Bally Total Fitness review: Employees are poor with customer service 32

As a former employee of Bally in Oxnard CA I seriously feel for any member or employee who enters this club. I was terminated for turning in a pedophile who is on their staff. Because this person was a high seller of Personal Training they felt in in their best interest to keep him and turn a blind eye. Watch the news for this one and keep your children away from Bally of Oxnard!

I registered with Bally's and was told that if I wanted to add someone to my account I would be able to take them off at any time. So when my ### roommate stopped paying his half of the membership I tried to take him off only to find out that he was part of the three contract also. Well of ourse the girl who signed me up no longer works there and I was told by someone else that the only thing they would do would be after the contract is over I would get free months for the extra $20 I was paying for a second person. Everything is in the binding contract. It's nice to know that Bally's promotes miselading members to get them sucked in to a binding contract. DO NOT JOIN HERE SUCH A RIP OFF

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For the past two years, I have been a member of the Manchester, CT club, and those were two very unpleasant years. Aside from the disgusting condition of the entire club, customer service has reached an all time low. Only a few days ago, the manager on duty was swearing and arguing with a member because the latter inquired why the music was turned off fifteen minutes before the club closes. On March 10, 2007, the manager (Brendan) was unpleasant and impolite towards me, and had gone to the extent of implying that I was a liar. I can clearly see why Bally Totally Fitness is going down the drain, for when the clubs are managed by inexperienced people who treat members harshly and disrespectfully, what else can be expected? My membership will end soon and forever.

I am a personal trainer in Middlebury ct at bally's. Bally total fitness is as corrupt as any business. I am so happy to have landed a better job starting next month. They treat there employees as bad as they treat customers they use people and step on them. The best employee I have ever seen recently got fired b/c of the best interest of the managers to continue writing up fake contracts and stealing money from the company. Ive seen a past manager sign up a new trainers family and rip them off the same way. I wish there was more we can do, one thing we can do is tell as many people as possible not to join bally's.

BALLY FITNESS IS THE BIGGEST SCAM ON THE MARKET. They are LIARS when they convince you to sign the contract. Not only that, they tell you one thing and it really means another. I can't wait till the club goes down and we are all freed from this scam!

A few years ago, i thought about joining... Signed up but didn’t pay any fees. (Needed to join) i told the salesperson i wanted to think about it for a few days before i put my deposit down etc... i ended up changing my mind and never gave the money, he also called my home 3 times in which 2 times i told him NO i changed my mind and once my mother told him the same when he called a third time looking for me... I also went to the gym to tell them in person. i later received a bill saying I signed up and was to pay the bill... When i went to ballys the salesperson told me he paid the fee and it was normal business practice for them... i now received a bill for over 3 thousand dollars... i know this is not normal business practice. He probably was going to see a bigger commission than my sign up fee was going to be. After I received the initial bill I went back to the gym to speak with him and he assured me it would be taken care of and canceled, and it would be no problem since I never been to the gym to work out once...

My story is no different than anyone else, I am in a contract with the devil (surname Bally's) and because it is with Bally Total fitness I may have this contract for life. My problem is at this time I can't ruin my credit . The center I go to is at NW HOUSTON @ 290 and NW Frwy, and is nasty. On Friday I went to the gym and used the steam room, whirlpool ,before work and I reeked the entire day. I was told by the manager nothing would change, so I am going to call the board of health everyday until they pay so much it hurts (there are so many violations at that place, remember in the late 80' or early 90's when the flesh eating disease began at many unsanitary spa's. I urge everyone to keep going to the Attorney General, CityCounselmen where they are located, local television consumer advocates in your town and the department of health, and I am pretty sure we can stop them.

