24 Hour Fitness ripoff Lynnwood, Washington

The only method of payment for 24 hour fitness is automatic debit to your bank account or automatic debit to your credit card account. You cannot pay with a check or even cash. Why? So they can keep ripping you off even if you decide the club sucks and you no longer go OR even if you cancel your credit card they will keep charging you.

Now get this. I cancelled my Visa Card with Citibank because I got sick of being dinged for late charges, over limit charges, bogus financing charges when they checked my credit report. I telephoned the manager at 24 Hour Fitness and told her that my Visa account was closed and I was cancelling 24 Hour fitness automatic debit. She replied that she had to cancel my membership in order to cancel the automatic debit. I said fine, I will come in with another card.

I sent a follow up letter to 24 hour fitness stating that my Visa account was closed and charges to it by 24 Hour Fitness were no longer authorized. I also reiterated that my membership was cancelled and sent a copy of the letter to Citibank so they would know not to accept any further charges
The manager assured me that there would be no further charges to my credit card. I thought, "of course not the credit card account is closed"

Well, lo and behold - 24 Hour Fitness keeps charging my CLOSED Visa account. When I called Citibank and reminded them that my account was closed July 20 and 24 Hour Fitness charged the closed account in August and again in September, Citibank advised me that because I AGREED to an automatic debit, 24 Hour Fitness could continue to charge my Visa - EVEN THOUGH THE ACCOUNT IS CLOSED. Needed to get the word out!

Joan
Seattle, Washington
U.S.A.