Calling out all Lawyers on myfitnesspal

Alee4nia

I cannot tell you what kind of last few days I have had. On Sunday, 11/13/11, my husband and I decided to cancel my gym membership as my husband wants to join a gym too (I have lost 20 pounds in the last 9 weeks). The gym I currently go to is for women only. I called on Sunday asked how to cancel and the girl on the phone said come and fill out the paperwork. I went in and filled out the form and over the phone she said my last day would be Dec. 15, 2011. That sounded right to me based on the policy that was given to me verballly and written. I wanted to confirm this date so I called Monday and talked to the woman who sold the membership. She said no, my last day would be January 15, 2012. I went into to get a better understanding of how this could be. When I went in and disagreed with the sales lady she went ballistic and said she had called the police on me for harrasing her and her employees. I even had my toddler with me...I wasn't harrassing anybody, I wanted to get information regarding this matter.

I started the month to month membership on September 7, 2011. The sales lady said for cancellation you just need to give a 30 day notice. At this time she collected a first and last month's gym membership fee. Now she is twisting her words and saying I have to give 60 day notice technically.

The words on the contract read as follows: "After initial term of the monthly dues agreement (I have no inital term as mine is month to month solely), licensee pays a month to month maintenance fee, which can be cancelled at any time, with written notice. 30 day prior to your next billing date. THIS NOTICE OF CANCELLATION MUST BE POSTMARKED 30 DAYS PRIOR TO OUR NEXT BILLING DATE, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT BE BILLED AFTER THAT DATE." My billing cycle is the 15th of every month. I gave her a 33 day notice on 11/13/11. From my understanding I have to give a fee on 11/15/11, but that fee would be the last month's fee she collected at signup. Is this correct?

What should I do? I already have filed a complaint with the BBB. Honestly, it is not the money, but the principal of the matter. I just want to teach this business a lesson that you can't do this to people.

MissingMyOldSelf

I don't know... but I had a membership here years ago in Dayton at Premier Fitness Ladies gym (in Huber, if anyone goes there), and when I went in to cancel, they had me fill out the paperwork, charged me a $200 fee for ending my contract early, and STILL continued to charge my checking account monthly for my dues.

I closed that account after the 2nd time it happened. Then I received a bill in the mail for almost $500 for "unpaid fees."

Never paid it....

So I'm curious how this goes!!! Keep us posted please!

dls06

That will teach you. Exercise it bad!!!!!!!!!!!:laugh:

kristilovescake

Would it make sense if..

You cancel on 11/15

Are billed on 12/15 for the next (and last) payment, giving you access to the gym for another month - assuming you "prepay" a month to use the gym the following month and not pay for the month you just used.

You get to access the gym until 1/15, since you prepaid for a month in December? (You pay 12/15 for gym access 12/15 through 1/15)?

So your last day to access the gym will be 1/15, but they won't bill you for it?

That's how my last gym cancellation worked for me. They billed me one last time and I could use the gym for a month after I cancelled, since technically I paid for it.

I don't know how they could justify BILLING you in January too, but you should be able to access it for the month you paid.

moniquedeanne

You should call the gym again and speak to management. If not you can try corporate if they are a big enough gym. That contract reads pretty clearly 30 days notice in advance. That way you've already paid your last month's dues and shouldn't have to pay an extra month. You can also try calling your local news channel or radio station and have them broadcast a small interest story on your local gym and the harassment you received from the saleswoman.

Good luck.

Alee4nia

That will teach you. Exercise it bad!!!!!!!!!!!:laugh:

i didn't understand you comment...what do you mean?

hoppinglark

Call the Better Business Bureau
and your local Chamber of Commerce.

kristilovescake

That will teach you. Exercise it bad!!!!!!!!!!!:laugh:

i didn't understand you comment...what do you mean?

I think it was just a joke

And I like the idea of contacting your local news channels. One of our local news channels has special segments where they help people solve issues with companies like this where nobody else seems to want to help. It's worth a shot!