancel my subscription immediately."

She told me that was incorrect and just asked me if I still wanted to cancel. So now I'm on the hook for another month after I just paid my dues 2 weeks ago. Instead of being understanding she just said "sorry for the incorrect information but unfortunately it would still take 30 days from today." So a month later after called customer service I looked at my account today and noticed that Gold's gym charged me 40 dollars due to my 14 fee and 26 dollar fee due to a declined transaction because I had received a new debit card and they didn't have it on file. So I called today to explain the situation and how if I was provided with the correct information initially provided by your company I wouldn't have even been receiving these charges.

I also explained to them since they have my number of file why didn't someone just call me to resolve this issue before charging me an additional 26 dollars. They told me that as a member it is my job to keep up my financial institution information with them. That's when I explained to them that I'm no longer a member because I cancelled. They representative just asked if there was something that she could help me with. I will never go back to Gold's gym and FYI if you are in the area and looking for a great gym to workout at they are building an LA fitness right down the street with better equipment, better prices and you only get charged 1 time a month. Hope this helps anyone that was hesitant about joining Gold's. I mean what good is customer service if they aren't there to help the customer?

We were now in August 2015 about one month after my original request. I went online as directed and completed the information to request a cancellation of my membership. Then I called Gold's Gym's customer service line to make sure that my request was received. I was told it was and that it would take 30 days for the cancellation to take effect. We are now at the end of October and Gold's Gym is still charging my credit card. When I went online to check on my cancellation request, I got the following message: "Your account is already scheduled for cancellation. If you have questions about your cancellation request, please contact our Customer Care Department at 1-866-465-3775."

The Gold's Gym's staff was all eager to take my money when I was joining the gym, but now that I'd like to stop my membership, I am being given the runaround. On their contract, Gold's Gym makes no mention of the special site you are supposed to use to cancel your membership, which I believe gives them time to collect more fees from customer.

We called the corporate office. Because they had the wrong address they refused to assist us. They referred us back to the opening branch. We called and spoke to our operations manager. Told her everything and she told us that she had only recently taken over and cannot help us but it was so wrong and she was so sorry. She cancelled the account and told us that we had to speak to corporate. We called the department for billing and asked for their manager. We were told 2 times by two employees that we had to talk with them first, then that we were not allowed to hold for a manager. We informed them we had multiple auto drafts pending that would accumulate fees at the bank and it was time sensitive! They offered to transfer to a voicemail or hang up. Those are our options. I asked for the complaint department of corporate to which another employee responded "I am corporate" and hung up on us. I called again 4 times. No call back.

My 6 month pregnant wife with twins who cannot be stressed was in tears having a panic attack which almost caused her to be hospitalized. Our rent is due and multiple charges are pending which will incur fees. We provided the employee name and date of cancellation and we're berated and finally told if we didn't have a confirmation code (that was never provided) from their employee who was let go for obvious reasons that we were still under contract (they told us 2 year but now somehow it was 4 with no paperwork to prove so) and continue to be charged. We have since closed the account and reported the charges and will be taking them to small claims court and counter suing for damages and pain and suffering if this is not fixed. I am disgusted and appalled.

This is such bull that the manager from Security Widefield Gold's Gym came out of his own pocket to reimburse us for being over billed and customer service not changing cards when we asked them to. I will not recommend this gym to anyone and I will tell everyone I can that Gold's Gym is a scam and their customer service is crap. They will Rob you blind and there is nothing you can do about it. DON'T SIGN UP AT GOLD'S GYM!!!

It seems every time I meet her demand, 2 months later I get notice it wasn't enough. Meanwhile 6 months of dues have accrued and what she is asking for doesn't exist. What I was told I needed was provided quickly and promptly. I do not have to provide any more personal detail - that is an infringement on my civil liberties. I do not have to be labeled permanently disabled to have a long term injury that excludes me from the gym. I undergo care with my physical therapist. Also not a doctor.

I tried to find out what happened, and the general manager @ Spartanburg West, (BRAD **) became very argumentative, wouldn't allow me to speak, disrespectful, & confrontational about the 14-visit travel pass stating "...that's all he was gonna talk about with me..." After asking if it was common practice to misinform & mislead prospective/members about this franchise fiasco regarding membership & gym policies practiced on the corporate level, he stated "...no, we don't tell members about the difference..."

GOLD'S GYM. If you're going to employ asinine individuals such as BRAD ** to represent your company even as a franchise leader, that says a lot about your company. Even if a prospective member choose to "sign a contract," everything including the member's full privileges, expectations, and description of locations and any rules that are followed differently or may not apply to each location should be laid out in that said contract! This one experience has soured your company's name & practices and I will be making sure that people know what they're up against. I will be making a formal complaint with your corporate office regarding Mr. **'s customer service and lack of managerial skills!!!

Nobody called me back. Finally I got in touch with a manager named Joe who actually did call me back but I was at work. When I called them back they told me he wasn't there but my niece's membership would be canceled on the 25th of September. I thought that was the end of it until I recently got a phone call from ABC financial from Canada saying my niece's account was still active and that it was overdue. When I called Gold's Gym back, they once again said they would have to do some more research on it and call me back. Of course they never did.

At that point I realized that everything they had told me had been a lie. Nobody ever did any research or called me back. They just used these stall tactics to get more money out of me. To sign an underage girl up to a two-year membership on somebody else's credit card without that person's consent or her parents' consent is not just morally wrong but probably illegal. I think their only goal is to get as much money as they can no matter what they have to do to get it. Do not ever give Gold's Gym in Arlington Ma. your credit card. They cannot be trusted.

Where things get complicated is when internal influences, influence someone that was suppose to be my friend and try to create a sexual harassment case when there is none. I go to the gym, I work out 45 minutes, I say hello, I leave. That's it. The manager approaching me was ignorant of the situation and I blew him off. Perhaps egos were hurt, and employee staff felt the urge to create drama where there was none. Perhaps because everyone was bored, there was no sales and staff needed something to do. Kind of like 5 cops that show up for a speeding ticket. I was asked my name, I did not give it, I was angry, and I left.

The following day I called to speak directly to Brenna **. All I wanted to do was vent and tell my side of the story. A professional sales manager would have at least heard my side of the story and then said something like "Perhaps you should workout at another Gold's Gym for a few weeks, you can't come back till this issue is resolved", demanded I make an apology to my friend. A professional resolution could have been done. I never received a call back. This shows lack of leadership, influence and efficiency. All of the qualities a manager should have. Brenna ** showed none of those.

I did not a receive a phone call, so I figured maybe it's water under the bridge. I was mad, okay I'll forgive the guy, just stay out of my way. I don't need to speak to the front desk girl again. Fine, I am still a paying customer. Money still came out of my bank account for the month of August, 2015. I still have the legal right to workout there, and if there was a major issue; I would have received a phone call. I go to the gym, scan my card. I'm allowed in.. I see the gym manager "Hey did you talk to Brenna?" I respond "No I didn't, we're good" and I walk towards the treadmill. About 2 minutes into starting.. "Hey you can't workout here? Brenna ** revoked your membership." I said "Really, she didn't call me back. That was very unprofessional of her." A staff member walks over and 2 security guards...... I said "Do you really need 2 security guards?"

Brenna ** and West Covina staff executed a decision without my side of the story. They created an issue where there was none, and it is because of this I feel management staff at West Covina Gold's Gym should be removed for incompetence and tarnishing the Gold's Gym brand name. They did not hear my side of the story, yet they executed a removal of membership without written consent. A simple phone call from staff "Drew I just wanted to inform you we revoked your membership, for the following reasons" would have least gave them some sort of legal protection.

I hope West Covina gym reaps the consequences and finally gets shut down like they belong. From a business perspective, they are overly staffed, the gym is empty, rent is high and it makes absolutely no sense for the gym to be running to begin with. It should be in the best interest of Gold's Gym Corporate to shut down Gold's Gym West Covina Completely. West Covina staff has abused the Gold's Gym name, treats their customers with disrespect and I hope to prosecute Brenna ** and staff to the fullest extent of the law.

Two weeks later, they pulled more $ from my account. I stopped in, taking the lease agreement with me, again, and they apologized because they couldn't find the other one. They made a copy and brought my original back to me. Two weeks went by again they took $ from my account. I called and talked to Andrew **, who was the Asst Mgr on August 12th. He said he remembered me coming in and said that he had sent in my paperwork to their corporate office and that he would have it all taken of that afternoon.

Today is August 25th and again, they took $ from my account, so I called the corporate office. I got a girl who was willing to help, but she was snippety. After we went around for about 10 minutes, she agreed to give a refund for July 24th, August 10th and August 24th because they didn't receive my paperwork, until July 10th. Well, if they received the paperwork on July 10th, why did they continue to steal money from my account??? It was unauthorized. They gave me a confirmation #, but refused to email me a confirmation. AND the check would be mailed to my son at his new address. Laughable, totally laughable.

When I contacted corporate the following day, to my surprise I was informed that not only were they unable to honor my request for stop payment, but that the account would take 30 days to cycle and I could be looking at an additional monthly charge on top of the one happening that exact day! I advised the rep my account was set up to be withdrawn on a bi-weekly basis so 1 two-week cycle should provide sufficient time for the request to be processed. Rep again stated no, their system is set up to automatically execute charges and cannot be modified so they were unable to honor my request. I was stunned. I asked how that was possible, let alone legal to be charged 2 extra months after my account was closed and the rep proceeded to advise that it's legal since it was written in my contract and that I should read it. PLEASE READ YOUR CONTRACT! It might be perfectly legal, but horribly unethical.

