I looked forward to the day when my Bally Total Ripoff contract expired. Fifty bucks a month for three years is a lot of money. I mean, absurd, really. But in a city like New York, where weather, sidewalk congestion and safety make say, going for a jog no small ordeal, you pay. You pay because you know very well that the alternative to having a gym membership is being forced to replace all your clothes with a larger size. I know this from sad, squatting in front of my mailbox and feeling the lining of my best suit rip from tush to thigh experience. I cried right there in the lobby of my apartment building.
Anyway, now that I live in Dallas, where one may get all kinds of outdoor exercise – for free! – all year long, I don’t need to numb my brain on a treadmill. I have the Katy trail. It has trees, and birds, and puppies, occasionally, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman. Does stupid Bally have birds or Troy Aikman? No, indeed. So when the last payment was automatically deducted from my account last month, I did one of those little leprechaun heel clicks. Free! Free of that ridiculous financial burden!
And then the letters started coming. I ignored the first couple. Look, I’m glad you leotards want me to come work out on your aged and infirmed equipment – your persistence is flattering, really – but no. Just no. I’m moving on. But then yesterday something made me open one. And, inside, amid all the mumbo jumbo about the exciting! exclusive! offers they had for me, was the sentence that read,
If you decide not to take advantage of our offer, then this letter confirms your approval to continue automatically deducting renewal payments in the amount of $49.00.
Wait. Just wait. If I had just ignored them, they’d have continued to charge me for services I neither wanted nor requested? Can they DO that? That is so shady. Shady enough that by the time I got a cancellation rep on the phone, I was not inclined to be nice.
I’ve seen that episode of Friends where Chandler tries to quit the gym. It’s funny when he and Ross get the run around. It was a little less funny when I started smacking the handset on my desk this morning. No, no, no.
“I want to work with you to retain you as a member,” Enrique, the cancellation rep said.
“I don’t want you to work with me. I want you to stop taking my money.”
How could I explain to dear Enrique that I would rather be morbidly obese, stuck to my living room sofa and be paraded as a freakshow on 60 Minutes than give those jokers another cent of my money?It’s like, they’re kissing cousins to the IRS.
“I can send you offers in the mail…”
“No,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I’ve asked nicely, and now I am going to insist that you cancel my membership.”
Wouldn’t you know, it still took another five whole minutes, with my coworker looking on, baffled, for pathetic, corporate beggar Enrique to finally understand that it was over. Bally and I were finished. It’s exasperating, but I guess some folks simply have a really hard time with rejection.
It’s not you, it’s me. And Troy Aikman.
Um, yeah. Once when I ended a gym membership I told them that I was moving to a small town in southern California to live with my aunt who was ill so that I could take care of her.
They STILL hounded me. Which town? What does she have? Are you going to work there too?
Never, ever again I say. But maybe I should work on my story a bit too.
I had to cancel the credit card I used to get out of a membership once.. Thank goodness I didn’t go for their “link it directly to your checking account” option.
The worse bit is their business model depends on having members who pay but don’t show up. If everyone who paid actually did show, the wait would be hours per machine..
I had the same problem once trying to cancel my phone service when I moved. They told me it was cancelled, then the next month conveniently deducted their fee from my (now empty) old bank account. This caused my account to bounce, which triggered a fee, which caused it to reopen and then Verizon could continue deducting the fee. In the end, I lost $200 and had to threaten them with legal action, even going so far as to send things on legal stationary to them. I will never again enroll in automatic checking account deduction for anything in my life.
Heather, for the future if you pay with a credit card, you can always call the credit card company and tell them the gym is deducting money without your authorization for a membership you have cancelled. They can put a stop on it, and then Balley’s can call them to bitch.
I’ve fought Bally’s too. They continued to deduct the fee after I’d canceled my membership. I had to fight to get that money back. You might want to contact your bank and de-authorize any further payments to them — just to be safe. I don’t trust automatic deductions for just the reasons Tommy states.
