Complaint Review: BALLY'S TOTAL FITNESS IN TAMPA FLORIDA

WALK AWAY FROM THESE CON ARTISTS - BULLS**T ARTIST AND CON MEN - NOW  !!

Bally's is a horrific switch & Bait con artists - bulls**t company. They will SCREW you at any point during and after your contract. I went into their Tampa facility on Saturday and looked at the area. It was fairly clean for a GYM. The Mgr. a skinny nobody came over and I stated I was inquiring about their fees. Naturallyhe was all smiles because in the back of his mind, he's already thinking... commission. In any case, we sat down and I stated I didn't want a contract but... a mnth to month - and he immediatly reached into his desk and pulled out papers. I asked him what it would cost per month... his answers... $ 19,.99. Wow I said to myself, not bad at all. We talked about what I need to be done and a general time frame of 3 to 6 months, renewing every month, but it had to be a month to month deal. His reply... no problem..., Then it started... Let's sihn up today... ok.. Here is my 1st months money up front... he refused the cash.... I asked why... oh we need the 1st month on a credit card...I replied I do not have a CREDIT CARD - but I do have a Debit Card specifically for your GYM which I just opened a Half Hour Ago..... he starred at me... I said What's the matter ?  He said you don'tb have a Bank Account Credit Cardc ?   No, I deal with DEBIT CARDS or CASH ... I never keep more on the DEBIT CARD thann I need to... At any given timev I pay the bill and leavev $5.00 extra on the card... He looked annoyed... I then asked him... so hyow much do I go back and put on the card ?

$60.00 was his answer.... Where is the otherv $40.00 coming from... Oh those are your fees for joing...it's only ONE TIME. That pissed me off, because he completly skirted the application fees. My balls twisted, but I said... ay its a ONEV TIME shot... I understand... but it was learned after I pressured him... Here comes the BULLS**T.

You have to signed up by 6pm because the $19.99 Sale ends today at 6pm. I'm no jerk, I knew he wanted the sale doine right then and there... ( pressuring me ).

I reached into my pocket pulled out $6000 in cash..  His response... NO I can't take CASH was a bulls**t ploy to get your CREDIT CARD NUMBER...SO if something was not right, you quit, you walked away...THEY HAD YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER to continually pull your monthly FEES off that card. I outsmarted him and said..I opened a DEBIT CARD today with GREEN DOT and this card is specifically for BALLY's... he looked at me... again annoyed.. and I said.... You must think I just fell off the pumpkin truck. Do you think in my right mind I'm gouing to leave money in an account you can draw off of contract or no contract ? He sat up at his desk...I repeated, I will leave enough on this card for the initial membership for ONE MONTH, and according to you..... I can pay cash every montyh thereafter.... NO PROBLEM ( I SAID ).

What he then said wasw.. so you justb leave enough on that card... to run that card and bill ? Absolutly... I pay Electric by one card, water bill by another card, and you'll have your own card... for the initial transaction.... then I cut the card and pay cash each month I come in. He didn't like that because after I would cut the card, there was no way to bill my credit card if there was no money on it... or it had been cut by me.

We stood up, I walk out... and he said get back by 6pm or the will cost $65.00 a month starting " TOMORROWN ".

I didn't go back... but went back the following morning. He was off... a Young women named NANCY walked over and I stated... Can you give me some idea of how much it costs to join as of today ( SUNDAY )... sure.... $19.99 for how long is this monbthly month -to - month offer on ?  Until the end of the month... I specifically asked her " are you sure" ... absolutly sure...she replied.

How much do I need to put on my  DEBIT CARD... I will go put the cash on it right now and come back tomorrow ( Monday ). .... JUST $19.99  We walked into her office... she took my drivers license ( photo copy ) and took my information, name, address, e-mail, telephone number, and put it on her screen.. We stood up.... and I said thanks... I'll be here first thing at 9am  ande we can get started... her reply was see you tomorrow.

I then out of curiocity called the HILLSBOROUGH  OFFICE... and asked them for their prices... $19.99 but again it was over at 6pm ( Sunday ) the same day I was calling... This HIGH PRESSURE BULLS***T  is just that BULL***T to get you to sign up.... right there, right now and.... dobn't forget with your CREDIT CARD.

ONE THING: If at the end of THIRTY DAY PERIOD you deceide ... I don't want to do this next month... you BETTER send CORPORATE A CERTIFIED LETTER - BY CERTIFIED MAIL indicating you wish to WITHDRAW in WRITING. SEND IT TO THEM CERTIFIED MAIL- RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED- THEY HAVE TO SIGN FOR THE LETTER. AS LONG AS YOU GIVE THEM A 30 DAY NOTIFICATION IN ADVANCE YOU ARE WITHDRAWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP, THEY CAN ONLY BILL YOU UNTIL THE END OF THE 30TH DAY.... AND NOT BEYOND.... IF THEY DO... IT IS FRAUD AND YOU SUE THEIR A** IN COURT.

IN ADDITION... LOOK UP BALLY's FITNESS ON THE WEB>>>>> The fees displayed are there in BLACK & WHITE TO READ.

when you WITHDRAW from your contract.... YOU NEED TO SEND A CERTIFIED LETTER - RETURN REQUEST RECEIVED... they will have to sign for it.....

SEND IT TO:    BALLY'S TOTAL FITNESS: CORRESOPONDANCE DEPT,P.O. BOX 96241, WASHINGTON, D.C.   20090-6241

YOU SHOULD ALSO SEND A CERTIFIED LETTER TO THEIR CORPORATE CENTER: