Fitness Connection Doesn't let you cancel your membership!! Houston, Texas

I was a member of Fitness Connection Greenspoint located at 12300 North Fwy., Suite 200

Greens point Mall Houston, TX 77060 phone number 281-875-1900 until December 2008.  I sent the cancellation letter with delivery confirmation by USPS 30 days prior of my next bill as stated by their contract. I assumed everything was fine since I saw the confirmation receipt they received my letter. 

Now in May I was checking my bank statement and realized they continued charging me.  I called the gym and they referred me to their corporate offices and never got an answer from anybody only recorded messages.  I called my bank to cancel the direct withdrawal I had with them.  I gave Fitness Connection the benefit of doubt that a mistake was made and everything was resolved.

Fast forward to Friday September 11, 2009, 9 months since my actual cancellation and 4 months since I cancelled direct withdrawal.   I received a letter from Network Collection Services (713-414-7700) a collection agency, on behalf of Fitness Connection collecting $84.80 and threatening to refer me to the Credit Bureau.  For an account that was supposed to be closed since December 2008.  And not a single call, letter or any kind of   collection attempt until this threatening letter.

I called Fitness Connections corporate offices again and no answer, left a voicemail to Claudia she handles memberships, but no response yet. It is almost impossible to talk to a live person on their corporate offices; their answering system keeps sending you to the main menu with no answer at all.  Its a very trying experience trying to have any sort of communication with them.

Fitness Connection runs a shady company, dont be fooled the supposed savings are not worth it!  Horrible staff, inexistent customer service and is impossible to leave, even after following their own rules.