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[KKR]

.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: KKR
So here's the situation: I have never joined a gym since graduating college due to lack of time. Recently I decided I wanted to give it a shot and so I stopped in a local gym looking for a trial period of some sort. After being told that the gym offered a week free membership I was told to sign a paper as the sales rep repeated insisted it was simply a formality and that there was no contractual obligation. I foolishly provided my credit card information, which the rep said was in case I decided not to cancel.

Turns out I've been locked into a four-year contract at $54/mo. This is a particularly serious situation as I've recently been laid off and can't anticipate when I'll be able to get back on my feet. What would be the best course of action to take in this situation? I've tried calling the customer support line but have been met with mechanical repetition of what sounds like a script, even after speaking with a manager. Any advice is much appreciated.

What did the manager say? And why did you give them your credit card number? If they play refuse to cancel, call your credit card company and get them involved.

 

[villageidiot111]

If the gym won't resolve it have your credit card deny payment.

 

[KKR]

Manager said that they have a signed document, nothing they can do about it.

If I deny payment, wouldn't the gym go to a collection agency?

 

[chusteczka]

It sounds to me like you went to Bally's. They have been known to play such games for years now. Their dishonesty provides a bad impression for all gyms.

I doubt that you will get much sympathy from Bally's management since their management condones such irresponsible behavior. Contracts may have a short period of time in which you can cancel. Contracts are also made "in good faith". If you get a lawyer, you will be able to cleanly get out of this mess.

I would try walking in to the location and getting this canceled in person. If this does not work, close your credit account and open a new account with the same bank and a different account number.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Also, file a complaint with your local BBB and attorney general.

 

[KKR]

Thanks for the help guys.

I provided false SSN, address, and phone number in registration. However my main concern is that even if I cancel my CC account or try to evade payment along those lines it will negatively impact my credit in the future.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Also, file a complaint with your local BBB and attorney general.

Absolutely, file complaints.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

They wanted your SSN? What kind of shifty gym is this?

Read the contract, there may be a way to cancel it, afterall years is long contract for anything. Raise a stink, failing that get a lawyer to look over it. Surely you aren't the first person to be duped like this.

 

[KKR]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Also, file a complaint with your local BBB and attorney general.

Absolutely, file complaints.

Yes I will definitely be filing complaints, although would that have any impact on my situation?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: KKR
Thanks for the help guys.

I provided false SSN, address, and phone number in registration. However my main concern is that even if I cancel my CC account or try to evade payment along those lines it will negatively impact my credit in the future.

I think you should have a conversation (over the phone) with your CC company. They have people there who deal with this sort of thing and know pretty much where you stand and can give you good advice. Don't indulge in paranoia, find out where you really stand. I think you will find that you are actually fine. In the future, unless you have a good reason to trust folks, read the freaking fine print. I have to wonder if these people are open to reprisal. IMO, what they did is criminal and punishable either criminally or civilly. I know, lawyers can cost money, lots of money. But like you say, you aren't on your feet right now and you can probably get some free legal advice. I've gone that route. You could even have conversations with management at competing gyms. You do, after all, want to get into joining a reputable gym, right? Have some conversations with management at some reputable gyms. They probably know about some of the shenanigans that this place is up to, and if they don't they should. They also might know what you should do. They are business people and this is the business with which they have a lot of familiarity. In my experience, gym management has a lot of the finest folks around. Around here, people come and go and I mean the management as well as their clientele, but they are by and large OK people, and some of them are among the coolest folks around. Talk to them (not the ones at the slimeball place you went to). Good luck!

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: savoyboy
Try to read the contract next time before you sign anything.

and reading reviews online before joining

Lifetime Fitness FTW!

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: savoyboy
Try to read the contract next time before you sign anything.

Try to go away.

kthnx

 

[KKR]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: KKR
Thanks for the help guys.

I provided false SSN, address, and phone number in registration. However my main concern is that even if I cancel my CC account or try to evade payment along those lines it will negatively impact my credit in the future.

I think you should have a conversation (over the phone) with your CC company. They have people there who deal with this sort of thing and know pretty much where you stand. In the future, unless you have a good reason to trust folks, read the freaking fine print. I have to wonder if these people are open to reprisal. IMO, what they did is criminal and punishable either criminally or civilly. I know, lawyers can cost money, lots of money. But like you say, you aren't on your feet right now and you can probably get some free legal advice. I've gone that route.

Okay, I'll try this tomorrow. Where would one find this free advice?

BTW the gym was Bally's, as someone picked up on earlier in the thread. Granted I was pretty stupid in this situation, but apparently I'm not the only one they've snagged.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: KKR

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: KKR
Thanks for the help guys.

I provided false SSN, address, and phone number in registration. However my main concern is that even if I cancel my CC account or try to evade payment along those lines it will negatively impact my credit in the future.

I think you should have a conversation (over the phone) with your CC company. They have people there who deal with this sort of thing and know pretty much where you stand. In the future, unless you have a good reason to trust folks, read the freaking fine print. I have to wonder if these people are open to reprisal. IMO, what they did is criminal and punishable either criminally or civilly. I know, lawyers can cost money, lots of money. But like you say, you aren't on your feet right now and you can probably get some free legal advice. I've gone that route.

Okay, I'll try this tomorrow. Where would one find this free advice?

