GoodLife Fitness
Reviews and Complaints

Be AWARE: Good Life Fitness uses Dishonest, Outrageous and Vexatious tactics towards their members!

Good Life in Ontario using:
• Unfair practices
• Misleading Sales tactics
• Unauthorized withdrawals from member(s) bank accounts
• Using threats to collect money ahead of agreed timelines/schedule
• Doesn’t provide standard membership costs; Membership-cost hugely vary depending on the person. This is a sign of discrimination.

Examples:
Unreasonable and unfair membership costs for public:
(a). Making students pay by-weekly $33.00 while other people (non-students), like family of three (ages 55, 26 and 32 yr. old) paying by-weekly total of $45.00.
(b). Or charging others for six weeks $750.00 is absolutely outrageous.

Where did they get this kind of pricing and how they decide who will pay less and who will pay more?
Do we need to look specific way to get a better price? It seems like Good Life in Ontario using unfair practices and discrimination.

Furthermore Good Life acting dishonest towards their clients, those who either cancelled their memberships or about to cancel it. It seems like they treating them like a Lost-Cause and trying to rip-out of their former or former-to-be members as much cash as they could get away with.

As an example: the Good Life in Ontario agreed that a Former member to be (student) will make a certain payment arrangement by specific date. However, despite a made arrangement, and without any notification Good Life (Ontario) contacted Lawyer in Alberta to get a payment from a member sooner than as agreed timelines.
There are serious concerns in regards to Good Life tactics for the following reasons:
1. There has never been denial in making payments.

2. The timelines for making final payment did not pass, however despite this fact, Good life involved a Lawyer without any notice, or prior reminder, which a serious measure - vexatious action (i.e. opportunity to slam their members credibility and drag them into the cost of legal fees and stress/duress).

3. Also, for some reason, Good Life involved a Lawyer, who practices in Alberta and this Lawyer is not listed in Ontario Law Society.
Should this Lawyer (from Alberta - Peter J. Stephan) dealing with any matter in Ontario?
Should this lawyer making threats like “pay to my office… or further collections efforts will commerce...”
Why this matter ended-up in this Lawyer hands in the first place?
Under the Constitution Act, 1867, section 92(14), each province is vested with the power to enact and apply laws relating to the administration of justice within its own territory.

Furthermore, when I googled this Lawyer phone number [protected]), he provided in his letter, web immediately returned multiple results/links to multiple websites with wording:
“…I keep getting this ugly call from [protected]. Maybe the previous owner…..”
“…29 complains about [protected]……”
“…any Good Life Membership, but we keep receiving this ugly ring from -[protected]……”
“ …Good Life Fitness Club: What a corrupt organization….”
‘… spam number..”

Note, The Lawyer’s email address is also quite unique and questionable: [protected]@slfcollections.com

4. I’m convinced that a Good Life uses dishonest and outrageous tactics. Also its questionable the “Lawyer” that represents Good Life Fitness is real/legit.

5. Furthermore, Good Life staff (Oakville, Trafalgar location) is immature and rude. One of yonge male instructors thrown stapler down in-front of my face with attitude (showing me that he dislikes me), while I was taking to other staff person at front desk.

Be AWARE of a Good Life – as it uses dishonest, outrageous and vexatious tactics.

Also see links:

Misleading Sales tactics
https://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/goodlife-fitness-ontario-c268397.html

Unauthorized withdrawals from my bank account
https://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/goodlife-fitness-london-ontario-c116197.html

Outrages membership costs which vary depending on a person
https://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/goodlife-fitness-clubs-kingston-ontario-c117439.html

Multiple complains about GoodLife
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8666194296

https://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/goodlife-fitness-unfair-practise-and-harassments-c841302.html

in Canada,
• Section 40 of the Federal Court Act and in Ontario Section 140 of the Courts of Justice Act, restrict the ability to introduce or continue proceedings for those who have instituted vexatious proceedings or conducted proceedings in a vexatious manner.

• Consumer Protection (Ontario) Law (General CPA Law), chapter 6 - Unfair Practices states,
That threatening legal remedies (i.e. exaggerating the negative credit rating impact of a debt being reported to a credit bureau is False, Misleading and deceptive representation.
CPA "unfair practices" fall into three categories, each considered in turn in the next three sections below. These are:
o false, misleading or deceptive representations [s.2; CPA 14(1)]
o unconscionable representations [s.3; CPA 15(1)]
o re-negotiation under duress [s.4; CPA 16]

They are still doing it. In fact they had increased the alleged outstanding fee to $311 from $250. This is the last time I will allow them to get away with this. They sent me "reminder" messages in January. Twice in February. This is the third strike and they are out. I am taking steps to make sure they won't take advantage of consumers ever again. I am in the process of filing a law suit, legal injunctions and harassment charges against them. I want to see them comply with the "100% satisfaction or your money back guarantee" clause. I want to show to you that you have every right refuse to pay. This practice is not good for business and they know it. We are consumers. We will have our day in court. We can be satisfied and we have the power to back it.

