Warning - Don't Use Bally Gyms
Written: May 16 '08 (Updated May 16 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: I can't think of any. Joining a Bally's was the biggest mistake ever.
Cons: That Bally's is in existence.
The Bottom Line: Run, Save yourselves and your money. RESEARCH gyms before you sign up and take my word...NO BALLYS!
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| tropicalisle23's Full Review: Bally Total Fitness |
At first this seemed like a great deal. The location was good for me and there weren't that many other gyms to choose from anyway. I just went in to find out prices. But the guy trying to sign me up seemed really nice and when I told him I was a college student and that the fees at Bally's were too steep for me, he took off the sign up fees and lowered the monthly payment for me from 60 bucks to 47 bucks. Then told me if I signed up with a friend, we could split the payments, so it would be even cheaper. So I figured we'd each be paying about 24 dollars. Then after he signed me up...he recognized me, he knew my name, but he never spoke to me again...not even a "Hi, how are you?"
Well, make sure you read the contract WORD FOR WORD before you sign it!!! You can't cancel your membership. There are only 3 ways you can cancel an account: A.)you move 20 miles away from a Bally location and show proof B.)you acquire an injury that keeps you from using all the work out equipment and you show proof in the form of a medical note OR C.) You die. So be prepared to be absolutely locked into the gym.
I also found out after I signed up that Bally's is notorious for...how can I put this nicely...giving their customers problems. I believe they've gone bankrupt once or twice and they have some of the most dis-honest, heartless employees. I ended up finding so many reviews online about people who lost time and money. Ballys is an evil corporation.
And DO NOT sign up with two or more people on your account. That just makes things a complete mess.I signed up with my roommate. I didn't know that adding another person added 19 dollars to the price. So now it was a total of 66 dollars and we each paid 33 dollars. The account was in my name. However, we never went to the gym at the same time, so at the gym location we each paid our own half of the payment. I was living with her just because I was at school. Then I left school and moved back home where there are no Bally facilities. They wouldn't just simply cancel my half of the account and put the account in my roommate's name.They said we had to completely cancel the account and if my roommate wanted to continue using the gym, she had to open her own account. So,just before I moved back home, my roommate and I went to our Ballys location and tried to get the account closed. The guy working there said "Sure, no problem. There will be a cancelation fee and it will take about a week or two". Well two months later I was still getting bills! Little did we know, employees at Bally's locations are not allowed to cancel your membership. Later, after I moved home my roommate and I tried to close our Bally's account over the phone. They said we each had to separately cancel our own part of the account. And if my roommate didn't cancel her half of the account, I was still responsible for her payments. So I sent in proof that I moved home and after 3 weeks I got a letter saying it's not sufficient proof. Then I got another bill. I have since sent in more proof (a letter from my school saying I am no longer attending there.) At this point I am still waiting to find out if they will finally close my account.I haven't been near a Bally's gym since January. Now it is May and I'm still fighting to get this account closed and still having to pay for a gym that neither my roommate nor I are using anymore! I cannot afford this!
And another note to keep in mind. There are no refunds. All the money I'm loosing because of having to pay until this mess of trying to get the account closed gets straightened out...yeah, there is no mercy...They won't pay that back to me.
Even if you're so overweight that your doctor says you will die if you don't exercise and Bally's is the only gym in your area...don't go there. Walk around the block,buy a treadmill, do sit-ups in your bedroom...but don't waste your money on a gym. Besides, the stress of joining a gym will probably hurt you more than being overweight.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
tropicalisle23
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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