debit charge on my "freeze" month membership

ComplaintsFitness CentersBally's Fitness Center

Complaint

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Diane S.
Country: United States
A trainer at Ballys Fitness Center ignored my back causing me to put a freeze on the Month of March. Payment is due by March 15, 2013, so I submitted the $4.00 mid-February 2013. On March 15, 2013, a debit was deducted from my bank account.  I immediately contacted my club and was told the sorry bit, and that a refund would not be credit, they instead will be issuing a check and it would be mailed March 18, 2013.

Well, it is now April 15, 2013 and I have not received the refund. Worse, With 8 e-mails which no one replied, Two phone calls to customer services which I have been placed on hold, cut off and simply poor service in handling this situation and now today, April 15, 2013. the same answer, "It was mailed on March 18, 2013". I demanded an date and confirmation no. which is 1624604.  I need to know where is the check, IF IT WAS EVER MAILED?  This has got to be the worse customer service I have ever dealth with. I would NEVER RECOMMEND BALLYs TO ANYONE and I have been coming to this club when it was formerly JACK LALANE.

Next, I stopped all electronic payments as I had to freeze April as well, just in case.  Lo and behld Ballys sends me a letter saying my membership is now canceled due to no longer having electronic payments????? and now it is time to renew.  WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS IS THIS COMPANY DOING. I WANT ANSWER ASAP otherwise this is going to the Attorney General's office.  THEY SHOULD NOT BE IN BUSINESS!

Comments

  • 0
    robert berninger
    I do not believe that you can be forced  to allow for electronic payments. Do not allow Ballys to tell you that this is the only way that you can pay. You have control over who has access to your credit card and not everyone should have access to it because they cannot be trusted. Pay by check or money order. If you disagree with a charge , contact your credit card people and " dispute " the charge. Tell your credit card people that you refuse to pay any unauthorized charges. Ballys is not in charge- you are . Take control. Contact Ballys in writing or by email so that you have a paper trail for future reference- like filing a complaint with the State Attorney Generals office- division of consumer protection. The BBB will be of no help, since Ballys will typically just ignore the complaint. They have no obligation to respond as there are no meaningful punitive consequences. Ballys, Blast Fitness etc all have the same business model and often you do not benefit from their practices. Studies have shown that people typically give up after 7 failed attempts and businesses know this and use it to their advantage- so- never give up.
  • 0
    n  kantor
    Having my credit card compromised, not involving Ballys, Master Card canceled my card and issued
    a new card.  I was on a month to month with Ballys, Ballys only had my canceled card in November.
    How did they get access to my new card and continue to bill me. Speaking with Capital One Master Card
    this is a common practice with Ballys and they use a service which provides my  private info. Still investigating. Ballys is almost impossible to reach by phone. Local Center states they have a difficult time
    reaching main office.

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