My boyfriend and I have been goodlife members for about 4 years now. We recently began going to a different location (Victoria park/sheppard). At this location, the fitness manager (Allison) approached us and asked us to stop our 'session'. Not knowing exactly what she was talking about, we walked away as we were done our workout. She approached us another time asking us to stop our workout. She was under the impression that my boyfriend was my personal trainer and we were using good life space to personally train 'under the table'. We made it clear to her that we were boyfriend and girlfriend and that there was no money being exchanged as we were following a routine from an app (Nike training app). A week later we were called into an office to speak with the general manager (Melina). According to the general manager, she said other staff have been watching our routines and workouts and they have come to the conclusion that my boyfriend is personally training me which is against their policy. The manager began asking questions like 'why do you come in the gym twice a day' etc... I strongly feel we are being harassed and bullied. It is very unfair that myself and my boyfriend who are goodlife paying members are basically being asked not workout together... Unless we make it clear that is not personal training. This is all based off of word of others and there are no substantial facts of anything... Just assumptions. They have two warnings in their system about us and are threatening to suspend/remove our memberships if we continue... I don't know what to do to prove that my boyfriend and I are working out together by using an app. He does help and correct my form as he knows more about fitness than me. I am very offended and disgusted with the managers and employees at this goodlife location as they are acting on assumption, watching and stalking us during workouts and accusing us of breaking a policy that we haven't broke. I see people working out together all the time at numerous good life facilities and nobody has been stopped or harassed like this. It needs to be dealt with asap.

February 16th, 2016 8:55 a.m.
Member #GL1198524
Because of how Agent #1191, Heidi, dealt with my issue of extending my Medical Leave, and not refunding a payment which went through and threatening to hang up on me I am canceling my Membership.
I called today, as I was requested to do last year, I even diarized it, to extend my medical leave. Last year I dealt with an agent, Jean who was compassionate, and extremely helpful, as I was so upset emotionally she even reached out to her supervisor for help. I am on permanent disability for Clinical Depression and due to what I am going through have not been leaving my home. Unfortunately, I also lost my sister suddenly last in in June of a cardiac arrest, which has set me back somewhat. I did what I was asked to do by Goodlife, but when I called today was treated with disrespect, to a point where I could not take it anymore. Heidi, the agent I dealt with was rude, uncooperative, said her supervisor was on vacation. I asked to speak with someone higher up, she told me there is nobody, I asked to speak with Jean, she told me no I couldn't and refused to give me a refund, which is something which was supposed to have been done for a payment which has apparently gone through. She threatened to hang up and talked to me as though I were a child. I am 56 years old, and do not deserve to be spoken to in that manner, nor should any other client. I will not take that from anyone, especially someone who is representing Goodlife. Because of this, I am canceling my membership. This Agent needs to be spoken to for how she treated me, as she has left me distraught.