I assumed it was indeed done and moved on. After THREE payments posted to my card, I called in this weekend was told by a front desk person that she nor Billing had any record in the system nor could locate any paperwork requesting cancellation. IT WAS AS THOUGH IT NEVER HAPPENED. I asked to speak to a manager and was told no managers work after 6 p.m. This was around 7 p.m. I would need to speak with the new manager Ms. King but she was gone for the day. So, today I went back in and met with Ms. King. She showed me in their system where there was a note that I came in on July 26th to cancel but the paperwork is no longer on site. If it exists, Billing would have it. She tried to call a guy in Billing several times while I was there and could not reach the one and only person that handles all billing and has no backup. He never takes vacations she said.

I asked for the name and number of her manager. She refused to give me any name or number. She said she is the highest person I can talk to. She told me there is no corporate complaint number nor anyone else to call. She also informed me that if the paperwork I completed cannot be found, I am not allowed to cancel the membership now since my daughter was the primary member on the contract and I was the legal guardian who signed for her when she was a minor. Today, because she turned 18 on July 28th, she has to be the one to cancel even though the credit card is mine. She is the only one who can either change the payment or cancel the membership.

Legally, I can be forced to continue to pay the auto renewing contract for 36 months unless my 18 year old daughter allows either different payment arrangements to be made or she cancels it. By the way, if they cannot locate my cancellation form, which I was not given a copy of, when she cancels, they will stick me for another 30 day notice and take two more payments plus the annual "club enhancement fee". How can this be legal? I can be forced to pay for and not have the authority to cancel an auto-renewable contract? I would love to talk to an attorney who is willing to challenge this.

Gold's Gym responded back to me saying they couldn't cancel because my lease was not signed. I did sign the lease electronically. It is extremely annoying and difficult to have to deal with this company. They are putting road block everywhere. They know I will give them what they want but quite frankly, they are NOT customer friendly and they are horrible about lingering to get one more payment. Absurd, ridiculous and so unprofessional.

These people and their company does not care about customer service or customer loyalty. This is why 24-hour gym are spreading everywhere, since they have a better policy. The class is tiny, and they hardly offer any classes. We signed up with them not knowing about the insane cancellation fees. We did not know we would be moving so soon so we had signed up for a year. Their staff is rude. They only care about money. The guy told us it's business and everyone had cancellation fee, but many companies care about their customer and provide some money back after looking into the matter of why they are cancelling.

I told him my family also owns businesses and we know thousands of people who do, but business usually gives the money back for customer loyalty and to make their clients happy. Customers come first for many business. Someone needs to take Gold's gym to court. There are thousands of complaints against them. I'm sure there could be more. People have made pages against how they are unfair, including their ex workers. Red flag for this business. Nobody should sign up for a year or more contract with them. Some people have complained how they got injured and were unable to break the contract. Complete heartless corporation.

When we were clear that I was going to try the gym for two months without the fees at $60 a month, he printed the contract. For some reason, the two months added up to $168.98. When I pointed out, he said it was an error, and I would be charged $119.98. I asked for an initialed copy of the contract, and paid the $119.98 up front. My credit card was $59.99 one month later, and then the month after that. When I called and reminded them that I had signed up only for 2 months, the representative I spoke with told me to call their billing company in Arkansas, who would take care of the error. After 45 minutes on the phone with ABC Financial, who insisted that I had an open month-to-month contract that would not be cancelled until I sent in a written notice, one of their supervisors told me that she had cancelled my account, but that she could not help with the amount they had billed me after my initial payment.

When I called Gold's back, the representative told me that their manager wasn't there, but to call back Monday and they would certainly be able to take care of it. When I called Monday, I was told that the manager was on vacation for the next week. Steve got on the phone, and when I told he that the last Gold's representative I had spoken to said that they would be able to help me, he said it was "probably someone who knew nothing about anything." I wish I had read the other reviews before I set foot in this gym.

On April 2, I went in and completed the form to terminated that day (I was no longer under any contract/membership agreement). When I asked them, as advised by my bank, to get the form signed they told me they don't sign it as the manager would probably want to call me to try to "save" me as a customer (yet they wouldn't speak to me in persons when I tried this.) My bank advised me to stop the automatic deductions because Gold's has a habit of continuing to charge customers.

I waited approximately two weeks to see if anyone attempted to contact me and no-one did. April 28, I received a letter from Gold's collection department saying they had attempted ago contact me and needed payment. My phone number was on the cancellation form and I had no calls or messages. I responded by mail confirming my cancellation, the poor customer service, and included a copy of the cancellation form. Instead of a response I received three more letters from the collections department requesting payment of $57.46 (my monthly dues were $32+) they would refer the matter to a 3rd party collections company. I again sent my response with a copy of their letter). I received a letter dated July 13, from First Credit Services. I will respond to them with the same information but I will not be paying monies I don't owe.

Problem solved.

Original Review: July 13, 2015

The owner who is also a personal trainer is rude and aggressive. He is also the absolute worst trainer I have ever personally seen... not to mention the rest of his personal training staff is terrible. Save your money! The Kid's Club is great and the Kid's Club staff are excellent; our girls love it there. For the most part the rest of the staff is friendly, but don't mistake friendly for skilled or knowledgeable or worth the $. Today I got kicked out of the gym for dropping a weight... Which I could understand, however there is an entire section of the gym dedicated to CrossFit which includes bumper plates; where trainers and members Olympic lift, powerlift and CrossFit... dropping weights is an all the time occurrence... But that is not the issue; because not dropping the weights or doing your best to not drop weights is a completely acceptable request. The issue is the way that the trainer/owner handled it.

What I didn't like was the fact that the "owner" did it by getting in my face and cussing at me... Which he claims is his right and completely acceptable... When I asked him not to speak to me that way... And asked him what his problem with me was... His feelings were hurt and he "kicked" me and my family out of the gym. I have literally lifted at the gym every morning at 5 am for 9 months... The same way I lift everyday... And this is the first time he has said a word to me... not even hello... He has an inferiority complex and thinks that ruling by an iron fist is acceptable. My wife and I have been paying dues at this gym for 2 years... we workout 7 days a week. It's sad cause the facilities are great but the leadership is terrible.

I've approached the manager several times about the awards ceremony and he is evasive. And he just returned from vacationing in Hawaii for a week. And I'm beginning to think that maybe the prize money I and possibly a few others, might have paid for his vacation. I pray I'm wrong.. But for this thing to be stretched out so long and the gym manager repeatedly telling me he hasn't gotten word on when they're going to have the awards ceremony.. Well, I'll say I'm beginning to smell a rat..

I have been a member of one fitness center or another for over 12 years and would still belong to Gold's if I hadn't moved. In the circumstance, when I move again, I will not consider Gold's Gym. The rest of the fitness center industry may be similarly difficult to cancel with but I'm willing to give other fitness centers an opportunity to earn my business since Gold's has lost that opportunity.

I called and asked and no one told me anything was wrong with my account. Now, on top of the extra 3 months I've paid, I have to re-submit a request and pay the remainder of the month plus their standard 30-day billing. NEVER again will I deal with Gold's Gym and luckily I put this on my American Express and they will deal with them directly. Don't enter into a contract with these people.

I had a beautiful Gym open up at my workplace and I stopped going to the Gold's gym. But I had to continue paying till end of my 2 year term. Well since I signed up something for 2 years, I was stuck and paying for something I could not use. There was no way of cancelling. Anyway what ticked me off what after 2 years, I put in cancellation but I still have to pay for 30 days. Anyway my card they had in file for 2 years expired and they could not process my payment. I got a call and I went and gave them my new card. They processed the amount.

No-one said anything that day. But the day they see I have asked for cancellation, someone calls me and says I have to pay a 25$ late fee for a 16$ payment they could not process. It was not a bounced check, the card was refused. Someone found that I have cancelled and decided to extort me for whatever they can before I leave. After the baby, my wife joined a gym right across the road for half the price, 24 hr fitness. It has much better equipment, cleaner bathrooms and a pool and sauna. No contract. The only way this facility can compete is lure people into contract and rip them off whenever they can. I hope some innocent first-timer like me will read this review and save their trip to this hellhole.

Then again after getting charged for the month of October 2014, which I found sometime in mid of October, I called Account Department about Cancellation Note. But they refused to reverse changes for not providing cancellation notice. I also asked for full month of service from mid-October to mid-November, as we never utilized Gym for October. But that request was also bluntly refused by the Account Department person.

In order to close the chapter, we went again & filled up the Cancellation Notice & handed over to Front-Desk receptionist sometime Mid-October. Unfortunately we didn't make photo-copy or asked for any confirmation receipt. Still my membership didn't get cancelled and they are still charging us. When I contacted their Main Office in Texas, which handles Billing, I was told "You can't cancel at local Gym, Send us payment & cancellation notice."

Later after two days I told him I cannot go for it because I cannot afford it, that's it. He never spoke to me after that. Whenever I tried speaking to him or went to him to ask help he gave me weird looks. I felt like I'm begging and helpless beggar who got cheated from an international brand like Gold's. Since then I'm just doing cardio and watching videos on YouTube to learn stuff. I cannot go to any other trainer because the time I go to gym there will not be any trainer available.

