Curves, Curves For Women Deceptive contract / AUTOMATIC renewal of your contract?? Broadway In Knoxville Tennessee
It seems that I am not the only person here who thought their "contract" term was that... a set term. I originally signed an agreement in May 2005 (I was required to sign a 24 month term) and in October of 2007 discovered my checking account is still being automatically drafted for the monthly payment.
When I called today, no one was available except a 'new' person who could not help me, but left my information for someone else to handle. Imagine my surprise at the message left on my machine that 'it states in your contract' that you have to write a written notice of cancellation or they "AUTOMATICALLY" renew it themselves!
I always understood a contract to be just that - it ends at the specific time indicated. As I have moved in the last year, I have no idea where the dang thing is... so they are going to 'fax' me a copy of it along with the cancellation notice.
If I have to submit a written notice of cancellation, then why did I have to sign a contract for "24 months"....why not an unlimited "we draft your account as long as we want to" contract. So, tomorrow I have to take time off work to get there and do this their way because I work weekends and their limiting hours (the reason why I haven't been able to go in over a year) leave me no other choice.
Not only did they get a year of payments that I couldn't make it to the gym, but they managed to squeeze another 5 months out of my account. This is deceptive and should be illegal to extend a "legal contract" without written notification and consent.
Anonymous
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Cat
Hendersonville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
ok i know this is an old idea, but.........
#8Consumer Suggestion
Thu, November 13, 2008
Just because other people do it, doesn't make it right!I always wondered how so many of these places seemed to just spring up quickly over night and being that they seem to be a rather small gym I wondered how they stay in business. Now I know that their profit is mostly on the unspecting people who do not yet realize they are still being charged............I am sure it is in the contract, which is why I never sign up on the first day for anything.
Domedude
College Station,Texas,
U.S.A.
Easy way to cancel
#8Consumer Suggestion
Thu, November 13, 2008
If you don't want it to renew automatically, fill out a cancellation form when you join with an effective date at the end of the year (or two).
But really, it's the exact same thing that cell phone comanies do. And cable companies, and satellite companies, and internet companies. Read the contract.
Domedude
College Station,Texas,
U.S.A.
Easy way to cancel
#8Consumer Suggestion
Thu, November 13, 2008
If you don't want it to renew automatically, fill out a cancellation form when you join with an effective date at the end of the year (or two).
But really, it's the exact same thing that cell phone comanies do. And cable companies, and satellite companies, and internet companies. Read the contract.
Domedude
College Station,Texas,
U.S.A.
Easy way to cancel
#8Consumer Suggestion
Thu, November 13, 2008
If you don't want it to renew automatically, fill out a cancellation form when you join with an effective date at the end of the year (or two).
But really, it's the exact same thing that cell phone comanies do. And cable companies, and satellite companies, and internet companies. Read the contract.
Domedude
College Station,Texas,
U.S.A.
Easy way to cancel
#8Consumer Suggestion
Thu, November 13, 2008
If you don't want it to renew automatically, fill out a cancellation form when you join with an effective date at the end of the year (or two).
But really, it's the exact same thing that cell phone comanies do. And cable companies, and satellite companies, and internet companies. Read the contract.
Xmember
Fox Lake,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Another ripped-off former member...
#8REBUTTAL Individual responds
Mon, August 11, 2008
In responce to "Anonymous, KNOXVILLE, Tennessee":
I feel like I'm experiencing deja vu as I read your post re: erroneous charges from 'Curves for Women', right down to the 5 months it took for me to realize I was still being charged. Your experience is exactly the same as mine. I've often wondered (when I was still visiting 'Curves') how they could manage to keep going with so few members. Now I know; they're simply continuing to charge the former members after the "contract" has ended.
And as for the x-Curves owner/manager stating she's seen this happen over & over... um... shouldn't that be a clue to the fact that something needs to change with this - ? Obviously it's intentional. Oh I'm sure 'Curves' has all the tiny writing in order; it's still crappy business practice & I'll be putting this out there every chance I get.
x-Curves member, I think.
mkrizka@comcast.net
Bquinn
Antelope,California,
U.S.A.
Read the fine print
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, February 27, 2008
I am a former Assistant Manager of several Curves locations and ran in to this all too often. It happened so often due to people not paying attention during the signup process and being negligent with their bank accounts.
Not only is it written down on paper with a copy given to the new member, but it is also verbally repeated.
If a contract states that it will automatically continue until you cancel....then that's what you are signing up for!