ABC Financial Services
Reviews and Complaints

This just happend with me to! and ABC is REFUSING to pay my overdraft fees, even though they caused it. I even got the head of my bank to write them a certified letter stating it was their fault, and they still refuse to pay any of it!

Any club backed by ABC Financial will rip you off. Whenever joining a club, just ask them is ABC Financial does their billing. If they say yes...find another club.

I guess you work for ABC Financial?

I know how you feel and you still go out and fight other countries for companies like ABC Financial

I was trapped into 3 days free membership. When I tried to cancel the membership, ABC first stated that they will stop the automatic payment. However, they continue to withdraw the money out of my account. When I submitted the doctor recommendation that I am under treatment and not allow to exercise any fitness class.
Their response is that the certificate is not accepted, unless doctor state that I am disable and cannot move ! When I am trying to talk to them, their response is that customer have to go by their rule !
Please help protect senior citizen trapped by this fraudulent company. Instead of helping seniors to get healthier, ABC is trying to rip off and cause them stress, unhealthy condition and bad time !

I am sorry but I have to disagree with you "nickaaron" Robert J Nauseef is a [censor] who believes that just because you are calling Internal Credit Systems that you are beneath him. And it is proven with the attitude and disposition he takes on the phone. I JUST got off the phone with HIM trying to SET UP PAYMENTS to relieve my debt. But he carried on with a condescending tone the entire time we were on the phone until I gave it right back to him. Only then did he want to "start over". I know sleaze balls like him and I never associate myself with them. I will pay my debt because I am an honest, working man but as far as calling him "professional" and "courteous" I've NEVER heard anything as far away from the truth in all of my 26 years on this beautiful planet. And to clarify, any company trying to collect a debt or handles debt payments is a collection agency. No matter how LEGIT OR NOT it may be. So Angry Customer turn your attention towards the true enemy ICS and Robert J Nauseef. We're all behind ya... Except for Patricia and Nick...

You talked to the collection agency not Robert Nauseef. Internal credit systems handles the calls for ABC NOT THE ATTORNEY. Please do not bash people when you are not clear who you talked to. The attorney only gets involved if litigation is planned or is initiated. I have talked to Mr. Nauseef and he is professional and courteous. Thanks!

I also, have had dealings with ABC Financial. I had a neck injury and was unable to continue my membership. My doctor wrote a letter to ABC stating I had a neck injury and he did not want me involved in a exercise program. This was in keeping with my contract, section 2. They said the doctors note was not sufficient because I was not disabled. Section two of their contract read "the term disability means a condition which precludes the buyer from physically using the facilites, and such condition is verified by a physician". My doctor's note clearly stated I was not to be involved in exercise program. My doctor suggested that Breathe Fitness and ABC Financial send me to a Independent Medical Examiner to evaluated my condition since they were calling my doctor a liar. Of course, they would have to pay for this themselves. It amazes me that the state and federal government has not gotten involved in the scams the financial services for these gyms pull. Do you know I tried to pay for a year up front and they wouldn't let me, they wanted financial information so they could continue to bill me. I feel sorry for everyone involved with ABC Financial. My husband is a big mucky, muck attorney in the corporate world and has gone through the contract and it is clear I have complied with section 2, yet they will not let me out of the contract, and continue to harrase me with e-mails and phone calls. I am an accountant and when people mess with my money, I go after them with every legal means in my power. I would advise everyone who has dealings with ABC Financial to hit them as hard as you can in the pocketbook.

I went to the gym and asked the gym rep to cancel my account because i was moving out of town. He asked me to proved him. I told him that my company is taking care of everything and that i have no proof. I just left town and stoped going.

I called my bank and asked them to stop paying.

I am getting calls from ABC fin. everyday. I get around 15 calleds a day. The ABC fin representative said that the club will denied my membership if i dont pay. I say OK.

I still get calls from ABC to pay. I just dont answer.

I want to know what happends if i just dont pay. ?

Do someone knows?