It is so frustrating because I spoke to the receptionist before I took a membership and told her I work for UK and I work between 3PM to 3AM so I want someone to help me at initial stages at least for a month or two. She said to me not to worry "We have hell lot of trainers who will always be available to help you out." She never told me we have to take personal trainer after paying for my annual membership. I'm so frustrated at this point of time I wanna use ** at each and every line I'm writing to you but no I don't want readers to read those words. I hope this paragraph make sense and I get a reply back in my email or a call on my mobile number about taking further action.

I understand if they charge you one more billing cycle but why the $200 cancellation fee? Mind you, it's not like I just signed up a month ago or so. It's been a year now. To even put the account on hold, you also need to give them 30 days and they charge you $10/ mo for that time. On top of that, you can only put your account on hold for a few months each year. And what's the logic of having to pay $10 a month to put an account on hold? No other gym ever asked that. Oh and they only allow consecutive months. So no, you can't put your account on hold in December and then in July.

Maybe you'll still be happy with Gold's Gym, if you never ever move or go on vacations or travel much. Or you don't mind paying for something you won't be using while you're away. So, since my family have 2 contracts with Gold's, I have fork out $400 to cancel. So imagine if you signed up more than 2 people. Let's say a family of 4, that's $800. Yikes! I never had so much trouble with a gym! Their policies stink.

I guess they don't want return customers. If they open a Gold's Gym in my area, I'm not going near there. If they had better policies I would have rejoined. But they give me very little reason to. How are we supposed to predict if we ever need to move to an area where there is no Gold's gym? Everyone really needs to read contracts before you sign. Don't go by how friendly they are or what they say. Gold's doesn't exactly inspire loyalty, do they?

When I tried calling Gold's to speak to someone in charge of accounts I was told numerous time on numerous occasions that the manager was not in, try another day. I finally cancelled my credit card and got another only to have a debt collector call me two days ago for $80 dollars. I was livid. I told him I don't understand why my account got sent to collection considering my contract was up, I did exactly what I was told to do with cancellations and why am I being charged after they kept taking money from my card. He got very rude with me and told me "Well maybe if you followed the rules on cancellations and wrote a letter like you were supposed to do we woudln't be calling".

Of course I fired back and told him I was going to go talk to Gold's about this matter before I paid him. I know this is just going to be a huge hassle. I'm extremely disappointed in this company and their customer service. I never once got a letter or explanation for any funds that I owed and why, just got sent straight to collections. Whatever you do, don't ever make a mistake joining this gym.

They then tried to send me to a collection agency with a debt of over two-thousand dollars. I have called the debt collection agency and explained the circumstances and they have closed out the request and re-submitted it back to Gold’s (fitness alliance) for dispute action. I am currently seeking a lawyer. Please contact me if you can provide ANY advice. Thank you.

As a paying customer I should not have to make 4 different calls each time waiting over 30 min to reach someone with no response. They will not give you a higher authority to speak with. Their response - they'll hang up on you and then say "It must have been your phone cutting out!!!" Really Gold's Gym is the worst at customer service. They'll rip you off, overcharge you, and don't care about their paying customers. Oh and good luck with trying to reach a manager. They'll tell you "He is not in today. Call tomorrow," and receive the same response again the next day. Never again Gold's Gym never.

Ironically my membership contract is up in less that 2 months. I am done with this gym. I called to ask how I could cancel as I have read bad reviews about being charged after others have canceled. I was told this woman who answered the phone that I could cancel now but I will still be charged until June. I said that was fine if that's when my contract ends. I told her if I canceled on June 11th when my contract ended, how would that work? She had the nerve to say I would be charged 30 days AND 2 BILLING CYCLES after my contract ended and I cancelled because it takes that long to process.

Excuse me??? That has to be illegal. You can not legally charged someone for a service they are not using and not locked into anymore after your contract is up and you legally cancel your membership in time!!! If I did not ask, I would have been shocked like most people below about continued bills and charges after canceling membership. I WILL LOOK FOR A BETTER GYM. It's not all about the money. It's customer service, bad billing practices, and their "policy" that cheats consumers out of their money.

When I called to cancel, that women told me no such thing. The lady responded by telling me it was noted that she told me that. I went back and forth with this lady and became very upset. I even told her to listen to the recording. I also asked her about refunding my $99 and she told me that expired on 12/31/14. I told her no one ever told me that and the guys at the gym knew me by name and always asked me when and if I was ready to do the one on one. She stated they should have told me that and they have no refund policy for services not taken. This company is a rip off. They will put your fees in early or not on schedule and make up excuses why. DO NOT BECOME A MEMBER.

I went to the gym a few days later asking for him to let him know that I bought a new home gym and will not need the membership. He was not there and I was told he was on vacation. They told me to call back in a few days. I called back again and he was still not there. I saw the charge on my card and tried calling them again and was told he was not in the store. I went to the gym today to find ** but was told that he is no longer with the company. I explained the situation to the new GM but he said there is nothing he can do. He told me to call the 1-800 number and I talked to the customer service representative. I was also turned down and the rep was very rude and says I signed for the 2 year contract. I don't know how this can be escalated but it seems that a lot of people have a problem with them and their service. Gold's Gym should be ashamed of how they are running their business (which is a huge SCAM)!

I'm real tight when it comes to money so I was no, too rich for my blood!! Ok so when the guy realized that I came in under a special my price changed from $221.99 to $121.99 which still included my 11.99 membership fee every two weeks!! I said, "Ok that's a little better. I could swing that!!!" So I went on ahead and paid the first week of my session which was $105! Ok so when I go for my second training session which was the following Friday March 13th I want to make a $30 payment towards my account, the girl tells me that I have to pay $105 and I say, "No no no I don't, I just signed up for PT on the last Friday, somebody put something in wrong!!" She looks up my account, another lady that was there when I signed up said she remember me being put on the special discount!

Said that when the guy that signed me up apparently gave me the wrong quote according to his boss and that the guy was suppose to call and straighten it out!! (Note: took him almost a week to call me about the mess up.) Anyway I went on ahead and paid $30 towards my account, the lady gave me my receipt, wrote on it saying that all I had to pay would be $75 plus my membership fee that was due on the 20th of March! During that following week, I finally received a call from the guy who messed up, he apologizes says he wants to fix it - wants me to continue my sessions. Goes on to say that I was going to two sessions a week for an hour on a one session a week fee! Said he would come out of his pocket for the next 2 months to pay for my other session and could still do the two session a week!!

However on Friday March 20th when my next draft was to come out instead of them taking the $75 plus $11.99 membership fee they took out the whole $221.99!!! I was mad as you know what!!! I get real defensive when it comes to someone jacking up my money! I call the gym - ask to speak with manager, of course he is gone for the day! Call that Saturday, of course he meeting with a client and if I leave my info he will call back!! Guess what.... no call back! I go up there after work around 1 pm... guess what again... he left for the day! I call the guy who screwed everything up, asked for GM number. Called him, no answer, leave msg!! Never calls back, I go up there the following Monday. I wait till he comes in talk to him, of course tries to get more to continue my PT! I kindly decline! He says he has to get clearance from the DM to cancel that service!!

That gets cleared, but wait what about my refund! DM want to give me my refund says that I'm still utilizing the service, I say "No I'm not!!" Keep calling every time - they are either on the phone, or meeting with a client!!! You don't get that much business in a day, trust me when I go there, I observe what they do, and they just walk around doing nothing!!! These jokers are ignoring my calls getting the front desk person to lie for them!! Customer service really sucks!!!

I, myself, have been a victim of their utmost unprofessionalism and milking scheme. Being an old time loyal VIP member, I used to pay only $99 a year. But last year upon my renewal, I was shocked to discover that they messed up my membership and increased it to $299 WITHOUT any explanation except by saying "Everything is different now and It's a management decision". To think that I have friends in other Gold's gym branches who are still paying only $99/year for being a long time loyal VIP member. For me it’s not about the money but rather It's about professionalism and caring for loyal contributing members. I even have to go out of my way to go to Gold's Gym Hollywood to get a valid explanation and they have been professional in giving me time and help immediately in renewing my membership.

Needless to say, If you want to get a Gold's Gym membership in the area and deal only with professional, helpful and honest people then go to the Hollywood location instead. To those who are wondering why I still work out in this gym aside from other Gold's Gym branches, It's because I am a serious lifter who's focused and committed only to my workout and because of proximity reason. The gym itself is not bad but definitely something that cannot be recommended anymore. Most of all, I never get affected by any negative and worthless employees of Gold's Gym Downtown LA. They are garbage who doesn't deserved respect and would be better off treated as they don't exist in this world.

For those of you who are planning to get membership in this branch, I seriously suggest that you first read all the online reviews as all the negative reviews are valid and those that gave positive reviews are usually new and/or seasonal members who has yet to be exposed to the true colors of the current personnel of this branch with special mention to three key people namely: ** (The principal front sales force who thinks highly of himself when he is actually a "nobody"), ** (A manager who literally does nothing except making his own dumb gym rules and walking around to fist bump, hug and flirts with girls) and ** (A manager who's at his best in avoiding and hiding from members when they have concerns or request till nothing gets resolved in the end).

Make no mistake about it, they are all in cahoots to milk everything out of you underneath the friendly atmosphere facade that they will build upon you right from the beginning. Once you're already a member and they're done milking everything out of you then that's the end of it. By the time you have any concerns or request in the future, you will be very lucky to get hold of even just their interest and time for it, and they will just keep you hanging until you get tired of following it up, and it will never be resolved in the end. Discover for yourself, the shameful popularity of these three main people in all the online reviews. They certainly are the pioneers in giving this gym a very bad culture and reputation. Even former employees of this gym who left for another job would attest to this gym's bad culture and reputation. No wonder turnover ratio of employees working in this gym is at its highest these past years.

