In January 2009 I signed an eight month agreement with Bally Total Fitness. I chose to cancel my membership when the location closest to me closed. Unfortunately I misplaced my copy of the agreement so I went to the website looking for information on how to cancel. I did not find the website helpful so I called the customer service line. The day I called I held for 32 minutes. I personally feel this hold time is unacceptable. I have worked in customer service, sales and retention for about 10 years and this hold time only made me want to cancel more.

After holding I reached Carlos Moreno (Employee ID#6456) on 7-29-09 and I explained to him I wished to cancel my account as well as my friend Alissa’s account. Alissa was added to my account in January for an additional $20 charge. Carlos informed me that the both of us still had 2 months on our contracts and asked if I would like to make the final payment over the phone. I asked Carlos if I would be charged a $10 fee for making the payment over the phone (I heard about this fee as I was holding). Carlos said he would waive the fee for my convenience so I made the final two payments on both Alissa’s and my accounts. My final payment was for $65.36 and my confirmation number was 042518. Alissa’s final payment was for $41.42 and her confirmation number was 092818. At the end of my conversation with Carlos I requested a confirmation of cancelation and final payments on the two accounts be emailed to me. Carlos said I would get that within 72 hours.

The following day on 7-30-09 I checked my bank account and noticed that I was charged $51.42, not $41.42. I was charged the $10 that I was told would be waived. I had to call in again that day to request a credit for the $10 fee. I held for another 30 minutes that day.

I spoke to Edward (employee ID# 6459) when I called in the 2nd time. Edward said he credited me for the $10 fee but it never appeared on my bank statement. Edward informed me that Alissa’s account wasn’t canceled the day before but that he would cancel it that day. I again requested a cancelation confirmation be sent to me via email.

I requested this cancelation at the end of July. I have yet to receive any confirmation via email that either of my accounts has been canceled. On September 28th I was charged $20.71. I have been told on 2 occasions that my accounts have been canceled so why should I continue to be charged? I looked into my banking history and I was never credited the $10 Edward had told me I would receive.

On October 5, 2009 I contact customer service and spoke to Joe (ID #1673) who informed me that in order to receive these two credits I would need to wait up to an additional 10 business days to discuss the possibility of a credit with the accounting department. This is ridiculous! Joe also informed me that the reason I haven’t received confirmation on cancelation is because I never mailed in a letter requesting to cancel. I was never told that it was a requirement to send in a letter. I work in client satisfaction, specifically with cancelations; I would have sent the letter if I was told that it was required.

On October 5th I also emailed Bally’s Member services department requesting a call back. I did not receive a call back, instead an email saying to call manager Jose Cervantes at (562) 484 -2711. I called Jose on Monday October 12th and still had not heard back from him when I called a second time on the evening of Wednesday October 14, 2009.

In closing this has been a truly horrible experience and I have intentions on filing a complaint with the BBB. I also will be sharing this experience with friends, co-workers and family.

Biggest SCAM!!! Don't push yourself into hell!! They tried all the ways to attract me join the club in the beginning. After I start workout, I found that the staffs are so rude with nasty attitude, facilities are so dirty. Any staff can yell at you at anytime as they like. I was so regret to join, then I tried to cancel my membership in june, but the still charge me in july, then I called again, they told me they don't have any document about my cencellation, then they kept charge me for augest, sept. I was so upset, i called again and again to cancel my membership, they kept charge me everymonth. It had became my nightmare. I am so tired of argueing with these cheaters!!! By the way, I don't have any contract with them.

Bally's has leased their swimming pools to the Australian Swim Schools and reduced the times and lanes available for their members. The pools are now filled with screaming kids and urine. Because of their bankruptcy, they are doing anything possible to generate income at the expense of their membership. Members can no longer swim at their leisure and are subject to the pool lease.

Stay away from Bally Total Fitness. They will lie shamelessly to get you to sign a contract, then immediately peel off the friendly and helpful mask once you're in, and lie shamelessly again and again to keep you from terminating the contract under the guidelines they spelled out. This is not an isolated customer service problem, it is their business model.

Well, where do I start? Our car recently got broken into about 15 feet from the entrance at Bally's and to our dismay this has been the norm there for awhile.. There was no consumer warnings or added security for this issue. We our out a lot of money and I have a lot of concerns regarding safety! So when I took this problem to the GM there, he was extremely unprofessional and not sympathetic at all! He never returned our phone calls and passed a message on to the receptionist that the paper work for cancellation was in. I still have not yet spoken with him! Come to find out, he only said that to try and shut us up...I then spoke to a corporate contact and voiced my concerns about the situation and unprofessionalism from their GM and she did not say sorry once!!I know understand why this business is what it is because they treat their customers like criminals from the streets.