Bally Total Fitness/LA Fitness takeover

I have the Bally's Gold Charter membership with $5 fixed annual renewal that was paid until 1/15/2014. My "HOME" club was sold to LA Fitness, so supposidly so was my membership. Logged into LA Fitness and it says my membership will be cancelled 2/2/2012. I called LA Fitness, and they said too bad, they would not be honoring my contract. Robert (employee ID 1836353) actually said "Does you contract say LA Fitness, then too bad, we're not honoring it." That's verbatim. I tried to explain to him that I have an actual written and signed contract but he actually just kept saying "Does it say LA Fitness" like a mantra. When I asked to speak to his supervisor, he said he's a manager and there's noone else I can speak to. When I insisted, he refused.

I called Bally's, and they just said that even though my contract said I could use any club, it is transferrable, and because my "HOME" club was sold, my contract was sold with it. He didn't know why LA Fitness wouldn't be honoring the term of my contract, but there was nothing they could do.

So, I've filed complaints with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau. I'll update if I hear anything.

That bites. It doesn't seem legal, either.

Here's a question for you: Have you tried to use your membership card today at a Bally's? Are they turning people away who have these memberships?

I have the Bally's Gold Charter membership with $5 fixed annual renewal that was paid until 1/15/2014. My "HOME" club was sold to LA Fitness, so supposidly so was my membership. Logged into LA Fitness and it says my membership will be cancelled 2/2/2012. I called LA Fitness, and they said too bad, they would not be honoring my contract. Robert (employee ID 1836353) actually said "Does you contract say LA Fitness, then too bad, we're not honoring it." That's verbatim. I tried to explain to him that I have an actual written and signed contract but he actually just kept saying "Does it say LA Fitness" like a mantra. When I asked to speak to his supervisor, he said he's a manager and there's noone else I can speak to. When I insisted, he refused.

I called Bally's, and they just said that even though my contract said I could use any club, it is transferrable, and because my "HOME" club was sold, my contract was sold with it. He didn't know why LA Fitness wouldn't be honoring the term of my contract, but there was nothing they could do.

So, I've filed complaints with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau. I'll update if I hear anything.

That bites. It doesn't seem legal, either.

Here's a question for you: Have you tried to use your membership card today at a Bally's? Are they turning people away who have these memberships?

Oh no, I'm quite sure it's not legal. That would be like a bank selling your mortgage to another bank, and having the new bank say they were not going to honor the terms of the contract, and raise your rate on you. I think they figure most people won't bother with the hassle of pursuing it.

I have the Bally's Gold Charter membership with $5 fixed annual renewal that was paid until 1/15/2014. My "HOME" club was sold to LA Fitness, so supposidly so was my membership. Logged into LA Fitness and it says my membership will be cancelled 2/2/2012. I called LA Fitness, and they said too bad, they would not be honoring my contract. Robert (employee ID 1836353) actually said "Does you contract say LA Fitness, then too bad, we're not honoring it." That's verbatim. I tried to explain to him that I have an actual written and signed contract but he actually just kept saying "Does it say LA Fitness" like a mantra. When I asked to speak to his supervisor, he said he's a manager and there's noone else I can speak to. When I insisted, he refused.

I called Bally's, and they just said that even though my contract said I could use any club, it is transferrable, and because my "HOME" club was sold, my contract was sold with it. He didn't know why LA Fitness wouldn't be honoring the term of my contract, but there was nothing they could do.

So, I've filed complaints with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau. I'll update if I hear anything.

That bites. It doesn't seem legal, either.

Here's a question for you: Have you tried to use your membership card today at a Bally's? Are they turning people away who have these memberships?

Oh no, I'm quite sure it's not legal. That would be like a bank selling your mortgage to another bank, and having the new bank say they were not going to honor the terms of the contract, and raise your rate on you. I think they figure most people won't bother with the hassle of pursuing it.

Exactly...they don't want to deal with the $5 a year deal....but they may legally have to.

I joined Bally's (originally American Fitness) in FL in the 80's, so my "Home" club is in Tampa, and that was sold to LA Fitness. I moved out of FL and I'm currently in western NY using one of the un-sold Bally's. Will my card work anymore?? :frown: Will Bally's let me in, now that my "Home" club is a LAF, even though I've been going to this Bally's for years? There are no LAF in this part of the state... And I'm paid up with Bally's to 12/2012, $48 per year... ****, I guess I'll have to go to Planet Fitness for $10/mo or can I transfer my "Home" club to the Bally's I'm using here in Rochester??

I always thought that $48/year was too good to last forever...

Someone should make a website where all of us can put our names down in case there is a class action law suit. I'm sure there will be one.
Also, does anyone know where the dues are listed on the LA Fitness website? It's not listed under billing...

That is a good idea to band together....It could be worked that anybody who is affected and wants to band together to send $1 to centralized paypal email. Then from the proceeds the domain name and hosting fee is paid, which is small, then any money left over would be used for attorneys' fees or other costs as needed, with a public ledger showing who has paid in and amount, the total proceeds, less payments made out, and balance on the ledger.....any ideas on proposed domain names to check availability? The domain name "makelafitnesshonorballycontract.com" is available but is too long,,,,need small catchy name that fits...