I totally agree with angry customer. Robert Nauseef is a royal ### who should have his liscense stripped from him. Or does he even have a liscense? By the way he talked to me on the phone, you'd think he wasn't a lawyer, just some kid who was picked on in school so he takes his anger out on all the helpless debt-payers who talk to him. I asked him nicely about my account and he said, "Woah, woah, woah! Stop right there! I didn't understand a word of what you just asked me!" and the conversation ended with him hanging up on me! ABC financial is crap! Just look at all the complaints about them. They don't even know what they're doing. When I called ABC to get the situation handled, they said I should call the gym I placed membership with and get it from them. When I called the gym, my information wasn't there! It was sent to that corrupt law firm in North Carolina where you're treated like a dog because of a measly $500 dollar debt that is going to put Powerhouse gym out of business, right? I have accepted that I owe that debt, but of all the debts I've ever had to pay, I've never experienced anything quite like this. Most companies will say, "Hey, you're actually going to pay your debt, lets make it a little easier on you and knock off a little of that debt!" I moved away for college and couldn't attend that gym anymore. And I only went to the damn gym 5 times and now I'm being charged for the rest of the 2 years that I never attended! I know you still have to pay even if you don't attend, but do they believe in cutting someone a break?

I'm so sorry you lost your job. :-( I'm afraid you don't understand the position of ABC Financial however. We are hired by gyms to handle their billing. We are not able to cancel / change the contracts that were signed by the member and the gym. Signing a gym membership is not much different than buying a car. If you don't use it, you still need to make the monthly payments.

When the gyms get members, that is the income that pays for their facilities, repairs, salaries, etc. If people cancel prior to the end of their agreement, it will hurt the function power of the gym. I understand your situation also. Please remember to read all agreements before signing them and take into consideration that your own personal situations may change.

Do no take out the situation on the reps that take the calls. They have to work so hard and are only enforcing what your signed agreement states. Also, ABC does not turn anyone over for collection. They only handle billing.

I wish you better luck in the coming year.

Here is my story:

I have made 5 phone calls to their customer service since late May concerning my cancelled membership and yet they continue to bill my credit card.

I was a member of Escondido Workout on 409 W. Felicita Ave in Escondido, CA, since January of 2003. I went to the gym one day in late May and it was gone - literally – the building was completely empty and a “for lease” sign on the building. I went to another gym to see if I could find the owner to cancel my membership and the person there told me I could continue going to their gym if I wanted and they would transfer my membership. I told them no thanks; their gym was 10 miles from my house and was not the kind of facility I would ever want to join. They gave me ABC's phone number and said ABC would make sure that the membership was cancelled and not transferred to them. I then called ABC and the person I talked to said they would take care of it.

However, on my next credit card bill, I was billed again by ABC. I called them on 6/15 and the person I spoke with apologized and said it would be taken care of and my June billing would be credited. I asked for a reference or cancellation number to be sure, and she gave me #208358.

Then I received my July billing and I was again billed by ABC. I called ABC on 8/3 and went over the whole situation again with one of their service reps. She said that the only way I could cancel is to go to the club and submit a cancellation directly with them. I tried to explain to her AGAIN that the club doesn’t exist anymore, that is why I cancelled. And the previous two times I talked to ABC they said they had taken care of it. She said she didn’t know what to tell me, so I asked to speak to the manager (Margaret). I explained the situation again to Margaret and she said she would take care of it and be sure I was credited for the last billing. But she said she had to email the club to verify it and then she would call me the next day. I asked her how she could contact the club SINCE IT DOESN’T EXIST ANYMORE and she said she had to do some verification but promised to call me back the next day. She did not call me back. I waited 3 days and then called again on 8/6. I spent considerable time with another representative going over the same old story. She said at one point that my membership agreement stated that if the club transferred my membership to another club within 10 miles, that I had to go to the new club and couldn’t transfer. That is totally bogus; I have the contract in front of me and it says no such thing. In fact, under Membership Cancellation, it says that I “agree to give notice at the club of enrollment” which as I explained several times no longer exists. I asked to speak to Margaret again and the rep said she wasn’t available and put me through to her voicemail. I left a detailed voicemail asking why she didn’t call me back as promised and to please do so as this is now bordering on fraud in my opinion. She has not returned my call.

In addition to my many phone calls, I have now sent an email and a fax demanding that they cancel my membership and refund my prior billings and have received no response from them.

This company has been an arm wrestler when it comes to resolving billing issues. This company auto debits my monthly gym membership fee. Early this month my debit card was compromised, the bank cancelled it and replaced it. There is no easy way to approach, fix and resolve this issue with this company.

