.

[MyThirdEye]

Burn it down.

 

[RaistlinZ]

OP,

I think I heard your name mentioned in an email regarding some inheritance money in Nigeria. Seems legit. You might want to look into it.

 

[compman25]

Didn't Bally's just file for bankruptcy?

 

[JC86]

That's probably why they filed for bankruptcy . . . when i was choosing a gym, it down between 24 hour and Bally's . . . although 24 hour was more expensive upfront, my monthly dues were only $16 so I went with them, plus they keep adding new gyms around my area for convenience and options when choosing where to work out.

I'd go talk to their manager and try to talk sense into him. If that fails, threaten to go to BBB and local news and drag their name through the mud. If they're smart, they'd cancel your membership just to avoid the hassle.

 

[DVad3r]

Big mistake giving your credit card. Big mistake not reading the form. You should talk with the manager and create a total shit storm at the gym. Also call your credit card company immedietely and explain the situation to them. I've had issues before and they actually put a block on the transaction. Worst case scenario, cancel ur credit card or have the number changed.

Even if the gym files you to a collection agency it's a joke, because everyone knows that gyms are thieving bastards, it shouldn't affect your credit rating much.

 

[Vic]

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

Yes, because fraud should be encouraged :roll:

Typical Bally's. Call your credit card provider and dispute the charges. Tell that manager at the Bally's that you will pursue legal action if necessary.

 

[Vic]

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.

It sounds like both you and the salesperson weren't being honest. Next time, just do everyone a favor and learn to stand up and say no like a man.

 

[lifeobry]

Gyms and their high pressure tactics... I was just trying to use the free month coupon and I had to endure sales pitches and offers from their smoking hot salesgirl. It was terrible.

But yeah OP, let your outrage come forth as this is bullshit of the highest caliber. Bad idea giving fake info though, should have just walked away if you felt uncomfortable.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Vic

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

Yes, because fraud should be encouraged :roll:

Typical Bally's. Call your credit card provider and dispute the charges. Tell that manager at the Bally's that you will pursue legal action if necessary.

It's hard to put all the blames on Bally when OP didn't read the fine prints when he signed the contract.

Except when the sales person lies to you and misrepresents what you're signing. That's fraud, you should know since you're a ups driver.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Vic

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

Yes, because fraud should be encouraged :roll:

Typical Bally's. Call your credit card provider and dispute the charges. Tell that manager at the Bally's that you will pursue legal action if necessary.

It's hard to put all the blames on Bally when OP didn't read the fine prints when he signed the contract.

Error of omission and misrepresentation of documents are both forms of unlawful fraud.

Yes, consumers do have a burden of reading documents prior to signing them, however, consumers also have the right to the reasonable expectation that the documents will be accurately represented to them, without blatant dishonesty or intentional omission.

 

[shoRunner]

a contract like this between a merchant and a consumer would not be enforceable as they recieved your consent through misrepresentation/fraud. (you can thank my legal transactions and risk class I just took)

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Vic

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

Yes, because fraud should be encouraged :roll:

Typical Bally's. Call your credit card provider and dispute the charges. Tell that manager at the Bally's that you will pursue legal action if necessary.

It's hard to put all the blames on Bally when OP didn't read the fine prints when he signed the contract.

Except when the sales person lies to you and misrepresents what you're signing. That's fraud, you should know since you're a ups driver.

Shit! a sale person giving you false info. What's next? the sky is blue?

Thankfully, you're not in law enforcement since you don't know what fraud is.

 

[shoRunner]

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Vic

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

Yes, because fraud should be encouraged :roll:

Typical Bally's. Call your credit card provider and dispute the charges. Tell that manager at the Bally's that you will pursue legal action if necessary.

It's hard to put all the blames on Bally when OP didn't read the fine prints when he signed the contract.

Error of omission and misrepresentation of documents are both forms of unlawful fraud.

Yes, consumers do have a burden of reading documents prior to signing them, however, consumers also have the right to the reasonable expectation that the documents will be accurately represented to them, without blatant dishonesty or intentional omission.

how do you prove that in a small claim court?

however, the sale person shouldn't have any problem because he has a hard copy of the contract with your information and signature on it.

show a pattern of complains of misrepresentation (BBB, online, others, complains to AG office). In civil court you only have to prove a preponderance of the evidence, a much easier task than the burden of proof in criminal court.

