Lifestyle Family Fitness reviews and complaints

I also have tried to cancel and they give me the same lines. They will bill me one more time because I need to give 60 days notice. I have since disputed charges with my credit card company and have changed account numbers so they cannot take any more money from me again. i originally joined California Fitness and they said they took over their contracts. They selectively follow the contract. I orignally joined at a fixed rate that would not go up as long as I am a member. Lifestyle raised my rates 3 times in the past two years. Then they closed the gym that I have been going to and transferred me to one that is 18 miles away. Since they are not honoring my oringinal contract to the letter, they have breeched the contract and is invalid. I do not have to honor their 60 day cancellation policy. They also do not have on file a contract with my signature that I have agreed to theri terms. They said it is not necessary because they took over the previous one. If a contract is going to be followed then follow it to the letter otherwise come up with another one that we both can agree on and I will sign a new one.

Going to lifestyle Fitness is like Hoetel California.You can get in, but you have a terrible time getting out.They will have 3 people come in the room to say"why".."why not now", o, 'Oh, go get her a Lifestly towel"..Yippee. And they say just sign here, you don't have to read all that.Oh, yes, you do, because what they say does not match the paper work, that they just coerced you(me)to sign.Firast of all, they say oh, you can't have the money back guarantee because you didn't come once a week.They were told that I would be out of town .So, Sasha said if you come once that is enough.And than when you do want to cancel, they offer a few months at half price, but you have to wait for their email.And you wait.And than they forget that they offered a few months.They say'We'd never offer that.."To which I reply, but you still haven't given me any half off and why are you taking $52 instead of the monthly $37.Aand than they send you on a rabbit trail about how all the fees are up front.But I was told there were "no fee", that is what convinced me to sign up.Finally, after emails and forbidding them from going into my bank account, I go to the bank.They were able to retrieve $145, with a loss of $ 152 still. and I am going to get it!The bank said "why didn't you come much sooner?I said, I just thought they would do the right thing.."How do they get away with it.As I was sending a registered letter to Lifestyle(of which I receieved no response...or apology ), the clerk said that she had the same problem with Lifestyle and told them that her sttorney would contact them.Then they stopped taking her money out of her account.Why have they not been stopped.They are predators.I will tell all of my friends, even strangers.I don't want anyone to get ripped off by them like I was.Good luck.

They are truly SCAMS! They train them not to really go over the cancellation policy...
They have these young adults who really have no business in sales - they love to scam college students especially.
My advise to you is to have your own gym at home. Save your money$$$

I agree, Lifestyle is a huge scam. I signed up on my initial visit since there was the Comfort Guarantee. The only thing is that you have to come at least once a week for the first four weeks, which they do not tell you.

That said, I did happen to read the fine print and came at least once per week. But this is where the scam comes in. The manager, Andrew, who signed me up on several instances let me pass by the desk and said he already had me checked in, so he never scanned my card.

Now they have no record of me coming in during the last two weeks because Andrew wasn't checking me in after all. On top of that, Lifestyle is saying they will take out an additional payment which will happen in ten days, so I'll have membership for over 2 months after I canceled it. Huge scam

I complained to the manager at lifestyles because of the mold in the sauna was there for 3 months and it made me sick to use it. He had sympathy for my plight and said they were working on getting it fixed.

I explained that they said that a month ago when I complained then and that if it wasn't fixed I would start telling the other customers that they should complain also and then maybe something would happen.

Something did happen, he told me that he didn't like my attitude and that I was insiting riots and I would not be allowd back into the gym.

I came back a couple of days later and was threatened with a police escourt of I didn't leave. I called the branch office at 1800 and they sided with them but they gave me my months money back.

I told them this is not some comunist country that they can just throw you out if you have a legitimate complaint about a facility, the woman stated that we reserve the right to deny service for any reason.

What kind of country did this turn into when the consumer lost all rights to complain about services even unhealthy services like a moldy sauna?