I’m shopping around for a gym right now and one of the ones I looked at the other day has this wierd contractual situation that sounds akin to renting an apartment in the city…I was to pay upfront a $350 enrollment fee, the $85 a month ($55 if I only wanted to use the facilities between 9 pm and 6 am and not on weekends) for the first and last month of a two year contract, at the end of which I would need to cancel via writing no later than 60 days prior or they would continue to deduct and re-enroll me for another year. WTF!?
Needless to say, I laughed and told them I didn’t care what kind of classes or equipment they have. That was all I needed to know.
For Troy Aikman, I’d pay to take the Katy Trail… enjoy your freedom and your eye candy!
I’m delurking to say I’m so glad you wrote this post! I have a Bally’s membership leftover from when I lived in New York and I’m on pins and needles waiting for it to expire. I moved back to San Antonio in 2005 (the same year I got my membership) so it’s pretty soon. I’m glad you mentioned the letters because I’m going to be on the watch for it now. I never go to the gym here because we have to so many trails and parks which are great to run in; so when I see that money taken out of my bank I die a little inside each time. It’s so sad.
Sheesh! It’s the same with everything. I went through that with AOL and with a magazine subscription….
I know someone who’s been trying to get them (Bally’s) to stop harassing her about her mother’s lifetime membership that hasn’t been paid in 11 years… since she DIED. She finally found someone within the organization with a heart. He probably lost his job for helping her. They’re blood suckers.
Also… I recently paid over $300 in bank fees for a situation similar to what Tommy spelled out. Except mine was with an advertising company that never had authorization to electronically process anything at all. I’m not even sure how they got the credit card number!
Troy Aikman? Where can I sign up?
That sounds suspiciously like the time I tried to cancel AOL. After 20 minutes of me insisting to the woman on the other end of the phone that there was nothing she could do to keep me as a customer I was reduced to screaming. I hate when I get like that.
As for the gym I belong to 24 Hour Fitness which I was very excited to learn has no contract. If only I could make myself go there…
I have had this type of problem at every gym I’ve ever belonged to and random services too(AOL included). So, imagine my surprise when I went in last fall to cancel my latest gym membership once it ran out and they were helpful! No arguing, no begging me to stay… they just pointed me in the direction of the cancellation form and told me to have a nice day.
Really, I was so appreciative that I almost wanted to sign up again…
Jeez, I hate it when that happens. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t let any company take automatic payments from my account for this very reason. Glad you got through to those corporate meatheads! Maybe if enough of us complain about it, they’ll quit sending letters that require action to get their greedy little hands off our few spare bucks!
I cannot wait to move close to the Katy trail, only four more months of college then I get to go back home!! Next time you are on it think of the crazy college students who are away from it.
I also do not look forward to canceling my gym membership. its going to be interesting.
I HATE Bally’s!!!! Despise them, with a fiery, hot passion that burns deep in my soul!!!!!
A few years ago, they gave me one of their “special offers,” saying that, because I had been such a loyal member, would last for a year. 3 months later, I get a bill from them for the all-new, jacked-up dues. When I called to complain, they insisted that the “special offer” was only good for 3 months. When I insisted right back that I was told otherwise, she became really bitchy and mean, and insisted I pay the new dues or legal action would be taken (?!?!?!). So I canceled my membership and told everyone i know to NEVER go to Bally’s.
I HATE Bally’s!!!! Despise them, with a fiery, hot passion that burns deep in my soul!!!!!
A few years ago, they gave me one of their “special offers,” saying that, because I had been such a loyal member, would last for a year. 3 months later, I get a bill from them for the all-new, jacked-up dues. When I called to complain, they insisted that the “special offer” was only good for 3 months. When I insisted right back that I was told otherwise, she became really bitchy and mean, and insisted I pay the new dues or legal action would be taken (?!?!?!). So I canceled my membership and told everyone i know to NEVER go to Bally’s.
