Beware of Bally's in the Porter Exchange
Jan. 5th, 2011 01:56 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
oneagain.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
davis_squareApologies, I should have written this months ago and the last entry in this forum reminded me that I had not. I think it easiest just to cut and paste, so here goes:
----------
I'm glad you had a good experience with Bally's. I did not. When I wanted to end the contract, I gave the notice they told me they required, *in the manner* that they verbally said was required, at the front desk, but they kept taking my money, which I found out when my bank charged me exorbitant fees for being overdrawn. When I found this out and took it to the manager on duty in person, I was told that, in order to cancel, I had to call corporate (so, apparently the person I asked to cancel me who thought it was all taken care of was either wrong or lying, as was the person at the front desk who I checked with a week later just to be sure). When I went in there in a huff, that was when I was told I had to contact corporate (which was clearly scribbled written in tiny little letters since asking in person how to end it is clearly not enough). The man at the gym I spoke with when I was furious and trying to figure it out told me a short cut since, it would seem their system is set up to make it close to impossible to get them to actually do what you want when what you want is to cancel (he had to tell me which number to push when I got the recording; I expect I was bitchy enough that he wanted this to be over so he didn't have to deal with me coming back and yelling at him again in front of members. I prefer to be nice, really, but that manner was punished rather than rewarded).
Even when I got someone on the phone, he very *reluctantly* asked me if I wanted to cancel after I told him all that had happened (really? you still haven't figured it out? It's what I have been repeating over and over--not like *I'm* cloaking it in fine print and lying to *you* about it).
In order to get my money back, he told me I had to get bills and all sorts of other verifications, including a statement of all that had happened, and mail it in to corporate. I did this. I still have not heard back from this over 6 months later. I would call back, but it seems like wasting time since they don't really honor their word and I have spent enough time and energy on this. I will not enter into any more contracts with them since they have acted in calculatingly bad faith from the get-go, lying and, as far as I am concerned, stealing.
------
And of course it was only after the fact that I learned that they are known for this behavior, and that many folks don't even catch it because they are not overdrawn or don't keep close check on their account summaries--and when (if) they manage to finally get corporate to cancel them, they don't get any of their money back. Maybe this entry will save someone else from the hassle, unless you plan on staying with them for life. I'm done.
----------
I'm glad you had a good experience with Bally's. I did not. When I wanted to end the contract, I gave the notice they told me they required, *in the manner* that they verbally said was required, at the front desk, but they kept taking my money, which I found out when my bank charged me exorbitant fees for being overdrawn. When I found this out and took it to the manager on duty in person, I was told that, in order to cancel, I had to call corporate (so, apparently the person I asked to cancel me who thought it was all taken care of was either wrong or lying, as was the person at the front desk who I checked with a week later just to be sure). When I went in there in a huff, that was when I was told I had to contact corporate (which was clearly scribbled written in tiny little letters since asking in person how to end it is clearly not enough). The man at the gym I spoke with when I was furious and trying to figure it out told me a short cut since, it would seem their system is set up to make it close to impossible to get them to actually do what you want when what you want is to cancel (he had to tell me which number to push when I got the recording; I expect I was bitchy enough that he wanted this to be over so he didn't have to deal with me coming back and yelling at him again in front of members. I prefer to be nice, really, but that manner was punished rather than rewarded).
Even when I got someone on the phone, he very *reluctantly* asked me if I wanted to cancel after I told him all that had happened (really? you still haven't figured it out? It's what I have been repeating over and over--not like *I'm* cloaking it in fine print and lying to *you* about it).
In order to get my money back, he told me I had to get bills and all sorts of other verifications, including a statement of all that had happened, and mail it in to corporate. I did this. I still have not heard back from this over 6 months later. I would call back, but it seems like wasting time since they don't really honor their word and I have spent enough time and energy on this. I will not enter into any more contracts with them since they have acted in calculatingly bad faith from the get-go, lying and, as far as I am concerned, stealing.
------
And of course it was only after the fact that I learned that they are known for this behavior, and that many folks don't even catch it because they are not overdrawn or don't keep close check on their account summaries--and when (if) they manage to finally get corporate to cancel them, they don't get any of their money back. Maybe this entry will save someone else from the hassle, unless you plan on staying with them for life. I'm done.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:16 pm (UTC)but i did want to add in ref to the phone guy asking you if you wanted to cancel, often times they HAVE to do this. it's probably why he sounded so sheepish. i used to be a CSR and you would be surprised how many people call up ranting and raving, literally insane with anger at us for problematic orders, so you cancel it, they call a week later and become 10x more enraged because "I NEVER SAID TO CANCEL IT!" it's crazy, but happens all the time. if you flat out say it, they have that to fall back on.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:16 pm (UTC)Even Boston Sports Club caused me some headaches: after inexplicably raising my monthly rates without notice I decided to quit and find something cheaper. They *require* you to send a letter certified mail to the corporate office, then fax a followup confirmation after they send a confirmation of you quitting. I can understand wanting to hold onto clients, but irritating them off is kind of stupid (since it motivated me to update my yelp review to 1 star instead of 3). I was able to cite breach of contract and my cc refunded the last month of my membership, so I can at least feel smug about that :) (in their defense, they gave me a free 1-month membership in exchange of filling out a survey about why I quit).
