Complaint Review: LA Fitness International

Beware!!! LA Fitness is one of the most dishonest companies I have ever come across.

Please know that if you give them your credit card to start your membership, you will probably end up having to cancel the card and get a new one. I know, because that's what I am having to do.

After trying out the club in Lake Forest, California for a few weeks, we realized we had been lied to about many things the club said it offered (the person who signed us up and promised many things to us mysteriously disappeared and was said to be working at another health club!) So, within 2 weeks of our membership starting date, we followed the procedures set out for cancelling our membership and quickly realized we were dealing with crooks.

First of all, we were told that we would not be billed monthly membership dues for the first 6 months, but immediately both my husband and I were billed (on our credit card). When we explained this to the club, they pretended not to know anything about this and blamed it on the person who signed us up (you know - the one who was missing)...

So, we called American Express (the credit card we used to begin our membership) and told them what was happening. They instructed us to file a dispute for the charges (which we did) and to write a letter to the corporate office (which we also did).

On January 14th, 2004 LA Fitness sent us a letter acknowledging our cancellation and it stated we would now longer be billed. Sound good? - Well actually "Too good to be true"!

Imagine how I felt when this month (April 1st) I noticed that LA Fitness had charged our card for a $447 initiation fee!!! Over two months after sending us their acknowledgement of our cancellation they bill our credit card!

I called the corporate office and they instructed me to call the local club. Nobody who had originally been there when we first signed up is there (gotta wonder about places with such a high turnover) and I was forced to try and explain our situation to a young girl who they had hired as "Operations Manager". She was totally clueless and said she would call me back. Of course she never did. When I called back, she pretended like she did not know who I was. When I firmly told her who I was (again) and that they were billing our card in error, all of a sudden she knew exactly who I was and very rudely told me that we should have cancelled within 3 days if we didn't want to get billed!

Needless to say, I was furious and told her there was no way they were getting away with this.

I have sinced called the corporate office and they are trying to give me the same "3 day" cancellation crap. Meanwhile, every contract I have says we have 60 days to cancel.

In summary, the only way we can stop them from charging our card is to compltely cancel the card we have now and get one with a whole new number!

I am really angry and disgusted with the way I was treated and believe what they are doing is illegal. I'm thinking about writing our local newspapers about this and also contacting the Better Business Bureau.

But for now, I can't warn people enough to be very careful in dealing with this company. They are crooks, lied to us several times, and have absolutely no problem taking $447 from people who only visited their club only a few times.

Beware!!!

Disgusted
Lake Forest, California
U.S.A.

EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back!

HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO:

Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish you file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.

According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it has been more than 60 days.

If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist you properly at the 800 # , and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to deal with it, take the loss and reverse the charges.

Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!

DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/comptroller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.

And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.

Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was. Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth.

If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily fax or mail to you the Federal Regulation E dispute form.

CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD

If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here.

Remember Don't let them get away with it! Make sure they make the Rip-off Report .. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action.

And good luck Let us know how you do!

ED Magedson Founder, Rip-off Report.com & Author of www.ripoffrevenge.com
EDitor@RipoffReport.com
badbusinessbureau.com
www.ripoffreport.com

Don't let them get away with it.
Make sure they make the Rip-off Report!

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...the victims' advocate

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CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams... find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.

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