To whom it may concern,

My name is Aysan Salehi, I am 22 years old and I just recently immigrated to Canada. I am emailing you today because I have heard many wonderful things about how helpful and kind you are to those who are put into a demeaning position.
When I was a little girl I experienced severe back and neck pain. Pain that I still, in my twenties, unfortunately have to suffer with. I have gone through all sorts of doctors and specialists both back in my home country, Iran, and here in Canada. With all the different pieces of feedback I received, the main conclusion was to increase my level of exercise. With that being said, I signed up for a gym membership at Goodlife Fitness, located at 8281 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON L3T 2C7. When I was signing up for a membership, because of my language barrier, they appointed me to an Iranian female worker named Sade Bahmani, to give me more information and explain things more thoroughly. After getting all my information, Ms. Bahmani explained to me that if I were to sign up for a personal trainer, it would help me with my health concerns. She persisted that if I had a trainer, it would 100% cure my aches and pains because the trainer would know exactly what to do to pin point the root of my problems. Being a new comer into this country, with absolutely no family or friends to turn to for advice or guidance, I trusted that she was giving me real and proper information out of the goodness of her heart to help me out, as she knew I was not fluent in English, I am working to support myself and do not have much knowledge about the country and etc. when I asked her to explain the personal training she said the only option they had was a 100 session one. She told me that they had absolutely no less available and no other options. Ms. Bahmani proceeded to comfort me by saying that if at any moment I wished to cancel the membership, I had full ability to do so. After completely manipulating and convincing me that it was the right thing to do and if I could not at any point afford it anymore or didn’t need it anymore I can cancel right away, I made the biggest mistake of my life and trusted her. Never have I ever regretted something so deeply before in my life.
A couple of months went by and my pain was not getting better, in fact, I lost about 3 jobs due to the excessive amount of pain I had endured. I told my personal trainer, and the manager of Goodlife Fitness and they said it was impossible for me to cancel my sessions and that I had no way in stopping the payments/membership. When I saw my doctor, he demanded me to stop all forms of activity/exercise/heavy lifting immediately, as I was permanently damaging and harming my well-being, I then got a doctors note from him and took it to the gym to show that I had legitimate proof and that I could not partake in any physical activities. But the manager Bruce Fm, and once again Sade Bahmani denied my note and still refused to cancel my account/sessions.
I have only one credit card, which is absolutely full with my food expenses, rent, transportation, this gym membership, etc. I don’t even have enough money to put food on the table for myself sometimes. I have tried to get welfare from the government however because of this membership, they are giving me an extremely difficult time and will not grant me any help. Because of my pain, I have failed every single interview I have gone through recently due to the fact that I am unable to attend to the different tasks and responsibilities expected. This membership and the training sessions have cost me $6300.00 in total and I have to pay $502.00 per month. I have tried everything that I can possibly think of to get rid of them, I have even put my personal training sessions up for sale on KIJIJI and Ebay. The manager did not even hesitate to tell me that I should not do anything with my credit card either, in regards to cancelling or whatever, due to the fact that it will destroy my credit history. I literally have absolutely no choices anymore.
I am emailing you now because I have lost all sense of hope and faith in this situation. I cannot find a job because of my pain, they will not allow me to cancel the personal training sessions, I am incredibly in debt and I am all alone and cannot afford anything. I do not even mind paying for the membership, but I cannot afford these personal training sessions anymore, nor can I even use them. However, even if I don’t use the sessions they are still withdrawing money out of my account, of course. Please help me find a way to get justice in this, as I am now really starting to panic. Getting rid of these sessions will help me with my life expenses an incredible amount. I would just like to move forward with my life and become more and more comfortable in this beautiful country. I was tricked and played as a fool and I really do not know what else I can do at this point. I used to have to work 3-4 different jobs at once just to be able to pay my expenses off. Please help me and I would be forever grateful to you and the amazing things you do for people.
Thank you so much for your time in reading my email, I hope that you can help me expose these terrible people for taking advantage of a young, new comer and trying to get away with it. When I speak to people now, people who personally also attend Goodlife Fitness, they say they have never even heard about a strict 100 session personal training commitment. I feel used and betrayed and I am extremely desperate for help and assistance on how to deal with this situation. I have a couple months of the sessions left and I really cannot afford to pay these off anymore. Please help me in what ever way that you can as It would truly save my life. Thank you for your time.

All the best,
Aysan Salehi
[protected]

I'm at the location at Heartland in Mississauga. They have oversold so that you can't get on the equipment, you can't get a locker. The Manager told me to use the "in and out" method with another member on the weights. Excuse me, but that's disgusting. I'm not using a sweaty, manhandle piece of equipment with someone. I had to leave last night because I could not use one single piece of equipment I wanted to use. I tried to call their customer service and couldn't get anyone. Their online form isn't even friendly. I'm committed till October and would like to actually USE the facilities! They need to stop selling. There were all kinds of people going through the pitch at the tables and reps touring people through. I guess once they have your money, you can go fly a kite.

My name is Maria Sunara I am the mother of Harlene Sunara and I am also her Power of Attorney requiring her financial concerns due to her mental issues. The reasons why me and my daughter cancelled our membership and her training sessions. Because when my daughter signed up for another training session back in October 2016 I didn't realize each session would cost her $840 plus $43 for the membership. We told the trainer and the Fitness Manager to cancel in that week, but the trainer and the Fitness Manager forgot to. Now it is January 2017 Goodlife Fitness is still taking money out of my daughter I want this issue to be resolved as quickly as possible and the manipulations with my daughter I don't want to go to the next level. Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely;
Maria Sunara
Power of Attorney

