Bally Total Fitness/LA Fitness takeover

13

Replies

  • protect_your_rights
    protect_your_rights Posts: 17
    Oh so they now are selectively saying that they did not buy lifetime memberships and bought only the ones that are convenient to them.. BS...don't take this crap without fighting back, if my contract was in florida and they bought ALL Ballys in florida then they bought mine too...and if not, why do they have all my info including credit card number, security code, expiration date, payment amount...if they didnt buy my membership they have no right to my personal very private information. They should be sued class action if they continue with selective membership BS/
  • kwadguy
    kwadguy Posts: 12
    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.

    Actually, after this sale, Bally has no debt. So Bally's is in great shape now. But in terms of orchestrating this move to get rid of the lifetime fixed price memberships, yeah, looks like that's what they're trying to do.

    However, there seems to be a lot of discrepancy as to how they are really going to handle those memberships. Some people say you can only use the club on the card (bites). Some say they won't honor them anywhere (even moreso). And some say they will be honoring lifetime fixed price memberships, but only at LA Fitness clubs that were formerly Bally's.
  • protect_your_rights
    protect_your_rights Posts: 17
    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.

    Actually, after this sale, Bally has no debt. So Bally's is in great shape now. But in terms of orchestrating this move to get rid of the lifetime fixed price memberships, yeah, looks like that's what they're trying to do.

    However, there seems to be a lot of discrepancy as to how they are really going to handle those memberships. Some people say you can only use the club on the card (bites). Some say they won't honor them anywhere (even moreso). And some say they will be honoring lifetime fixed price memberships, but only at LA Fitness clubs that were formerly Bally's.

    Well I agree there are discrepancies and that's because LAThieveness has purposely not made that position clear. They have chosen their words in the emails and postings in your access page to make it ambiguous as to what they are trying to do.
  • kwadguy
    kwadguy Posts: 12
    I'm contemplating joining Planet Fitness for $200 for 18 months. They're located across the street from the Bally's I used to go to. My hope is that within that time frame, some sort of class action suit (or perhaps the Attorney General for MA) will have forced a settlement that will allow me to use my original Bally's card again.

    Planet Fitness sucks badly. But the primary reason I liked my Bally's (other than the price of my membership) was location. And Planet Fitness has that.

    And I am sure as h--- NEVER going to give Bally's another dime if this doesn't get resolved in an honest fashion.
  • brookelyn2030
    brookelyn2030 Posts: 84 Member
    Wow,,,I'm surprised to see some folks saying that they love Bally's?!? i guess I still have sore spot with them after all these years, they ripped me off big time, to the point I had to get an attorney involved. I played a role in it too - the part of being young and dumb. That experience since then, I have been very careful about signing contracts and reading them very carefully. So I wouldn't be surprised if they jack you on your membership when it transfers over to LA fitness. Just sayin' ,,,,,:-)
  • slazar77
    slazar77 Posts: 6
    Thanks. Done. Only 10 signatures so far?? Come on everyone!
  • protect_your_rights
    protect_your_rights Posts: 17
    Thanks. Done. Only 10 signatures so far?? Come on everyone!

    Thanks, 15 now...people don't be apathetic thinking that you make no difference...take a look at the results of the Bank of America debit fee petition here,
    http://www.change.org/victories

    Tell your friends that are bally members, post on facebook, spread the word. Here is the link for the Petition again for easy access.

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

    These big companies count on people not challenging them and that is exactly the reason that they behave this way...as somebody just posted at the petition site, either Bally or LAFitness is lying...Bally says they sold, LAFitness says they are only servicing the lifetime contracts...so who is the counterparty to the contracts, who are they servicing for??? One or the other needs to respond, or sued both and let's see who is telling the truth about who the real counterparty in these contracts.
  • protect_your_rights
    protect_your_rights Posts: 17
    So I cannot get a straight answer from either Ballys or LAFitness about lifetime contracts....this is Ballys response to my email
    "Thank you for contacting Bally Total Fitness.
    Please be advised that your membership has been transitioned to LA Fitness as of 12/01/11. For further questions regarding the status of your membership or service related items, please contact LA Fitness at (949)255-7200, or visits their website at www.lafitness.com.

    It has been our pleasure to serve you and we thank you for your loyalty through the years. We wish you continued success in pursuing and achieving your fitness goals.

