Cancelation Nightmare

ComplaintsFitness CentersLA Fitness

Complaint

0
Sharon
Country: United States
I recently moved and are now living far from the nearest LA Fitness center. I stopped by before I moved out to terminate my membership. They told me I need to send them a filled out form by mail. Ridiculous. I printed it our and sent it. A month later I saw I am still being charged. I called them. They said "they have no record of my cancellation". How convenient! I filled the form again and sent it as a certified mail to have the proof of me mailing and them receiving.

The charges continued. I closed my bank account, and now I am getting calls from LA Fitness asking me to update my banking account information. I said I canceled my membership but for some reason it's still open.

Comments

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  • 0
    tj
    The only reason it is still "open" is that they still want your money.  Health clubs commonly try to pull this type of scam.  They get a lot of money from people who don't actually use their facilities, including those who can't figure out how to get them to stop taking it. Didn't the sales guy disclose to you that they do this stuff before you signed that contract?  Or did he promise there would be "no problem" cancelling if you moved?

    If your contract allows cancelling if you move out of range of one of their facilities, and you have followed the notification procedure to cancel under those circumstances, with proof of their receiving that notification, then you have cancelled the contract, and THEY are the ones breaching the cancellation terms.

    Contact the California Attorney General's office to file a complaint.  Under California law, they are required to be registered with the state.

    Also file a complaint thru BBB.  Various LA Fitness sites on the BBB list, including their headquarters, show that they are members, and are therefore required to respond to BBB complaints to keep their membership.  

    They probably joined BBB in the first place to take the heat off of consumer complaints to the state about their activities.  For example, note in the BBB report statistics below that almost all of their settled complaints are either that they made a full refund, or that they agreed to perform according to their contract.  Both of those catagories are consistent with your specific problem of failing to honor a customer cancellation under contract and continuing to charge money, corrected after a BBB complaint.  In fact, that would appear to be the main type of complaint against them.

    From BBB report:

    No. of Cmpl   Type of Response
    95 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested
    17 Making a partial refund
    269 Agreeing to perform according to their contract
     1 Refusing to make an adjustment
    34 Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement
     0 Unanswered
     0 Unassigned
    416 Total

    Include copies of your cancellation form and return receipt with your complaints, to establish the original date on which you cancelled.  Also ask for the money back that they charged after you initially cancelled.  Hang onto your records, as you can see from your first attempt at cancellation, that they may try to weasel out of anything they think you can't prove, despite their "A" rating with BBB.  BBB only rates their responsiveness AFTER they receive complaints, so "fixing" a disputed attempt to ignore your cancellation still looks "satisfactory".
  • 0
    Alan
    There is now 1 unassigned on the BBB...
    That would be mine.... Let's see what happens with that.
  • 0
    carl
    La fitness in kearny mesa has employees drinking on the job I had went there and a couple of there employees had smell like alchol they also threaten to fight me in the parking lot the employee name was mike a bald asian guy. So what should I do he smelt like alchol too
  • 0
    sandy
    they especially con college kids and make them beleive it is such a good deal they tell you one charge and then add on. They make sure that you don't understand the contract. They try to make you beleive that your college student is irresposible and did not read the contract. The only way to get rid of them is to close your bank account. They still are trying to get my daughter to go into talk to them or to contact them or a phone number or an address. They aren't getting another cent out of us. They also told me to go online for the form to cancel. It is a scam they are trying to do anything to get an address. Then they try to threaten you that they will turn you over to a collection agency.
  • 0
    mike
    When i went to cancel my membership  the front desk staff explained to me how to get it canceled and it worked. I did have an initial problem where they said they didnt recieve it, but i just showed them my receipt from the post office. They made a copy and sent it to the corp office. The manager even refunded the last billing. I dont know if this helps, but it stopped them from calling me all the time about updating my information. I guess what it all comes down to is getting it in writing.
  • 0
    operation manager=brainless
    I was lucky to cancel my membership without a problem. Only problem is, they keep charging me for daycare and the operation manager insisted that it is my fault that I didn't cancel my day care membership. As is I would go send my 4 yr old son to the gym when I no long have membership. Bunch of snakes trying to get your money.
  • 0
    Lori Turner
    I'm so angry with LA Fitness.  I bought a membership from a friend. LA fitness never seemed to get it correct kept billing her... I thought it didn't work and let it go... A year later I notice I'm being billed, I just lost my job went on the 2nd of the month to cancel, but of couse they make you pay for certified mail delivery.  I disputed the last months charge with the bank.. but.. it didn't work due to "contract".  I would NEVER go back to LA Workout..  I think they're cheats and liars.  I hope they go out of business!!
    I tried to go to their website to Contact Us... but, of course, it didn't work!
  • 0
    iHate lafitness
    | 1 reply
    I was a member at LA fitness for 2 months whey they tricked me into joining their crap training. They told me I would cancel it anytime I want. Less than a week later I was unexpectedly laid off. I explained this to them and told them I want to cancel the training but I will keep the membership. They said I cannot cancel my training. They only thing I can do is pay $15 per month for freezing the training and that means that it would extend my contract for whatever months I froze. In the contract it is written that I could cancel my membership if I pay half of whatever months is remaining. But they declined to do this. I was pissed off that I told them I want to cancel my membership and that was even more nightmare. Those reptiles printed out paper with just my name, barcode number and that I should send it to California. What the heck? when I was joining them I did not send anything to California. Why now? I knew they would charge me for months to come before they would finally cancel it. I closed my bank accounts, gave them fake address and phone number. I'm hiring a lawyer because these animals refused to cancel my membership.
    • 0
      Chris replies to iHate lafitness
      How did things turn out? I'm currently going thru the same ordeal with them.
  • 0
    JHu
    | 7 replies
    I was talked into buying a personal training account with the instruction that I could cancel it at any time or freeze it for $10.

