I signed up for Lady of America in Napa, CA. The first owner had signs painted all over the doors saying, "Just $1.00 per day. No Contract." and so on. I talked to a trainer and said "Sign me up." The contract was NOT for 36 months. It was month to month. A short time after, I was contacted by the owner who said, "There's a problem with your contract so I will fill out a new one for you...no need for you to go through this since it's our mistake...all you have to do is sign it. At the time, she told me what the "problem" was, i no longer recall, but it seemed reasonable. When I called to cancel, however, I was told I couldn't as I had a 36 month contract.

By then, the facility's doors were locked and I was assured my payments weren't being taken out. Now, here's what I did that was wrong: I neglected to confirm on my bank statement as we get pages of transactions each month. Further, my husband is the one who usually looks them over and he, frankly, has no idea where Lady of America is open or closed or whatever. He rarely questions charges i have made.

So, they opened a new facility with new owners and I received a letter that they were happy to serve me, blah, blah. This time I was afraid that I was being charged and checked the bank statement and somehow missed the line where it says my money is still being debited. Well this new facility also closed just a few months later. So, thinking about it, I checked the latest statement and there it is again. I have contacted my bank who tells me this is a stop-payment issue and it will cost $30 and last for only six months. This tells me that this unscrupulous company is going to try seven months from now and be able to start taking money from me again. If they'll take money when there is no facility around, they'll stoop to other levels, I'm afraid.

Just a warning to everyone else

I become a member of Lady of America Gym located at 87 Ave and 72 St(already closed)on 01/18/01.My American Express paid every month the amount of $ 21.24 .
When they closed that location I came to another location far from my home and explain to them the need to cancel my contract, because I need a surgical treatment and can continue coming to the Gym.I am a physician and everything was set.
They stop sending bills to my credit car so I supose every thing was clear.
But 3 weeks ago (8 years after that my account was closed)a collection agency was calling me 3 times a day to my phone asking me for a payment of more than $300.00 dollars.
They say that previous letters sent to my office were return to them.
This of course ia a lie, because I never received any letter, and my office is in that location for the last 20 years.They only ask, When are you going to send the money?I told them I have my rights to see what is going on with this matter, but they are disturbing me with that calls, and dont send the papers to see what happens.

How can I resolved this situation, to stop the abuse of the collectiions agencies.

Lady of America is not for everyone. My advice is to not sign a contract there. If you are unhappy or have a suggestion the management really is not interested in hearing it. Their monthly dues are too high for what you get. They are usually located in a shopping centre and are very small. The employees do not speak to you when you walk in the door. The clubs are advertised as being for all women of all shapes and sizes and or ages. They also advertise that you are not just a number and that they will call you by name. Not true. Since the clubs are small you tend to get little clicks or groups. So High School and juvenile right!! I recommend larger clubs where everyone is treated well and in a professional manner. Beware of who is running the club and take advantage of the week free to see what it is like first. Check out the classes, employees and the clientele. Because when you sign that contract it is written in stone until it expires.

I don't want to be in a 3 years automatic membership payments, but lady of America put me in that way without my sign and consent. That's no fair! They bring to me a # for Spanish client services, but nobody answers me. I need to cancel my membership, but I don't know how. They want my money for three years, and I'm not going to pay for that, I don't want to go any more. They told me that I need to communicate with National Fitness. I'm not going to pay for something that I'm not going to use.