GoodLife Fitness

I've been a member at Goodlife for a number of years now, and things just never change. They frequently run out of paper towels, machines rarely get fixed or maintained... For a downtown location gym I would assume them to put their best foot forward, but no chance of that. A year ago I had decided to pay for a locker rental there and I paid for a 3 month period when it got close to expiry I'd get a note on my locker to renew and I would no problems right... Until recently I went in one morning and without warning my lock was cut and my stuff removed. I stuned and puzzled. I thought maybe my stuff had been stolen. Now I must explain that I work long hours and don't have much time for the gym so I squeeze it in where I can. So resolving this issue took up about 10 to 15 minutes of my training time. putting me behind schedule. Anyone who trains regularly know how much 10 minutes of carido is. So then I had to book a meeting with an assitant manager (forcing me to take time of my work and NOT get paid) and the girl kept talking down to me like it was my fault!? She told me she didn't have time to notify people that they weere cutting of lockers. She never reimbersed me for my lock that they had decided to cut, without notice. Oh wait the best part was when trying to contact her she was getting a personal training lesson and didn't have time for me. I guess customers come second at Good Life, and I don' t mind stating her name is Alison at the Queen St location in Ottawa. Very bad custome relations.
I see the "stink face" from the trainers when you're not paying for Training there. I guess If I were buying Training sessions at $60 a pop I'd get better treatment. That's just proof that Good Life is simply out for their best interest and not yours. Especially when people can walk of the street and get a weekend cetificate for fitness traning and be a trainer, at pretty much any Good Life. As long as they can sell sell sell... I would attach picutres to show how messy change rooms are and the mould in the showers and weights laying around everywhere, but they make sure you don't use any "image capturing devices". I will sneak some soon though.

i totally agree, since good life took over from bally total fitness, huge difference in customer service, i never had complaints in ontario, but since i got here in halifax, oh my, they dont have a clue, the worst is park lane mall, they need some crash courses on customer service, the best so far here is lacewood, i move a lots between ontario and nova scotia, halifax clubs need crash courses, i had very bad experiences here, other than goodlife, i use dalplex and small gym at best western choclate lake, huge difference in customer service, guys smarten up

Well I'm not impressed one little bit with GOOD LIFE FITNESS, MISSISSAUGA! I have a personal trainer and I've had to put off being in the gym for some time due to health issues. Well, I've asked to have my training session stopped and revoked with head office due to my health issue. When I approached head office they would not do either but still continue to take my money regardless if I'm not there. I was informed that if I was leaving the country then that would be a different story and could have terminated the contact over an individual with a doctors consent requesting no psychical activity. WOW! So it's sad to say that Good Life Fitness isn't made out to be a Good Life atmosphere after all. I SUGGEST TO ANYONE BEFORE JOINING WITH GOOD LIFE OR ANY TAKING ON A TRAINER MAKE SURE YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH!
I've been to other gyms and I've never been treated so poorly!

I don't understand you people! All these problems would not be an issue in the first place if... if... YOU READ THE CONTRACT! All of your responsibilities as a member are outlined on it! And when you break the agreement it's all of a sudden GoodLife's fault? Are you kidding me? I understand that if.. if the was an error made on behalf of the company, then yes this would definitely need to be corrected. But if you agree to a Personal Training package... it state on the flipping contract that the session if after 10 days or so many session the remaining sessions can not be cancelled or refunded. I would know this why? Because unlike so many other people- I know better to read this before agreeing to things? You people that are wining about the mistake that you made and blaming this company are selfish and disgusting. This is why they have contracts and it gives them the power to stand behind them.

So in closing... people- please for the love of god- READ THE CONTRACT (as you are given a copy of it- HELLO) READ IT BEFORE YOU ARE LOCKED INTO IT. Locked into it? What do you mean? YOU HAVE 10 DAYS TO READ THE STUPID THING OVER. In this time period you have the option (BY LAW :O) to cancel.

It would save so much grief if you people would open your eyes. I don't know about you- but my parents told me to never put my name on something unless I had a complete understanding of what I was signing to. Maybe the next time you want to better yourself in the form of Personal Training- read the damn paper and see what is involved. Shocking right?

To chantal10:
I currently work at Goodlife and agree with all the negative feedback about them. They do not give a damn about customer service, it is all about sales. You will never get your money back as it is against their policy, but you may be able to get your left over sessions. Here is what you need to do: First, contact the fitness manager and plead your case, when that doesn't work, demand the phone number for "customer experience." The threat alone may make the fitness manager give in but if it doesn't, go ahead and call customer experience. It is their job to resolve this issue. That is your absolute best bet. Goodluck.

Me and my Husband were both convinced to sign up with a personal trainer. We were originally happy (first 2 sessions) until we stopped receiving calls to set up our appointments. After a while we found out that our trainer had quit; And the following trainers we were "given" quit before we had a session. We are having a hard time trying to get our money back. Any suggestions? It would be greatly appreciated as it is a lot of money. Thanks!

