Please help me.

[fatboy522]

I joined Bally's Total fitness gym earlier the last year and paid my monthly payments on time. However a few months ago I moved out of the area. They continue to charge me and now I think the account is into collections. I have called and let them know that I have moved out of the area and I was told that I hadn't moved far enough. From where I live to the nearest gym is about 25 minutes again was told that it wasn’t far enough. What steps could I take to get out of this contract; I am willing to pay them what they say I owe which is about $200. Please help me.

[sirdarksol]

Kind of curious as to why you joined a martial arts forum for this. Are you interested in any martial arts at all?

As far as Bally's goes, I've heard that they are very difficult to deal with. Did you sign a contract that sets a particular amount of time that you must remain with them? There should be some sort of method out of the contract, even if you did, but it will be easier if you didn't.

[disgruntled]

without seeing the contract there is little we can do to help you.

i have never heard of Balley's...... why did you sign up there? it sounds like a scam rom your description. all reputable contracts have an out, even i it is a fee to get out.

[sirdarksol]

Bally's is a huge chain of gyms in the US. There is a Bally's in nearly every suburb. They also have a reputation for dealing with their customers in unfair manners.

[beauty123]

Thanks! That's great!

____________________

[Liondancer]

I once looked into a Bally's near me. I didn't join. I just talked to them about it. They had me fill out some paperwork, which seemed pretty standard, and I got a two week pass.

I tried to use my two week pass a couple days later, I was screamed at by the guy behind the desk, told that I wouldn't be allowed to sneak into the gym without paying, and was thrown out. I called the guy I had initially spoken to and told him what happened and that I would not be joining. Besides, I'd just been laid off from my job.

I found out, when my rent check bounced, that they had signed me up themselves and were charging my VISA debit card. I called them, and was told that it would be taken care of.

Nothing was done. I called again and was told that since I joined I was under contract and they were going to continue taking money out of my account. I talked to my bank, who told me about the only thing I could do was cancel my debit card and have them issue me a new one. This was done.

Then Bally put my account into collections and started sending me dunning notices for my "past due account," including late fees, collection charges, etc.

Contacting management and the national office did nothing. With the help of the BBB and a local news channel help line, and eight months of hell, I finally got out of the contract, although it cost me. Not the thing I wanted to be worrying about in my unemployed state.

They're a scam. I won't have anything to do with them. About all I could suggest is what I did, the BBB, a local news help department, and maybe the press and possibly legal help.

Good luck.

[disgruntled]

wow! i can't believe that happened! i hope this is an isolated incident :S

[sirdarksol]

It's not. I've heard variations on the above story over and over again. Bally's business plan seems to be "use mass marketing to draw as many people in as possible, get them to sign paperwork however we can, screw them out of as much money as possible, and wait for the next group of people to walk through the door."
I just can't believe that they've lasted this long. You'd think that, with all of the more reasonable gyms out there, that Bally's would go out of business, and yet they keep going.