Just had a similar problem with a collection co… stupid me wanted to pay my debt and be done with it… was all sure you can have automatic debit from my account for the next 6 months, sure you need my account information? & blah blah blah. Well my last payment was supposed to be in March, but they took thier money again last week… me being my usual nice self, simply call talk to the supervisor explain very politely that i need my money back, i have other bills to pay etc… not so nice supervisor told me “not a problem we will reverse the payment and the $368 we took in error will be back in your account in 30 days” WHAT?!?!? I have bills due next week not next month…. then i became not so nice debtor for the next 30 MINUTES and viola $368.00 back by the end of the day….
HATE HATE HATE Automatic Debit!!!
Ugh!
I am (not so) patiently waiting out my Bally’s membership, and I have 2 months left.
The 6th Ave. club in NY is the WORST gym I’ve ever been to in my life, which definitely does not make it any easier to work out.
Thanks for the heads up, they’re sneaky little bastards.
Yeah, Bally sucks! I called one a year and a half ago to see what their membership prices were. Of course they wouldn’t say. So now a YEAR and a HALF later, they still call every 2 weeks and leave a message on my machine wanting me to join. After I’ve told them to stop calling. That alone has made me refused to join. Ever. For the rest of my life! I’m surprised they haven’t found a way to bill me for not joining.
I absolutely HATE Bally’s. They are f’cking a-holes. After 5 years, I still foam at the mouth every time I think about my Bally’s membership.
Thanks for another laugh. As I live in a big city, gyms are required. BUT I loved your entries about not gaining weight in Italy. There’s something about being outside, walking around a new city every day that keeps the adrenaline flowing and the pounds off! Guess I just have to keep traveling!
Hi! This was great, I hope that you, the outdoors, and Mr. Aikman are very happy together. I also hope that you check out my blog. I’m trying to spread the word and your blog has a lot of elements I’d like to include in mine.
Keep writing… I’ll keep reading.
Thanks!
Kelly
I joined my old gym for its special offer of reduced prices. Wouldn’t you know it, it was actually MORE expensive than the normal rates my friend (who was already a member) was paying! Not to mention they locked me into the “Passport” package for the privilege of an all-access pass to all the branches, which cost 20 bucks more. A priviledge I naturally never used as all the other branches were out of my way. And of course, after I joined, they started pestering me to get a Personal Training package (which cost in the thousands!!) and to extend my membership to 3 years instead of just the one! It was relentless. The year-long contract couldn’t end fast enough!!!
That was bad enough, but the bf had 6 months left on his membership in another state that he wanted to transfer to me. The rationale being that he was paying for it anyway and no one was using it since he was out of the country so much. I didn’t want it coz the effin gym had already left such a bad taste in my mouth, but he insisted they had told him that it would only involve a $99 transfer fee and then the ‘new’ member (me) could just continue paying the normal monthly fees until the contract expired in 6 months. Guess what happened next? While we were talking to them and getting the requisite forms, they took his credit card and proceeded to bill us $400!!!!!!!!! For the transfer fee AND another whole year‘s membership! As if I was signing up all over again as a new member!!! The thing that really got me was how pissy they were about the whole thing, as if we were the ones kicking up a fuss for no good reason. Needless to say, bf flatly refused to sign the credit card transaction slip and walked out. What a total rip off!!!!
Evil, evil gyms. The hassle I went through with my Bally’s membership was enough to convince me to drop $1000 on a treadmill when I moved to a new city. Best $1000 I ever spent. And I made more than half of it back when I sold it and moved 3 years later
I really miss it though. The campus gym is nice but I never use the weight room because all the varsity athletes and other jock heads use it. I know, I know, single girls mecca. But I’m far too insecure!
I have to totally agree that Bally’s is super shady. I did a free 2-week trial and they called me and my friends daily (sometimes more than once a day) until I finally told them off when they called at 6:30am.