I can't believe everything I am reading. I am soooooo upset with Goodlife, so disgusted by them and I can't even tell my story because I'm getting a migraine just thinking about how sickened I am.

Thank goodness I am not alone! I am a member of GoodLife in Ottawa. Things are no different here. I spent close to 4 thousand dollars on Personal training and pay my membership dues every two weeks. I have done this since I joined in 2003.
In July of 2008 I suffered two concussions in the span of a week at work and have been unable to do anything because I have been diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome.
I went to Goodlife with a medical certificate asking that they put my membership and training sessions on hold until I was cleared medically.They filled out the appropriate forms and said it would be on hold until I returned. They continued to take out membership dues. I went to them and they again filled out the paper work. Again the money kept coming out of my account. I had 44 personal training sessions left to complete so again I went to the club, they told me they would refund the money and my membership would be on hold.
It has been a year, not only did they continue to take the money out but they also told me that my personal training sessions expired...imagine...all that money and because I was medically unable to work out they felt I should forfeit everything.
I have yet to receive a full refund. They have "credited me the personal training sessions". I have tried to go to the Better Business Bureau who say it is a civil matter. I have threatened them with legal action which of course they say...go ahead because all the fine print at the back of their contracts covers them.
GoodLife SUCKS! If I didn't want to lose my training sessions I would have told them where to go a very long time ago...we as consumers are helpless. I have tried to find contact information for Patch which is always blocked by those idiots at Head Office.

I belong to an all women goodlife club in Windsor, Ontario. I was NOT informed prior to my trainer leaving until 2 weeks after she had left. I still have 5 lessons and one payment left. I told them on the phone that a) I should have been advised of my trainer leaving so that I could have taken my last 5 lessons. the person on the other side of the line said "we did call you twice" ...my answer was..."unless you called and God answered, you sure al hell didn't call my number or talk to me" when I told her that I dodn't have a land line only my cell phone and with my new phone I can trace any call made...after hearing that she changed her tune real fast. I do not want any other trainer, I see how they work with other clients and I don't like what I saw risking injuries. Do you have any suggestion as how I can handle this situation? Thank you.

GoodLife knows about the consumer protection act. It's all outlined on the back of your contract in big bold letters your rights. If you don't pay in enough time, they send it to creditors. Not GoodLife's fault. GoodLife tries to contact you with letters, and the number they called must have been the number you gave on the contract. Did you move? Did you update your info? My friend who works there says people often don't update their info so when things like this happen, people don't realize it because the letters are going elsewhere. I don't understand why you're mad at GoodLife when you couldn't pay. And the collection agency isn't GoodLife, why aren't you mad at the law firm? Think about it...

GoodLife claims to be one of the best managed companies over and over again, yet I have never in my life seen such a poorly managed business. Maybe the corporate side of things is where its managed well because inside any club you visit all you get is poor management uncaring employees and managers who dont know a thing. I was working at GL in London Ontario for the last 6 months where I became the top seller in my region getting awards for first or second in sales every single month. I had struggled with some health issues over the last month and due to stress was advised to take 2 weeks off. My manager was upset at my time off and hired a new sales person for our club. M manager replaced me because my health issues were stress or related to(mental health) The woman who was my manager has NO experience in a gym or working out, has no fitness background, cant figure out what to do with most machines in our club, and cannot resolve a customer complaint if her life depended on it. I was let go and treated unfairly with prejudice do to mental health issues. I was treated like an outsider and was soon to be the brunt of all the jokes in the club thanks to my boss telling everyone about my condition and mentioning that I am seeing a counsellor and on crazy pills. Soon enough even people i didnt really know where telling me how they heard from my boss about my depression or stress of whatever. Working at GoodLife in London has been the single worst job experience of my life, due to mismangement and unprofessionalism. I really thought about suing or fighting or at least letting someon know and when I tried I was made to feel like an idiot even more from Managers and from our Clubs owner. So they will end up failing Im sure with someone so unqualified and immature to be running their clubs. I wont fight it anymore every single day more people are finding out just how bad GoodLife really is, so I figure its all just a matter of time before it all falls apart.

hahaha...not really funny but goodlife is an effin joke...the manager in windsor at the tecumseh location is a CHILD, it's embarrassing hearing everyone complain about her...imagine a manager telling an instructor that "she doesn't like them, so she doesn't want to deal with them" WHAT?! you don't LIKE them? What are you 5? Grow up before someone makes you. Joke city...Fools that drank Patch's koolaid and don't know how to be an individual anymore...because that is CLEARLY frowned upon...

