Complaint Review: Bally Total Fitness

On May 8th of this year I joined Bally Total Fitness, Cactus and Cave Creek, under what I was told was a promotion they had going at that time. The terms were: no contract, $20.00/month (month-to-month), no down payment.

I went to workout yesterday, 8/30/2004, and was told that my membership was cancelled, and that whatever dues I had paid were being refunded. They said this was done because the employee who signed me up did something improper (I was also told that he was no longer with the company). I had no knowledge of this.

Now Bally's does not want to honor the original terms they offered me, but rather they want me to sign up again, make a $100.00 down payment, and pay $26.00/month for the first year. According to the staff who discussed this with me, after the first year the monthly dues will go up to $35.00/month for years 2-3, and then down to $17.00/month ad infinitum (subject to inflation, of course).

What I don't understand is this, namely how is any of this my fault? I feel like I'm being punished for their employee's mistake. I just want them to reinstate me at the terms they offered up front--instead of the hassle I'm having to go through now.

Chad
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.