Beware of Bally's in the Porter Exchange

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Apologies, 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:
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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.
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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.

Comments

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i had a similar experience with proactiv, actually, and i'm hesitant to enter into a membership for ANYTHING anymore.

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.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I am pretty sure most of the $20/mo and under gyms follow this same dubious model. I had a similar exp with one a long while ago and a bunch of friends had worse problems with Work out World.

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).

Beware of any Bally's anywhere

[smammy]

Yeah, this is Bally's usual scam. According to the contract, the only valid way to cancel is by certified mail. Also, you have to cancel the membership and the billing separately — it's possible to cancel your membership and keep billing billed unless you send two certified letters to different addresses! Read the contract; it's all there, but in the most roundabout language possible.

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.

[ifotismeni]

yeah, i had a bad experience cancelling with bally's as well. i have never, ever pulled an attitude on the phone with anyone -- not even when i was being mistakenly targeted by debt collectors for a debt that wasn't MINE -- but bally's really took the cake in pissing me off.

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.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I had big fight when I left Boston Sports Club that involved many phone calls, harassment from a collection company, threats from someone at the company, and, luckily, my bank standing by me the whole way through so in the end, they didn't manage to steal anything.

Bleah.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That's actually helpful to know.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Planet Fitness seems fairly open about their process.

[ron_newman]

Was that the one here in Davis?

Re: Beware of any Bally's anywhere

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

I thought about it, but they don't have a pool and I want to swim.

Like the icon?

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Here, have another cake:)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Yep.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

they didn't manage to steal anything.

Except your time. Sorry you had to go through that.

[ron_newman]

OK now I'm adding "crime" to the tags on this post.

Is BSC aware of this LJ community, and the damage that such an incident can cause to their reputation when it is publicized here?

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

Bummer. On the other hand, my quitting BSC several years ago (about 1.5 years after they opened) was pretty painless. I just asked them to quit and I did. I wonder if it's gotten worse or I just got lucky.

[mjrocks98.livejournal.com]

Good to know as i am planning to quit the BSC in Davis. It's just way to expensive to keep going there.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

thanks for the info--i was waffling on whether to rejoin via the davis location (they're offering a good deal), but I think I'll mention hearing about these issues (not by name) and also note my previous problems. I doubt Bally's could be saved, but this issue seems so rampant among gyms that hopefully feedback will make a difference.

[belladonna.livejournal.com]

You got lucky, as they generally require a certified letter to corporate.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Hah, I was actually going to ask around about that. I think I might check them out tomorrow.

[jadelennox]

Ugh, sorry about your experience. I'd heard horror stories like this one, and was surprised things went so smoothly for me, actually. I guess it was a fluke.

[daviscubed.livejournal.com]

Was this the Davis Square BSC? Did you use the website? I cancelled in person, and didn't have to do anything besides verbal communication and a 2-3 minute "are you sure you want to do this, all the other gyms are sooo baad" pitch.

[ceo]

I was annoyed by the process of cancelling at Planet Fitness (the location on Boston Ave that's now Work Out World; this was >10 years ago), but they did do so after I sent in my certified letter and jumped through their hoops wearing a bucket on my head and a red sock on my left foot, etc. And this was at renewal time; I wasn't trying to quit in mid-contract. It really does baffle me why these places think "piss off your customers" is a sustainable business model.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

it was the central sq one; i was going to quit in person but so was the woman at the counter and she was told the "you gotta send a certified letter" thing.

[bostonartist.livejournal.com]

Its amusing how you can walk right in, sign up and become a member on the spot BUT if you want to cancel it somehow requires registered letters to corporate headquarters. @#$%$$ that!!

I like Planet Fitness

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

I'm very happy at Planet Fitness. I paid via credit card for a year up front. I haven't tried to cancel yet so I guess I can't offer direct experience. They do offer direct bank account debit (and they'll give you a free gym bag if you sign up) but I'm going to keep paying by credit card so I can protect myself for when I eventually move/quit. Not that I expect to need protection.

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.

