Bally Total Fitness

I went to the Culver City location on Wednesday night, January 05, 2011 and sales associate Ana assisted me. She stated that the computer system was down and that she could not sign me up. I agreed to a three year pre-paid contract for $559 and she took my personal information and took my credit card. She swiped my card twice and stated that it was required because one copy goes to the main office. She stated that she was going to give me a call once the computer system is up so she could input the information in the system and finalize the transaction. I was not given anything other than a voided sales slip number 5041191. She assured me that I was not going to be charged prior to the finalization.

However, this morning when I checked my credit card transactions, a $559 charge was posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011. I went to the Culver City location after work around 530 PM and the General Manager - I believe it was Eric Duggert, assisted me since Ana was on lunch break according to him. I told him that I was canceling my membership and he. stated that cancellation has to be made through email and gave me this email address as well as my account number. The General Manager did not offer any explanation as to why the transaction was finalized without my knowledge. The GM was unwilling to provide me with a hard copy of the supposed contract insisting that only the main office has the ability to print it, which I find utterly unbelievable. I find it ludicrous that my credit card would be charged without finalization of the agreement, without any signatures but he could not provide me with the contract. In addition, from what I gleaned in the GM's computer screen, there is a $29.95 per month fee after the three year contract which was never even discussed. I specifically asked Ana what my renewal fees would be after three years and she stated that it would be al ot cheaper like $8 a month because she had a similar contract.

I understand that there might have been an "oversight" in this particular case. However, if this was done with malice, this is unfair business practice to say the least and violates the Consumer Protection Act. I told the General Manager that since he is what he is, he should be responsible for what his employees represent.

I am expecting a prompt full refund of the charges and a satisfactory explanation of what transpired.