I started my contract of nov 28 2016 with goodlife while I was waiting for my visa to move to another country. I explained to the staff (Michelle) that I will be moving out of the country when I get my visa and cannot transfer my contract to another person and I don't want to pay cancellation fees so if there is any fees to cancel or buy out fees then I do not wish to start a contract as I am not aware when I will be moving. Michelle told me "don't worry, because you are moving out of the country then your situation is unique so you will not be charged any buy out or cancellation fees and can cancel at no charge anytime. You can come talk to me on the day that you get your visa and you will be moving and I will take care of it myself so you are not charged any fees." now, jan 28 2017, I went to cancel my contract because I will be moving in 2 days, they charged me $103 and told me there is no such thing as moving out of the country. I explained to them that I was told on the day that I started the contract that I would not be paying fees if I am moving out of the country. The staff, michelle, denied it all and lied right in mine and my sister's face that she has never said such a thing. Your employee is a liar and your company supported it. I spoke to the regional manager and they did not do anything about it and stood behind her lie. I explained the situation word for word and retold the conversation we had had on nov 28 2016 and said that if they check their camera then they can see by lip sync that I am retelling the conversation exactly as it happened. They refused to help or to acknowledge the lie that their employee had told right in our faces. I am very unhappy with this treatment and the fact that your staff lies right out in the open to get the customer to sign the contract and once it is signed and fee is paid they could not care less and go against everything they have said in the meeting. I will be spreading the word to my 50 000 instagram followers as well as my sisters' followers and all our friends on facebook and at the university and our family members and friends all over the country to not ever sign a contract with goodlife as they are liars and stick by their lie without any compassion or consideration for the customer. They have no value for their customers and will do anything to get money out of the customer. They will not try to rectify their own employee's lie or mistake and the customer has to pay for their employee's lie and deliberate misinformation.

They are still doing it. They are sending me "friendly reminders"of money they claimed I owe them. Two can play at this game. I know my rights. I will not comply.in fact they owe me money. Enough said. I am turning this matter over to my attorney. I will see to it they get penalize for this.

One more thing - they refused to honour their "100% satisfaction or money back" guaranteed. I am holding them responsible for this.

Do not trust them! They will take your money, stall for ten days, and leave you with a bill.

I am frustrated with this company. I told them I will not pay their opt out fee. They refused to acknowledge my wishes. Instead I am receiving their "friendly reminder messages" regarding over due payment. I know my rights. I will not comply. I am not satisfied with them. Why should I pay for something I no longer used? In fact they owe me money. The catch - There is no way I can collect from them. What am I to do? You tell me.

I discovered flaws inn the member agreement The rep failed to explain the terms and conditions at signing of the contract. They failed to do follow ups after the trial period. They failed to explain personal trainer is an additional fee and not included in the package. They failed to respond to my messages and phone calls. They responded only after sixty days had passed. I tried cancelling the contract. They wanted me to pay their $249 opt out fee. I will not comply. I know my rights. I had paid $310 to them. The contract stated "100 % satisfaction or your money back guaranteed." I am not satisfied with them. I want my money back immediately.

Today january 16 called at nine am, the customer service girl named taylor #glh 1478 served me. I was not happy that I called january 12th that I injured my back and needed to freeze membership. The girl did that never expected to have my pyt come out today. That is crazy being i'm not able. I told taylor this and didn't have membership with me and she said next time I call to make sure I have the appropriate this to talk I guess to agent! Really I call many times never have anyone this rude and unprofessional. I definitely will go public with this. Unexceptable to talk to customers like this, i'm very angry. I will expect someone to call me.

I hired a personal trainer as of September 2016 and I tell myself how much I regret this decision every single day of my life! The trainer is unreasonable and expects me to predict every minute of my day. Due to the nature of my job or other circinstances I have had to cancel the session with the hope of the trainer understanding but no. I go there to only find out that I am being charged for sessions I don't show up to. There is just zero flexibility in understanding and empathizing for the client. Goodlife and personal trainer only wants month! It's a trap. They are super horrible.

I just received the worst customer service from the Guelph Pergola Commons General Manager at Goodlife Fitness. I was calling to cancel my membership and after aggressively pushing me to come into the facility to cancel - to the point where he wanted to know exactly what my reasons were for being unable to come in, to the detail of when my flight was leaving the country, and told me emailed confirmation of my cancellation was not possible. After I put my foot down and insisted on cancelling over the phone... he asked for my email to confirm it. When I pointed out he had just told me that wasn't possible, he immaturely mocked me and said I had insinuated that. When I asked for his name to identify him, he hung up the phone on me. Terrible, terrible, terrible customer service.

I went to my class as usual. Other women were waiting with me. Finally an instructor came by to tell us that the body shred class is cancelled permanently. I went on to say there is no indication of that on the schedule online, she said it is up at the desk when you come in.

I went up to the desk and the two girls working at the desk for your organization had no idea what I was talking about. It was not mentioned at the desk and employees only mentioned it was cancelled tomorrow.