    Sincerely,

    Member Support Center
    Bally Total Fitness
    www.Ballyfitness.com
    Your Total Fitness Resource

    Now I called that number that they give for LAFitness and they have a recording that it may be a long wait because they had a power outtage yesterday, wow how convenient, and then after they repeat the message a few times it hands up on you.
  • siameez
    siameez Posts: 2
    We need a petition to address us "orphaned" members with sold-memberships, but currently not living near a LAFitness!!!

    http://www.change.org/petitions/lafitness-allow-memberships-bought-from-Bally-to-revert-back-to-Bally-because-the-member-currently-does-NOT-live-near-a-LAFitness

    I live in Rochester, NY. The Bally's I currently use was NOT sold. My Home Bally's WAS sold. There are NO LAFitness near me.
  • slazar77
    slazar77 Posts: 6
    Create a word document with 2 columns and 7 rows. Copy and paste this inside each box:
    NOT HAPPY WITH LA FITNESS TAKEOVER?
    LA FITNESS WILL NOT HONOR YOUR CONTRACT AFTER RENEWAL PERIOD!
    GO ONLINE AND SIGN THIS PETITION:
    http://www.change.org/petitions/lafitness-honor-reduced- fee-lifetime-contracts-of-bally-members-after-billing-period

    I'm going to create little flyers and leave them everywhere at the club today, then i'll go to another club later on tonight and do the same. (added bonus: 2 workout in one day). I'm not going to hand them out to people, because i'm sure the new employees will love to find a reason to throw me out if they catch me.

    I'm sure there are a lot of people in the same situation, and they don't know what to do or are just giving up. I spoke with one of my good friends, who is paying $5/month, and he cannot even find his membership under LA Fitness website. His response to me was: "Ahh, it sucks. Well, i'll find some other gym." It's frustrating that he's giving up.

    There must be some hot-shot attorney who's been affected by this, or someone must know of one who might even consider doing this pro-bono just for publicity, who will be willing to help everyone out.

    Again, put this on your facebook page everyone!!
  • jackie1229
    jackie1229 Posts: 1
    I got the same letter, but we were told this morning that our club will close next week. There's a new LA Fitness a mile from it, so all the front desk girl could tell us was that we can use our Bally's cards till the end of the year there and can go in between 9-4 to talk to some guy and they might "work with you"....ugh!

    I'm fairly sure its the end of the road for all the super-cheap annual memberships. I'm willing to bet somewhere in the fine print, there's a stipulation that your 'lifetime contract' is null in the event of a bankruptcy type sale, which I believe this is...

    This was not a "bankruptcy type" sale. Here is what my original Jack LaLanne 1988 contract states :
    I. UNAVAILABILITY OF FACILITIES, In the event a Spa or its facilities shall be rendered unavailable to the member as a result of damage thereto or alteration thereof, or the sale or other disposition thereof, Jack La Lanne shall be obligated only to make available to member a substantially similar Spa in the same county or to extend the term of this agreement for the full period of any temporary unavailability, either, at the option of Jack La Lanne.

    This is the agreement that La Fitness purchased when they bought my membership. Even if they close all La "ballys" they will have to provide a gym for my use at my rate, not for an "upgrade". I pay $5 monthly. I am currently using the Copiague, NY location, with my home gym listed as Levittown, NY. I signed my contact in the Westbury, NY location which closed before this all happened.
  • protect_your_rights
    protect_your_rights Posts: 17
    Create a word document with 2 columns and 7 rows. Copy and paste this inside each box:
    NOT HAPPY WITH LA FITNESS TAKEOVER?
    LA FITNESS WILL NOT HONOR YOUR CONTRACT AFTER RENEWAL PERIOD!
    GO ONLINE AND SIGN THIS PETITION:
    http://www.change.org/petitions/lafitness-honor-reduced- fee-lifetime-contracts-of-bally-members-after-billing-period

    I'm going to create little flyers and leave them everywhere at the club today, then i'll go to another club later on tonight and do the same. (added bonus: 2 workout in one day). I'm not going to hand them out to people, because i'm sure the new employees will love to find a reason to throw me out if they catch me.

    I'm sure there are a lot of people in the same situation, and they don't know what to do or are just giving up. I spoke with one of my good friends, who is paying $5/month, and he cannot even find his membership under LA Fitness website. His response to me was: "Ahh, it sucks. Well, i'll find some other gym." It's frustrating that he's giving up.

    There must be some hot-shot attorney who's been affected by this, or someone must know of one who might even consider doing this pro-bono just for publicity, who will be willing to help everyone out.

    Again, put this on your facebook page everyone!!

    The link that you posted is not working, below is the correct link to the Petition. Your posted link has a space added right before fee that makes the link not work. Please correct as to not get people frustrated and give up on signing petition.

    http://www.change.org/petitions/lafitness-honor-reduced-fee-lifetime-contracts-of-bally-members-after-billing-period
  • slazar77
    slazar77 Posts: 6
    Thanks for catching that! Don't know what happened with a simple copy/paste.
  • protect_your_rights
    protect_your_rights Posts: 17
    Thanks for catching that! Don't know what happened with a simple copy/paste.

