- Report: #759374
Complaint Review: Bally Total Fitness - Internet
Reported By:
Kevin -
St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Bally Total Fitness
Internet, United States of America
Phone:
1-866-402-2559
Web:
www.ballyfitness.com
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Bally Total Fitness Bally Fitness Charged My VISA for an Unauthorized Membership Renewal Internet
For the first time in the 17 years that I've been a member at Bally Total Fitness, they just charged my debit VISA card (August 2011) for an annual membership renewal without my approval. In the past, they had always mailed me a reminder, but then waited for me to contact them to authorize a renewal. I see on one of the other ripoff reports that they are in bankruptcy, so I guess that explains - but doesn't justify - their suddenly unethical business practices.
A call to Bally's customer service number got me a recording that says my wait time would be over 30 minutes, which I'm sure is a deliberate attempt to get people to just give up. Next time I'll try waiting and see if I get someone, but I doubt it.
I have disputed the charge with Wells Fargo, but of course that'll take 10-14 days to resolve. The encouraging news is that I was able to get a similar disputed charge - with my old bank Wachovia -reversed two years ago, thanks in large part to my ability to point them to other people having posted complaints about the same scam, here at ripoffreport.com. (I love this site) Hopefully Wells Fargo will also listen to reason.
Anyway, for about the 3rd time in the past 3 years, I will once again be asking my bank to issue me a new debit VISA card and void the old number, to avoid further ripoffs. It's ridiculous to have to do that so often. (Maybe it's safer to go back to mailing checks to pay my bills, like back in the good old 1990's?)
A call to Bally's customer service number got me a recording that says my wait time would be over 30 minutes, which I'm sure is a deliberate attempt to get people to just give up. Next time I'll try waiting and see if I get someone, but I doubt it.
I have disputed the charge with Wells Fargo, but of course that'll take 10-14 days to resolve. The encouraging news is that I was able to get a similar disputed charge - with my old bank Wachovia -reversed two years ago, thanks in large part to my ability to point them to other people having posted complaints about the same scam, here at ripoffreport.com. (I love this site) Hopefully Wells Fargo will also listen to reason.
Anyway, for about the 3rd time in the past 3 years, I will once again be asking my bank to issue me a new debit VISA card and void the old number, to avoid further ripoffs. It's ridiculous to have to do that so often. (Maybe it's safer to go back to mailing checks to pay my bills, like back in the good old 1990's?)
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Rick V
Norwalk,California,
USA
Bally Total Fitness Response...
#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, August 03, 2011
Thank you for your valuable feedback. We're sorry to hear about your experience. We would be happy to look into this charge for you. When you have a moment, please email [email protected] with your account number and the best phone number to reach you. We then forward your information to a Member Services Supervisor for review and follow-up.
We also wanted to clarify the information you posted. Bally emerged from Bankruptcy in August 2009 as an entirely new, financially stable organization. We have new owners and a new executive management team that is committed to making ongoing changes that will make the Bally experience more valuable and more convenient for our members. Thanks!