Not a good way to run a business. I am a teacher and I communicate with parents. As an organization who is providing a service to people who pay, communication should be a priority. One woman made babysitting arrangements for her kids.

The online schedule needs to be kept up to date. Your employees need to know what is going on. They did not seem to care. The instructor is the only one who apologized. Very disorganized and I am debating if I should keep my membership.

Lisa seregi

I'm visiting family in bc, which is a different province from where I live and I went for a workout yesterday; before it, I was hit with some shocking and unreasonable news. I was told upon arrival that I am supposed to pay a $5 fee to workout even though I already pay over $50 a month. I'm in bc for 10 days and to workout and maintain my healthy lifestyle, I have to pay equivalent to my monthly membership for just 10 days? This is unfair and I know there are most likely other people around the country or world who run into this problem. It doesn't only seem to be unfair but it is a money grab on your guys' part which makes members feel like they're being treated unfairly. I really do enjoy your club but for this to happen, i'm not going to be attending your gym for the remainder of my stay as I rather use free passes elsewhere. This is a policy that you guys really should omit because as your membership prices are already ridiculously expensive under world health's a $5 charge towards your members just isn't reasonable. Whoever receives this message, i'm sorry that you have to deal with this matter as i'm sure that it is out of your hands but don't disregard this situation as it is a problem that has made me unhappy along with a few others most likely in such a big organization of members. Thank you.

This gym at Interchange in Vaughan is turning into a dump. The showers, toilet area and change room smells. The equipment is never wiped down by anyone including the maintenance staff. No one inspects the machines if any of the equipment needs service, batteries or replacement. The employees at Good Life just stand around and the men talk with the women clients.

The staff that work there are rude and unfriendly. If you don't move away the men that work there pretend not to see you and will walk into you like bullies.

This gym is below average. There are never any towels especially on the week end. Manager should be on top of this and assessing ways to improve the towel service. Purchase another washer and dryer or assign frequent washes. No brainer.

I've been a member of what was first ballys (Joined with a life membership in 1989) which migrated to a goodlife membership. I've recently moved to a smaller town which has one of the new goodlife mini gyms called fit 4 less.

In all the ads it states "fit 4 less by goodlife". If I already have a goodlife lifetime membership (I pay approx. $6 per month to maintain it) why should I have to pay an additional $44 up front and then $4.99 bi-weekly to use a "goodlife" facility with less features and benefits? The staff all like to say that it is isn't a goodlife but all the weights, equipment, towels and marketing material are all goodlife branded.

I've tried contacting patch (So much for helping him with his studies when he wrecked his bike when attending western) but he spends so much time at his muskoka residence that he doesn't seem to get involved in goodlife business matters anymore.

So now I have to travel 100 kms just to use a fully featured, honest to goodness goodlife fitness centre.

6/06/2016:
This club has been charging me more than signed fees. Moreover;they never told me they charged hold fees that they never told me about. We have to give them a notice of 10 days before putting on hold. What if someones parents become sick or person and cannot go gym for few weeks, is that person gets notice from god that your parents will be sick in 10 days and give notice to gym for it.

I am sorry if i sound bad but really I feel good life just want to make money and doesn't care about their members.

I would rather pay high membership fees to gyms who values people and doesnot make them stuck with them.

On may 30th, at 315pm I took my friend (Non-member) with me to gl and asked for a pass for her to try the gym with me that day for a swim. She was thinking about joining but is moving end of june to airdrie so would likely join there we said. The gm, nigal told us that there are no free passes and that she would have to sit with a fitness rep to go through what the gym has to offer. I asked how long and he said about 20 minutes. I told him I only had an hour and didn't want to sit for 20 minutes to wait for my friend to go through a sales process when she was not going to buy today. He said well you can buy a drop in pass for $15... I decided to do that. He was already visibly irritated so when my friend said to him that it was not very nice to make your member pay for a friend to drop in, he totally came unglued at the front desk and yelled directly at us, "I don't have to take this! This is ridiculous! What kind of business do you know that gives out things for free?" he was so aggressive and abrupt that I was completely taken aback. I could see he was just infuriated and although I wanted to lay into him that I went with my husband's to golds gym twice on a day pass with no questions asked, I kept my mouth shut as I could sense he was about to kick us out... That's how badly he over reacted. He was completely and utterly unprofessional and I was so embarrassed and infuriated to be demeaned and spoken to like a child. I pay for two memberships every month and I can tell you know that I will not be renewing next year and I will go somewhere else if gl does not discipline this gm. Also my friend instantly stated she will never buy a membership from a company who hires unprofessional employees like him to run their gyms. I can only imagine how many people he has kicked out and how many complaints he already has against him for his lack of self-control.