Unfair/illegal fees-gym membership cancellation

[Anonymous]

Any one with unfair experiences with One life fitness, Germantown or any gyms like these?
My son took membership for entire summer and emailed to inform about cancellation per terms & conditions. But they wouldn’t honor it, instead intimidate him with ythreat of forwarding to collection agency etc. Son says they are 100% non responsive when he calls the costumer service, instead they send an email, months later saying they are going to send his account to the collection agency. His friend has the same experience. I am so appalled, should this gym go scot free and keep exploiting this young kids who are obsessed with working on their bodies? Any one in same boat? I am so bent on pursuing a class-action suit.
Request to trolls, of grammar, typos and people with no life, please don’t respond… I already hear your responses. This is for parents of young adults like myself

[Anonymous]

I had no issues cancelling One Life Rockville. This may be a time for you to step in and guide your son. It sounds like he’s not following up and going up the chain when he’s not getting a response. He probably doesn’t know how to do that yet.

[Anonymous]

I think you’re not getting the full story. One Life has a decent reputation as far as gyms go.

[Anonymous]

Drive to the gym with your son and talk to someone in person. Usually you have to quit in writing in person (because gyms know you are less likely to quit).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drive to the gym with your son and talk to someone in person. Usually you have to quit in writing in person (because gyms know you are less likely to quit).

OP here. That’s a great point, but that was pursued in person only to be told that this entire process is handled by someone else and was directed to this non-responsive phone number.
But thanks, very helpful and grateful that pp is trying to help. Appreciate this, really!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drive to the gym with your son and talk to someone in person. Usually you have to quit in writing in person (because gyms know you are less likely to quit).

I agree with going in person with your son. But make sure he can produce the email that he sent on his phone. They will likely pretend they didn’t get it. Make sure you have also read the contract to ensure he could really cancel after just the summer. Usually gyms require a year contract (except for Planet Fitness).

[Anonymous]

Do you have an EAP at work? Some offer legal services and you might able to get a free letter from them outlining the prior requests to cancel and state continued harassment will be responded with legal action.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a copy of his membership agreement? It should have everything you need. I was able to cancel my one life membership pretty easily via email with a link. They also all offer an option to freeze so that could've been done in the meantime. I wonder if your son may have missed something in this process. Start with the membership agreement and go from there.

[Anonymous]

Read the agreement. I had one with Bailey's where I had to be insured, die or move 25 miles from any of their gyms. They did say that I can cancel any time, but forgot to mention those things. I ended up sending them my plane ticket to Europe as I moved there. That was better than dying. I got out and barely avoided ruining my credit.

[Anonymous]

We didn’t have a problem cancelling OneLife. I know my husband had a hard time with another local gym though. I forget which one, but it was a huge gym in Alexandria. He ended up disputing charges with his credit card company after spending weeks trying to cancel his membership.

[Anonymous]

I had a One Life open near me and was offered a one month trial that would automatically renew for an ongoing commitment if I didn't cancel in 30 days.

My job situation changed drastically in that time period and I was expecting a run around when I emailed to cancel. Instead received a response within an hour that everything was handled and I'd receive no more charges.

No problems with One Life for me.

[Anonymous]

He needs to read the cancellation clause in the contract and follow the specifics.
Sending an email might not be sufficient.
They might require you either to come in person, or to send a certified letter with return receipt.

[Anonymous]

It's the 30 day rule

[Anonymous]

Is he under 18?

[Anonymous]

Here’s an article about how to sue a gym in small claims court. If you can document everything, including referral to non working number, it seems like you might prevail.