Bally's Total Fitness Center - Bally's Total Bull5h* Fitness Center in Novi, Michigan

RE:  Bally's Total Fitness

Please do not enter a contract with this gym.  They are complete cons and will cause you much grief!

I am being sued by Independence Receivables Corp via Seth L. Goldner.  Independence Receivables Corp is a known junk-debt buyer, whom purchased an account through Bally's Fitness Center.

In May 2008, I signed up for a month-to-month membership at Bally's Total Fitness in Novi, Michigan.  I was told I could cancel the membership at any time with a notice and a $50 fee.  I used the facility once and didn't like it (was stuffy and crowded).  I returned to the gym to cancel my membership 2 months later and they said my membership could not be canceled.  They told me the guy who signed me up (named B.J.) was no longer with the company and directed me to contact the corporate office.

I contacted the corporate office many times with no answer.  The corporate number does list the mailing address, therefore I mailed them a letter explaining what happened.  I got no response back.

About a year later I got a letter from Bally's stating I owe them $1,190, for a membership I never used.  I, again, tried to contact them, but no answer.  I went back to the gym and they told me to contact corporate.

I started receiving letters from a collection agency and called them and explained and they said...you guessed it!  "Call the corporate office"  I gave up!

A few days ago I was served a summons with a complaint saying I am being sued by Independence Receivables Corp via Seth L. Goldner.  I contacted Bally's Fitness Center in Novi, Michigan once again and the manager has scheduled an appointment to meet with me this week.  The manager also said that Bally's has a problem with this and my best bet is to sue Bally's - yes, this came from their own management.  He also informed me that he has a "special" number he can call, as a manager, that customers can't call, as Bally's doesn't accept calls from customers - very nice!  Also, I will add that the clerk who served the summons says he serves them all the time in this area for Bally's Fitness - this is really messed up!

I spoke with a clerk at Seth L. Goldner's office and they basically said pay or we sue.  I demanded to have a contact for Independence Receivables Corp, but he wouldn't disclose.  I found their address and number under Laurence C. Abramson and Wolpoff & Abramson.  They sounded surprised when I called but never-the-less, their number is 301.917.2350 if you need to contact them, since their listed number is so conveniently disconnected.

Now I am experiencing the same non-response and non-awareness, but they are expecting me to pay them $1,190, but a membership I used 1 time and was told I could cancel at at time.

They gym members are pushy - I expressed to the rep (BJ) that I wanted to think about it, as the gym seemed so crowded and he told me to sign up now and I could cancel at anytime and was so pushy about it - he was printing forms before I even agreed.  I think they work on commission??  Anyways, I agreed to the month-to-month and agreed to pay the $50 cancellation fee, but never to a contract that could not be cancelled.  It's all a SCAM!

I was told by Next Level, a consumers advocate, whom informed me that Independence Receivables Corp. is a well-known junk-debt buyer.  They buy old debts for a very low price and chase after people for large sums of money.  It's all a scam and so is Bally's Total Fitness centers' memberships.  I am not the only person that I know that has been scammed by Bally's; this is why I wanted a month-to-month membership, which is what I was told I was getting.

I plan to sue Bally's for harassement and falseifing documents, as well as their employee for the amont of the lawsuit they have served me with.  Do yourself a favor - avoid Bally's Total Fitness!