I've been a member with LA Fitness shortly after the doors opened in their Mill Creek, WA (approximately 3 years) location and started attending the Everett, WA location the same day the doors opened. My wife decided she wanted to join under my account, so she went in to inquire about it. There was a promotion going on that wasn't supposed to end for a few days, so she decided to join based on that promo. Well, after all her info was input into their system, the rep tells her that the system was allowing the code to go through, so she wouldn't be able to benefit from that promo. She decided to put it on hold and discuss it with me. I called the gym to inquire about it and they said that no one was available at the time and Harald would call me back. Well, Harald never called back (even after multiple calls to the gym for him), so I called again and asked for the manager. Surprising, Harald now became available since I was escalating to a manager. So after the phone conversation not going anywhere, we decided to go in and speak with Harald. He said basically the same thing the other rep said, so we finally decided on a membership that sort of worked. I really do felt that they were just trying to lure customers in with the promo and not honor it. If the system wasn't honoring the code at that time, then they should have applied it once they figured it out on their end. The manager Matthew never called back either (after leaving him a few voicemails).

After some time, my wife began traveling often, so we felt the membership wasn't needed. I called in to the local gym to cancel (because they have it designed where a customer can't cancel online, over the phone, or call into membership services to do it). After speaking with Mike, he said that I would have to physically come into the gym and fill out a cancelation form. I asked him if it could be faxed to me and I fax it back in...his reply was no, you have to physically come into the gym to do it. I told him that it sounded like LA Fitness wants customers to come into the gym so they can try and bargain about the cancellation and possibly more high pressured sales tactics. Mike's reply was "Are you kidding me, do you think we're going to high pressure you over a $29 membership, come on now" (and that's word-for-word). I immediately asked for a manager because Mike obviously thought he was talking to one of his boys on the block! Well, Harald gets on the phone and poses as the manager. I specifically asked Harald if he was the manager (I already knew he wasn't and that Matthew was) and his reply was yeah, sort of. I immediately asked him for corporate's number because I didn't appreciate asking for the gym manager and getting one of Mike's peers to pose as the manager. Harald's reply was that there wasn't a number to contact corporate. Really, do you expect me to believe that the reps in the Everett gym are the end-all be-all for LA Fitness! After searching the net, I found the number to member services and actually canceled my wife's account over the phone (after the Everett LA Fitness said you have to physically come in) and received a confirmation email on it.

I am now looking into a different gym for a membership for myself! The reps at the Everett LA Fitness gym have terrible customer service and I would never refer anyone to them again!! Please beware of that gym. Their service was so bad that I don't even think I'll give the Mill Creek location a second try. I wouldn't want to keep investing in a business that rewards the Everett gym for their horrible service.

FYI...if anyone needs the number to their member services (because Everett gym won't give it to you and will tell you that you have to come in to cancel), here it is: 949-255-7200 (option 5)

I have filed a complaint with the BBB regarding LA Fitness taking money from my acount after I cancelled the personal trainer membership. LA Fitness has violated my rights to cancel the membership within a reasonable, allowable, and allocable timeframe. It violates my right to cancel services I feel are not adequate, reasonable and professional. LA Fitness wants to bind a person to the contract and still collect money; they state that you either have to be sick or dead to get out of the contract, you just cannot cancel the contract because you do not want their service. This is a violation of contract law. I am seeking a lawyer to start a class action lawsuit. Any information regarding LA Fitness contract(s) will greatly help me in my pursuit to sue LA Fitness.

This notice is posted at our local club and it says it is corporate policy. If you abide by it then you are not allowed to open the door at any time to enter rooms. The issue is that they value their defective doors more than their paying members. Bellow follows the note posted on the door. It is in very bold letters and fills the page and you can click on the photo to see it:

All Studio Doors Must Remain

Closed At ALL Times.

Doors Propped Open Have

Already Broken Two Doors and Will No

Longer Be Tolerated. If Anyone Wants The

Classroom Cooler The Lights Will Need To

Be Turned On. These Are Corporate

Policies And We All Must Comply With Them.

Thank You For The Your Support. If There

Are Any Questions Please Feel Free To

Speak To The Management Team.

The gym off California Oaks Road is poorly managed. Half of the people using the gym use no towel at all, leaving a their sweat on the mats and equipment for the next patron to deal with. The personal trainers do not require their clients to have a towel. When I arrive in the morning, various weights from the weight room are scattered throughout the workout areas. Personal trainers leave weights on the floor and never teach their clients to re rack. The head maintenence guy washes the mirrors daily and squeegies the dirty soapy water onto the the newly laid carpet below. This place is understandably filthy. Management does not enforce any of the rules. After years of complaining, I will no longer renew my membership there.

My wife signed a contract for a $180/month personal training deal which gave her 6 visits per month. She has lupus, mixed-connective tissue disease, rheumatoid arthritis and raynauds, so the goal was to help build strenght and improve circulation. After the first month of visits, she became too ill to continue using the gym and the personal training service. The contract allows for a breach with a physician's note explaining why, which we were easily able to provide. LA Fitness is still billing us for the $180/month, and it has been 3 months since we provided them with the necessary documentation. I have had to resort to disputing the charges with the credit card, but my guess is that this company will fight this tooth and nail to try and get as much money from us as possible. My wife has since had to endure surgery to try and stop the infections that keep occurring on her hands from the poor ciruculation, so she will not be able to resume any gym activity for a long, long time.