Complaint Review: Extreme Fitness

My problems with Extreme Fitness began at the beginning of May 2007.

When I signed-up for my membership they also scheduled a trial workout for the next day. The following day a personal trainer (Louise) gave me an exhausting workout. I exerted myself so much that I thought I was going to lose consciousness. I hadn't ate anything for several hours before going to the workout. My blood sugar must have been very low. Immediately upon finishing the workout they shoved a contract in my face. At the time of sitting down both the manager and personal trainer knew I was disorientated.

In response to my comment about bloodsugar, "yeah thats right you didn't eat enough".

"You look white...I guess you know the importance of eating now."

Then the 230 pound body builder continued to pressure me into signing-up. I told him I wanted time to look at the contract and asked if I could take it home. He said "No you can't". I quickly browsed over the contract and thought, 12 sessions thats not so bad.

I completely misread and misunderstood the contract. It said 72 sessions over 18 months!!! As well there was no total dollar amount anywhere on the contract, so you have to calculate it yourself ($6,000+)!! They completely oversold me! Thats way too much personal training for anyone. They never mentioned I had ten days to cancel. I have heard from others the 10 day cancellation means nothing. They will ignore you until the 10 days are over.

Only two and half weeks later I continued training and heard my trainer say "you only have 6 sessions left". I thought that was correct. She must have thought it was 12 sessions as well, so I never bothered checking my contract.

In one of those weeks they advised I sign-up for nutrition. Without checking my original contract they sold me a second contract for nutrition. Originally my first contract contained nutrition sessions!!! A week later my personal trainer quit and they failed to assign me another trainer for two weeks. I decided I would train solo and cancel my personal training, but they wouldn't allow me to. Even after I told the manager RANDY MACDEARMID (of the Richmond street gym) the original contract was made under undue duress and influence. He said "we don't have to do anything".

My contracted was not valid nor honored.

I said "what about if you leave the country because it would be cheaper for me to move" as a sarcastic remark to being extorted. He said "yes all you need is a letter of employment". I'm a web developer which is in demand almost everywhere. I thought I can work overseas and save money by going, so I gathered up all the necessary documents to work in New Zealand and found an employee that was willing to hire me.

I provided all the documents and a check paying for any sessions used. Randy filled out and signed an administration form stating my contracts were canceled and Sam another manager did the same for my membership. At the very end of the month of June I was billed again when it was supposed to be canceled.

At this point I noticed the charge two weeks after it had been made. I called their HQ and faxed them all the documents that were deceptively withheld by their manager or ignored. I called their CFO Mr. Bell and he handed it off to Paula Dow who again handed it off to an enforcer named 'Gord' hiding in anonymity with just a nickname. Gord phoned me yesterday angrily stating I needed to fax him my plane ticket, even after he had more than enough information.

At this point I knew that no matter what I did or where I go they will continue to bill me. It was the same case for a consumer named Jeremy who went to California. They continued to bill him for almost two years even after he called and provided evidence repeatedly.

Now I'm left with one option, stay in Canada, hire a Consumer Protection lawyer and take Extreme Fitness to court.

I have found out on the Better Business Bureau of Canada's website that EF has an unsatisfactory record and 66 outstanding customer complaints.

Who is willing to join me in a Class Action Lawsuit? They have to be stopped before they ruin more peoples' lives.

Mark
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Extreme Fitness

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