Complaint Review: Lucille Roberts (Fitness For Women)

I have so many complaints I don't even know where to start. It all started when my membership was running out and they called me up at home (which I found to be a little annoying) to remind me that "there was only a few days left of the membership renewal sale" that was running at the time. So I renewed my membership on May 22, 2003 for 2 years plus 6 months free. When I signed up I paid in full, $299, because I was not told that I could pay in installments. I thought I had to pay in full.

Now today, July 1, 2003, a little over a month after I joined, I decided that I wanted to cancel my membership. The hours that the club is actually open are not working for me. I go to school during the day and then I work until 9:30 at night so when I have free time (early mornings before 9, nights after 9:30, and weekends after 2Pm) the club is not open. Plus its a pain to drive over 20 minutes from my home every time, and I dont feel like waiting longer just to use the limited amount of equipment they have.

So I was given a phone number to call to cancel my membership. The number is (212)734-9717 and is located in New York. They do not have a toll free 800# to call to cancel memberships. I do not have long distance so I had to use a calling card. After waiting on hold for 13 minutes, somone finally picked up and then hung up. I never even got to talk to anyone. So I called back. This time I could not get through, so thinking I dialed the wrong number, I called 2 more times to make sure. Again I could not get through. I waited a few more minutes and tried again. Finally I got through only to be placed back on hold again for another 9 minutes. By now my calling card was running out and I was very agitated.

I told the guy on the phone who sounded like he was barely 18 that I had been on hold forever and he never apologized. He was very rude. Then once I told him I wanted to cancel he said there was nothig I can do about it. I told him that at the club I belong to, they never told me that.

They also conveniently failed to tell me that once I paid in full, I could never get a refund after 3 days unless I a)moved to where there were no Lucille Roberts, b)I became permantly disabled or c)if the location closed. In other words, if I woke up the fourth day after I renewed my membership and decided to cancel my membership, I can't. I'm screwed.

I realize that it is written in the contract but I didn't even get to see the contract until after I already paid. But then they say you have 3 days to read over it and decide. But there is nothing in the contract that specifically says if you are ever dissatisfied with the membership you can't get a refund.

Just beware of anything that Lucille Roberts tells you. Don't believe anything they say unless it is writing because they will say anything for a sale. They won't help you, they never give direct answers, and they are rude. This is a horrible corporation and I will never ever recommend it to anyone. There are so many reports and complaints filed against Lucille Roberts its amazing they are still in business. I know several people personally right now that are going through the same ripoff. Don't let them get you too.

Erica
08028, New Jersey
U.S.A.