KP

I have NEVER signed a contract with Lifestyle Family Fitness and they are taking money out of my account! I've never even worked out there as a trial or anything! My gym closed and transferred my membership to Lifestyle, which ended two months later. I thought nothing of it because the letter I recieved stated.."All existing Fusion Fitness monthly membership rates will be honored at Lifestyle Family Fitness' Bradenton club. Lifestyle will also honor all prepaid memberships for the duration of the remaining contract period, up to a maximum of 12 months. If you are paying on a monthly basis, Lifestyle Family Fitness will begin billing your account. Personal training contracts are also being transferred to Lifestyle." . No where in here does it say that I had to cancel a membership that was already concluding, yet that is what I'm told on the phone. I've talked to three different people and Ron is the only one who told me that when everthing transferred, Lifestyle was going to convert my membership to a month-to-month. I never received notification stating that fact and when I read the above to him over the phone, he told me (w/o laughing) that that is exactly what it states. I HAVE NEVER VOLUNTARILY BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS CLUB! I FEEL LIKE MY BANK ACCOUNT'S BEEN KIDNAPPED! Also, all three times I was told that it was only $26.61 and that I was getting a great deal, so I should be happy. Can this really be legal? Does anyone out there have a similar story? Reply or e-mail please!

Lets get one thing straight...read everything before you sign! There is nothing that Lifestyle does that any other gym does not do! Cancels need to be done in person at any gym and can be done at the front desk...make sure you recieve a copy. You CAN NOT just send a letter unless its certified and sent to the home office. YOU WILL NOT BE CANCELLED UNLESS YOU DO IT IN PERSON! This is to protect people that are on a family membership, many times stuff happens, people break up or get divorced and want to cancel their significant other...Lifestyle is only trying to protect their members. Last off as you can read its easy to blame someone else for your mistakes. Remember when you point to someone else there are 3 fingers pointing back at you!

Hello Jenn Musick,

My name is Ben Jennings and I recently bought a 4 week personal traininer on January 11th and then realized on January 14th I wanted my money back. I have been told several things first off they would have my money back in 2 weeks and then after the two weeks I was told in 30 days. Here it is, tomorrow being February 14th and I have still have yet to receive my money back of $288. This is absolutely ridiculous! I have spoke to several people at Henderson Road Lifestyle where I purchased this transaction at and they are no help. I have called the [protected] number numerous times trying to find answers at there so-called customer service and have had no luck. I feel like I have got scammed out of my money and I don't know what else to do. I am a resident here in Columbus, OH and I want your input to see what else necessary steps I need to do to get my money back! I feel that 30 days is long enough! Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
Ben Jennings

60 days advance notice for cancelling your membership? Whats up with that? If they require 60 days notice then why do they require your first and last month fees up front? Who decides they don't want to be a member 60 days out unless they are moving? Sounds like LSFF is ripping people off.

early in Nov. I presented the Lifestyle gym with two letters of resignation , myself and my wife. WE both undersood the terms of the contract ie 6o days and the other yada. however when the charges continued I called to get some recourse. At all levels both local and corporate the responce was the same don't have a record ,sorry , we are going to continue to take your money. So now registered letters with signatuure have been sent to both locations. Hopeful Yes Confident No However debit card is set to expire soon . Sorry Nikki closing 20 year old accounts just doesn't make sense . Is there anyone ot there?

There is so much curroption within this company. In Columbus the District Mnanger Will P. lies and manipulates constantly. If the company in Florida knew of his antics he would not only be fired he would be prosecuted

Dear average joe,
Are you enjoying your cocktails in the ivory tower? I will agree that 60, 000 is an attainable goal and have come close myself. The comment above yours is addressing the fact that Once you calculate the hours required to make this you have lowered yourself to near minimum wage. Don't forget the families left at home missing their mommies and daddies while close out or mid monthe is the #1 priority of Lifestyle "Family" Fitness. Let's quote a recent email sent out by the VP of sales "kiss your girlfriends, wifes and children goodbye...it's closeout" (not exact but very very close I do not have the email at hand). Point being you have a serious reality check coming your way. I wish you the best and hope that in the future you obtain the balls to stand up for employees who need to spend time with there families. P.S. I can attest to the unpaid overtime as I have done payroll and was taught to slide time or remove time from kronos.