If you're in the sport of boxing, don't get excited by the boxing ring you will see in the gym because their dumb rule (which was recently enforced by **) is that you can only train by yourself in the ring unless you will pay a Gold's Gym trainer when in fact NO one among their trainers is a boxing instructor. A gym member other than their trainers can hold the mitts for you but that gym member cannot say any word or any instructions. Another dumb rule was "Unless you're working out with a gym member who's related to you then no one is allowed to help, give motivation nor push anyone to their limits in any way" because ** said It is the job only by their trainers in the gym.

All the other online reviews would give you more than enough idea on how horrible this particular gym is in various aspects. Better yet, I challenge you to just go visit this gym personally, CAREFULLY observe everything and see for yourself as you validate all the negative reviews that you have read.

I was told I had to call to cancel. I told them I had done that and I'm not paying for something I was not using. Ok make a long story short, I get a bill from a collection agency. I called them, they say too bad this is what I owe. If I did not pay it was going to go against my credit. I get another bill, broke down. If I was to pay $16.00 a month with all the calls to their hm office they had to know I quit... Collection agency or gold's gym sent me a bill for $80.00 for the 3 months. This is the worse company I have ever dealt with in my life.

Dishonesty - I have no other word to describe a fallen business.

We have been calling and walk-in to Arcadia Gold’s for over 10 times in the month of December 2014. When we called, it's either on hold or asked us to leave a message and they'll get back to us. (Never reply) When we did walk-in, people who can take care of this always not at his desk, even if we had appointments. if we fortunately met an associate/manager, he gave us different promises and then kept us waiting. As time passed by, the gym staff who promised us were all resigned. It seems like they've really high turnover rate.

When I finally met with new general manager Steve (1/7/2015), he denied all promise from other associate and manager. The whole conversion he just kept pointing a sentence on the contract to the extent that they conflict or contradict the written terms of the following form, you may not rely upon any representations by your sales professional, whether oral or in writing. Steve also highlighted the words oral and writing many times. When I questioned his business ethic, he simply told me I won't win on this because he has my signature on the paper. I left furious!

On the same weekend (1/10/2015), me and my bf met with new operation manager Casey. We received partial referral gifts (t-shirt and bags). My bf's contract was re-signed to reduce the monthly rate. My fee on freeze month would be refunded, and I’ll receive a compensate free month when my contract is due.

We thought this was the end of the story until we checked our bank account on early February. Gold's still charged my bf the same price on membership. There's no refund to my account. Also, there's no answer about the referral gifts. We contact Gold's gym Arcadia, the phone either goes on hold or asked us to leave a message. I walk-in to spoke to Casey again, the answer was to wait for their call for a day/ a week. Unsurprisingly, we don't hear anything back. Gold's gym totally ruin my trust of their business, and I just want to end this nightmare ASAP.

Within this free months I never went back after the kids room situation. But then a year later they send me a notice stating that I am being charge for a two year agreement that I never paid and they are going to put a judgment on me for not paying. What ** gym is this. Not to mention in their fine print it does not state that they do that and if you want to cancel you have to write them only. So I not only talked to them but I wrote and still get charged for two years. Wtf. Not to mention in the same paper they said they would let me know of the court decision and not of the court date. Who does that and is this even legal????

I called in to cancel my contract, and they referred me to a third party, ABC Financial. I called the number given to me by Gold's Gym Arcadia staff. The gentleman who answered was at first polite, but as soon as I told him I wanted to cancel my membership, he kept asking me questions as to why I wanted to cancel, thus trying to skirt my initial request of wanting to cancel. I stated that I was not happy and that the business practices of Gold's Gym was predatory, at best. The associate stated he was going to get his supervisor and that I was going to be placed on hold for 2 minutes. I was placed on hold for 8 minutes. He then picked up the phone and quickly hung up. I called right back, spoke with another associate, who then transferred me to a supervisor. She and the 2nd associate were professional and polite. The supervisor was very courteous and explained everything to a "T."

I am still highly dissatisfied with Gold's Gym, however. Reason being, I have to wait to cancel without a fee, and since the day that I can cancel is on the 3rd of March, I have to pay for April as well. I will never go to another Gold's Gym, nor will I ever recommend this establishment either. Pity, because I really loved this facility.

So, about four months ago, wanting to be set with a new gym and not miss our workout routines and knowing that there were several Gold's Gyms in San Antonio, we went to the nearest Gold's Gym in Austin at 801 E. William Cannon Dr. There we signed a contract for a 2 year membership for Maria knowing that the membership advantages would be ready and waiting for her when we moved to San Antonio. I did not add myself to the contract because we were short on cash at the time and I did not know if I was going to have time to workout in San Antonio while getting a new house ready to move into.

We explained our enthusiasm to the manager and congratulated ourselves on our proactive planning. Little did we know how unwise our planning was at the time because 2 weeks later, the sales contract on our house fell through because of foundation problems on our house. At present, we do not know when we will be able to afford to fix the house foundation problem or when we will be able, if ever, to move to San Antonio.

So, knowing we had signed a 2 year contract, we went back to the Gold's Gym in Austin which is 37.92 miles away according to enclosed MapQuest. We explained our dilemma to the girl at front desk and requested release from the contract. She explained that I must call Customer Service in Dallas at the tele. # of 866-465-3775 for such a request.

I called the tele. # in Dallas and talked to a Customer Service Rep who said the contract could only be voided if I were to move more than 25 miles away from the nearest available Gold's Gym. I explained my dilemma that the opposite had occurred and that I had signed up for an intended Gold's Gym location in San Antonio where I was planning to move, but the move never materialized. The Rep seemed sympathetic to my dilemma and seemed to accept that it should make no difference as to whether I moved 25 miles away from a Golds Gym or whether I failed to move more than 25 miles to a Golds Gym so long that there is no Gold's Gym within 25 miles of my address.

At last I thought the situation was remedied and that Gold's Gym was living up to its reputation as a customer friendly organization. Alas, my elation was short lived in that. The Rep came back later and said that he was sorry, but his map showed that my address was within 25 miles of the nearest Gold's Gym which was in Austin??? I don't know what kind of map he was looking at, but Mapquest shows that the nearest Gold's Gym which is in Austin is 37.92 miles from my address here in Wimberley.

So, to preclude Gold's Gym from debiting my credit card, I canceled the card in hopes that someone would recognize my situation and the contract would be voided. However, such was not to be in that I have started receiving letters asking me to visit my local gym and make payment arrangements to recommit to positively change my life.

Today my wife and I visited the “local gym” (37.92 miles away) on E. William Canon Dr. in Austin and again repeated our dilemma and were told that they could do nothing and I needed to again contact Customer Service in Dallas….. At which time my PTSD from combat experiences in Vietnam kicked in and I made a bad scene…. I was asked to leave and then escorted to the door.

Have our country's businesses become so money mad that they do not recognize what is right and just from wrong in their pursuit of the almighty dollar? If Gold's Gym does not prescribe to this direction, then you will nullify the contract and release me from its obligations. In doing so, Gold's Gym will restore my faith in America's businesses and, if I ever move to within 25 miles of a Gold's Gym, I will become a faithful customer.

Otherwise, I will exhibit this in every media available and let the public decide what is right and just. In closing, please pass my apologies to the manager of the local Gold's Gym in Austin for my actions today. Under the circumstances, he did what was necessary.

I was on a month to month basis. I paid the 1st of the month for that month. The last couple of weeks it was pretty sure it was going to close. Everyone was asking each other which gym they were going to join. I never heard anyone say they were going to Golds gym. My friend and I went and joined a church gym. No big deal right? Wrong!!

I noticed a charge for Golds Gym on my debit card account. Asked my wife (who had joined the YMCA) she didn't know. I called Golds gym to find out what was up. The manager who, at best was very condescending. She was very happy to explain how it was not Golds gym we should have a problem with, it was Bodyfit. She told me Bodyfit sold all of our memberships to Golds gym. I did not give consent and was never notified (nor were any of my friends who also belonged to Bodyfit). She said Bodyfit sent a letter to all its members notifying them of the change. I did not receive a letter nor did any of my friends.

I told this manager I had no intention of joining Golds gym and she said "you have now". I demanded a refund and was told absolutely no refund and if you want to cancel the membership you could not do it there, you HAD to go to a website to cancel. She also said they wanted 30 days notice so there would be two monthly payments deducted from my acct before the cancellation took affect. She had this big huge bouncer standing by while I tried to reason with a very unreasonable manager and staff. I left and tried to cancel on the web site which was difficult to manage.

I ended up having to call corporate office to get it canceled. I told that manager I considered this gym a bunch of crooks which is being kind considering what I really think of them. I asked for a copy of the contract they claim to have and they said they don't have them yet. Bodyfit and Golds did this shady transaction because Golds knew they were going to get at least 2 months fees from every person that Bodyfit sold them.

I went to the bank and disputed the charge. No word yet. I am filing a complaint with the BBB when they return my call. There was another lady who came in while I was there with the same issue. I may see what an attorney says. This sure seems at the very best unethical, if not illegal. What ever you do - stay away from golds gym. Since this all happened yesterday I am sure there is more to come.

