Life Time Fitness
Reviews and Complaints

As a member, I am not alone in considering it outrageous that the swimming pool closes on Labor Day. Indeed, folks who are not members are similarly shocked! Minnesota has the best weather in September for swimming outside. This past year, the weather in June and part of July was cold and rainy and thus not amenable for outdoor swimming.
Staff gives excuses as to why the pool will be closes - "insurance". Other staff says that the pool shall be open as long as weather permits.
September -- children are in school, and the days are glorious.
It simply is "outrageous" as even non-members rightly believe, that the pool closes on Labor Day!
Summer offically has not even ended.
Lifetime Fitness is a For Profit business! What the heck?

Bad management. Anthony Cambee manages by harassing the workers that do their job with excellence. Then he complains that you didn't get all your work done when it was work for five people and only two are working, and those that are working he will complain about. And plays blind eye towards the workers that steal time.

Due to the prices of gas fluctuation from $3.75 -$4.25 per gallon, and there being a good drive to go to work, we two associates decided that our $7.50 per hour job wasn't enough pay to justify the distance. So we began filling out applications for other jobs close to home. And then suddenly our boss Anthony becomes very critical of our work. Whereas our boss has always been so appreciative of us and compliments us on how good of a job we are doing. And many members and other associates compliment us as well. So it is apparent that our boss has been being contacted for references and has been giving us a bad reference. As he worked at finding some dust that was missed because a member was using a machine and it could not be cleaned under while the cleaning was being conducted since the member was on the machine. And so this was the "dirt" that he had on us. As we work we give 110% everyday. While others do not show up, or come in late, or literally sleep on the job, as well as do as little as possible while on the job. And nothing happens to them, while we associates work hard to make up for those not working to keep the gym clean and we do a fabulous job, and this boss is having emotional issues that we have a need to quit due to the gas prices for one and the other is one will be leaving for college soon and we are making those arrangements. Well I guess the emotional issues of Anthony are because we have a life and it does not revolve around Lifetime. And your trying to sabatoge us so we can not get another job, well that will come around to you.

This place is a complete ripoff.

Not only do they charge you fees to become a member, but they deceptively make you pay 2 months worth of membership when you decide to no longer be a member. Today I tried to end my membership and was told that it will cost me $240 just to end my membership. You know a business is corrupt when they make you pay lots of money in order to stop doing business with them. I would advise everyone to never do business with these people. I certainly wont.

I love the old General Manager 'P'. He was true to his word on "Family". He was always smiling and was a caring person. You can tell since he always greeted people and ensured they were welcomed. I was a happy member for years. Even when they jumped to Diamond Level, I was willing to pay more for the membership. Then 'P' left and 'B' became the General Manager. Wow, night and day. 'B' was not only arrogant but very unwelcoming. He never smiles. For example, we had a Tuesday monthly LifeTime sponsored function at the Wine Tasting Room at City Centre and 'B' did not even approach us. He kept to his table with his friends. That type of attitude can also be felt throughout LifeTime. Many good employees and instructors left. They said 'B' is more of a numbers guy. Pushing them to the point where it was not fun and family oriented anymore. When employees and instructors are not enjoying their environment, us members can feel it. It is now not worth paying for my membership. I pay the extra money to enjoy a local gym with family values. Now, it is more of a corporate attitude. Going elsewhere. Very sad...

When I walked in and requested to put my LT membership on hold, I was asked to write a letter to that effect, and because I had requested 1 day after being billed for that month, I was told that I would be billed 1 more month. Grudgingly, I agreed. Now, it's been 2 months beyond the 2nd month, and I just saw my CC being billed again. When the 1st wrong billing occurred, I called the LT branch and spoke to a "JEFF", and was asked, DO U HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT YOU GAVE TO OUR REPRESENTATIVE. Really guys? I asked to speak to his Supervisor and he said he will have a Manager call me back. And that was the last I heard from them. I am going to fight them tooth and nail. And their corporate it going to hear from me. And the Media in Atlanta, including Clark Howard show is going to hear from me. And [redacted].com is going to get a new entry. And every forum, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ (and every website that has any references to the scamming habits of LifeTime) will hear about this on a weekly basis till LT pays me back every cent they have stolen from me. AND, the day I find the copy of the letter I have somewhere, I will sue them if they do not stop this nonsense and pay me back immediately.

Lifetime Fitness is a corporate giant that is so money hungry they do nit care about customer service. It is all about the money. I cannot in good conscious recommend anyone try this gym. It is impossible to get out of contracts. If you o you are penalized. They have great facilities but it is frustrating to have your dues increase by $25 per month. After meeting with the manager; who did listen to me complain. She gave me the number for corporate but didn't give me any additional assistance as to who to talk to about my memebership issues. I think paying $92/month for myself and kids is ridiculous. Boycotting lifetime as we peak!

Local gym employs convicted felon; Lifetime Fitness, Dublin.