I worked as a sales counselor in the past and have seen quite a few people like the one that wrote this come and go. First, I will agree that front desk is under paid! however, Sales and PT side of things pay a lot better. Anybody that is able to conduct themselves in a professional manner should have no problem making 35, 000 - 60, 000. You are responsible for going out and marketing... if you take your maketing time and make it an extended lunch break or refuse to make phone calls then... you will not make money and probably end up writing a letter like the one above!

I signed on to the gym, and so far it has been alright, but the intake process was to say the least very odd. A trainer told me that he could eleminate my high blood pressure and diabetes, and when I told him, "no that is not possible", he became smug and continued to boast that he could indeed "cure me". Now I am a registered nurse, diabetes educator, and I think I have enough knowledge base to say to him, "not a chance of your curing me". I have both my blood pressure and diabetes under control, as I do not take any medication, and use diet control, which I have done for almost twenty years. I went to the gym to get into better shape, not search of a cure, from so stupid trainer. I told him that he had no right to tell anyone he could cure them, and what/who and how many poor unfortunate people has he told this to who would trust and believe him? I shudder to think, of this person's impact on some poor soul who would stop taking medications because he said to.
Aside from that, it has been alright, kind of a titty and ### convention some days but what gym is not?

Is there something wrong if my anus itches?

Also not to mention all the hours I put in, and no over time either, how is this legal?

I can back you up for my recent wrongful termination. Also I have many other tips to add as well. I believe I would make a credible witness. I tried contacting a lawyer but with the at will in FL, they are saying because I said that is was ### to my boss for not supplying a schedule each week early or even one day prior, I was let go. I went from 5th in District sales to 2nd in 1 mth. Another employee who did not make draw who had been with them for 7 mths, got a promotion!LOL! Crazy people to work for, I am just upset, because I loved my job, and the people I signed up to workout there, won't ever really know why I was gone.

I whole heartedly agree with not working for this company! I was let go to insubordination supposedly for telling my boss it was ### for him to not to be able to supply his best workers with a schedule at least a couple days in advance. I had asked to speak with our district manager, and when he said I didn't want to do that I went next door to speak with our operations and they saw I was upset. They agreed with me and gave me the number to contact corporate, but said it has happened to many females that worked for this man.
I had to show up to work based on last weeks schedules many times, and on monday after I clocked in there was the new schedule for the week. He said that morning when I asked him about the schedules that from now on everyone would report to work on monday and then we would get that weeks schedule. The funny thing is I made up 3 weeks of schedules in advance and he couldn't even put one out for 2 days prior, even with a reminder call on Sat. It sucks how people don't speak up for you, because they are afraid of losing their jobs in our economy. From what I hear the manager's brother runs the sales area, so that is why he even still has his job. He was almost fired 3 times, and look who is still there. Thank little brother for that because he certaintly does not act like a manager should. Now wonder he doesn't have kids, the man only has compassion for his 30 cats. Probably because they can't talk back when he is being an idiot. Well what goes around comes around, and I am out of a job I loved helping people commit to fitness. Hopefully all the managers do not operate this way, but the Jacksonville District does! I tried to contact a lawyer and they said that in the state of FL, because of the at will law, it is hard to prove wrongful termination. Well at least I can warn others about this company. Oh and they tell you are hourly when starting plus commission, but you end up either or based on if your commissions exceed your hourly, if they don't well your screwed! Oh and they give promotions to people who don't perform well, or at least they say that so they can move a good person who knows the companies rules away from the manager who doesn't know anything, accept um, you know, see, etc... May God have mercy on their souls for continuing with a person who cares nothing about their company, and provides fake corp. disc. to people so his overall paycheck is big! At least he is feeding cats!

Sincerely,

Another girl with hormones who didn't get along with him. Oh yeah and to the guy who wrote the letter about my disagreement, you were not even there so how did you write a letter? Also make sure in the future you don't share personal information with another employee about your sex life, when your gf is also an aqaintence of mine, and is dumb for staying with a womanizer, cheater, that you are.

That is all for now, had to get that off my chest!

Absolutely Right about all the expandable attitude from the upper mgmt. I was a Sr Sales Manager and am aggressively pursuing LFF. I need to get T.O. numbers or contact if anyone has it. I am also looking for stories (complaints) to possibly take part in something further.