So, a little time passes and I decide to try them again. I go by and talk to them and they flat out lied to me to get me to sign up again. First, told me I could pay the deposit a little at a time since I did not have full amount right then. Then went ahead and took the full balance of what I owed out of my bank account putting me in a negative balance. On top of that, they would not allow my son to come with me which was the reason I said yes in the first place. They had told me he could come with me for a couple of weeks to see if it was something that he would get into. Then, we could talk about adding him as a family member. They ended up not even letting him come one time without a $12 fee. Of course the people who signed me up and made all these promises were not there. They stoop pretty low with all the lies to sell their memberships. I will NEVER go back there! I'm just fed up with the Fayetteville location.

And then I noticed monthly charges of $600.00, I have my CC on auto payment and didn't notice the 3rd and 4th month and then it was too late to cancel for the 5th month (because the 30 day cancellation notice). And now they won't return the last 3 months of $600/month, I am fine with the first two months but not with the last 3 months. And all they do is give you the runaround, never got to talk to the actual guy in charge of the gym, Gold's or Evolve. What do you think? Should I take this to small claims? Evolve is actually the company that controls the personal trainers. Questions, please call me, Karel ** (Father).

As soon as my year was almost up, I found out you have to submit to cancel a full month in advance and follow their exact procedures to get out of your contract. Thankfully, I found out about that in time or they would have renewed my contract for a year. I followed the guidelines they gave me, read everything twice, and have a confirmation of my cancellation; however, they failed to draft my final payment (I made no changes to my bank account, they just didn't even try to draft). I learned they didn't draft it once they sent me some bills that stated if I didn't pay the full amount they would reenact my contract for another year, send me to collections, and it would impact my credit.

Ironically the computer only shows me only coming there 4 times out the month, (which isn't accurate) it took the 2 weeks to get me with a trainer to get me tag to scan in so apparently no one was checking me in. I told them to keep the money they have I just don’t want to do business with them. After staying on the phone with him for over 45 mins him telling me he trying to help me but in the same breath saying there is nothing he can do, I was burning hot screaming in fury. Gold’s gym left a sour taste in my mouth.

Call back spoke with Kristen again and asked her to explain what she means by I never qualified, she says she has been with the company 3 years, and with students that doesn't refer to us to have the 30 day money back. I told her Shaun just sat on the phone for 45mins telling me I do qualify but telling me how I disqualified myself. I asked her “Well which one is it?” and she stated that I never qualified so I asked her “So he lied to me?” And she stated yes, that what he said wasn't true. I told her they needed to put him back in training because he is misleading customers, and after all I went through they offered me 3 days of personal training. I declined because I really wanted nothing to do with them.

I was really interested in the classes but they were never going on when I needed them to be. They were either at early times like when I’m at work, or days I had class, or when I could make a class it was cancelled. I’m furious the manager admitted that he signed me up under false pretense and he sat on that phone call trying to make me the blame for his screw up. Makes you not trust people or gyms. I’m disgusted with this location. Oh and then told me that since I paid in installments, that that disqualified me, so if I really did qualify for the refund he didn’t give me that info either. That liar left a lot out. He is a loser for taking advantage of a single mom of two that just wanted to be in better shape.

I do not have my original receipt for verification as I have moved in the past week. However, I initially enrolled at Gold's Gym in Rockville, MD, Town Center. I sent a copy of my card (numbers blacked out) so they could verify that I did indeed own the card (don't like being accused of fraud, especially when it is their problem). If I can figure out how to get my iPhone response to consumer affairs, I will do so. I plan to cancel my membership today.

To my complaint: Why can't you cancel by FAX or over the PHONE??? I can tell you why, because it is then VERY INCONVENIENT TO DO SO BY SNAIL MAIL. YOU HAVE TO GET A TRACKING NUMBER SO YOU CAN FIGHT WITH THEM WHEN THEY SAY "Oh we did not receive your cancellation" and then spend time on the phone fighting with them. My advice??? Get some free weights and a cheap weight bench at home. Gold's gym would be beneficial for college kids, otherwise STAY AWAY. Check out the cancellation process below. THEY MAKE IT EXTREMELY HARD TO CANCEL.

Gold’s Gym Cancellation Procedures: Please call ABC Financial at 1-888-827-9262. You must give a minimum 30 days notice prior to your next scheduled monthly dues payment to avoid an additional monthly payment. Member is responsible and agrees that any back dues, late and bank charges must be paid prior to any cancellation.

A. You the buyer may cancel this agreement within 7 business days after the date of the agreement, excluding weekends or holidays, by sending a certified letter to the address above.

B. If the member becomes disabled during the term of contract, and a physician confirms in writing to the club that: The member is not physically able to use the club; and the disability will continue for more than 6 months, The member is entitled to suspend the contract for the duration of the disability. If permanently disabled, the member may cancel the contract and receive a refund prorate of the amount pursuant to it.

C. If member changes permanent residence to over 25 miles from the club, and is unable to transfer to a comparable facility; such member shall be relieved from the obligation of making payment for services other than those received prior to the move, provided member supplies proof of new residence. If such member has pre-paid for services, the prorated amount for services not yet received will be refunded within thirty (30) days.

NOTE: THIS AGREEMENT MAY NOT BE CANCELLED OVER THE PHONE, FAX, OR EMAIL

The gym used to have bright colors that made the environment energetic but they have replaced it with dull off white and light brown. The water pressure seems to have dropped significantly. I don't think they intentionally dropped the pressure, but they have not fixed it either. Some classes have been canceled. The overall cleanliness is poor. There are so many issues that need to be addressed but they are too concerned painting and getting their name on everything to bother maintaining their equipment. I am considering dropping our 4 memberships and going elsewhere. I would not recommend this gym to anyone. I hope they get better and this is just a hiccup in the transition, but my first impression is this was not a good thing for the Rush members.

Why don't you send out notices to your clients keeping them informed of this?! I asked to get the charge reversed and my membership canceled. They said they couldn't do that and gave me the Member Services phone number. I called them, and they gave me the same BS scripted response. "The contract you signed stated an annual fee". Sigh. I'm so irritated at the lack of comprehension these employees have. No one seems to comprehend that I am asking why no letter or notice was sent to the client. I understand the annual fee. Had I known it was coming up, I would've canceled once my contract was up.

Needless to say, I'm out, just canceled! Packed gym, not enough equipment, plus this experience makes being a member here not worth it. Once the new LVAC opens, I'm headed back there. Gold's Gym is a joke. They may have the $59.95, but they've lost a client and I'll make sure to direct anyone who asks to any gym but this one.

So Saturday came up, I showed up and to my surprise he was off that day and did not tell me **. So I sign up with Brandon, did not give the information about the two year contract and did not sent me a email and he told me, to get started he needed a signature from me and I did. So everything seemed pretty great. So since the plan was so great I took my cousin, she is currently under age and sign her too. So my cousin only went once and I was like well I am paying for it, I am just going to stop the membership.

I called today to the corporate call center and they were like you can't cancel because you are in a two year contract and I was like (what??), no one told me about this contract and they said that yeah it was provided to me by email and that there is no need from them to provide this information since everything its going a email. I told them I do not got any information that I sign up no copy and not even a email. They said "yes you do have a email." SO now I am so ** because of this **. I had three membership that they are been charged on my debit card. I regret even talking to this guy who I called my friend and even walking to this nasty place.

GOLD'S GYM is one ghetto ** place, do not recommend this gym at all. Bathrooms are nasty, machines are ** old as **, their personal trainer are rude and stupid. The staffing basically in this gym suck ass. I put a lawsuit on them and I need more people to support this because I don't think people deserve this type of service for something that we are paying for. I haven't gone to nice gold's gym at all. GOLD'S GYM are ** and nasty as hell.

After a move and starting new jobs, it was awhile until I looked at my credit card. I looked at it on a Friday evening the first week of September and noticed Golds (which was set on auto-debit) was still billing me. I figured it was an error, but I needed to pay my bill that night (Credit card) so I called Plano Golds. They referred me to corporate, which was already closed. In order to pay my bill without paying those charges, I put through a dispute and then paid my bill. My boyfriend did the same. The disputed charges equaled 25 dollars.

I was able to follow up with Golds a few days later and they stated that since we didn't have a confirmation number, they could not look up our cancellation and were unable to find it. The rep stated we would have to cancel again and that would also take thirty days, that they didn't do refunds for this, and if we disputed charges it would go to a collections agency. Much chagrined at this turn of events, I wanted to argue my case but decided it was more trouble than it was worth. We cancelled our memberships a second time on 9/8/14. I rescinded my credit disputes. (My boyfriend had not rescinded his, but did so 10/29/14.) We spoke to Golds corporate and they said our billing would cease after thirty days, so 10/8/14.

I viewed my credit card statement in October and was surprised to notice Golds had not billed me. However, since I didn't think I owed them anything anyway, I didn't contact them. I figured since I had complained about their billing and this issue, they had decided to be nice and not charge me. October 29th my boyfriend and I both received statements dated 10/22/14 from Golds that we owed around 45 dollars - it was not itemized, just had a total that we owed. My boyfriend realized he hadn't cancelled the disputes, so he did so immediately. His dispute had applied to future auto-debits inadvertently so his disputes, now paid, totaled the 45 on his bill. However, my disputes had been cancelled in September and no future bills had been submitted to my card.

