Complaint Review: Bally Total Fitness

I have had a memership with Bally for the last 6 years. My contract with them is over and I can cancel my membership at any time. My sister wanted a membership with them and I took her there with the believe that I would get some type of reward from bringing a new member. I talked to one of the sales associates, I explained to him that my sister did not want a contract for 3 years becasue she was 21 years old, new to the country and just wanted to try the gym for a couple of months , but maybe a month to month membership if they had something like that, he said that yes they offered month- to month memberships, and I did not need a contract for that; he also saidthat if my sister did not pay it will be ok ,no charges, and she just had to pay whenever she decided to use the gym again. I could not believe it at first, but he reasure me that it was for real.

He said I just had to sign the papers to get my reward for having brought a member to the gym. I paid my sister's first month and fees with my card.

Two months later I got a billed from Bally's charging me for the new account, when I called to inquired about the additional membership they said that I have a 36 month "contract" with them in which I am the buyer. My sister used the gym only for a week. She went to live with her boyfriend somewhere in the city.We are not communicating anymore.

English is not my first language, but I am proficient. I feel that they took advantage of me becasue he said something else and had me sign a paper saying that it was just for the records. I did not read the paper, I sign becasue I trusted what he told me and my sister while we were sitting at his office. I think that he notice my accent and openly took advantage of the fact that maybe I could be fooled.

I called the gym several times to inquiered about this matter and they said that they have to follow the paper I signed. I can not believe that somebody can get away with laying to people like that .Something has to be done about this matter.

Ori
Washington, District of Columbia
U.S.A.