L.A. Fitness - Need Advice

kaleas

I don't know if anybody else has had an issue like this with a gym.

I signed up Friday at 4pm after basically being badgered into how I'll never lose weight and be happy unless I do. I need to make a personal investment in myself.

160 dollars later and my first fitness assessment, and I'm horizontally positioned due to pulling my lower back on the row machine. their "personal trainer" pushed me to go through the pain. I'd never get fit if I didn't!

Needless to say. I want my money back. The agreement says I have 3 business days, til midnight of the 3rd day, to get everything back.

I call yesterday morning at 730am. I was told I had 3 to 7 days. As long as I came in before Friday, I'd be fine.

I go in today at 3pm. I'm now told I cannot get my money back. My 3rd business day ended yesterday, and that the girl on the phone was wrong. I strictly have 3 days.

Am I unintelligent? I'm pretty sure from Friday at 4pm, til Wednesday at 3pm is 3 days, especially if I have til midnight of the 3rd business day.

Is there anything I can do to get my 160 back from this horrible place?

ironanimal

Phone trading standards, whatever they're called locally?

munkey418

Go back in or call in and throw the BIGGEST b**** fit you have ever thrown, speak to every manager possible, make a big scene and theyll do w/e they can to get ur buns out of there. Works for my mom anyway xD I agree youre still within your 3 business day time frame.

christine24t

Agreed with above.

Also another thing - if you have a Twitter, tweet the corporate office. People do this at Lifetime Fitness and it actually works!

kaleas

I've been researching online and this company is horrible. There are no corporate numbers for customer service. Their management is non-existant. Their memberships are scams and their "personal trainers" are nothing more than salesmen out to push dodgy, high cost services on you.

Planet Fitness has this same issue. Are there not gyms that aren't giant scams for your money?

ironanimal

Gold's Gym.

munkey418

Ive had good experience with snap fitness and anytime fitness

SofaKingRad

I had LA Fitness and for a while they were okay. But they are insane to cancel membership with. Total pain in the *kitten*.

auroranflash

They ARE very difficult to cancel with. I've heard horror stories of people going through the whole ridiculous process and still being charged, months later.

I would go back and demand to speak to a manager. If possible, tell them the name of the employee you spoke with about cancelling the first time (it's ALWAYS a good idea to get names with this sort of thing... a lesson a lot of us have had to learn the hard way). Tell them your experience with the trainer, everything. If one manager doesn't listen, demand to speak to another one. Try to be firm but respectful. Don't cuss. Don't back down. Go as high in the chain as you have to, but make them honor your request. Eventually someone should listen.

dad106

Is it 3 business days? or are they counting Saturday and Sunday? Because 3 days from Friday, would be Monday if they are counting Saturday and Sunday... and if they aren't, then it should be today. I would go in there and explain what happened and demand your money back.. or look on the website and see if there is a way to contact corporate.

Either way, I go to X-Sport Fitness and I love it. All the trainers are certified, and it's pretty low pressure. For 33.50 a month I get to go the gym 24/7, classes, a basketball court, plus a pool/hot tub. The spa and personal trainers are extra.

Anomalia

This scares me...I have an L.A. Fitness membership. I refused to do the "fitness assessment" with the trainer because I don't trust their personal trainers, its just the only gym in my area that isn't gross.

EvanKeel

I did my fitness assessment after I joined. They pretty much ignored me when I said that I can lose weight on my own, and all I wanted help with were my lifts. I was unimpressed with their "training" abilities. They're the most convenient location for me, which is sort of a "must" for me when it comes to making sure I'll do my workouts. Now I'm not really looking forward to when I do have to cancel.

LuckyLeprechaun

I've heard horror stories like this before. This is why I prepaid for 3 years, so they didn't have my credit card number.

Those 3 days are theree business days. Go in there calmly and confidently, talk to the manager. Don't act like a crazy person or they'll treat you like one. Act like a calm confident business professional, and explain that they need to refund your money, 3 business days have not yet transpired, and you are within your rights to cancel. The point out how lucky they are that you're not suing their "trainer" for injuring your back.

LuckyLeprechaun

For anyone trapped in a membership, you can foil them by: 1. cancel the card they have, 2. alert your bank that no future charges from that company are authorized and 3. get back any inappropriate charges they have made by telling your bank this is a fraudulent charge.