Even if they were billing me for September (the thirty days after my second cancellation) it would only have been 25, not 45. At this point I filed a complaint with BBB since this had been going on too long. My boyfriend contacted Golds the next day. The rep told him she could not see an itemized bill for his account and that payments only went through weekly on Fridays, so she couldn't tell him if his cancelled dispute payments had gone through and settled his account. On November 10th we received two additional collection notices for these bills. My boyfriend called Golds and was put on hold until after business hours.

I cannot believe this is still an issue after two cancellations and after authorizing them to charge us. There is no explanation on the bill for WHAT these charges are for and no reason we should be receiving them since we have paid, in full, every auto-debit sent to our cards by Golds. I am awaiting reply from Golds to the BBB complaint but since they are unaccredited and have an F rating, I do not know if it will do any good. I simply want Golds to drop these collection notices and leave us alone. We have cancelled our contracts TWICE and paid all submitted bills.

I did not get the job. A month or so later there is another ad on craigslist, this time looking for a personal trainer. I applied, and Scott called me a week later and scheduled an interview. This time I walk in the door at the exact moment I was supposed to, and the interview went exactly the same except with an added question to "test" my personal training knowledge. "If you have a client who has never done any resistance training before how would you train that client?" My response was "I would first introduce the client to the machines with light weight, this way the body can get used to resistance training without having to worry too much on form and risk injury. Once the client is used to moving some weight I would progress him/her to free weights".

Scott told me that once he gets the results from my background check he will call me. A week passes and I don't hear anything from him, so I show some Initiative and call him. He tells me that he hasn't heard anything yet and he will call me. Another week passes and I still haven't gotten a call, so I email his bosses and explain the situation. An hour passes and he calls me telling me that they are on a hiring freeze and the company can't hire anyone. I find that strange because the next day there's another ad on craigslist.

November 4th of this year Scott calls me out of the blue asking if I would like to interview for a training position that "just opened up". I thought that it was a good sign because I didn't apply for the job. This time I interviewed with a gentleman named Tom, someone under Scott, it was a typical first round interview. He even asked the same question and I gave the same response. Tom told me that if the company wants me for the position I could expect a call by the end of that day to schedule a practical to see how I interact with clients. Well no call is received, once again I am rejected. But the next day, lo and behold, Gold's puts another craigslist ad.

Ok, not getting a job is a experience of life that everyone gets, and I don't expect someone to hire me just because I am qualified. The first time I didn't get it I understood, but somewhere Scott knew that I wasn't someone he wanted to work there. Instead of making me jump through hoops and getting my hopes up three times Scott could have told me that he appreciates me coming, and respects my passion but he decided to go in another direction. It was completely unprofessional.

Following the first incidence of the attempted incorrect billing, I put a stop payment on my bank account, preventing ABC from getting any additional money. In response, ABC/Gold's changed their name with each billing attempt so that they could continue to pull money from our account. The bank rep advised me that this is a common tactic used by gyms because a 'stop payment' only stops payment for the exact name for which the 'stop payment' is submitted. Billing was done using the names 'Golds Gym,' and when that was stopped, they changed to 'ABC Golds Gym.' Ultimately, to stop the fraudulent billing attempts, Bank of America cancelled my card and sent me a new one. After numerous attempts and stressful conversations with both Gold's Gym Simi Valley and ABC, I was able to get them to concede that the cancellation of my son's membership was indeed valid and that the charges should not have been attempted.

I reactivated MY membership (removed the 'freeze') on January 7, 2014, but rather than continue on the month-to-month billing after the nightmare that I had gone through, I went into the gym and paid the remaining 9 months of the membership in full ($366). At that time, I advised the Gym representative of the billing issues I had had, and why I was cancelling the monthly billing and paying the remainder of the membership in full, and would never again give Gold's or ABC my debit card information. I then confirmed with the front desk how long my membership was in effect, and was told that I was 'paid in full' through August 31, 2014. I resumed using the facility without incident. At the end of July 2014, I went into the gym and advised the representative at the front desk that my membership was paid through August 31st, and that I wanted to give notice that I would not be renewing it.

The female representative looked up my account and told me that since my account was 'paid in full,' it would cancel automatically -- that no written cancellation would be submitted, and although I requested it, she did not provide me with a cancellation form. She kept reiterating that my account would cancel automatically and that a written cancellation form was not needed. I accepted this as correct information, since I had canceled the month-to-month billing back in January, and paid the remainder of the membership in full. I never received any further communication from Gold's or ABC until 10/29/14, when the Simi Valley operations manager, Karlie **, emailed me to advise me that my billing information was incorrect, and that my account was about to go to collections if I did not update it right away. This email had gone to my spam folder so I did not see it until 11/5/14.

Upon reading it on 11/5/14, I immediately called the gym and spoke to Karlie, explaining that I had gone in to cancel the membership and had been told that since it was paid in full, it would cancel automatically, that a written cancellation was not needed. Karlie began by advising me that that information was incorrect, and that I should have known better than to describe my account as 'paid in full,' because my account was a 'month-to-month' account, which renews automatically. Apparently, in Gold's Gym internal jargon, 'month-to-month' and 'paid in full' are terms that actually refer to specific types of accounts, and although I cancelled my month to month billing and paid the remainder of the membership period in full, no one should have been referring to my account as 'paid in full.'

She informed me that the front desk staff did not know what they were looking at when they look up our accounts and that it was my responsibility to know that the information I had been given was incorrect, and that my account should be described as 'paid up' rather than 'paid in full.' This was unbelievable to me! It is not the customer's responsibility to understand the meaning of a company's internal lingo, and to know when a company representative is giving incorrect information! After Karlie tried several times to place the fault for the issue on me, she told me that she couldn't assist me anyway, because they "do not handle cancellations in the gym -- they are handled by the billing company." She gave me a toll free number to contact ABC, whom I called immediately and spoke to a rep named Rotanda (sp?), who proceeded to tell me that ABC cannot cancel a membership -- only Gold's can do that.

She explained that they handle the billing as instructed by Gold's and that Gold's would have to cancel the membership and submit billing cancellation instructions, which made sense to me, and also made me wonder why Gold's had tried to pawn the responsibility off on ABC for both my son's membership cancellation and mine. I now believe that this is their standard SOP to confuse and frustrate customers that try to cancel into missing some step in the proper cancellation procedure, so that Gold's can continue to charge the customer. Rotanda said that the account had been sent to Gold's because ABC had been unable to bill me since they did not have my correct card information. She put me on hold twice for about 15 minutes each time, first to try to contact someone at the Gold's (she was unsuccessful) and then while she composed an email outlining the situation to send to "Corporate" (although she would not give me any contact information for whomever she was trying to contact).

I called Karlie back at the Gym, and after giving my name, was told that she was 'unavailable.' I left a message with someone named Garrett. I then called back a few minutes later and asked Garrett for the name and contact information for the General Manager. I could only obtain the name 'Erica' (Garrett would not give me a last name or contact info, other than the gym's main number). Erica did get on the phone with me, and although she apologized for the prior billing issues I had had with cancelling my son's account, she immediately began explaining to me that the current issue with my continued billing is my fault because I should have been aware that even though I had paid my membership in full, and that it had been referred to as 'paid in full' by staff, and I had been told that the membership would cancel automatically, that my membership had never actually been changed to a 'paid in full' membership, and had not in fact canceled as the front desk attendant had advised me it would back in July.

Why no one at this company feels that it is important that one of their own representatives instructed me incorrectly is beyond comprehension. I finally explained to Erica that their attempts to blame this issue on me will not stand up in court, as I had indeed paid the membership in full, rather than continue the monthly billing, and then followed their rep's instructions regarding the cancellation, in good faith. Her response was that I have nothing in writing, but that they have the original agreement showing that my account was initially opened as a 'month to month' account that would automatically renew, and that the fact that I had then canceled the monthly billing and paid it in full, and then been misinformed by their staff, didn't matter. Erica put me on speaker as she and Karlie went through the account, supposedly notating it and preparing to send the issue to the Gold's Gym Resolution Team.

Erica advised me that the Resolution Team would make the decision as to whether I would have to pay the charges that they have been trying to collect for September, October and now November, and would have a response for me in approximately 48 hours. She said that they would have a tracking number for me as soon as they were done composing the information. At this point, I had a business call come in with information that I had been waiting for, so I asked if I could call them right back. My business call was approximately 10 seconds long and I proceeded to call Gold's right back; however, someone named Hayley answered and put me on hold for about 4 minutes, but neither Karlie nor Erica would take the call. Another lady picked up the phone instead, did not give her name, but immediately proceeded to berate me, stating that I had been contacted because my account was seriously delinquent and that I had to pay the charges right now.

I started to explain that my membership was actually cancelled at the end of August, but the lady continued to cut me off, stating "you can't produce a written cancellation, so you have to pay it, and we are continuing to add late fees." This woman had no idea what was going on with my account, but refused to listen to anything. I finally asked her if she was going to stop talking and listen to what I was saying. She then told me rudely that Erica could only waive late fees, but that since I couldn't prove that I had cancelled the membership, I would have to continue to pay. Exasperated, I finally informed her that since the account was already escalated above her head, her opinion didn't really matter, and that I was done discussing the issue with her. I told her that I was calling back for the tracking number for the documentation that Karlie was to send to the Resolution Team and the lady told me she would give the message to Karlie.