Bally Fitness is a SCAM! Totally SCAM! Their promo free trial is fake and scam. They make you sign the contract without telling you that you are going to open a credit for about $1,600 and the monthly membership payment is actually your monthly payment for $1,600. I went to Bally Fitness for just one day trial, when I got there, the costumer service sent me to the office and he made me sign the contract. I should have read the contract before signing it. I have no idea that you can't cancel your contract until you paid your balance in full. When did I get a balance? I have a balance of $1,600 and the membership fee we all know is actually the monthly fee to pay your balance. I tried to cancel my membership by sending them a letter that I move in my new place and the Bally Gym was too far from my new place. Unfortunately they didn't grant my request due to my new place is only located 19 miles away from the gym and per "contract" you can only cancel it if you move 20 miles away in any Bally's location. Would you drive 19miles everyday just to go to gym? Now I am pregnant and I am unable to do heavy fitness so I decided to send them a letter with my doctor consent. I am hoping that maybe they can hold my payment until I can actively back to normal fitness. Well again they didn't grant my request and I can't do anything to lower my monthly fee either per "contract". I feel like I am wasting my money to nothing! Paying something that I don't use. I haven't been in the gym since I move in my new place 7 months ago and I only been in the gym for 5 times due to its always crowded! Equipment is dirty, you have to bring sanitizer, bathroom are dirty and slippery, the steamroom are dirty, jacuzzi and pool are coed( you have to share w/ men), I mean you go to gym to work out and relax not to feel pressure. When I live in Manila Philippines, their gym are very clean and comfortable. Their staff are very nice and helpful. The shower room for woman has own jacuzzi, steam room, pool and you don't have to share with man. They even provide you a towel, hot tea, blow dryer and bathrobe. Just like when you go to hotels gym.

I just wanted to share how much I regret joining Bally Fitness. For those of you planning to join, please read the contract first, ask questions and see if you can handle crowded place.

Has anybody actioned against this organization. What were the results. How did you eventually get out of the contract?

I have to say that Bally Total Fitness is a horrible Corporation. First, their upper management is terrible. They will hire and fire whenever they please. Alls this company wants to do is steal your money. Who would pay over 1, 000 dollars for 16 personal training sessions? 48 sessions is 3, 000 dollars! Thats a down payment on a Ford Focus! Bally employees lie all the time. When you buy a membership you will most likely be paying more monthly in a few months. The company constantly raises their prices of memberships. You could be paying 30 dollars a month one month and it slowly starts to increase so eventually you are paying 40 dollars a month. The places are dirty and many of the employees have been arrested and have records. Sounds wonderful right?

BALLYS-OXNARD...AFTER DECLINING PURCHASING PERSONAL TRAINING SESSION SEVERAL TIMES, I WAS TALKED INTO BUYING 10 SESSIONS FOR $500.00, I CLOULD PAY $299.00 INTIALLY AND WITH IN 3 MONTHS, THE REMAINING $200.00. LIVING ON A SINGLE INCOME, I CAME UP WITH $ AND SIGNED THEIR CONTRACT, I ADMIT I SHOULD HAVE READ IT CLOSER AS IT IMPLIED I HAD A REMAINING BALANCE OF $300.00 TO BE PAID, MORE THAN I HAD BEEN TOLD. AND I KNOW DAMN WELL EXACTLY WHAT I WAS PROMISED. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T CATCH THIS UNTIL AFTER THEY WITHDREW IT FROM MY ACCOUNT 3 MONTHS LATER. I HAD BEEN ABLE TO GET 4 SESSIONS IN (SINCE DECEMBER) AND HAVE SINCE THEN LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES FOR THE TRAINER THAT SIGNED ME. I'VE YET TO BE CALLED BACK WITH AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY PERSONAL SESSIONS. AT THIS POINT, I NO LONGER WISH TO KEEP MY MEMBERSHIP. FROM THE BEGINNING, I HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY. THEY GYM HAS AN OVER ALL DIRTY ATMOSPHERE, I HAVE TO STRAIN TO HEAR THE MUSIC, EVEN AS I WAIT FOR A MACHINE, WHICH I FIND MYSELF DOING FREQUENTLY. THE CLASSES THEY HAVE, COST, AND I AM TALKING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. I WON'T EVEN GO INTO DETAILS OF THE STATE SOME THATSOME OF THE TRAINERS COME TO WORK IN. AND I MAY HAVE BROUGHT THIS ON MYSELF, BUT AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED, I HAVE A $300 CREDIT WITH BALLYS OXNARD AND THEY CAN APPLY THAT TOWARDS MY CANCELLATION FEE. IM STICKING TO THE TRACK.
I WISH TOTAL WOMAN WOULD HAVE STAYED OPEN.

