Complaint Review: Bally Total Fitness - Fairview Oregon

Have been going to clubs for 25 years. The one club thats seems to have the most "problems" is Bally's. After reading some of the rebuttals, I can understand why. I usually pay 1,2, or 3 years in advance, in cash and get a receipt. Every renewal, I've gone into Bally's to give them a chance and walked out wondering , how stupid do they think I am, to sign such a BS contract. Lord, here's cash looking them in the face and they don't know what to say or how to deal with it. They have their prepared, canned somewhat memorized speil that starts to tumble out of their mouths, a wave of the finger and the question, HOW MUCH FOR HOW LONG. They don't know what to say. They're confuzed, so many visits with a personal trainer, alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays, silver plans, gold plans, I don't know, I'll have to ask the manager, will that be drafted out of your checking account or will you be charging it. What part of cash don't you understand. The other thing I seen over the 25 years, is Bally's coming after people 8, 10 years after they've cancelled. A collection agency will call them up and say the owe the full amount of a 3 or 4 year membership, years after that membership, that WAS cancelled, within 3 days or 30 days or 1 years expires. Don't know if it's a fluke in the system or a scam. Just make sure that if you do cancel, you keep all your paperwork.

April, I am responding to your post. There is one other way to cancel you did not mention. By law, many if not all states, have buyer remorse type of protection for consumers. Here in Illinois where I live I have 3 business days (bally days) to cancel a Bally contract FOR ANY REASON. I was conned into a contract after I was told I would be paying a certain amount listed in the contract effective AFTER I had completed the first thirty days. I WAS NEVER TOLD THIS WAS A BINDING FINANCING CONTRACT FROM DAY ONE. I brought the paperwork home and was horrified that I WAS PUT ONTO ONE THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLANS at Bally even though the salesperson NEVER told me about what this plan includes and I never received any documentation to explain the plan. I reacted quickly to this frankly bogus contract and canceled within the 3 business days (not only by certified mail, but in the hands of Bally in the 3 days). Despite this however, given the apparently dubious history of Bally, I am not optimistic of getting a refund entitled to me not only by Bally's contract, but also BY STATE LAW. My "contract" was misrepresented by the Bally salesperson. Bally should be shut down permanently. I look forward to working with my state's Attorney General.

as an ex-employee of btf my advice to anyone who wants a refund via the 30 day money back guarantee is this: per the contract in order to receive a refund you have to attend the club at least 12 times within a 30 day period. if you don't you will not recieve a refund and your contract will remain open. you will not be able to cancel unless you fall into the standard criteria for cancellation which is relocation or illness. when you go to the club, make sure your card is swiped at the front desk, when you request to cancel due the 30 day guarantee the corporate office can determine how many times you have been to the club if your card is swiped. if one or more people join together and want to cancel after 30 days, all parties must meet the criteria to cancel, if only 1 person has gone to club 12 times, then only 1 portion of membership will be cancelled. also make sure that you do not go to the club twice in one day as only 1 visit will qualify for that day.