Gold's Gym formerly Fitness First Gold's gym said to honor Fitness First contract, NOT TRUE Alexandria, VA and Headquarter in Texas Nationwide

I signed a one year contract with Fitness First in Dec, 2012.  My contract obligation has been fulfilled and I have been paying month-to-month membership.  In 2013, Fitness First was acquired by Gold's Gym International.  I received a letter from Gold's Gym stating that they will honor all contract terms for now-former Fitness First members.  Now I want to cancel my membership, and reviewed the copy of my contract.  It simply states, a 30-day notice is required to cancel.  Nothing else. 

When I inquired about cancellation at my gym, I am nicely informed to visit Gold's Gym's website to give a written notice.  AND they require 30 days to cease payment authorization. THEN they will process my 30-day notice.  WHAT?!?   They can change a credit card information in a day or two when you owe them money.  Why would they need 30 days to cease payment authorization?!?  On top of that, since I paid for the last month when I joined, I would still have to pay next month's due and they will keep my last month pay. 

The last page on the website says "I understand that by submitting the online cancellation request and checking the authorization box below, I am providing formal notification of my desire to cancel my membership per the 30 day cancellation requirement and the terms of the membership agreement. I understand that I will be billed a full month's dues for my final payment(s) per the terms of the agreement."

I didn't want to agree to this term.  This is vastly different than what the contract I signed states.  So I called their customer care department, and had a very unpleasant conversation with a representative named Sapphire (sp?).  I read the contract terms word for word, and she says Fitness First's contract and Gold's website basically says the same thing.  A 30-day notice, and 60-days to process your request are not the same thing. 

She also adds that alot of people call to ask about the same thing, so it's just the way it is and they won't change for any reasons.  She said I can spend my time complaining and will get frustrated in doing so, but nothing will change.  If I don't submit the online request, they will just keep charging me.  I argued that they were forcing me to sign a new term different from what my contract states, and she interrupted me by saying that she's not forcing me to do anything and things can just stay as is.  Wow.

In the end, I needed to get in my cancellation request so I submitted the online form.  I plan to dispute with my credit card company when they charge the next month's due, and file a complaint with BBB.