La Fitness Cannot Provide Appropriate Trainer

LAF bought Ballys and I was transferred over to LAF on 12/2011 with 60+ hour long paid-for training sessions.  I am 70 and physically challenged (Multiple Sclerosis & stents in heart).  First trainer assigned did not know what to do with me even though I was told he had the most certifications.  After two months and complaints another trainer was assigned.  He was younger with less experience but he "got it" that I was 70 and used a power wheelchair.  He developed a training routine that was working and treated me with respect.  Unfortunately he had family problems and moved from WA to AZ.  He recommended the third trainer who turned out to be just right for me.  So for 14 months we trained so well my doctors thought of him as another leg of my medical support team. With the second trainer I had signed a year contract of 24 sessions a month - using 2 at a time.  So now I am beyond the year's contract and into month by month.  Then two things happened - the third trainer decided that he needed a full-time job with benefits and I discovered a former trainer from Ballys was available elsewhere close by.  So I sent in the cancellation form printed from on-line.  Of course, this is when things began to go screwy - where ever the form is sent they sat on it until the credit card was charged once again!! I went to local club's sales and told them I wanted things cancelled and naturally the latest charge could not be reversed.  So the trainer said he would stay long enough to work the sessions off at 3 at a time which would take us thru June 14th.  Then he could leave and I could go to my former trainer.  During all these 14 months, Lorenzo H., the PT manager, came to me several times saying that he recommends that people switch off to different trainers and I say NO as all was going good.  Lorenzo would talk to trainer about changing his available hours and the trainer would but always made sure my available hours were included (I needed mid-day because of transportation by the paratransit bus).  Lorenzo did not get my age and disability as he would suggest to trainer different exercises or different ways of doing what we were doing.  And after trying and review by doctors, all suggestions were eventually rejected.  Then in recent days Lorenzo kept telling other employees and corporate 'blue shirts' that the trainer did not have enough hours open or at right time - a trainer is expected to have at least 20 hours a week open of his choice.  The trainer opened up 7:00 am thru 12:00 pm. four days a week that equaled 20 hours.  On Monday morning (June 3) when trainer walked in door, Lorenzo told him this was his last day and he would take care of me and assign me a trainer. Well, that has not been done as when I then spoke to Lorenzo he told me the trainer he had in mind was not returning his phone calls nor was in building yet and suggested another trainer (who was leaving at end of month) who was in building that I had to outright reject as I had observed her for the last year and a half and had talked to some of her clients and knew she did not 'get it'. When I mentioned a specific member I had talked to when talking to Lorenzo, he immediately stopped talking about her as a trainer for me.  And her available hours did not fit my transportation.

So here I am - no trainer = no gym time as I cannot do the machines without a trainer.  This is my health and well being and ability to live on my own being compromised by a PT manager for no valid reason.  So now there is 21 sessions (about $600) and no  trainer and no workouts and what now!?!  I would like my money back to spend on a trainer of my choice that is able to help me.  The local sales manager (Claudia P) did not want or like me talking to her sales people about the situation and when I asked if they had a phone number or address at corporate so I could talk to someone about situation. She turned around and yelled at me "Get over it.  Josh isn't coming back and that Lorenzo was working problem and why did I reject the other trainer. And that I should just take my wheelchair over to the window and wait for my transportation."  Must say MOST RESPECTFUL of her - NOT!!  

And another thing - LAF has the supposedly ADA approved pool chair to assist getting into and out of pool.  For 1 1/2 years, LAF employees helped me from wheelchair to swing chair and pushed button that lowers or raises chair from water. Then a new service Manager arrives and on her first day says to me that this was last day  they would help me and that LAF had made chair available and that is all that is required.  So after several days of asking questions and understanding exactly what this all meant, I wrote procedure that outlined what LAF did and what I did.  By the way someone has to hold swing steady for me to transfer myself and then push a button - all of 15 seconds - as a swing moves and the button was on the other side of apparatus.

The procedure:  

La Fitness: Use of ADA Pool Access Swing Chair

La Fitness responsibilities:
1.     Maintenance of pool chair

2.     Ensuring battery is charged, tested and in place in swing chair when required/requested

3.    Will not hold volunteer or member liable for any damage to equipment

Member responsibilities:
1.    Provide volunteer (LAF member, LAF employee, non-member, etc.) to hold swing chair steady for member to transfer from power wheelchair to swing chair or back from swing to power wheelchair; and to use swing chair gears on battery to guide chair into pool or out depending on whether member is entering or exiting pool

2.    Will not hold volunteer liable for any damage to member or member’s equipment

3.    Will notify La Fitness front desk when planning on using ADA pool swing chair in sufficient timeframe for La Fitness to perform their responsibilities



LAF does not get it when it comes to anyone who is not 25 and able-bodied.
LAF is not recommended for anyone physically challenged.