How about "occupyLAFitness.org"

I read on the below link that someone that had next renewal date in 2014 that when transferred to LAFitness changed to 2012, http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/deal-discussion/726565/?start=200

In my new account, the billing date and amount is shown in the billing section, if you click it to edit the billing section, that appears as the top...not in payment or prepayment section.

Here is another way...sign this petition that I just started.

http://www.change.org/petitions/lafitness-honor-reduced-fee-lifetime-contracts-of-bally-members-after-billing-period

This is important. When Bank of America wanted to charge $5 a month extra for use of debit card, a lady started a petition at change.org.....they got over 1 million signers and forced Bank of America to retract and not charge the $5 extra....so lets make a difference and don't let a big corporation bully you.

I just signed the petition.
I've been using a Bally's club in Florida for the last 16 years where I am a year round resident. 25 years ago I purchased a national membership in New York. Today I was told that the club (which was sold to LA Fitness) can no longer honor my membership as the membership originated in New York in a club they have not purchased. That leaves me twelve hundred miles from the nearest Bally's and without a gym to work out in. Some of the staff were laughing at my low renewal fee but if the initiation fee I paid in the 1980's was converted to today's money it would amount to close to two thousand dollars.

I have had a Bally's membership since 1993. The main reason I stayed with them is because I pay less than $100/year because of my original contract ($8/month). I pay a lump sum payment and there was a stretch of 4 years where they forgot to send me a bill at all. Everyday that I went and scanned my card I hoped they didn't realize their mistake (they never did).
Because of that low price, I bypass about 5 closer gyms to get to Bally's. I drive 15 miles to a very congested area to go to Ballys. Other area gyms cannot beat that price. The most comparable membership is Planet Fitness. Also, my Bally's gym is one of the few gyms in my area that has a pool. And the ones that do I assume are way more expensive. I haven't really checked since they won't just tell you the price without the sales pitch. UGH!!!
My current membership expires at the end of July next year, so we'll see what happens. I was able to port my Ballys online account to LAFitness after several unsuccessful attempts (I finally realized I reversed my first and last names...DUH!!). Time will tell whether I stay after July 2012, the pool is a big deal for me.

I stick with the mom and pop gyms. More so to help the fledgling economy than anything but I love the interpersonal relationship you develop with locally owned places.

So has anyone discovered whether you can still (as of now) use a Bally's club (that is staying Bally's) with a "any club" membership that itself has been transferred to LA Fitness? Are they honoring the memberships for the next month or something?

Yes, with the Bally's acquired clubs, it looks like most people's memberships are good till the next expiration at least.

The best way to find out for sure about your own is to go online and 'verify' your account on the LA Fitness site (use the link through the announcement of the Bally's purchase), then when you get logged it it will tell you what your access is.

I'm talking about a club that is remaining Bally's. It's my local club, but since the club at which my membership was purchased (in another state) is being taken over by LA Fitness, I am now a LA Fitness member.

And I can't log into my LA Fitness account. It says it can't find me when I put in my info.

I em a bally member since 2009 and my contract expires Jan 2012. I have a national plan and had the same questions I've read here. I called LA fitness 2 times and got the same answer on my membership status, now pay in mind that I reside in NJ and not all gym's were sold to la fitness here but the one I go to did and this is what they explained.
If you are a bally national member like I em in the state of NJ and your main bally were you sign your contract national or local got purchase your account gets converted to a LA fitness local or National plan with the lifetime rate agreement been honored. I called LA fitness customer service and they explained to me that this was all new to them but that they finally got a hand book with all the Q&A possible and they both read it from the handbook to me. Now this only applies to regular LA fitness clubs, Signature and Elite are not included in this plan but you have the choice of upgrading at an aditional fee. What the fee is? They don't know and directed me to the local signature club for the rate. Now for December I can go to a signature club and work out but after that I would have to pay the upgrade. My lifetime is much more than $8 a year so maybe this applies to me and not others. This may applied to NJ or NY members since bally will still have other gym's open and still compete with LA fitness in Tri-state area market

I totaly agree with you, they should have given us the option of switching or not. Since is notional and not local. I'm with you 100%. For me it did not mater but for situations like your's there should be an exception. and you should have the option of staying or switching. I guess they sold the location and the contracts as well.

yes I also have a super cheap renew, I went to Bally today and found out about the sale, I was told my lifetime membership was
not sold to LA Fitness that I would need to purchase one from LA and it would be $30 a month I now pay $34 a year, so I am looking for a new gym, I will not pay those prices. I called both places and got the same answer, so the people who have had
memberships for a long time and paid a big price for them are just out of luck.....

Member since 1988. Yearly lifetime dues $60. Received email from Ballys Wednesday stating my home club has beed sold to LA Fitness. Also stating they will be servicing my membership.. Went to LA FITNESS web site tried to verify account. Wouldn't work, pop up response said I had to go to the club to create account. Went to my home club in lake grove new york. The LA FINESS rep checked by membership and said LA FITNESS didn't take/assume lifetime memberships with fixed yearly dues from Ballys. So, I can't use my home club. Matter of fact, the 1 still owned Ballys Club is 40 minutes away. I truly believe this was totally orchestrated by LA FITNESS and BALLYS to get rid of lifetime members, and shortly down the road, BALLYS will be totally bankrupt and all it's left over clubs will be closed. Intend on filing complaint with the New York Attorney General.