I had the same experience when I canceled AOL. It was like breaking up with the neediest boyfriend EVER…
Hey Fish! Your walking trail sounds awesome, especially with Troy Aikman on it! Have you ever thought about Jazzercise? I’m sure Dallas has a ton of classes. It’s super fun, easy to sign up for (or cancel), and it really works! Something tells me you would love it! Just a thought:)
Girl, I totally understand. I went through a similar, DREADFUL Bally experience seven years ago, and I am still pissed off and bitter and suspicious of gyms. It was terrible. No matter what I did, I couldn’t break free of those money-grubbing leeches. I went gym-less for the next few years, and am now happily at a tiny, ancient, mom-and-pop gym for ten bucks a month. And I love it.
Bally is nothing but a sleazy rip-off. Readers, beware.
I feel your pain! I’ve had that happen with previous memberships at other places but managed to avoid any harshness with Bally’s. I moved to Canada and they had just sold off all their locations up there so they had no choice but to cancel my membership. For once it was easy!
Anytime Bally’s offers “free” anything it probably says in small print that they get to harass you within an inch of your sanity. I actually had to hang up on a Bally’s rep because after I told her that there was NO WAY I’d ever join that gym, she just kept trying so she got an earful of dial tone.
Yep, I hate them too. I once temporarily moved out of town and they told me they would halt my fees until I returned but kept “taking money out of a bank account” that I closed and put me in delinquency and messed up my credit for a while. I will NEVER go back to them. Bastards.
someone else that you all should look out for is Hinckley Springs aka DS Waters. I’ve hated them since I signed a contract with them 3 1/2 years ago. It’s crazy how much they try to squeeze out of you for friggin’ water. They changed the terms of my contract 6 months after they reeled me in with a great special and had attitude about it. Then they have this thing where they leave extra water when there’s a holiday or when summer approaches. I told them that if they’re not leaving it for free, then don’t spend my money. I even arranged for them to pick up a case of bottled water that they left. In the end they just credited my account and let me keep it. I was paying like $10 for 5 gallons of water. Such assholes. Never again.
Gym memberships, online services, and just about anything that gives you a ‘free trial’ but requires your credit card number are notoriously hard to opt out of once they have your info. Just try canceling AOL sometime when you just wanted the free trial! Absolutely horrendous!!
Glad to hear you put your foot down on them though. Just be sure to check your next credit card statement and make sure they listened!
Fish – any torture is worth seeing Troy Aikman up close and personal! In fact, if it was me, I’d “pull a groin muscle” right in front of him! Sigh…good for you! I detest Bally’s – they’re worse than the credit card collection agencies!
This brings back some (understandably) buried memories…of a **** gym in NYC, and the harrassment I suffered when I moved away.
I now refuse to join any gym that requires a contract (or one that allows in men in tiny shorts).
De-lurking to share here, since this is soooo familiar. I was once also on the receiving end of a big old Bally’s buggering. No mention in the initial signup about irreversible fees, contract limits, or the way they were about to take advantage of my bank account. Then, the Bally’s here in the Atlanta city-proper re-located to a tiny strip-mall location where you were about as likely to get struck in the head with a barbell as actually use a machine. They offered few classes, and had no racquetball, running track, spin classes, etc. – all things the previous location had offered. I objected. But according to Bally’s, you must live within 30 MILES of ANY Bally’s to terminate based on proximity to a useful club. Bastards.
Another place to watch out for: FreeCreditReport.com. Yes, “free” is in their name. But somewhere in well-hidden fine print is the authority to steal $12.95 from you every month for the rest of your life. I contested the charges with my bank and cancelled the debit card they had ahold of. The fact that they didn’t every say a peep about it (and it’s never shown up on my credit report) kind of tells me they’re aware they’re in the wrong and trying hard not to angle for a giant class-action suit.
I LOATHE Bally’s. Ever since they told me I was fat in a “complimentary” free evaluation. I was in law school, totally stressed out, and way too thin. It was like they were hoping I had body image problems so they could capitalize on them. Evil.