Despite all of this, Karlie failed to contact me back at all, so I still have no verification of a tracking number. Immediately following the conversations that I had on 11/5/14, I sent two emails recapping the phone conversations with the various people, so that the issues are in written, acknowledged form. As of 11/7, no one from Gold's Gym has contacted me with the previously promised tracking number for the resolution request, and there's been no response to my emails or to further address the issue. The 48 hours have now and neither Karlie nor Erica have contacted me at all. I did receive a call back from Rotanda at ABC telling me that the response she received from her email to 'corporate' was that they would cancel the membership effective 11/1/14, but that since my membership was not actually a 'paid in full' membership, I would be responsible for the September and October membership fees.

I advised Rotanda that that was not acceptable, as I went in to Gold's and tried to cancel the membership, in the required 30-day notice time frame, and was told by the Gold's employee that my membership would cancel automatically and that there was no need for a written cancellation. I advised Rotanda that I am not legally liable for a Gold's employee giving me incorrect information that I then followed, and that should Gold's or ABC continue to pursue payment any further, I will take whatever legal action is available to me, against both companies. I thanked Rotanda for following up with me, and she advised me that she would reply to 'corporate' and let them know my response, and explain the situation again.

I fear that this will be a never-ending hassle, and that Gold's/ABC will send the alleged fees to a collection company that will then destroy my credit and harass me incessantly, creating enormous stress that my health cannot endure. If anyone has had success resolving similar issues with Gold's and/or ABC, or would like to initiate a class-action suit on behalf of all of the victims -- and I'm sure there are many -- that have been through similar issues with Gold's/ABC, I welcome the assistance!

At the end of 6 weeks I asked for a refund as I had paid in full. They promised to take care of it and give me a few free extra sessions if I kept the personal training. I said ok and scheduled an appoint the following Monday at 5:30 am. When I got there, you guessed it- no trainer showed up. I then went and asked for my money back and they told me it was not refundable as I had signed a contract with GOLD's Gym. The last time I checked contracts were only valid if the parties held up their end of the contract. I called the corporate office of GOLD's GYM and talked with PETE who was rude and very unhelpful. Guess what GOLD's Gym. Will be working on this for some time, since I have already wasted 487.00 and a ton of my time and gotten nothing in return. Asked for a call from someone at Gold’s Gym corporate office over a week ago and no one has reached out to me. You guy SUCK!

Since the takeover of the local Olney "Fitness First" gym, they have completely neglected their older customers, which were many. This is the only local gym for the large older and retired population that lives in or near Olney. When I ask for advice it is obvious that their staff has no real training in fitness health for the 50+ crowd. I have been advised to do things that my doctor would not allow, without even being asked the status of my health.

Definitely a man's gym now. Not very unisex friendly at all. Their space is occupied by ridiculous new macho fads like pushing around a large "lawnmower" dummy weight from one end of the room to the other or waving ropes. Seriously? A lawnmower or some household repair will do the same for free, with the added benefit of fresh air and sunshine. I am extremely disappointed with this corporate giant for taking over the one convenient Olney fitness facility without honoring a responsibility to serve the whole community.

The trainer was aware of the difficulty I was having with weights during training sessions. The trainer kept saying when I was having trouble with weights said that.... "you are stronger than you think" & 'it's all in your mind' (pointing to his head/psychological). I trusted his words at that point since he was suppose to be very good with older clients. Finally, when my shoulder would not tolerate any more weights, I went to my internist to have the shoulder evaluated. After 1 evaluation, 1 x-ray and an MRI, I have a rotator cuff tear in 2 places. I was sent to an orthopedist, 30 days plus on an anti-inflammatory and possible surgery if it does not heal properly. I just completed 10 sessions of physical therapy at a local Physical Therapy Center.

The trainer was aware of the torn rotator cuff since I texted (via cell phone) & and in person about seeing a doctor for evaluation, followed by x-rays & MRI results. I went to Gold's to cancel personal training sessions. I took all of Gold's Gym Doctor's Forms to the front desk so that I could be released from the personal trainer contract. All paperwork was forwarded to the correct place and the contract was cancelled and a refund was given for 3 sessions out of 4 that I chose not to attend in August to avoid further injury. I did not have any difficulty canceling the training session.

The personal trainer wanted to continue sessions focusing on other areas but I thought it best not to incur any further injuries with this trainer. I did send an email to the Personal Trainer manager in August who is in-charge of the PT Services Gold's Gym indicating an injury. I have just been released from the care of an orthopedists and schedule appointments on an as-needed basis. My right shoulder is still not as it should be. I am very disappointed that I put my trust in someone who I thought had my best interest in mind. I was sure that he would be very careful and give exercises that would not hurt me. So....if you are an older client, please be very careful before signing up for a personal trainer!!!!

Well right after we got home from our honeymoon, my wife got laid off and I was finishing school so we fell on hard times needless to say. However when I called and tried to cancel, they said I was in another 2 year contract and had no couldn't cancel. I talked to numerous people at the local gym and at the national office but no matter what, they wouldn't let us cancel.

I finally got sick of it and gave up and moved on to other things in my life and still went to the gym when I could. 2 months ago my wife and I changed banks and when we did we tried to have the new bank take over the auto paying of gold’s gym. They would only allow auto-pay if they were the ones doing it, so my wife gave them updated information. 3 weeks ago we got a letter from a collection agency telling us we were overdue and now owed over 200 dollars. My wife called the collections agency and they said if it was a billing error we had to talk to the gym. Well every time we try to talk to the gym (locally) they give us the runaround. Yesterday we got another letter saying we now owed 500 dollars!!! Needless to say we are both a little upset and are now considering getting a lawyer involved.

We went down and went thru the change asking again if there was any charges or fees associated with the change. We were told "no, this is a simple name change". I provided my information on the document given to me and at that same time she added her son as well since she could have up to four people on the account. She signed where she was told to verifying that she approved of the changes. I don't even recall Gold's giving us a copy of the document.

At the time of the changes, there was approximately 7 months left on her contract. About 13 months later she was contacted by Paramount Services in Salt Lake City, Utah stating she was behind on her payments and was being turned over to collections. She contacted Paramount and made several attempts to get this cleared up. She even went to their offices and asked for the person she was told to see and he would never make himself available to meet. "Sorry he just stepped out to lunch or he is in a meeting" is what she was told.

She asked who else can look at this for her the answer was always "He is handling the case. You must talk to him." She even called and made an appointment with the individual with same results. There was always an excuse why he could not see her. Finally, she was able to get someone at Gold's to listen (a young lady name McKenzie. I use her name because she was trying to help) and was told if you can provide us with a copy of the original account paperwork this would all be taken care of.

When she did provide the paperwork, the young lady told my girlfriend that her Supervisor said "Sorry, we have your signature on documents that extended your contract from the date you made the changes" and the debt has been sold to a collection agency. So, basically it's not my problem! Gold's Gym took the paperwork that she had signed and after we left filled in all the blanks...extending her contract. She thought she had 7 months left to go on her contract and they roped her into another 2 years.

Gold's is deceiving in the way they do business and unwilling to help out their customers when one of their employees did what he had to do to make a quota on membership sales. This is theft by deception at the very least and anyone else would be arrested for it!! She now has a bad mark on her credit report that has caused her to be declined loan applications.

Is this really the kind of reputation Gold's want to have? Obviously they do not care about what is right. They only care about the dollars they can get out of you no matter how they do it. I would strongly suggest staying away from Gold's and their underhanded way of doing business... If they don't like this post I strongly encourage them to seek me out. I would love to speak to the supervisor or anyone that can keep an appointment.

Over the past months I have found my daughter unsupervised on many occasions. My husband and I check on her off and on the entire time we exercise or for the most part we keep her at home and swap up going to the gym so that we are sure she is alright, but we still pay for the monthly charge. On several occasions I have went to get my daughter and the women working in the day care not know where she was. I have complained and I constantly remind them to please don’t let her up the stairs, stand on the tables, eat crayons and please watch her please keep her in their line of sight. I have also picked her up with bumps, but no one could tell me what happened to her. When I try and talk to them they just roll their eyes, walk off or act unconcern.

I have talked to the workers, the women over the day care and the man who sold me the package about what was going on many times and they say they will take care of it only to have these behaviors repeated. The man who I bought the package from said he would contact the general manager and get something done about it. This Monday after noon I went to the gym. I stayed under 30 minutes just for a walk. When I went to get her she was playing with AN OLD RUSTED AEROSOL CAN AND AN OLD PHONE BOOK OR THAT IS WHAT THE BOOK LOOKED LIKE TO ME. I am not sure if the can was a paint can or something like a Lysol can. The top was off and the little spray thing was gone (was so scared that my daughter had ate it).

She and one lady were down stairs. The lady was not paying attention to my daughter. She was walking around in the big area my daughter was at the table with the can. I asked why she was unattended and where she got the can from no one knew anything and acted like it was no big deal. Her hands were washed and the lady working said she would check into getting some locks. I went to the gym the next morning and waited to see the general manager who I was told would be there at 8 am so I could get something done. He never showed up and I waited about 2 ½ hours in the parking lot before he called me back. I told him what happened he said he would check into and call me the next day. Some things he said bothered me more than the whole conversation: as I was telling him the situation he said, “We are not a day care.” I told him that does not give you the right not to care for my child properly and to ensure her safety.

