Bally's Total Fitnesss Bally's Total Rip-OFF, Sales tactics are misleading and wrong! Miami Florida
March 2004 I was a student at a near by University and was given a 2 week pass to work out with one of my peers. The University has their own gym and I was in not in the need of a membership and as a college student to not have extra money to give out for another gym membership. Bally's staff literally stuck you in a room for over 2 hours to sell you a membership when all I wanted is a guest pass to work out with my friend. The sales person assured me that for $5 dollars I am able to work out for a month and that I can cancel within that month. I tried cancelling my membership and bally's would not allow me to they told me I had to have some sort of illness that prevented me from working out or move to another locations where there wasn't a bally's. I was being sent out bills for $67 a month for using their gym. I really did not know what to do, I am a full-time college student, with no income taking out student loans, and being charged for a membership I did not want. Now I receive a call from a collection agency telling me they are going to take me to court because they bought the debt from another agency. I really do not know what to do. I do not have the resources right now to resolve this issue. I'm curently not working and attending school for a year to become a Registered Nurse. I just want to earn a great living helping others and just live happy life and here I have this collection agency threating me to pay about $2,000 dollars for a membership I did not use. This is not right! Yes its a total rip off!! I just want to be left alone right now. I wish they would understand that I do not have any money. I'm in debt with student loans which I see as a great investment not only for myself but for society. If any one has information about the law or how I can pass a law or bill to prevent this from happening to other people. Please Contact me. Coreenjm@yahoo.com
Corinne
Pembroke pines, Florida
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Corinne
Pembroke pines,Florida,
U.S.A.
Bally's Total Fitness Use of Coercion
#2Author of original report
Fri, May 19, 2006
I'm doing some research and I found this under Florida Contract Law:
Coercion and Fraud
Even if a person has the legal capacity to enter into a contract, the use of coercion, fraud or some other form of artifice in gaining a party's consent will likely make the contract voidable. Coercion, also known as duress, is where one party uses force or pressure to get another party's consent to a contract. The force does not have to be physical -- one could be put under mental duress. Fraud is the intentional misrepresentation of the terms or obligations under the contract.
THIS IS WHAT THEY DO:
Coercion, also known as duress, is where one party uses force or pressure to get another party's consent to a contract. The force does not have to be physical -- one could be put under mental duress.