BTW the gym was Bally's, as someone picked up on earlier in the thread. Granted I was pretty stupid in this situation, but apparently I'm not the only one they've snagged.

Read my last post again, I edited it several times. Call you CC company's customer service toll free number and explain your situation and ask to talk to a representative who can counsel you on this.

Concerning free legal advice, I believe it's called probono. Call your local bar association and ask them for the names and numbers of local organizations that provide free or low charge legal advice and counseling.

 

[olds]

You signed it. Honor your obligations.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You signed it. Honor your obligations.

He was tricked into signing something that wasn't what it was represented as being. This was not just prevarication, it was outright chicanery/deception. I'm not at all sure that he is legally "obligated" by virtue of signing that document. Do you really think he is? I doubt it. And if he isn't legally obligated he sure as shit isn't morally obligated. :disgust: Please hand over your elite status to the nearest moderator.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You signed it. Honor your obligations.

He was tricked into signing something that wasn't what it was represented as being. This was not just prevarication, it was outright chicanery/deception. I'm not at all sure that he is legally "obligated" by virtue of signing that document. Do you really think he is? I doubt it. And if he isn't legally obligated he sure as shit isn't morally obligated. :disgust: Please hand over your elite status to the nearest moderator.

I guess that makes sense if he is blind and can't read the contract. Then it probably wouldn't be enforceable anyway.

 

[KKR]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: KKR
Thanks for the help guys.

I provided false SSN, address, and phone number in registration. However my main concern is that even if I cancel my CC account or try to evade payment along those lines it will negatively impact my credit in the future.

I think you should have a conversation (over the phone) with your CC company. They have people there who deal with this sort of thing and know pretty much where you stand and can give you good advice. Don't indulge in paranoia, find out where you really stand. I think you will find that you are actually fine. In the future, unless you have a good reason to trust folks, read the freaking fine print. I have to wonder if these people are open to reprisal. IMO, what they did is criminal and punishable either criminally or civilly. I know, lawyers can cost money, lots of money. But like you say, you aren't on your feet right now and you can probably get some free legal advice. I've gone that route. You could even have conversations with management at competing gyms. You do, after all, want to get into joining a reputable gym, right? Have some conversations with management at some reputable gyms. They probably know about some of the shenanigans that this place is up to, and if they don't they should. They also might know what you should do. They are business people and this is the business with which they have a lot of familiarity. In my experience, gym management has a lot of the finest folks around. Around here, people come and go and I mean the management as well as their clientele, but they are by and large OK people, and some of them are among the coolest folks around. Talk to them (not the ones at the slimeball place you went to). Good luck!

Yes, that sounds like a good idea. It does appear that this gym has a bit of a reputation, so perhaps they've dealt with similar situations before.

 

[KKR]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You signed it. Honor your obligations.

He was tricked into signing something that wasn't what it was represented as being. This was not just prevarication, it was outright chicanery/deception. I'm not at all sure that he is legally "obligated" by virtue of signing that document. Do you really think he is? I doubt it. And if he isn't legally obligated he sure as shit isn't morally obligated. :disgust: Please hand over your elite status to the nearest moderator.

I guess that makes sense if he is blind and can't read the contract. Then it probably wouldn't be enforceable anyway.

I don't exactly have the luxury of simply treating this as a costly mistake at the moment, which is why I posted asking for advice. Admittedly I was a bit naive in signing the contract but please recognize that I was also deliberately misled.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: KKR

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Also, file a complaint with your local BBB and attorney general.

Absolutely, file complaints.

Yes I will definitely be filing complaints, although would that have any impact on my situation?

Yes. If they do try to harm your credit, you also have the right to append your side of the story to their entry, with as much documentation as you wish.

 

[ImDonly1]

$54/month from Bally? I thought they were cheap and like $20... anyway don't they have a 30 day time period where you can cancel without fees or anything?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

For Bally's one-week thing, you go online, print out a thing, go in, they hold onto your Driver's License so they can try to toss a pitch your way after your workout. You say you still haven't decided if you like the gym enough and try to get more time. There is no signing anything. They don't learn anything other than your name and maybe address. Be careful next time. Sorry to hear that a corporation utilizes scamming to get money.

 

[KKR]

Originally posted by: ImDonly1
$54/month from Bally? I thought they were cheap and like $20... anyway don't they have a 30 day time period where you can cancel without fees or anything?

No, not according to my document at least.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Also, file a complaint with your local BBB and attorney general.

I'd walk in and ask to speak to a manager. While speaking to the manager I would calmly explain how you just lost your job and that this "contract" that was supposed to be a short trial period has now just put you into a financial hardship. Try to appeal to his decent side first.

If this doesn't work then start pulling your cards. You've got the credit card company that will probably fight on your side. You've got the BBB on your side. This sounds like an unfair business practice that they would love to get involved with.

 

[sourceninja]

First and foremost, call your creditcard company. Second, call the local media and the BBB. Finally, make sure you plaster the name of the company and the sales rep and manager all over the internet. Maybe even finding good workout/gym forums and plastering it there. Help prevent this scam from happening again.

A similar thing happened to my wife. She signed a contract for 1 year, but the guy didn't fill in the terms before she signed. He said not to worry about it that he would get it later. I wish I was there, I would of told her no way. But after she left he filled it out for twice the amount and twice the duration. It took a lot of fighting to get that contract to go away.