Another was that he had not received any complaints about the day care including the ones I had made. I told him that many people have complained about how UNCLEAN, THE NON-SUPERVISION OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND DIFFERENT INCIDENTS THAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR CHILD. He said he has heard nothing. So I told him that I would pass his cell number on to other concerned parents. Please call him and let him know what you have experienced with Gold’s Gym in Killeen so the situation can be prevent and to prevent your child from sucking on an aerosol can unsupervised or having the workers not know where your child is. I have not heard from him yet, but will update when I do. Thanks for Reading.

When I inquired on September 16, 2014 why they charged me, the manager said that 2 of the 3 members I signed up did not continue with their gym memberships so I did not qualify for the free year. So the gym made this decision, did not bother informing me, and charged my account. I asked the manager to retroactively terminate my membership to September 1, 2014. Although technically I would have cancelled in August if I was informed then that I didn't qualify for the free year. She gave me the number to ABC financial who does the billing for Gold's Gym. The rep for ABC financial said they will keep the charge for September 2014 and take another $24 for October 2014 since there is a 30 day termination clause in the contract. I told the ABC rep I would have cancelled in August 2014 if I was notified that Gold's Gym would not honor the 1 free year. She said the 30 day cancellation is Gold's Gym policy and there is nothing they can do. I asked who can provide a waiver to the policy. She referred me back to the gym manager.

Honestly, every time I deal with a customer service issue at Valencia Gold's gym there is a new person - you never speak to the same person twice - and everyone I talk to is new to the gym so that person is unaware of the policies or procedures. The manager I spoke with today could not even tell me what year the gym opened at that location. The answer is August 1, 2012. You have to raise your voice and nearly cause a scene to get a competent person to help you with any issue at Valencia Gold's Gym. The staff there is barely competent enough to hand you a fresh towel when you walk in the door. I will never do business with Gold's Gym again and anyone who I know that has a membership there will be highly encouraged by me to cancel their memberships immediately!!!

I'm encouraged to pace angrily around their front door with a picket sign saying Cancel Your Membership Immediately! Gold's Gym unfairly takes money that doesn't belong to them!! I'm going in tomorrow to speak with a manager about my retroactive termination. Wish me luck. I believe I will have to raise my voice to ensure they don't take another $24 out of my account!! I agree with the recommendations made by other reviewers on this site. Cancel your credit cards to avoid the aggravation of dealing with the incompetent staff at your local Gold's Gym!!!

The contract works both ways. This class action will involve a clause called "Dirty Hands" - I am looking to use this tort/civil allegation against the gym. There has been successful class action suits against LA Fitness for similar tactics. If I am unable to get on a workout machine due to a 20 min wait, or feel my safety is at stake because the gym is at overcapacity because every square inch is a body working out with heavy weights, then the gym is not honoring their end of the bargain. This is a matter of principle and I want to send a message to Gold’s Gym about the unethical business practices they partake in on a daily basis. Please email me if you have signed a contract and are unable to get on a machine due to safety or long wait issues. The email is **.

The contract works both ways. This class action will involve a clause called "Dirty Hands" - I am looking to use this tort/civil allegation against the gym. There has been successful class action suits against LA Fitness for similar tactics. If I am unable to get on a workout machine due to a 20 min wait, or feel my safety is at stake because the gym is at overcapacity because every square inch is a body working out with heavy weights, then the gym is not honoring their end of the bargain. This is a matter of principle and I want to send a message to Gold’s Gym about the unethical business practices they partake in on a daily basis. Please email me if you have signed a contract and are unable to get on a machine due to safety or long wait issues.

Feeling wronged and concerned that they had my credit card information, I contacted my banks (Capital One and Chase) and disputed the charges. Both banks refunded temporary funds, as part of the dispute. Ironically, Gold's Gym, did not dispute the membership, or the 2 months of maintenance training charges, but they did dispute the personal training sessions. Even though, I am not a member, they will not refund me the $299 for personal training sessions that I could not use, even when I was a member!

I did not want to continue my personal training in that condition. I emailed the manager to give me a refund for the remaining training session. No reply. I emailed again several times. No reply. I tied to file a complaint, but there is no means to file a complaint on their website. I read many reviews that their contract auto renews, and it's impossible to cancel the contract permanently. I am extremely upset at the manager just ignoring my request and concerned that I will be charged next year. This Gym needs to be closed down.

I have probably spent between 10-20 hours trying to block these crooks from charging my card, but it is useless: they have their hand in my pocket and I am unable to get it out. My credit card company says that eventually after perhaps 3 disputes their system will block the merchant, but I have my doubts. My card is a Bank of America Mastercard, so it's like I'm calling to the Keystone Cops to outfox Bernie Madoff. I asked about the possibility of closing the account, but they said it can be reopened if a merchant charges them. I'm totally boxed in.

If you are looking to cancel your gym membership, honestly I would just report your card stolen. This is about the only possibility I haven't yet explored and may still pursue. It will save you so much time, your sanity and perhaps jail time, as this has almost driven me to violence. Don't even bother fulfilling your contract because they're only going to keep billing you long after you're dead.

- Phone customer service and managers will talk to you like a "billboard". Ask them about the agreement and the issue and they will talk to you about "You need 10 days prior to cancellation".

False Advertising, example few: False Advertising $9.99 a mo - when you give them "Credit Card" it become $11.99 (because $9.99 is for cash only customer and you must bring in cash every month before due date). From the Advertising Picture look so wonderful and only cost $9.99 - When you joining the $9.99 ONLY ALLOWED TO USE the machine. If you want to use others like pool or class... then the price totally change.

From the Advertising Picture say "NO CONTRACT" and when you show up... they told you NO CONTRACT and month to month - But real true is after 12 months, they billed your "ANNUAL FEE". When you ask them, "There is NO CONTRACT why ANNUAL FEE?" they then said, "If you want to Cancel, you need to pay CANCELLATION FEE" ... (kind of like say "you are in contract DUE!"). And if you would asked them, "Where is the contract said? I thought we have NO CONTRACT?" If you ask them, "How come I didn't get any contract signed paper?" Their reply will be, "Go check your email... we did send your Contract after you sign up a year ago... go check your email!" And when you search your email for "Fitness Evolution" keyword and you can't find anything... and the email was sent from 3rd name "Fit-U". Their reply will be, "Oh... we sent to already AFTER YOU JOINING... Ok, I will be back to finish my 20 Reasons on Gold GYM violations and evidences!

I'm on disability and on a walker, been having to use a cane since 2005 and they showed me no respect nor did they attempt to investigate this matter to see if they were in error, no, they just balls to the wall to get $82.00 from me. I ended up paying it to get the collection agency off my back. There needs to be a way of preventing this from happening to someone else. They apparently can access your account information without penalty or fault.

Nevertheless, I fulfilled my contract, with regular monthly payments, and actually worked out there for 2 years. I was told that I could cancel at any time after fulfilling my contractual terms. I announced to the management, prior to going out of the country, that I would be terminating. Now I am being billed for thirty extra days, owing to their insistence that termination takes a notice of 1 month.

I can only conclude that Gold's Gym is a giant corporate rip-off, and this is especially true in Brownsville, Texas, where the Gold's "management team" is incompetent and does not even live up to standard gym maintenance and procedure. BEWARE!

So he start asking me about my credit card and other information! Then he never show his computer to me what I'm signing and this a machine thing to signing it! So anyway then I done and I ask him I want a print paper then he told me that going to send to my email so I never get it! So then I check my email I couldn't find it till I see junk and when I got it I saw a link called "agreement". I click it and I was shock what I saw! It show that I agrees 12 month contract and I was wow this person did a scam to me! I was kinda angry and nervous! Cause the guy did this to me and he know I have a brain surgery and I have seizure! I never thought he was going to do that! Then today I call him and he never answer my call. Then I went to the gym, I went to complain and other guy talking to me and there was confusing and other stupid things! Trying to defend the guy and I have a proof with my cousin came with me. Anyway I need help cause I'm only two ago member there. They are charging me 100 dollars to cancellation and it wasn't my faults. It haven't past 30 day notice. So please help me what to do?

When I contacted ABC Financial to discuss this, I was told that cancellation is effective from the date that the cancellation form is received. I called Gold's Gym to clarify and spoke to manager Ben, who directed me to Jennifer, a customer service representative for the company. She told me that no, the cancellation is effective from the postmark. She further stated that the postmark on my letter was May 27, 2014.

I am being told that my cancellation is effective May 27, 2014 for two completely separate, and completely different reasons. If the cancellation is effective from the postmark date, then I would not be responsible for the $39 enhancement fee because the letter would be postmarked May 24, 2014. If the cancellation is effective May 27, 2014 based on the date of receipt, then the fee would stand. Neither company will concede to the either, and so I am stuck in a limbo trying to find out how my cancellation date was determined.

I contacted the Better Business Bureau to voice my complaints against both companies. I received a response from Stephanie ** of ABC Financial stating that the date of cancellation was determined by the date that they received my cancellation. I received a response from Gold's Gym stating that they determine cancellation date by the postmarked date. In addition, the respondent included this "** also had a previous membership with us that was sent to third party collections due to non-payment. Should she wish to contact First Credit Services regarding that debt their number is 1-800---".

This statement is completely false. I have never been sent to collections by any company and certainly not by Gold's Gym over a $20/month gym membership. The attack on my character clearly reveals what kind of character is displayed by the owner, and therefore management of Gold's Gym. With all that money that they spend on advertising, you would think Gold's Gym could spring for a little customer service training. I cannot believe that they would be so argumentative over a $39 charge. I am especially surprised at the owner's decision to bring defamation of character into the argument.