After being a member of 24hr fitness for around nine years, I thought that they would consider my business and take care of a good customer due to them closing down the Active Club that I was using. The reason that they closed down my active club was so that they could build a brand new Sports Club right next to it. I made a call to their customer service number and they were not willing to give me any type of a deal on upgrading to the new club. I then went to the gym and talked to their manager, the manager was not willing to give me a deal either. They were basically charging me the same rate as a new customer, with the exception of saving me one dolllar in comparison to a new customer. I could not believe that they would not consider my long term business with them and that they would not give me a discount on upgrading to the new gym. I no option but to cancel my membership.

I was looking at my checking account through online banking and I noticed that 24 hr Fitness had charged me $29.00 for the next month of dues three days before I had cancelled my membership. I called customer service and complained to them, but they said that there was nothing that they could do to get me a refund. When I first enrolled with them, I paid first month dues, and last month dues. I could not believe that they will not give me a refund of the dues that were charged three days prior to me cancelling my membership with them. Unfortunately, I have a membership with them for the next two months in which I will not use. Any other legitimate company would refund a consumer the money that 24 hr refuses to refund to me.

I advise any person who is considering a membership with 24 hr fitness to look around at other clubs. For example Ballys and LaFitness. Both of these other clubs charge a lot less for their memberships and they would be willing to help out a customer that was displaced due to a gym closing down.

This is my conversation to the customer service department:

After my call to customer service Ms. Joy (#T1382)

I must see it is my very unique experience with 24 hour fitness. I am very disappointed that 24 hour fitness customer service has been unable to help with my request. My request was simple, cancel my membership as I will be gone in 30 days from now.

There answer, sorry sir as per contract you have been billed last night for the next 30 days until August 15, so your membership will be valid until September 15, to cancel it you should have called on or before August 10th.

Now,
1. I dont know when I am billed because there was a change of plan etc because I havent received any bill, which you should have sent me.
2. This means that I had to call 66 days in advance, even though I understand that everything is in the contract and the last month is paid for and non-refundable.
3. When you give me the long contract, I am told to sign in at the bottom, and not details of the contract, it is standard and without it I cannot join the club
4. The lock in of the last month is practically hidden, so I am actually expected to called in 90 days prior to my last day as it is 30 days prior to my billing cycle. Considering July 15th as my billing date, it should be June 15th, and last month is from August 15th to September 15th. So that means 90 days from June 15th to September 15th. Well that's a pretty strong lock-in period.

5. This is a lock-in, forcing the customer to stay without giving in a chance to pay even a penalty and get away.

6. Last but not the least, you enforce to have a credit card on file, thus making the process invisible and more secure for you than your customers.

I like the club, the people working there, it is a great place and I am sure you have good intentions too but my experience has really made me think, if you have any customer service.

One suggestion, try putting on your bill board "Cancel anytime with a minimum 90 day notice" or "With good customer service I can bring it down to 66 days but you got to give me your credit card number for file"

May I request a reply or a call sometime or an appropriate refund for the payment deducted last night (July 15th).

I have gotten 3 phone calls TODAY for an unpaid account THAT HAS BEEN PAID. THey stated that I had to go to the local location with a copy of my bank statemnet to prove that the charge went through. I refused and gave them the confirmation ID number from my bank, and they HUNG UP ON ME!!! I called the customer service line. THey offered to comp me a free month, but I refused anything but a monetary refund because I am cancelling my membership. She refused and I requested a supervisor. I was on hold for 26 minutes!! I then spent another 20 minutes on the phone with that "supervisor" who did nothing to resolve the issue. I spent a total of over 70 minutes on the phone. I DEMAND A REFUND FOR THOSE CELLPHONE MINUTES!!! THIS COMPANY SUCKS!!!

I joined 24 Hour Fitness in June of 2008 and have a copy of the contract for an All Club membership. I joined another gym and decided to cancel my 24 Hour Fitness membership. When I called the woman I spoke to from member services told me that if I didn't cancel, she would give me a lower rate. Not at ANY point did she say in order to get this rate, I would have to downgrade my membership. I have tried to speak with them and they refuse to do anything about it. I am sick and tired of being pushed around and defrauded by these corporate giants. They have been unable to prove that I agreed to this change. They have been billing me for 6 months and I never once received paperwork to support this change. I want to file a Class Action suit against 24 Hour Fitness for fraud and would love to have people contact me to join in this fight against the corporate machine that commits crimes against innocent, hardworking Americans.

My husband and I signed up for gym membership at the Pearland 24-Hour Fitness Shaq. After a few months we realized we were not getting use out of membership, especially since I did NOT like the yoga classes. I canceled membership several days before the automatic withdrawal, but payment was taken out anyway. I called them again, and I was told that I had to cancel 30 days before the automatic withdrawal. They told me to read the contract.

However! According to the contract, members pay the first and last month's membership upon signing up. If my last 30 days is already paid for, then shouldn't that count toward my 30 days notice? Or is it reasonable that I pay for 60 days worth of gym time after canceling membership?!

We got busy and thought we might write the $70 off, but the very next month (this March 2009) we were charged $70 again! My husband called corporate, and they promised to reverse February's payment within 5-7 days, and they told us that the pending $70 would not go through. The payment has now gone through and my husband is going to be calling them again.

SCAM. This is one big scam to squeeze a few extra dollars out of people who they will probably never see again. This has been such a headache, I am sure they depend on people giving up. Shame on your company. I will also be writing the Better Business Bureau.