My parents just received a call from Robin Robero in the last hour. Imagine the concern they had when a law firm is calling them and looking for me. By the way, I am 44 years old with children. They only left a prerecorded message, and Robin asked me to return her call. I have tried approx. 20 times leaving messages and recording my own to them. It was only after a search of the phone number that I was able to locate this site...thank goodness! I owe $100 to Goodlife and had gone into the location in order to pay months ago. They were unable to process a payment for every reason imaginable and I was extremely frustrated. I then asked that the manager phone me about the incident, and I even had the girl at the desk write out what happened and sign it for me. I never again heard from Goodlife...not a letter, not a call, nothing. I have no problem paying this amount, however I am outraged that Goodlife took this route instead of contacting me directly. ONCE GOODLIFE SENDS THIS OVER TO THIS COMPANY, THIS THEN BECOMES A BLACK MARK ON YOUR CREDIT RATING! This is very difficult IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE to repair. Yes, I am disgusted by this company. However, I am HORRIFIED THAT GOODLIFE IS JUST PASSING ALONG FILES TO THIS COMPANY THAT WILL EFFECT OUR CREDIT RATINGS FOR YEARS TO COME.

ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BY CONTACTING GOODLIFE DIRECTLY ALONG WITH THE ONTARIO CONSUMERS PROTECTION ACT. YOU CAN FILE ON LINE! PLEASE GO AFTER GOODLIFE! THEY SHOULD NEVER AGAIN GET YOUR BUSINESS OR ANYONE ELSE YOU ARE ABLE TO WARN ABOUT GOODLIFE'S RECKLESS BEHAVIOR! PLEASE TAKE ACTION!

I honestly don't think everyone is getting the big picture here when it comes to credit scores, and just how one report like this can be the difference of getting a loan, credit card, car, ect. and having it turned down for years to come.

GOODLIFE IS "NO GOOD"! I AM GOING TO THE STAR AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME!

And just as a side note, I did phone Goodlife directly after looking at this site. I was only able to connect to a message board. They have not yet returned my call...they are THE REAL ###! The other company is making their $5 bucks for their stupid harrasement calls, and they will go out of business if enough of us report them to the Ontario Consumer Protection Branch. Goodlife will eventually be forced to drop them with enough pressure, and no one will hire this company with reports numerous reports against them.
Caller ID: Robin Robero
Caller: Casey Van Morlen Law Firm
Caller Type: Collection Agency

UPDATE: I have sent a copy of the above along with a letter to Goodlife, and I would like to encourage anyone who has trouble to do the following...Contact Goodlife Customer Service, David Patchell-Evans the President of Goodlife, The Fitness Industry Council of Canada along with the Ontario Consumer Protection Branch. Be sure to keep any and all documents along with all voice recordings should you need them.

I will be starting a BLOG reporting the events that have happened along with what follows next. Fortunately, I do have the time to make this a priority. It will also have links to the sites you will need to visit in order to report this to everyone who can take action. Goodlife is accountable for their actions as long as "we" hold them accountable. I have ordered a copy of my credit report, and I will be posting the blackmark by Goodlife on this site as well as my BLOG and every other site that is pertinent. Again, this type of reckless behavior can affect you for years to come! Keep tuned in for a link to my BLOG...coming soon. And, more importantly, take action against Goodlife!
Caller ID: Robin Robero
Caller: Casey Van Morlen Law Firm
Caller Type: Collection Agency

UPDATE: I spoke with Stephanie at Goodlife at 3:30pm today. According to Stephanie, she is the only single representative that I am able to speak to at Goodlife. In other words, it stops with her. Unfortunately for Goodlife she was very uninformed about the Consumers Protection Act. She was surprised and unconviced that consumers have rights that are protected by the act. She did give me her guarantee that the collection agency had explict instructions not to contact the Credit Bureau, and that she would personally guarantee that they did follow the instructions. I am now waiting for a copy of the credit report, and I suspect that this company did make a claim on my credit report. I will definitely keep this site updated with what shows up. I would strongly urge that everyone else with the same problem do the same.

I also have made calls to the collection agency over 30 times leaving numerous messages. I requested specific information such as address and fax number. They in turn only called back twice. They refuse to leave any of the requested information. This is all part of the Consumers Protection Act, and they have clearly broken it. They have once again phoned my parent's number leaving personal information. This also breaks the act. From their first phone call to the last I have left my phone numbers each and every time and stated that they not call the other number. This also breaks the act. Stephanie feels that this company represents Goodlife in the very best light. I pointed out that she may want to pass me onto someone that has more knowledge, however she refused to do it.

Stephanie insists that they sent me a letter in March and April. I never received such a letter, and this would be the first time I have not received a letter from anyone ever. If it were one letter, then I might understand that there was the remote possibility it was lost. However, two letters lost in the mail are against all odds. Stephanie then told me it was up to me to prove that I did not get the letters...huh? In turn, she stated that as long as they stated it was sent then that was all that needed to be done on their end. Overall, she has made a point to reinforce Goodlife's reckless behavior.

Please contact me with a reply if you would also like to take action.
Caller ID: [protected]
Caller: Casey Van Morlen Law Firm
Caller Type: Collection Agency