A horrible company to deal with at every level. Won't be long before they go out of business.

Honestly I cant disagree more you have to be an idiot to not understand the four week comfort guarantee and I do mean an idiot. If you give it a fair chance then you can opt out, if you buy a membership and never go, you will have to pay. Also the employees seem to be happy from what I can tell... maybe without out you there the negativity lessened a bit... Ive spent a lot of time at some of the NC clubs and I can tell you that whatever going on in ohio is not going on here. If you dont believe me go hang out in a peak for a bit

i have a Month-To Month agreement with Lifestyle Family Fitness and have called them to cancel because I moved out of town. every time I call they put me on hold or i get an aswering machine, leave a message. These people never returns my calls. When I finally get through, I'm told to send a cancel notification letter. i did this and they are still witdrawing from my account. This Club is a REAPOFF. I would encurage anyone to signg up Elsewhere. Next step is to file a complaint with the state's attorney.

I seemed to have cancelled my Lifestyle membership with little problem. The contract says 60 days written notice. I called and they agreed to send me an email with instructions for me to respond to and receive a confirmation to save.

If I have any problems after one more deduction from my account ($36.11) I will let you know on this same board. But for now they seem to be doing what they say. A simple phone call won't do. I called the customer service number and was polite and they were polite to me. They have every right to make you take a written notice to the gym, that's what the contract says. I am mostly annoyed by my own apathy about the situation, not theirs.

I'll let you know in September if the billing has stopped I will be happy. I suspect most of the complaints are from not following procedure. I hope I am correct.

Jon Hanson, Pickerington, Ohio former Lifestyle Member.

silly song about gym memberships: http://gooddebt.com/anything.htm

I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy while I was a member with Lifestyle Family Fitness. This was back in 2005. When I found out that I was unable to continue exercising I informed them I was cancelling my membership. This was in the month of March 2006. To this day and 9 letters later they are still taking out the 44 dollars and some odd change. I have the written proof of the leters but they say they never receive them and my account is still active. This company is a theif and shold be turned over to consumer division. I receive $770 dollars a month and $45.00 of this has been going to them for the past 26 month's. I finally turned them into my bank and thank God I have the written proof of my trying to cancel my membership. I have found out from others this is their game they play . It is time to stop this way of business.

I signed up for the 4-week comfort program and I did go to the gym 12 times within 30 days and they are still giving me a hassel about my refund. Apparently, when I signed up, my key card wasn't working so 4 out of the 12 times I went to the gym weren't recorded in the system. I explained this and they entered me into their "4-week comfort sign-in book" for those 4 times. When I brought this to the attention to the manager (Tom) he told me that they weren't supposed to do that. Well, you know what pal, that's not my fault or my problem! I understand that some people lie and cheat and they don't know me personally at the gym so to them I could be lying. But I'm not - I actually went the 12 times and did what I was supposed to do and they still won't follow through with their promises. I am out almost $300 and I am not going to back down until I get all of it back.

Some of these complaints against Lifestyle Family Fitness are truly outrageous!

* The cancellation policy is 60 days on a month-to-month agreement as opposed to most health clubs one and two-year contracts that you are locked into. You are complaining that the terms of the agreement which you signed and appear to understand should be altered to fit your needs since you only gave 58 days notice.

* The 4-week comfort guarantee clearly states that you must workout 12 times during that period to be eligible for a full refund yet you admitting that you only worked out twice.

* To the woman complaining about the group fitness room: When you enrolled as a member did you not notice the windows or the "fishbowl effect?" There is one easy solution if you are not happy simply cancel your membership as it is month-to-month and go somewhere else to whine.

By far THE most horrible experience I have ever had with a gym. The manager lures you to enroll with false promises that you can cancel within 30 days. But in my case, I signed up and saw the fine prints right away, I went back and tried to cancel the next day, which I was entitled to. Once again, the manager, his name was TOM said that it was fine and that he'd still cancel it if I wanted. I told him I couldn't afford it as of the moment but he told me how I shouldn't miss the promo. 30th day came, I had only went twice, he completely disregarded his promises and didn't give me my money back. It was about $200+. Even if you call corporate they will still tolerate the managers' actions.