    He lied to me!  Apparently I have to keep this for a year!  I can cancel if I pay in half of the months left on the contract.  Completely bogus.  They are trying to make sales and don't care if they have to lie to do it!

    Totally considering cancelling the credit card they have on file, but am worried about it affecting my credit score.  They are a bunch of jerks.
    • 0
      joe replies to JHu
      | 2 replies
      report the card lost and you will get a new cc #, and make sure you opt out of auto bill updater or else la will get your new cc number.
      • 0
        michelle replies to joe
        | 1 reply
        Hi i called for a new debit card and canceled my old one. Can la fitness still get into my bank account and take my money even though i called for a new card with a new number?
        • 0
          Keshia replies to michelle
          Yes they can still go into your account am having the same problem I reported my card missing and my bank canceled dat card. La fitness send me an email saying they can't withdraw the funds and my new card came I didn't give them no information I checked my account and they withdrew money from my account cause they called card services saying I had a contract and they back to taken my money so now I told my back to put a frezze that will not allow them to withdraw money and I filled a claim against them .i sent in my cancellation form not sure y they still tken money Frm me when they said my last billing day was in June . They r theifs .they tell you ,you can cancel da trainer session anytime if u do not read the contract before u sign it u are screwed .as a matter if fact do not sign any contract with them .
    • 0
      Julia replies to JHu
      | 2 replies
      I had the same problem with them and am considering calling attorneys. Will you join me?
      • 0
        Daisy c replies to Julia
        | 1 reply
        I will join!!!!
        • 0
          Aron replies to Daisy c
          Likewise!
    • 0
      raymund replies to JHu
      What happened in your credit score when you closed your credit card? Because they trick me on joining the personal training. Message me on my email it is raymund_espi@yahoo.com
  • 0
    julie
    manager is very racist to customer, they treated people by looking up the type of program you purchased if you by cheap one, they look at u your low class., is this some kind of racial stratification or what....
  • 0
    abdul khan
    I JOINED LA FITNESS, KERNY MESA CENTER ON 03/31/2010 AT 5:00 PM. NEXT DAY I GET CALL THAT I GET A FREE SESSION TO GET A PERSONAL TRAINER(HIS WAS SOMETHING TOD...). ON 04/02/2010 AT 5 PM I WENT THERE TO HAVE MY FREE SESSION FOR A PERSONAL TRAINER. HE ASKED ME WHAT IS YOUR GOAL AND I SAID , \"I WANT A BEACH BODY\". BUT I ALSO MENTION THAT I DONT WANT TO PAY EXTRA FOR SESSION. LATER THEN THE GUY TOLD GO AND DO TREADMILL FOR 25 MIN,(WHICH I THOUGH WAS THE FREE SESSION TRAINING SO I DID IT) LATER ANOTHER PERSION GUY COME IN AND SAY THAT HE IS GOING TO BE MY TRAINER, AND HE TO ME BACK TO DESK AREA. BEFORE HE COULD SAY ANOTHER I TOLD HIM STRAT FORWARD THAT I NOT GOING TO JOIN ANY PAY SESSION, I JUST JOIN THE GYM TO RELAX MYSELF AND DO TRAINING.