    My pleasure...I will like to report that I went today to an almost brand new LAFitness...Had no problem getting in but be prepared for the upsell...told them I was in a hurry otherwise the upgrade charade would have begun.
  • tsull888
    tsull888 Posts: 1
    I am another Bally lifetime member who has moved. My local clubs are still Bally, but where I purchased membership (Minnesota) have been sold.

    Local club management have been trying to be helpful, but still waiting for a definitive word. Paid thousands up front for lifetime ($50/year) membership with national access. I would trade national access for the keeping price and lifetime status at local clubs.
  • paperclip1
    paperclip1 Posts: 1
    <I am another Bally lifetime member who has moved. My local clubs are still Bally, but where I purchased membership (Minnesota) have been sold.

    Local club management have been trying to be helpful, but still waiting for a definitive word. Paid thousands up front for lifetime ($50/year) membership with national access. I would trade national access for the keeping price and lifetime status at local clubs.>

    I also have a lifetime membership but my original club was sold to LA Fitness. I would like to maintain my membership with Bally as I do not have any LA Fitness clubs nearby. If anyone has had any success speaking with Bally about how to maintain a membership, please let me know. I will do the same.
  • johnnyboy85
    johnnyboy85 Posts: 1
    I am yet another Bally's member whose membership was transferred to LA Fitness who won't honor my original membership agreement. I have spoken to someone who may be able to help us keep our original membership benefits. If you're interested please feel free to shoot me an e-mail at johnro85@gmail.com.
  • RickXX
    RickXX Posts: 5
    I have a copy of the new contract la fitness wanted me to sign. I am a platinum member of a Ballys that was purchased by laf. The contract states I will pay $95.00/yr plus $1.00, 10% or the latest annual increase of the Consumer Price Index whichever is greater. This is an annual increase. I've read this sucker 3 times. It states nothing about what location I have to use. I talked to a la fitness guy and he said it only applied to the club I signed up at. I didn't sign anything, I'm waiting to see what shakes out. I have been a member since 1989. I have been paying $95.00 a year for a long time. I believe laf wil use this time of confusion to get people to sign new memberships.
  • Voltage_Spike
    Voltage_Spike Posts: 2
    I was month-to-month at Bally's (at $12, for what it's worth). My home club is staying open, but the club I've been using for years is not.

    I walked into the most convenient L.A. Fitness to me, explained the situation, and asked to have my "home club" transferred. The manager was very nice, had me a sign a new contract, and said everything would be taken care of.

    What will actually happen in January, I am not sure. However, as it stands, I have a contract that lists me as having a Premier Membership Type which, according to the contract, indicates that I have access to all non-Signature clubs at all times. It could be that everyone is Premium for December alone (see the above quoted information from the web site), but I'm prepared to whine-and-moan if they say that contract isn't a real contract. In the meantime, I'm prepared to be content with assurances that I can use at least one convenient gym at my existing rate.

    RichXX, what is the Membership Type on your contract? What is the location (at the bottom near the signature)?

    The contract also notes that it was executed at my old home club, so that is kind of strange.

    As for the $1.00, or 10%, annual price increases, that exact clause (possibly minus the CPI) was written into my circa-2000 Bally Fitness contract.

    Some people I've spoken to have signed onto $20 a month contracts. Others have said that managers can do a one-time "home club" transfer. What it sounds like is that L.A. Fitness has given a lot of leeway to their managers for adopting contracts.

    And a personal comparison of my local clubs: L.A. Fitness is smaller, the equipment is not as nice, they are much more crowded, they have carpeted lockers (gross), and the people there are mostly gym rats (read, very muscular) who spend a significant amount of time simply talking. On the positive side, the L.A. Fitness locations have a sauna and a very nice pool (only one of the remaining Bally's, an old U.S. Swim & Fitness, in the area had these), the lighting is much better, they have mini lockers for keys, and the place feels nicer.

    I really only want someplace to run (treadmills are fine), benches, and some free weights, so L.A. Fitness should be fine for me. At the end of the day, I'm simply not going to work out at home and would like a dedicated location for fitness.
  • aggravatedmem
    aggravatedmem Posts: 1
    I joined as a premier lifetime member at up to $20 rate. I joined a gym in NJ where I worked til 2002 which was not sold to LAF. Bally's told me that since I'm a premier I do not need to change my gym. I've been going to the Bally's Total Fitness in Levittown since 2002 til the LAF transition. my membership is paid til the end of 2012 so I called Corporate on before the transition and spoke to a manager and was told that I will not get a refund since my gym has not been sold to LAF and since I've been going to the Levittown gym they will transition both members in my contract to LAF. As of now this has not been done and I found out there are a few other members in the same gym thats in the same position. I told them I will not drive an hour to the Bally's in Rockville Center. Then they sent me a email saying I've been transitioned to LAF as of 12/1/2011 and to verify my transition on lafitness.com. So far I'm still not in the LA Fitness system and I think they're giving me the run around.