I agree, LFF SUCKS! They are predators. All they do is try to screw their customers once they try to leave the membership. I have been hit with fees, escalation charges, and other fees. This is the worse company to do business with. I highly suggest that anyone who is considering joining this gym, to run as fast as you can to the door. They are complete criminals. I am opening a complaint with the Better Business Bureau about them today. Also, the Attorney General's office in Florida.

Don

Has anyone just not paid what they ask for when they don't deserve payment..?and what were the consequences of not paying them?after all its only a gym..can it affect your credit rating? most of them are going out of business...maybe just wait it out and they will disappear?

I have an update to my issue. It has a happy ending too! After having Lifestyle call me for the last week and a half trying to get me to update my billing information; I went on the offensive and called them at least 8 times asking to speak to a manager. On my last call they finally transferred me to a manager instead of voicemail. I told her that they broke the contract and that they should not have raised my rates according to my original contract with California Fitness. Then I told her that they owe me money because they have been overcharging me based on the contract. in Section 3c says that if I continue to prepay my dues, they will not be able to modify my dues unless I move out of their district where there are different rates. I also told her to show me in writing with my signature that says I agree to any rate hikes or that I accept their new terms and polices. They never sent me anything in writing telling me that they would no longer honor the original contract nor did they send me a new contract to sign. Legally they don't have anything in writing to enforce except my original contract with California Fitness that they broke without telling me. The manager finally said that she would waive any charges and that my balance was zero! A small victory for the consumer but yes I did beat them at their own game.

Lifestyle should be ashamed of themselves. I was a California Fitness member back in 09/04. I had a prepaid membership that expired and rolled into a month to month membership. It clearly states that my rates would not go up as long as Icontinued wtih my monthly paymemts. Lifestyle takes over the membership and then starts raising my rates. The first two times I called they did lower it back to my original rate. Then the gym that I go to was bought out by another gym called Lifetime. Lifestyle transferred me to a gym that is 18 miles away. I no longer wanted to be a member so I called to cancel. They have been calling me everyday to collect one more payment from me because my card number has changed and the payment will not go through. Oh well, so sad. I called them and asked for a refund of my dues since they are not supposed to raise my rates according to my original contract with California Fitness. They said they do not have to honor Califronia's contract and that they have a right to raise my rates. I told them to provide the document that has my signature on it that says I agree to their terms. They don't have one because I did not sign with them. They say they dont have to honor the original contract I have with California Fitness but they want me to honor a contract with them that does not exist. I never signed anything agreeing to Lifestyles terms or policies therefore I am not obligated to follow their terms of cancellation as they are not obligated to honor my original contract. We never had an agreement and never will. The thing with they cannot raise rates more than 5% in a year is a crock. They have raised my rates more than 5% twice and without notifying me.

I signed up my son for his birthday and was charged $50 plus for a month and a half they said as you have to pay ahead; we were told we can go month to month $30 plus tax, which we were billed on my credit card; I only spoke to them on phone; son went in; neither were told about billing after you cancelled as I was expecting a credit to my card since we paid ahead and figured we'd get that credit and part of the month I had paid. They told me when I tried to canceled first of January, Drew had to call and speak to headquarters as he was over 18, even though it was on my credit card. He did and around 20th we got billed $34 plus and I called and they said there was another person with his name that had been closed and they would take care of this; his first and last name is NOT common; anyway, I called headquarters and they said that was normal to charge after and I told him we were not told about this period. I never signed anything. I told him I was contesting it on credit card. When we called our local gym who knew my son and I told them about what they said about the billing after, the worker said he'd never heard of that and he'd get someone to call me back. Someone never called me back because someone probably told the worker that headquarters rips customers off like this. So all I can say to anyone else, quit way before you plan on quitting; go until they don't allow you anymore and cancel your credit card immediately. My son's father is a lawyer so we might use him to call them up!