Congrats for hanging in there and breaking free…I trust that Troy will be a fine reward
Oh yes they will continue to deduct money. Gym memberships are the devil. I was looking into crunch in nyc. I apparently had 3 days to change my mind and the contract would be null and void. 1 day later I change my mind and march myself over to cancel. Dude that I talked to the day before is like ok, we’ll go ahead and charge you anyway, you’ll receive a refund check in 2 weeks. wtf?!?!
I also second bank deauthorization. I’ve heard horror stories of banks that just continue to deduct long after.
I work for a company that builds Do Not Call systems and provides consulting services to companies to make sure they don’t do annoying things like this guy’s company did. I’m pretty sure that you have grounds for filing an FTC or FCC complaint. First, because charging an account generally requires an affirmative action from a consumer and, second, because when you attempted to opt-out of receiving anything further the operator tried to rebuff you. Under FTC/FCC rules, even an inbound call (when you call a company) can be considered subject to Do Not Call regulations if the company attempts to sell you something (this is a bit of oversimplification, but it’s close). When a call is subject to DNC laws, it’s illegal for the company rep to try to change your mind after you’ve said for them not to contact you anymore. The fun part of all this is that if enough complaints are filed against a company, the FTC or FCC (or even some state attorney generals) will investigate a company. Federal rules allow for companies to be fined for up to $11,000 per violation. Some individual calls can incur three or four violations, making it an expensive proposition for those annoying telemarketers who don’t do what they’re supposed to.
The SAME thing happened to me with Bally and it was a huge mess. That should be criminal.
I’m with you sister! I ‘quit the gym’ 3 years ago and haven’t looked back. I live across from Prospect Park in Brooklyn and get to walk to work through the park everyday. For me it’s more about a lifestyle, choosing to be healthy, not a extra expense I dread. I’ve taken up classes that I wouldn’t have stuck with at the gym, like ‘real’ boxing at a hard core, mostly Cuban trainer filled boxing gym in downtown Manhattan, trained to swim like tri-athletes, studied ballet and hip hop with Broadway dancers, and my boyfriend and I learned how to tango by people who actually grew up tangoing in Argentina. I refuse to ever pay a ‘gym’ money for ‘motivation’ to get off the couch when I’m feeling lazy. This way I’m not paying anyone if I choose to ‘let myself go’ or ‘get up and go’. It’s all about choices that make me happy and my jeans always fit.
To Deb in LA. The same with AO Hell. Phone call + actual snail mail letter writing (cert – return receipt unnecessary) does the trick.
Yep – I also had the same problem with Bally’s, even though I was moving to a place with no Bally’s – they were awful. Glad you got it fixed.
Ugh, gym cancellations are the worst. I’ve had to fight with them because I wanted to pre-cancel… in other words, I knew before my contract was up (or automatically renewed) that I was done. When I went to do it IN PERSON, the rep told me I couldn’t cancel in the middle of a billing cycle WTF?! I had to come back the day it expired and fill out lots of paperwork.
Luckily, my lack of shame let me knock down all of their offers with outrageous excuses. “I hate the gym” is pretty tough to argue with, no matter how persistent they may be.
Be sure to check you account for the next couple of months and make sure that they did indeed “cancel” you out of their system. When I moved up to New York a couple years back, I had a membership with Crunch (which incidentally is also owned by Ballys) and when I called to quit, they too eventually let me cancel my membership (fortunately for me, there were just not any Crunch Fitness facilities close to my home or office, at least not close enough that I would have felt inspired to make the treck to it and THEN have a workout!)
Anyway, long story short, I noticed that my credit card was being charged again for membership fees. And this was a good 8 months after I had cancelled my membership!!!
The headache I endured afterwards to get my money back…I’m sure you can imagine. I finally called my credit card company and put them on the job. Since then, I have not been further charged…yet…