A Dublin man was indicted last week on one count of filing a false claim for an income tax refund with the Internal Revenue Service and one count of obstructing and impeding the due administration of the IRS.

John C. Shonkwiler, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury Oct. 31 for allegedly filing a false claim for an income tax refund with the IRS for $606, 986 associated with a 2008 federal income tax return, a news release from the criminal investigation branch of the IRS stated.

Since 2009, John Shonkwiler has also allegedly obstructed and impeded the IRS "by misleading IRS agents who were attempting to collect the $606, 986 by filing false and frivolous documents with the IRS and by attempting to conceal the funds through the use of a sham entity and multiple bank accounts, " the release said.

Filing a false claim for an income tax refund is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250, 000. Obstructing and impeding IRS agents carries a fine of up to $250, 000 and three years in prison, the release said.

This person works at Lifetime Fitness Dublin and attempts to hide his criminal background by hiring attorneys to cover his tracks. Financial crime is always with you, always will be, and will be reposted 24/7!

This company lies to potential personal trainers. The company is skewed to favor management decisions. Front line workers are hampered by unrealistic sales goals and management pressure. This is a horrible place to work. Personal trainers looking for a job: Avoid this place like a Nuclear Contaminated Zone!

We employ convicted felons!

http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/apr/21/dublin-man-pleads-guilty-filing-false-tax-returns-ar-461491/

The CEO loves to road rage, assault young kids, and buy his way out of court:

http://voices.yahoo.com/buying-justice-case-state-minnesota-222480.html

Talk about a winning company built on the values of GREED, MONEY, and SCREW EVERYBODY BUT YOURSELF! (Do not waste your time working here)

We only pay on 100% commission model. - You work 40 hours a week, get paid for 15.
50% of your hard earned sales slide right up the greedy corporate ladder.

Lead generation consists of receiving young members who do not have money for fitness assessments such as minorities and youth. Managers get 1st dibs on the 30+ year old big money clients.
FORCED lead generation consists of COLD CALLING memebers from dated lists. (this is of course, after management has gone through the list and called all of the good leads)

Be micromanaged 24/7 by filling out your schedule in an online calendar accessible by all management who has nothing better to do than question your whereabouts all day.

We offer NO BREAK ROOM. You are stuck trying to rest in the public cafe where people, including coworkers, bother you about gossip and useless information. So much for a break.

The cafe is an overpriced and understaffed joke. Good luck eating when you have a client in 10 minutes.

DO NOT WORK HERE. Take your employment skills elsewhere! Putting this company on your resume is an embarassment.

Wow, The Culture of a business never fails to amaze me. I joined the LIfeTime fitness in Overland Park as it the membership was provided by my employer if I used it regularly. Great because I do work out 4-5 x/week. At my first visit they wanted to schedule a time for my orientation and fitness evaluation. It took significant insistance on my part that I am not interested in their evaluation of my fitness, I work out regularly, run marathons and truly preferred to spend my limited evening time working out. (I do work with a personal trainer periodically to change up my work out or when training for a race). I later learned from colleagues that this evaluation was an intense sales pitch. I went to the fitness center to work out regularly and was so disappointed in the quality of the cardio equipment. I mean really, you needed a radio to tune in to the TV's (of course shared by all, no update with a TV on each cardio machine). So I thought I would switch to the classes, when I found the ones I like that worked in my schedule they were frequently over crowded and not everyone could participate. I never did get into a yoga class as they were always too crowded even 10 minutes before class. When my job changed and I was no longer going to be in KC on a regular basis, I called to let them know I needed to cancel. They stated that I needed to come in, I told them I would not even be in KC for 2 months. I was told that it would be taken care of. 6 months later I start getting calls and letters with a bill. I called several times to clarify and get an explanation. There was either no one working or available to talk to me on this or the person I talk with knows nothing about what I need to do. When I finally talk to the corporate office I am told I have to go in in person or send a certified letter (certified for my protection...a joke because the protection that is needed is from their incompetence). I am shocked that a fitness center would intentionally create significant hoops that allows them to continue to bill when the service is not wanted or used. How sad. Obviously a business that can not be financially successful based on a quality service that meets consumer needs, they have to survive based on selling you whatever they can and create hoops to incur expenses in appropriately.

What a piece of work. The CEO of Lifetime Fitness, while driving, cuts off a young kid, forces him to pull over, and damages his hood with his fists in a fit of rage.
He has the arrogance to hire an attorney and buy another car just like the one he damaged to prove his fists could not create road rage damage. What a piece of work. Many people are loading his coffers with monthly gym dues, very sad. Apparantely $ and greed make you feel invincible? Careless enough to go after a kid... just wow...
The YAHOO article is listed @ http://voices.yahoo.com/buying-justice-case-state-minnesota-222480.html

Life Crime fitness, "we make you pay for life"