 

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Vic

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

Yes, because fraud should be encouraged :roll:

Typical Bally's. Call your credit card provider and dispute the charges. Tell that manager at the Bally's that you will pursue legal action if necessary.

It's hard to put all the blames on Bally when OP didn't read the fine prints when he signed the contract.

Error of omission and misrepresentation of documents are both forms of unlawful fraud.

Yes, consumers do have a burden of reading documents prior to signing them, however, consumers also have the right to the reasonable expectation that the documents will be accurately represented to them, without blatant dishonesty or intentional omission.

how do you prove that in a small claim court?

however, the sale person shouldn't have any problem because he has a hard copy of the contract with your information and signature on it.

well it is obviously hard to prove they lied, although that doesn't change the fact that this is still fraud if it happened like the OP said. although fake SSN etc doesn't help his case...

 

[KeithP]

Ok...so it is too late to read the contract before signing which is your first line of defense against scammers. That being said, it seems clear they count on people not reading the contracts and mislead you to get you to sign.

As others have said, contact your credit card company. Be honest with them and ask what options you have.

Plan B, make up a simple, short 1 page or half page flyer detailing what happened to you. Show the gym your flier. Ask the gym to cancel your membership immediately, if not, you will get copies made and start handing them out to people as they enter the gym, start placing them under car windshield wipers in parking lots in nearby malls, and start passing them out door to door in the neighborhood. If they have complaints filed against them with the BBB, make sure you include those (space permitting) or at least reference them in your flyer.

Be careful how you word the flier, you don't want to leave yourself vulnerable to any legal action. If you are unsure, find a local law school and check if they offer any free legal advice clinics. Also, stay calm. Don't argue/yell at them. Don't be rude. Be calm, cool, collected but determined. Make sure they know that you will be spending your free time telling everyone in the immediate area about your story.

Hopefully, the gym will decide it is in their best interest to get you off their back and cancel the membership.

-KeithP

 

[Freaknificent]

Do something to get your membership cancelled....
Leave a floater in the pool or hot tub...
Ogle and make lewd comments to all of the women, including the saleswomen...
Of course this is all worse case scenario stuff

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: 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?

They probably would, but so what?

Something like a gym wouldn't go on your credit report.

 

[XZeroII]

I got scammed into Ballys as well, although the situation was completely different. They tried sending my account to collections because I cancelled my CC. I filed a complaint on the BBB website and explained the entire situation about how dishonest they were and about how I was lied to.

The responding company has a certain amount of time to respond before something happens and Ballys responded with one day left saying that they are letting me out the contract and will not try to collect any more money.

I was very polite and courteous in my claim to the BBB. I politely explained the situation and was very clear on exactly what I wanted from them. I said that I wanted out of my contract, but I would pay for the couple extra months that accrued between when I told them I wanted out and when they sent me to collections (maybe 4 months).

Good luck. There should be a warning sign outside of that horrible building.

 

[PingSpike]

Another vote for burn it down.

 

[TheInternet1980]

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.

PAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP, DEADBEAT.

 

[DVad3r]

Originally posted by: Freaknificent
Do something to get your membership cancelled....
Leave a floater in the pool or hot tub...
Ogle and make lewd comments to all of the women, including the saleswomen...
Of course this is all worse case scenario stuff

That's actually a really good idea, and you don't have to do embarssing stuff like that, just start dropping free weights and bars like crazy making HUGE clanks, hog machines, disrupt other peoples workouts, go on the treadmill with max incline and jump up and down like a monkey while hanging on to the sides, they should be able to terminate your membership.

 

[BeauJangles]

Aren't gym membership contracts by law explicitly given 30 days to cancel in most states?

 

[silverpig]

Do your workout naked.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: savoyboy

Originally posted by: Vic

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

Yes, because fraud should be encouraged :roll:

Typical Bally's. Call your credit card provider and dispute the charges. Tell that manager at the Bally's that you will pursue legal action if necessary.

It's hard to put all the blames on Bally when OP didn't read the fine prints when he signed the contract.

Except when the sales person lies to you and misrepresents what you're signing. That's fraud, you should know since you're a ups driver.

Shit! a sale person giving you false info. What's next? the sky is blue?

Your parents don't love you.

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: 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?

They probably would, but so what?

Something like a gym wouldn't go on your credit report.

Oh that depends. My wife's contract was considered a loan for X dollars and was put on her credit report. Gym memberships are a almost always a scam if they require a contract.