    STILL KEPT ON SHOWING THE PLAN(WHICH I DIDNT MIND, AS I THOUGH IT THERE SALES STYLE). STILL I TOLD HIM \"NO I DONT WANT TO JOIN ANY PLAN\" I ALSO MENTION THAT I DONT SPENT EXTRA MONEY OUT MY POCKET. THEN STARTED TO SHOW THE THAT THEY CAN MAKE MY BODY LOOK LIKE BRAT PIT IN \"TROY\", STILL I SAID NO I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR ANY SESSION.

    THEN HE SAID THAT HE SAID YOU ARE GOOD PERSON TELL ME WHAT HE CAN DO FOR ME, I SAID BEST THING BE FREE SESSION.

    AFTER 20 MIN OF CONVERSATION HE CALLED THE OLD GUY TOD(I GUESS HIS NAMES IS SOMTHING LIKE THAT BUT IS PERSIAN AS HE TOLD ME, AND HE SAID HE THE GM TOO)

    THEY TOLD COME TO ANOTHER DESK WHICH I DID OF NO FEAR. THEY BOTH OF THEM SAT NEXT TO ME, AND STARTED TELLING THAT EVERY MEMBER WHO JOIN KERNEY MESA CENTER HAS A TRAINER AND I SHOULD ALSO HAVE IT, I STILL SAID NO I JUST WANT TO WORK , THIS TIME I ALSO MENTION THAT I JOIN LA FITNESS FOR SWIMMING.
    TOD (THE GUY NAME I CANT PRONOUNS PROPERLY, WHO CLAIM TO BE THE GM) SAY THAT HE WILL CHARGE ME MONEY FROM MY ACCOUNT,( I THOUGHT THEY BLUFFING)

    THEN ASKED MY TELEPHONE NUMBER WHICH I DID AND THEN HE SHOW A PAGE ON THE DESKTOP WHICH MY DEBIT CARD DETAIL AND HE SAID,THAT HE  WILL CHARGE IT FROM MY ACCOUNT, SINCE THEY HAVE ON THERE FILE.

    I SAID TO HIM DARE TO DO THAT.

    THEN HE SAID , HE DONT CARE ABOUT HIS JOB AND HE WILL DO IT, AND HE MADE A BILL WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, AND TOLD ME TO SIGN THE BILL ON THE TOUCH PAD, WHICH I SAID \"NO\"(LATER I CAME TO KNOW IT WAS FAKE, AS I CHECK MY STATEMENT ONLINE AT 8:30 PM).

    THEN THE OTHER PERSON GUY (SECOND GUY NAME FORGOTTEN BUT HE IS ALSO PERSION) SAID TO THAT OK LETS DO WRESTLING WITH HIM, IF I WIN IT FREE , IF I LOSS THEY CHARGE ME $400. I SAID \"NO\".

    THEN THEY STARTED MAKING FUN OF ME, THAT IM ACTING LIKE A JEW, AND ACTING LIKE OTHER INDIAN PEOPLE, WHO DONT LIKE TO PAY.

    THEN I SAID I HAVE TO GO, I WENT TO THE DRESSING ROOM CHANGE MY DRESS AND WEN TO THE HELP DESK ASK FOR A TOLL FREE NUMBER, (AT THAT TIME THE 2ND GUY COME IN) HE GIVE A NUMBER 1800-600-2550, I SPET OUTSIDE , SINCE I WANTED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THERE SALES PERSON, BUT THE NUMBER WAS WRONG.

    I CAME BACK IN AT 6:35 PM SAME DATE 04/02/2010, I SAID I WANT TO CANCELL MY MEMBERSHIP I WANT MY FULL MONEY BACK, WHICH HE GALDY DID IT.

    NOTE:-
    1) I WAS FORCED TO BUY TRAINING SESSION
    2) THEY THREATEN ME THAT, THEY CAN ACCESS MY ACCOUNT AND BILL IT TO MY CARD, WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE.
    3) THEY WANTED TO GAMBLE ME OVER A WE WRESTLING MATCH (BETWEEN ME AND THE 2ND GUY, WHO IS PERSION)
    4) THEY MADE RACIAL REMARK THAT I WAS ACTING LIKE A JEW AND OTHER INDIAN PEOPLE (IM NOT JEW, IM MUSLIM, FOR YOU INFORMATION)
    5) I WAS TREATED BADLY.
    Damage Resulting = I WAS MENTALLY DEPRESSED,
    I WAS THREATEN.

    I FELL LIKE THAT IN USA IF YOU A BROWN PERSON THIS HOW YOU WILL BE TREATED,
  • 0
    BreBre
    It wasn't a race thing. I have seen white women/men in your postion. These people only get commission so they get desprate when pple do sign up. Get a lawyer and sue their butts!

    Because you can pull that race card and screw them over.
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