    Are there more people out there in this situation?
  • RickXX
    RickXX Posts: 5
    Voltage. My contract does not specify a type. After reading it again, right above the types of contracts it specifies that my new contract for club access only applies to the home club where I originally joined, which was purchased by laf and will remain open. It's the only Ballys in Phoenix that is still open.
  • slazar77
    slazar77 Posts: 6
    It seems like they will honor the lifetime memberships. Let's hope it's for real!

    http://norristown.patch.com/articles/bally-s-customers-angry-after-memberships-cancelled-in-sale-to-la-fitness
  • kwadguy
    kwadguy Posts: 12
    Even if LA Fitness honors the lifetime contracts, it will only be for LA Fitness clubs that used to be Bally's.

    That doesn't help those of us who had their membership transferred to LA Fitness because their home club became LA Fitness, but who don't live anywhere near a LA Fitness.
  • Voltage_Spike
    Voltage_Spike Posts: 2
    Voltage. My contract does not specify a type. After reading it again, right above the types of contracts it specifies that my new contract for club access only applies to the home club where I originally joined, which was purchased by laf and will remain open. It's the only Ballys in Phoenix that is still open.

    It specifies that under the "Note" section, right? Bally's customers only get blah, blah, blah unless they upgrade to one of the following membership types. Well, my Membership Type is listed as Premier, so I should be good. I wouldn't give up hope just yet. I haven't heard of any follow-up guidance to L.A. Fitness employees, but it seems to be entirely up to whomever you speak to.

    (It also sounds like we have the same home club. It is a really nice facility (or was when I used to go there years ago), but it is simply too far away to be reasonable.)
  • protect_your_rights
    protect_your_rights Posts: 17
    I believe eventually they would have to honor the lifetime Ks if your home gym was taken over...but the managers, to get commissions, might have been misleading you into signing new contracts...now headquarters wants all inquiries referred to them...see this article
    http://upperdublin.patch.com/articles/la-fitness-we-re-honoring-lifetime-memberships

    If you sign a new contract with LAFitness, you will lose all your rights from the prior Bally K, as the new contract would supercede it...THEREFORE READ EVERY WORD OF ANY NEW CONTRACT YOU ARE SIGNING...if they deny access if you don't sign on the spot...don't sign without reading the contract....even if you miss a workout.

    Lets get more signatures on the Petition..

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

    and if they do honor the lifetime Ks, it is not b/c of the goodness of their heart, it's because they are legally obligated to do so...

    If anybody has the email for Paul Norris or a high ranking corporate weasel, please post or PM it to me so that we can get the Petition there once we get more signatures.
  • protect_your_rights
    protect_your_rights Posts: 17
    Here is another site that popped up,

    http://ballyssuit.com/bAlly5/index.php?board=1.0

    If anybody here is a member of that new site, please post the link to the Petition. Thanks
  • FloridaBiff
    FloridaBiff Posts: 2
    If you live in Florida contact the Florida Department of Consumer Services to have them mail you a complaint form. They won't answer questions over the phone and instead say that each person must file an individual complaint. This can be done on the website or they will mail you a form to complete.

    I suggest we all make copies of this form and distribute it to others.

    The website is:

    http://www.800helpfla.com/healthstudio_text.html

    Telephone 800-435-7352
  • FloridaBiff
    FloridaBiff Posts: 2
    Here's the latest update. I just spoke with L.A. Fitness. They have agreed to honor the Bally's contracts with choices.

    For the month of December we can visit any of the L.A. Fitness Clubs. After that the choices are to continue to go to your "ex Bally's location" for the same contract price you were paying before or upgrade and go to L.A. Fitness. Their goal (as was quoted to me) is to get us up to a monthly rate of $19.99.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/woman-no-refund-after-trainer-at-metro-detroit-bally-gym-quit-20111207-ms

    This if from my club that is closing officially today :(
  • slazar77
    slazar77 Posts: 6
    I don't think anything is changing; it's just talk. I went to work out yesterday and forgot my card. The guy working there was very kind, and said: "That's okay, i'll have to get you another card anyway. Please sign on the screen." The screen was not even legible. He said it was necessary for me to sign in order to get another card. I refused, requested to see it on his screen. IT WAS THE NEW MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT! Basically i was going to acknowledge that my membership would expire at the renewal date. They tricked everyone in front of me into signing it. Once i saw what it was i told everyone else behind me what they were signing. Excuse my language, but they are complete *kitten*!
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