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Unrelated to pregnancy, but it has made me so mad!

KadyraKadyra member
in High-Risk Pregnancy

Back in like.... January 2006, I was overweight.  I used to watch those inspirational weight loss shows (OK, I still do).  I think the Biggest Loser was promoting Bally Total Fitness back then.  I had 40 pounds to lose, so I went over to Bally's for their one month free trial.  Somehow I got suckered into a 3 year deal at $31/mo, but I only had to pay for 2 out of the 3 years.

Needless to say, I only went for about 6 months.  That was when residency started and my schedule got so insane that I had no time for working out.  Plus I was working out at work.  Running back and forth from L&D to post partum.  Running up and down the stairs to and from the ER on our gyn consults.  Not having enough time to eat.  Getting home and being too tired to eat before falling asleep.  So I lost the weight in like a year.  DH says he prefers the old me, but he is silly.  Anyway, I threw out my membership card and forgot about it.  I knew Bally's hadn't charged me in over a year, so I figured we were done.

A few days ago, I was going through our online statement and noticed a $19 charge from Bally's.  I looked back and they had charged me every month since February, which is when my 3 year contract ended.  I figure what happened is they just kept on charging me.  But, I have a new card and a new name since I signed up-- neither of which they have, and neither of which I gave them authorization to use.

So I call them up on Saturday.  They are closed.  I forget to call them yesterday, so I call them today.  Their automated system hangs up on me not once, not twice, but FOUR times.  Once I get through, I think I am almost to the customer service person.  Then, the recording changes and says, "We are experiencing technical difficulties and are unable to complete your call at this time.  Please try your call again later."  I think steam may have come out of my ears.  I then went to their website and wrote them an e-mail telling them that I would not be calling them back, that they would be cancelling my account as of 2/09 and refunding me my money, and that they would be calling or e-mailing me to get this done because I would not be hung up on again. 

I think it's some sort of ploy so that you can't cancel.  If I don't hear from them by Friday, I'm taking one of my few outings and driving to the Bally's up the road and having a lovely conversation with the manager there.  I don't think they will be pleased to see me. 

I mean really, I never got a "hey can we charge you for this?" or anything.  Or a "do you want to continue your membership?" or "why are we having to contact your bank to get your account info since it has changed?"  I hate Bally's.  I have been saying this all day, and it's not making me feel any better.

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Re: Unrelated to pregnancy, but it has made me so mad!

  • mrsjrmillermrsjrmiller
    I HATE crap like this... I had the same thing happen to me. I was at Gold's had a 3 year membership but had 3 others sign up under me so I only paid for 2. After the 3rd year, I started seeing charges and they said unless I notified them in writing my contract automatically went month to month... I like you had not been in over a year.... but my bank info was still the same... I noticed it the first month so I did nto get a refund but they did stop it!
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  • ilvmyfiremanilvmyfireman
    Ugh!!  Gyms are notorious for this kind of crap.  I also had issues with Gold's back when they were called something else.  It took me forever to get it resolved and get my money back.  I hope for their sake they refund you and don't give you any problems.  I'm sure they don't want a pregnant lady telling them what she really thinks of them!!!  GL
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  • maria15288maria15288
    I HATE Ballys!! They did the same thing to me and yelling at the people in the gym didn't help. I had to write a letter to the corporate office and cancel my debit card because they wouldn't stop taking money out. The worst is they weren't doing one charge a month it was 2 a month and they argued that it was for future months. Good Luck getting yout money back.
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  • KadyraKadyra member
    At least I am not the only one with bad luck.  F--- Bally's and Gold's!  That has been my phrase of the day.  I will update when I get an answer from these dweebs.
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  • alibabbbsalibabbbs
    I had a similar experience with Bally's. I realized they'd been charging me when I thought my contract was expired. What also sucked was when I realized I was still paying for it, I went there to work out but was denied because my name had changed from the one they had! I could not get them to stop charging me until I canceled my debit card. They've since stopped harassing and robbing me.
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  • megsok11megsok11

    i had a similar situation with Bally's.  we decided to cancel our membership after our 2yr contract ran out and when we went in to cance., they were like "oh..you have a 3yr contract".  what?!  NO.....when they bullied us into joining their gym, they told us we had a 2yr contract, but really gave us a 3yr contract.  PLUS, when we tried to cancel we literally had to sit in the office with one of the people and repeat over and over and over and OVER that we wanted to quit.  It was so ridiculous.  I would never ever join that gym again...it's such a scam.

     i feel your pain and frustration.

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