Complaint Review: Girlfriend's Fitness Gallery

I had gotten a membership over a year ago because of a coupon that I recieved in the mail announcing their opening. At sign-up I was told that I would have to commit to a year in order to take advantage of their coupon offer. So, unwittingly, I signed. They told me it was just a year.

Since then I have moved away from the area, and figured that I'd just let the membership run out. I just checked my checking account statement, and noticed that I had been charged for the past two months, when my membership should have been over. So, I called to cancel and to inquire about a refund.

Lo and behold, there was small print. Apparently in their small print all memberships are renewed automatically on a month to month basis, with no warning letter or notification of any kind. I was told on the phone by this woman that since they "are a small business", it was not feasible for them to send a courtesy letter to their customers. I was also told that whether or not the person was decietful when I first signed up, the information was in the contract.

She refused me a refund, and said that all cancelations must be given 30 days to be processed (this is a tiny little gym with two employees that spend most of their day working out with the women... it can't take that long)...so I will likely get a charge next month as well.

I think this is one of the worst cases of customer service I've ever seen. I feel that the policy that they created, the month to month renewal, was created strictly to make money off of people who are not always keeping track of their accounts something I would expect from a corporate gym, not a small business. A good company would state that it was in the contract, but apologize and refund the $29. Never do business with these people. They're only out to trick you.

Carolyn
Lansing, Michigan
U.S.A.