Horrible place! Bally Total Fitness is a scam!

I signed up for Bally's when I just started working. And, yes, I admit that I did not read the contract. Instead, I believed everything I was told. That was a big mistake. I am stuck paying a large amount for 3 years for a membership to a dirty, unprofessional gym. Every Bally's member that I have spoken to has lied to my face. That is what pisses me off the most. When I first joined, I was told I could cancel my membership at any time within 2 months. What I was not told was that I would have to use the gym at least 17 times and see a personal trainer, then I could cancel. I was also not told that I would only have a window of 10 days to cancel my contract. Looking at my contract, I also noticed that the date of service is incorrect. I know this is going to bite me in the butt when my 3 years is up. But once I get past this, I will NEVER join Ballys or even step within 50 feet of this shady operation. I suggest you do the same.

In regards to the pedophile at the Bally's in Oxnard, CA:
Brenda, I absolutely believe you. That ### Riadh Hamdi at the Bally's in Downey, CA will hit on teenage girls, whose mothers have tried to file complaints in the corporate office and Bally's looks the other way, also because he is a "high seller". Everyone hates that ### because he cannot keep his pants on. He get everyone at work involved in his personal life and the Sheriff's Deparment is constantly looking for him because he is too much of a biatch to sign divorce papers that his wife needs him to sign. But everyone at the Bally's in Downey is forced to put up with this ###, because supposedly he sells lot of personal training. What they don't know, is that his dick is doing the selling.

That's such a laugh

In the late 80's I think it was called Bally Matrix back then my friend swindled me into signing me up with his douchbag-buddy who worked there in their membership ###-lieing agent department.

I agreed to a $40 something a month thing as I was in highschool and only worked PT. Before I knew what happened it went to $200 after two months and counting, as it turned out there were taxes, locker-room fees and other BS fees which were in point 6 text. I said I want out asap and was willing to pay this debt. They said you cant get out of the one year deal unless you pay some reduculous fee. From there it went to collections for the next two months I heard from some fat ### in the States with some inbread-down-south my uncle-fathered-my-children accent who said that "This is the collection agency wanting our money for your outstanding debt to Bally Matrix". The kicker is by this time they were already in trouble in the States and under review regarding their deceptive practices. Subsequently we moved with a new address and phone number and that was all I ever heard from Bally and their bill.

I can second this complaint. Bally's intentionally makes it impossible to leave. Complaints against them are legendary. A very bad company. Crooks.

I agree that the bally fitness is a big scammmm.

poor facilites.

poor service

manager sucks

1800 is scammmmm

they are all lier.

We need to sue the Bally even is small amount of dollar.

