Complaint Review: Bally's Total Fitness

In March of 2004 I saw a 2 week promotion for Ballys Total fitness in The New York Post. I thought that was great. I wanted to try it and see if I liked the gym. I went to the Fordham Road location and presented them the coupon from the paper. I was given a contract to sign that read I was on a trial memebership for 2 weeks and must attend the gym 12 times. If I wasn't totally satisfied I can cancel with no cost or obligation to me.

At that time the Fordham Road location was still in construction and it wasn't due to open until May. I went to the Riverdale location and didn't like it there due to overcrowding, long wait for the machines and a long commute. I then went to the coop city location which was also a long commute from my home and found the same problem. I went to the gym 12 times as per the agreement and went to the Fordham Road location where I signed up originally to cancel my trial membership. I was told that I had to call Bally's and Fax a letter of cancellation and a copy of my membership card. I did so and thought that was the end of that. Then I received a letter stating that I owed $2,740.00 and that they will freeze my bank account if I didn't pay them. They froze my bank account and now I have no money. When I called the lawyers Sharon & Lipsky who froze my bank account they were very rude and kept saying I had to pay the debt. They didn't believe that I had a trial period and said that I had to pay. This gym is a scam. If there is anyone out there who can help me I would really appreciate it.

Jo
Bronx, New York
U.S.A.