As a previous employee I can tell you this place is all about money.
This gym is the most vindictive, money-grubbing company in the fitness industry.
The logic at the personal training department is "show me your credit card and I might help you use that machine". Money first: No money, no help.
95% of staff meeting content was all about who hit sales goals and who sold what product. Rarely were client health results discussed.
Contracts are designed to hold customers in a red-tape limbo where leaving contracts
is all but impossible; often requiring a certified letter or in-person visit to cancel memberships.
Employees are rewarded for sales only. Education is embellished on "biography boards".
This company hires UNCERTIFIED trainers (illegal) and allows them to train clients before they obtain their credentials. Again, it is all about getting that money!
Front line workers are told not to fraternize and managers are allowed to knock boots all day long without career ramifications. At one club, it was understood that a manager illegally ran payments at a higher commission percentage only to be demoted, and promoted again for sales! $$$$ first. UNETHICAL managers are promoted for screwing the customers!
Workers are terminated at will. This company is a glorified pyramid scheme.
BUYER BEWARE.
(On a positive note, the founder appears to be a driven entrepreneur with a great vision. He can't help the trash that works it's way into his organization.)
*This complaint was resubmitted due to spelling error in previous submission*

Life Crime fitness "we make you pay for life"

As a previous employee I can tell you this place is all about money.
This gym is the most vindictive, money-grubbing company in the fitness industry.
The logic at the personal training department is "show me your credit card and I might help you use that machine". Money first: No money, no help.
Sales = promotions.
Contracts are designed to hold customers in a red-tape limbo where leaving contracts
is all but impossible; often requiring a certified letter or in-person visit to cancel memberships.
Employees are rewarded for sales only. Education is embellished on "biography boards".
This company hires UNCERTIFIED trainers (illegal) and allows them to train clients before they obtain their credentials. Again, it is all about getting that money!
Front line workers are told not to fraternize and managers are allowed to knock boots all day long without career ramifications. At one club, it was understood that a manager illegally ran payments at a higher commission percentage only to be demoted, and promoted again for sales! $$$$ first. UNETHICAL managers are promoted for screwing the customers!
Workers are terminated at will. This company is a glorified pyramid scheme.
BUYER BEWARE.
(On a positive note, the founder appears to be a driven entrepreneur with a great vision. He can't help the trash that works it's way into his organization.)

We are trying to save $$ and when I found a nice gym for much cheaper I attempted to CXL my lifetime membership. I paid my membership dues on the 3rd of the month and asked to cancel. I waited over 15 minutes to talk to a sales person since nobody in customer service can cancel a membership. They insist you talk to sales dept. to pursuade you to stay. Anyhow, came back on the 20th to cancel membership and was told that I had to pay for the next month even though I haven't used an LTF facility in over a month. They stress their cancel at anytime policy/no contract yet don't inform you that you will have to pay for the next month which in my opinion makes it a contract. Their contract states, "Terminations or downgrades are effective on the last day of the month." This is in direct opposition to the must pay for next month cancellation policy. If termination is in effect on the last day of the month then why am I being charged for the next month? After stating that I have not used their facility in over a month, sales man stated that, "We have no way of tracking a members usage." What a load of BS!

Members beware, I'm one of five reported victims of recent theft of money and valuables stolen from inside my locked locker at the crosstown lifetime location. It was the second time something like this happened so I decided in addition to filing a claim I filed a police report. I cancelled my membership of five years because the manager brushed me off and dismissed the issue. Lifetime told me they would notify me if my items or thief was located. I just received a letter from the county attorney that it was an inside job their ops manager, lifetime has yet to acknowledge it. The hearing against 'Lisa' is in March. It's unfortunate you can't leave anything in your car or locker and you would think paying almost $100 a month they would provide better security.
I'm curious if the other victims are filing small claims court claims or if lifetime treated them better acknowledging their employee ?

I enthusiastically joined Lifetime Fitness in Berkeley Heights NJ. It's a nice enough place. The staff was very nice when we joined and said call anytime we needed anything. Three months in, like many in our state, our home was ravished by a flood. Then we received notice that our health care premiums were increasing by $200 a month. Money became a problem and I called to ask about help or suspending the membership. The nice lady who said call anytime never returned my call. Then our mom was hospitalized and after several months died. The hospital and funeral costs are horrible. All during this time I called and as instructed wrote to cancel my membership. They continued to charge my credit card. I finally had Amex refuse their charge. No one has ever responded to my calls or letters. This is a cautionary tale for anyone considering this place. They are heartless when it comes to their members and fail to live up to the published code of conduct on dealing with their members 'fairly and with integrity'

I cancelled my membership for end of May. They charged my credit card again in June. I called them and they assured me it was a mistake and they would fix it. I was charged again in July. Again, I called and they apologized and said it was a mistake and they would make sure it was fixed. I called them AGAIN in August when I was still not credited for the overcharges and they said it was processing. Then I called them again when yet another charge happened and they said I had to come in, and again, fill out paperwork. I went in and they told me unless I sign something agreeing to charges in to September, they would refuse to cancel! So they just keep fraudulently charging my credit card!