My husband and I are new to the area and wanted to join a health club that also provided daycare services while we worked out and was close to our home. So we joined Bally's. My husband and I have never left our 9 month old daughter with anyone before but thought that she would do just fine. We filled out the paper work and went into the daycare to take a look. At first glance it looked fine so we signed her in and went on our way. Thirty minuets later they called us back to the daycare because our daughter Allee had an accident. So, I took her to the ladies room and changed her not thinking it was a big deal seeing how she was only 9 months. The lady that was working in the daycare then said to me "so you don't change her often?" I explained that I had just changed her before we dropped her off and that this was the first time she had been away from us. I think that our daughter was just nervous. I also told the lady that Allee sleeps through the night, so that is 9 hours in the same diaper. I tried to just let it go and made an appointment to come back the next day. When I arrived I signed Allee in and while filling out the paperwork to leave her in there the same lady came up to me and asked "are you still nursing?" Not that it is any of her business because they don't feed your children there and this was such a personal question I responded no. She then told me that I was a "bad mommy". I was very upset but understand that everyone has an opinion and I know that I am a very good mommy! I went ahead and worked out for 45 minuets. When I went in to pick up Allee I saw that she was playing with a Domino. Allee can't crawl or walk so that Domino was given to her. Not only is that toy way too small for her be playing with, it was dirty and the paint had chipped off into her mouth, teeth, and under her nails. Allee was the only child in the daycare, so tell me how is that ok? I made a complaint and asked that my membership be canceled and be refunded the fee we paid upfront since it had only been 2 days. They have been giving me the run around for over a month now. I have called everyone in the company up to the actual President. I am absolutely upset that they don't care and don't see how my daughters health and safety was put at risk. I have had to called our doctor to get the signs of lead poisoning. The worst part is no one will call us back and try to make this right. They said that I can end the membership after 60 days, that’s 2 months of the fee at $45.00 a month plus pay $35.00 to end the membership. I just don't see how they can get away with this! You should also Google Bally's and see the same list of complaints, they have hundreds on this site! It's time that they get exposed and pay the price themselves. But most of all from one mommy to another don't take your children to Bally Total Fitness because they just don't care and with the New Year right around the corner I'm sure plenty of people will be getting new memberships.

they did same thing to me and my family. just tell anyone don't use Bally Total fitness

Our family signed up for the 3 yrs, and I was told that my daughter and I could cancel at any time, but my Husband had to go the 3 yrs. or we would have to pay a penalty. Not true, or as told by the guy that my husband talked to. Our first attempt to get the personal trainer, (that is free at the time you sign up) would never show up to the appointment. Not just once did we make appointments but 3 times! so we just gave up. After awhile we started going to my place of businesses gym that is much cheaper and more convenient. So I wanted a copy of the contract to see when the date was that we signed up. I have been waiting now for 2 months, and they took the 10.00 right away out of our account. Their excuse so far is that the address was wrong, even though I spent the hour on the phone with the representative supposedly straightening it out. Very frustrating! I really wish their was some recourse, if any one knows a way to take legal action I would be interested. Thanks

DO NOT JOIN BALLYS! As stated by everybody else, it's dirty, old, and very out of date. After trying to cancel because my hours at work got cut, they told me I could not refund my money because it was over the 3 day limit, which they never bothered going over with me because "we weren't discussing canceling!" I should've thought to ask, but I didn't, so it was just as easy for her NOT to say anything. I had a trainer, and she was horrible, but luckily for my remaining sessions I was able to switch and had a much better trainer, so I give them credit for at least having a few decent trainers on their staff.

I workout at Bally's Kings Highway gym in Brooklyn NY. I'm writing today to complain about the quality of service and equipment in this location.

- First we noticed starting from last week that all the exercise machines are missing the pins to adjust the weights, and without this pins we cannot use the machines at all. This is very frustrating to come to the gym and not able to use the equipment and waste our time.

- Half of the cardio machines like elliptical and treadmills are out of orders all the time, it takes weeks to fix them

I went to get apply for a job at bally fitness and turned in my resume and was told I have to have a natonally recongized certification to work in the personal trainer postion, almost immediatly right after I turned in my resume a friend of mine who just happened to be white went in and got the positon with out the certification. The funny thing is I was dressed in nice slacks and a nice professional long sleeve shirt and he was in shorts and a shirt that looked like it would be something he would work out in.

There are many possible reasons:
1. The job you applied for was different.
2. The location you applied at required different things.
3. It is a new rule that has just been implemented.
4. Your friend had a more impressive work/education history.
5. The position was filled, and if they were going to hire more individuals then they would need exceptional reasons.

Bally Total fitness uses low price strategy to allow as many people to join the gym. However the facility could not handle so many people, which has caused every class is jam packed. Overcrowded class room are filled up with people, weight and equipment are dangerously displayed everywhere. Some gym starts to give numbers to restrict number of people to have the class. Even through people still could barely move around in the classroom. Situation is getting worse, people start fighting for the class and more confusion has caused due to the misunderstanding of misplaced equipment. The experience in Bally Total fitness has currently become chaos nightmare.