The auto debit attempt occurred before I had a new debit card. The company also waited 9 days to tell me that their debit was unsuccessful. Upon receiving an automated call from "ABC Financial", I contacted my local gym to ensure this was a legitimate call, being that ABC, Inc sounded like the most generic name and would be perfect for a scam.

The same day I called ABC to give them the new debit card number. I entered it in the automated billing system, and checked my balance and billing history.

1. The automated computer system told me I had no billing history
2. The balance due was $20 more than I suspected it should be.

Having a perfect credit history and with them, I contacted a person who waived the $20 fee (supposedly), confirmed that my billing information was updated, and said the next bill would auto draft the next day.

The next day I got another day from the automated computers system. It seems that my auto debit didn't happen properly.

I called the company again, spoke with a person, and was told that I would have to pay a $5 fee to make a payment over the phone. Given that I'd had the fee waived and updated the information, this seemed ridiculous. They told me I could pay the balance online at abcfinancial.com with no fees, so I hung up and proceeded to register at the website.

The website would not accept the account number that ABC had given me over the phone just moments earlier. So I called back in.

Upon calling in, I was told that the auto debit was set & ready to go the next day. I still haven't seen an attempt on my card.

The same day, I received a letter from ABC. essentially reiterating the problem they took 9 days to report to me, and as well, adding some very nasty verbiage at the end referring to the "unpaid debt". Certainly not a customer service friendly company who is appreciative and respectful of customers, by any means.

Upon calling in again, the amount I owed went from $34.xx to $74.xx. I was told that they were now billing me for two months, though next month's payment isn't due until April 1st. This makes no sense whatsoever.

I can't believe that debit cards never expire or get compromised and replaced. I can't believe that this is an abnormal occurrence for this company. I can't believe how incompetently their systems have handled trying to update my billing information, have an accurate amount listed as what I owe, and the ability to draft it and correct the issue.

If they'd stop making phone calls and sending letters for a moment and focus on making their systems work better, they could save a lot of money on the phone calls & letters. The people who answer the phone were ok, but the system is incompetent.

ABC Financial = "Predatory Billing" These guys are definitely bad news. You cannot cancel your gym membership via the club or over the phone. To cancel membership requires a written letter and 30 days to "process". I wrote a letter as instructed stating my reason for cancellation. When my local post office saw where my letter was going they recommended sending it return receipt. The fact that the post office is aware of the business practices of this company should be a clue. I did eventually get the receipt but the membership was not cancelled. I finally changed my credit card account number to stop the automated payments. Of course I had to change the number with all the other accounts that bill against my card. Now the ABC billing machine is sending the bills to my home. This week I will be filing a formal complaint with Consumer Affairs and with the Better Business Bereau. I am also considering legal action and potentially a class action suit.

After finding Alex Mena's responses show up on multiple complaint sites, I called him about the problem we were having canceling 3 accounts. This was after I had a very hard time with ABC's customer service. I must say, Alex was very helpful and got things resolved to our satisfaction right away. In fact, he got us a month's charges refunded.

Mr. Mena is an asset to ABC Financial, and they need to hire more people like him. The funny thing is, I don't think that's his primary job, but he does customer service better than the folks in customer service.

We regret to hear that your experience with ABC Financial Services was anything BUT Fast and Friendly. We are aware that each individual situation differs from the next, however, all consumer concerns are taken very seriously and we would like the opportunity to review your situation and thoroughly satisfy your needs. We pride ourselves in providing excellent customer service and would be happy to rectify any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Should you have additional comments you would care to discuss, please email memberservices@abcfinancial.com.

Alex Mena
Consumer Relations
ABC Financial Services, Inc.

A day later, ABC did finally debit my account, but for $9.50 more than they agreed to the day previously. It seems after waiving a $20 fee because I had perfect payment history with them, they tagged on another fee of $9.50 before they charged me.

Shady practices, indeed.

Another phone call in, and allegedly this amount will be credited to my next month's bill. We'll see...