The Lifestyle family fitness gym we had been going to just closed..no notification to us by phone or mail. We called several times trying to cancel our membership because the other two branches were well out of our way. On top of that my husband is now getting cancer treatments and can't work out. Each time I called I was told an e mail to cancel would arrive. It did not...I work long hours and can't spend every day on the phone with these people. after two months of paying for nothing I stopped payment from my bank account...wow suddenly I get calls now every day saying I owe them money...they will be tacking on extra stop payment penalties as well...I feel they owe me...I have paid for a service I did not have for two months now. Has anyone out there ever beat these ###s at their scam game? please let me know...right now its only 30$ or so but it will keep adding up...I feel I owe them nothing. stay away from gym memberships with them...

I love LFF I go to the one in Naples FL people are great price is fair equipment is perfect, never a word said to me when I bring a guest . no gimics .No I dont work for them and get nothing out of this other than keeping my nice Gym doors open. my son go to LFF as well and has for years lots of free class Zumba Yoga etc. no presure. Ron is D bomb!

I had the worst experiance at this fitness center. The sales person was rude. They don't care to protect members or prespective members privacy AT ALL! They had a big sign in tablet that asked for all your contact info, email addresses, phone numbers home addresses. They will not speak to you unless you sign in on it... I explained that I did feel comfortable with all my info on display like that (I could have taken a pic with my phone and posted them here! (but I am an honest nice person.) After negotiating a rate (hated the used car salesman feel & them trying to say that they were way cheaper than a competitior that they aren't...) Then he puts in all my info from my drivers licence, gives me my total, checks my id to the card then wanted to take my ID with him to run my credit card? I asked why? They were going to copy then scan my drivers licence & Credit Card & keep copies in their system... That is online & not regulated! Who knows who could access it that it is a horrible thing to do & could easily lead to misuse or abuse of your information not to mention it would be an identity thiefs dream to get a part time job there... Regulated systems are hacked, breached, or just lost ALL THE TIME! I said no to scaning my ID into their system, but they could gladly write down my DL# to prove they had checked it. The salesman said something rude as he tore up the membership cards he had made for me... I am appauled at the his behavior & his manager was as bad or worse!

The latest if the LFF saga...in Dec 2010 I received a cancellation number...from their corporate office! Yet, they continue to charge my account a monthly fee. I called the branch manager who looked up my account...she even couldn't understand why I was being charged. So, once again...credit card company is opening yet another investigation. I'm going to the BBB and probably other agencies. I've never seen anything like this.

I worked at Lifestyle in Pickerington for about a year back in 2008. I joined back up to the club around October of 2010 because the price had dropped to 19.95 plus tax so I thought why not. Everything was fine then in mid April I dediced to switch my credit card company and so I told the girl at the front desk and she said no problem do you want to add another one or just get a bill and I opted for the bill for now. Two weeks later on April 27th I decided I was going to cancel my membership. I knew that meant I had to make one more payment because I had worked there before and that was fine by me. But then they told me that I owed over $60 dollars and I was like why. He said I owed my last month dues, a $15 dollar fee for them trying to charge my credit card and being denied and a $25 bill for "basic enhancement fee" which was never told to me or part of the membership when I worked there. I told the gentleman on the phone that I would pay the $19.95 plus tax but that was it. I went to the club like I told him and paid that amount. I got a call today from the gentlemen and he told me that I had not paid the other $40 and some change. I told him that I would not pay for a fee for them trying to charge my credit card when I told them weeks prior that I cancelled it and they said they would just bill me. Then I told him that I would not pay a $25 dollar "basic enhancement fee" that was never discussed with me. I told him that I worked at the club before and that was never a charge and he started yelling and told me it was. I told him I would never pay and he might as well as mark that down. I hope anyone looking to get a membership at LFF reads the fine print because if you don't you will be taken for a lot more money than you ever anticipated. Also you can no longer cancel your membership in the club (even though you can join in the club). You know have to write a letter to corporate and they have to approve it. Corporate is in Tampa and they are a bunch of idiots that will sit on things, lose stuff and find a way to never cancel so they can keep charging your accound. If you live in Pickerington you would be better off joining Powershack, The YMCA, Metro, or even the Groveport Rec Center or Lifetime if you don't mind the drive.