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

Really? I was able to call and cancel my husband's BSC membership over the phone with no problems at all. I don't thikn he had any sort of specific contract, though, just a regular membership.

[avecvu.livejournal.com]

I left Planet Fitness with no problems. I showed up, filled out a form saying "I would like to quit please" and BOOM no further charges. As far as gym quitting experiences go, Planet Fitness gets an A.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Remember, you are leaving their club, they can't expect to get any more money from you, and they also can't expect your business in the future. It is in their best interest to make it as difficult as possible for you to stop paying them automatically, because the more money they can suck out of this person who's leaving, the better it is for them financially.

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.

[jwg.livejournal.com]

Since this was the Bally's in Porter Square you should report this situation to the Consumer's Council (http://www2.cambridgema.gov/Consumer/) if you haven't already done so.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

Similar business models include FreeCreditReport and MyTripleScore and so forth, the ones Ben Stein used to shill for, as well as less-reputable products. It's pretty common.

(Note that the free credit report that's not a scam is AnnualCreditReport.com).

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

I disagree--I've cancelled services (produce delivery, internet, etc) for one reason or another, like moving out of their service area, and signed back up with the same company years later. A smart company wouldn't piss someone off that badly all for the sake of wringing a few more dollars out of them. Now they've made an enemy for life, and everyone on LJ is hearing about it. Stupid on their part.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Your credit card company gives you a new number, and the fitness club/other membership can't charge you anymore.

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.)

BSC gave me no trouble

[808.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I have canceled 2 accounts at BSC and did not have to do this.

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.)

[808.livejournal.com]

I have had no trouble canceling BSC accounts twice (details are in another reply). So I'd be careful assigning automatic guilt based on one data point.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Then I guess you send a certified letter, and keep a copy, saying you are cancelling the membership. Then all you do is tell the collections company that they ignored your proven attempt to cancel the membership, and threaten to sue to get your bad credit ding taken off your record. Enough people do this, and they will change their tune about cancelling when they are asked to.

Re: BSC gave me no trouble

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I finagle a free month out of wellbridge every other year or so, it is like heaven :D

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)

[zaarwin-devolve.livejournal.com]

Yeah. A friend who's pretty thorough about these kinds of things had no issues with BSC when he canceled.

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.

Re: Beware of any Bally's anywhere

[zaarwin-devolve.livejournal.com]

There's another scam that I think Bally's pulled of has pulled. When you join, you're not paying the gym a membership fee. You're actually paying off a loan that their associated credit firm was oh-so-kind to loan you in order to cover your fees. You can't reject their "generosity," so you're stuck with a $1500 (or whatever) loan that you have to pay off no matter what. It's amazing what scammers will dream up in search of a quick buck.

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.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

um, because all this fallout on LJ (and yelp, and 300 other websites) is good for Bally's business?

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was part of what I did. My point is that it isn't an easy out at all.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

I would just like to mention that I belonged to the Somerville YMCA (on Highland Ave, across School Street from City Hall) for the summer and LOVED them. It's very small--they only have something like three ellipticals and three treadmills, one rowing machine, plus some weight stuff, a pool, and a gym. But it was never crowded, cost $29/month, you can go to other Ys in MA and RI (something like four times a month?), and they offer free classes like Zumba and yoga. And best of all, when I canceled (because I moved), they let me leave four days later, at the end of the month that I'd already paid for.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

PS- All I had to do to leave was sign a piece of paper and turn in my membership card, and they stopped charging me.

[ceo]

Huh, so maybe they've wised up in the intervening decade.

[ifotismeni]

gah, cure sounds worse than the disease.

[frankmcs.livejournal.com]

Planet Fitness in Porter Sq is great. I've been going there since they opened.

An opposing datum

[justom.livejournal.com]

Not that this invalidates your story at all, but when I went to cancel my Bally's membership from the Porter Square branch this summer, they told me to write a letter to corporate saying that I was canceling my membership and to stop billing my credit card. I think they may have even given me the address. Once I sent the letter (not certified) my credit card was no longer charged.

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.