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 08:16 pm (UTC)I like Planet Fitness
Date: 2011-01-05 09:25 pm (UTC)Previously I used the Gold's gym in the Twin City Plaza in east somerville. They were fair about stopping my membership when I quit. Might just be a Bally's thing.
Regarding Planet Fitness, in general I would point out they are so freakin' inexpensive and the quality of the gym seems as good as the BSC I toured in Davis. It is missing some cardio machines I might like, but I imagine the BSC might be missing some apparatus that Planet Fitness has. Machines seem equally good and newish at both gyms. I don't really perceive a difference in value, other than the lack of classes. If you require classes, pay the extra 60 a month to join BSC. For people who don't go to classes, I can't really explain the wide disparity in price.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 09:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 04:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-07 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 08:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 08:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 09:26 pm (UTC)BSC gave me no trouble
Date: 2011-01-06 12:06 am (UTC)Once was a few years ago (for my wife) and the other was a few months ago (for me). Both times, I wrote a letter to their corporate office telling them to cancel on a specific date, and I made sure the date was at least 5 weeks out (so as to avoid the "give us one month" rule). All I did was send the letters normal mail and on both occasions my account was canceled appropriately and on time.
I believe you, BTW. I think all subscription gyms are scumbags and put nothing past them. But I'm just saying that you don't have to go through all that - even if they tell you that you do.
(side note: I now use wellbridge in harvard square. It is hella expensive. But no contracts and it is never crowded, even during the post-new years rush period.)
Re: BSC gave me no trouble
Date: 2011-01-06 12:28 am (UTC)Perhaps I could have sent a letter not-certified, but the contract specifically noted to, and then I got a followup letter concerning the "to confirm you REALLY want to quit, fax this excessive form to us in the next 3 days" -- I believe you're supposed to be able to quit at the gym, but only to the general mgr him/her self. Anyhow, just the fact that between this and yelp there are a dozen different varieties of quitting stories is a bit warying.
Meh, overall I liked BSC, though its facilities are closer to what you get at Bally's than Wellbridge (I'm sure BSC's classes and PTs are way better, but neither of those interest me personally so it's a bit wasted)
Beware of any Bally's anywhere
Date: 2011-01-05 07:20 pm (UTC)The staff at the gym work on commission, corporate treats them like shit, and so they don't really care. They'll tell you any old thing to close the deal.
Not to mention that the PX Bally's is so shitty and dumpy that I'm surprised anyone goes there. I'm much happier across the street at Planet Fitness, with a lower membership fee and no contract, for what it's worth.
Re: Beware of any Bally's anywhere
Date: 2011-01-05 07:40 pm (UTC)Re: Beware of any Bally's anywhere
Date: 2011-01-06 12:41 am (UTC)As for PF, I'm not too thrilled with them myself. They lure people in with their $10/mth (or whatever) offers and then immediately tack on after-the-fact fees. (Insurance against your monthly fees increasing!?! Uhhh, isn't that, in essence, a fee increase?) Like other gyms, their employees have no incentive to be decent people, so the second things go wrong, you can consider yourself lucky if you manage to not lose any money. Maybe the Porter one's okay. I don't know. I just know that plenty of others are terrible.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:23 pm (UTC)i have never seen a business model work like this -- making it as hard as humanly possible to cancel a service by pissing off your customer? i understand gyms are commoditized and a lot of people don't really care about this thing but surely it doesn't do much for their reputation in the long run.
Like the icon?
Date: 2011-01-05 07:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 10:13 pm (UTC)(Note that the free credit report that's not a scam is AnnualCreditReport.com).
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:28 pm (UTC)Bleah.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:44 pm (UTC)Is BSC aware of this LJ community, and the damage that such an incident can cause to their reputation when it is publicized here?
no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 12:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 12:32 am (UTC)Personally, I kind of like BSC's policy due to one thing: if you can afford it and are willing to risk something happening that prevents you from using the gym, you can pay by check for a year. Not a great option, I know, but they get the cash and have no way (that I know of) to screw you further. The contract's pretty straightforward too. None of this 80 page nonsense that scam-oriented gyms use.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:42 pm (UTC)Except your time. Sorry you had to go through that.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 08:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 08:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 09:48 pm (UTC)Best way to save yourself a hassle: put memberships like this on a credit card, and tell the credit card company that you "lost" the card, or else say you suspect that someone is trying to use your number illegally. Your credit card company gives you a new number, and the fitness club/other membership can't charge you anymore.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 11:44 pm (UTC)Don't actually try this--I had a giant kerfuffle about this with another gym years ago (I had quit and closed the credit card I joined the gym with--just coincidentally at the same time--then eventually a collections company called me about my "overdue bill" for "6 months of membership." That was even more complicated to sort out than the experience outlined above.)
no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 12:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 03:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 12:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 02:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-05 10:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 03:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-06 03:55 am (UTC)An opposing datum
Date: 2011-01-07 04:55 pm (UTC)I definitely remember some vague sketchiness when I signed up for the membership years ago, but canceling was straightforward for me. They served me fine after I had signed up, but I know enough people with bad experiences with Bally's bureaucracy that I wouldn't recommend them.