Come on here people! ... get real!... If I am having my car payment automatically taken out of my checking or savings account at Bank-A Inc... and latter I decide to move my checking and savings accounts down the road to Bank-B Inc. and I don't let the Finance Company that gave me my car loan know anything about this.. Come on!
You folks just want to have a face or place to blame, other than yourselves, for your lack of responsibilty and accountability. We all make mistakes and forget things that have adverse affects, but the wise person realizes this, and by doing so lessens the chances of it happening to THEMSELVES again..

Blaming the Club or ABC (billing Co.) for what you state is "Credit Card Fraud" on behalf of some crook somewhere out there, is completely rediculious. I am surprised you don't try blaming the Owners of the club you joined for taking part in the credit card fraud as well.. You are rediculious. Place blame where it is due... and that is with the actual crook(s) that performed fraud on your credit card, along with YOURSELF. You yourself hold the FULL responsiblity of notifying any automatic withdrawal's or EFT agreement companies (ABC) that your credit card was cancelled or compromised... News flash!: That is YOUR RESPONSIBILTY... or do you expect your banks, mortgage Co.'s, finance Co's. or ABC or the club to have psychic people on staff constantly plugged into your world!... Your complaint is unjustified and merely a frustrated rant with your attempt to blame someone other than yourself, or an unidentifiable crook that compromised your credit card.. I agree with the above "Pay as cheduled and on time and all is good." and if you know your credit card or checking account has changed in ANY WAY, take some accountability and notify the seperate billing CO (ABC)... of this ... That is unless you are just trying to get out of your contract/membership or a last payment, I suspect the case is here.. Kudo's to the club or the finance Co. for crediting back half of the late/insufficient funds fee to this person when you didn't really have to.. Sounds to me like you are a "Stand-up" Company... I don't know of any other finance companies or banks that would do that.. As far as the person above that "Renewed their Bank Card"...You did more than just "Renew your Bank card", that you are not letting us know about here... You had to change your account number and/or routing number as well for it to possibly bounce back from the billing company... and you obviously failed to share that info with your billing company (and us in this forum)...Nice try but you are being rediculious as well.

I agree... I hate the high charges for late fees.

If you are late making a mortgage payment, car payment and/or call to make your utilities payments over the phone by credit card = they will charge phone convenience charges and/or late fee... But thats 'ok'?

C'mon... EVERYONE has the fees you speak of :)

GOOD NEWS... Pay as cheduled and on time and all is good.

I recently renewed my bank card, which disable anytime fitness' ability to collect their monthly fees. I figured this out after only being 2 days late. WHen I called to clear up the matter, they tried to charge me a $20 late fee and a $5 "convenience fee. I argued my point and had a heated discussion with their collection department, after which all fees were waived. I think these types of business practices should be made illegal. There needs to be better protection for consumers and common sense installed into our financial systems.

I'm with you partner. The same thing happened to me. It's unbelievable.

i don't think it would be ABC that put the block on your CCD. I would think your bank put that on your CCD. ABC collects my monies for my gym membership and I have never had an issue with them. True enough the hold time is crazy but when your on hold and you hang up and call right back then your pushed further down the line. I think ABC is an AWESOME company compared to previous billing experiences.

ABC Financial Services regrets to hear that your experience with our organization has been anything other than satisfactory.

As a consumer myself, I understand the frustration in having to do additional work to demonstrate you have made a payment to your account, when everything has already been done correctly on your end. Each situation differs from the next, however, all consumer concerns are taken very seriously and we would like the opportunity to review your situation and satisfy your needs.

Please be assured our company will take the necessary steps to rectify your situation and aide in growing your relationship with KnuckleUp Fitness.
Should you have any additional comments you would like to discuss, please email memberservices@abcfinancial.com.

Alex Mena
Consumer Relations
ABC Financial Services, Inc.

You have a responsibility to read before you sign on the dotted line. Yes it is frustrating that you cannot cancel for the reasons you thought, but don't just take the word of the club, read the print. Did you read your mortgage paperwork or your car note, there are stipulations in all contracts. ABC Financial is handling the billing for many clubs, they only enforce what you agreed to when you signed your gym contract.
It is always easy to state you could not get thru but companies like this have new integrated phone systems, not like years ago. You can leave a message if you don't have time to hold.

Read your contract to see if you fit within the acceptable cancellation policies (disability, relocation, etc...) Cancelling a contract just because you don't want to go/pay anymore is not a valid reason. I know for a fact that if the hold times are over five minutes when calling that company, it gives you the option to enter a callback number and hang up. The queue holds original place in line, and when your call would have been answered, the phone system will automatically call the callback number you entered. Easy peasy, no more waiting on hold.