I am in total agreement. I asked all the right questions.
I asked how hard it would be to cancel. They said I could just call and cancel at anytime.
UGH, that is such a lie. Now they are telling me I have to write out to CA to get my contract canceled.
They reward their employees for lying to customers.
They are filthy and dissgusting.
They are rude and demeaning to members.
Their classes are a joke.
I don't think they know anything about what they are doing as far as use of machines and such.
I came in because I'm disabled and wanted yoga classes and to be able to swim. I told them I was disabled (like they couldn't notice the constant cough and cane) and that I wasn't sure if it would work out with me trying to get back and forth. They acted so understanding.
Then when I joined, suddenly, I was treated like a freak. They gave me funny looks everytime I walked into the club. They tried to ignore me when I asked questions. They didn't want to tell me how to use any of the equipment safely. It was horrible.
PLEASE...Stay Away from Bally's
Act like they are posion.

My gym closed with less that 2 weeks notice. They didn't just cancel memberships but transitioned them to "global" telling me I could use any Bally's facility. This would be fine except for the closest location was FOUR HOURS AWAY. So I called to cancel and get a refund of the Personal Training money that I had in the system. They wouldn't do anything for me until my location actually closed. I now see that they do this so that I will have no place to go to talk to a live person if I have issues.

It is very difficult to get to a human on the phone, their system hung up on me several times. Once I did speak to people they were very rude. 2 separate people told me that the money was in the system and would be processed after the gym closed. Once the gym closed I was told that the sessions had "expired" a month earlier and I would not be receiving a refund. They told me they had a contract on file that said so but refused to send it to me unless I gave them a $10 service fee to send it to me. When I stated that I was told I would get the money he just said that was wrong and a "training opportunity" for them. VERY RUDE. Not interested in helping me. No value to the customer.

I thought about many other gyms and different ways of exercising. But I came to find out that a gym would be best for me and my schedule. So after looking at all the options in my area, I choose Bally. Biggest mistake ever!

I was on a month to month relationship with them, so I thought. When I changed banks I needed to change their records so that it wouldn’t bounce. I called and they had told me everything was good. The next month I find out that it wasn’t okay. They were still billing my other card. I have no money over there so I was getting hit with overdraft fees.

After I figured all of that out, a couple months later my family membership was causing overdraft fees because I was told that it was to be taken out on certain days. Well it was taken out bi-weekly instead. Can they ever get something right?

I called their customer service to figure out everything that has happened and to ask why! When someone finally answered, I got the run around. I was transferred from person to person. Left with no answers to my questions. What a joke a place.

I can’t believe a gym of this level and that has been around this long is still having issues. Especially with all this new competition! Its not that I don’t have the money for this, I just have a different way of budgeting money. I guess I should just cancel my membership and go with a competitor! Anyone have suggestions?

the bally total fitness at Rosemead is the worst facility i ever attended. Men's locker room shower stalls were broken for a long time; nobody cared to fix them; Steam room and Sauna room and Jaguzi were down for a long time and no fix up at the proper time; people jumped into both jaguzi and pool with sweat without taking a shower first and nobody cared; the bleach concentration at the jaguzi was way too high to the point it would create damage to your swimming wear and your body?; even i swimmed for half an hour and took a shower before i went home and next morning i took a shower at home, i could still smell my body full of bleach residue. Terrible facility, no wonder Bally Total Fitness facility was in bankruptcy and sold to another health club.

Today I was served a court order from this facility saying I owe them $9, 000.00 . That includes interest ?!
Since 2008, I've survived a jaws of life wreck and suffered severe cognitive impairment to my brain .
I canceled my membership in 2008. I canceled with a management in person.
At the time I was moving away to newberg or w medical issues.

I canceled my membership within timeframe and have had reoccurring charges billed to me. I am now receiving a bill in the amount of $2,244.90

Please eliminate these charges I am trying to contact via phone to resolve this issue but no pick up

Please email me @ samiaaljahmi@ymail.com