I have the same experience as you have. I tried to get hold of ABC Financial to cancel my membership of Anytime Fitness so many times, but I could not. Then I sent an email few times. Six days after, I got an email that I could not cancel no matter what reasons except "relocation" and "doctor's documentation", which is not acceptable and fair. I just want to CANCEL. The officer of the fitness center did not mention anything about the cancellation.

Everyone file complaints with the BBB!

I totally agree with you and I'm middle of the same process will update you within a week as how it goes.

I've a probelm with ABC Financial. I moved to Philadelphia from Chiacago and called ABC to cancel my membership in October. They asked me to send a postal mail along with a proof that I moved and that too they need a notice of 60 days. I sent a postal mail requesting them to cancel the membership along with a utility bill. But in January I saw ABC still charging my bank account. I called them up again to find out that they haven't received the postal mail. I was shocked and this was a clear sign of Rip off. Al the major banks, credit card companies work through phone either to cancel the account or to open an account. ABC has a clear strategy to exploit as much money as you can from a customer. If anyone is up to sue this company then I'm in.

kumarforyou@gmail.com

ABC Financial is a total scam, their mission statement is to get as much money out of clients as possible daily, their fees are ridiculous, worse than loan sharks! The manager at Golds gym says there is no problem with my membership and I am up to date, and she has had similar problems with other members, but I have been harrased and hassled by numerous letters threatening collection and recorded phone calls as they try to collect from my membership that is current but I am trying to cancel and not even listening to manager who is involved. I am ready to take to news, report this scam and sue this company, please contact me if you also wish to sue, at lifestylist@live.com

I totally agree. The BBB they do not care about! It is most important to contact the state attorney general, it is easy to do just go to their web site and fill out a form. They say that gym memberships are their biggest complaint.

I advise you to get everything in writing, send certifed letters, and don't trust a word they tell you on the phone. They will lie about not receiving cancellation notice, and continue to charge you month after month. File complaints with the BBB, state attorney general's consumer affairs division, or contact an attorney. This company has very deceptive business practices.

I am experiencing the very same problem! I cancelled in November and I am currently still being billed! Worst Gym in the world!

GOLD'S GYM WARNING! THINK TWICE BEFORE SIGNING UP
I am currently going through the same thing. I have been unable to cancel my membership with Gold's. WARNING: READ THE FINE PRINT ABOUT AUTO RENEWAL! I fulfilled my 12 month obligation in June of '08 and I am still getting billed, even though I have sent them a cancellation letter months ago.

ABC fitness is a scam they charged me double twice claming it was legitimate they charged 37.50 twice when that happens a refund needs to happen and they can’t admit that they made a mistake now they want me to pay 61.99 to leave that’s really crazy because I canceled because abc fitness is very frustrating people

I'm moving out of state -- I just simply want to cancel my gym membership. They made me send a student schedule and ID. They still denied me the right to cancel my membership. I'm in shock -- this company is ridiculous. Not to mention it takes 30 minutes to reach an agent because their phone prompting system is completely BROKEN.

I spoke with young lady this evening and paid what was past due on my account in order to cancel services due to shoulder and back problems, my account number is [protected] and live in Tulsa Oklahoma my phone number is [protected], having trouble trying to find where your cancellation contract is, it is very upsetting not knowing if this will do as a legal cancellation contact.

This is exactly what I'm going thru with ABC Financial and Gold's Gym.

I canceled my account in May due to moving from Boston area.

My account was on freeze while I moved, then could not find another WOW.
So, I called ABC, and spoke to Adrienne on 5/28, was told that I had to pay full month to "unfreeze", then was charge 5.00 for the last month,
I agreed to that, but now I find that I am still been charged 5.00 and that my account was never closed.

All the papers were already processed and signed personally in the Norwood, MA WOW. Candy told me that all I had to do is call and terminated if I did not find a new place.

I am very upset and ask you to look into this matter.
MY acc. # [protected] At that time my phone # was [protected]
I lived at 10 Tappan Street, Boston 02131.

I will be force to call my credit card and tell them not to pay you, if I do not hear from ASAP!