GOLD'S GYM/ABC FINANCIAL CRIMES AGAINST CONSUMERS -- COMPLAIN TO FCC Continuation of my earlier report about Gold's Gym/ABC Financial in Acworth-Kennesaw, Georgia holding me to an invalid "contract." ACWORTH-KENNESAW Georgia

I belonged to Boom Fitness in New York, for which ABC Financial serves as the third party billing service. I moved from New York to Los Angeles and followed ABC Financial's strict guidelines for canceling my membership. I send them a formal letter as well as a copy of my new lease and a post office change of address form.

The next month I noticed I was still being billed for my membership. I contacted ABC Financial and asked why. They told me that they couldn't accept the post office change of address form because it was an online version and not the mailed version. I informed them that I changed my address online and that was the confirmation form the post office sent
me. I then asked them what address they had on file as my current address. They recited my LA address back to me. They argued that I had sent them an order form. I called the post office and they directed me right back to the original website and email I had sent.

I went back and forth with them on this for months. I had my credit card company block any further charges from them. I then started receiving phone calls from an automated service twice a day threatening to turn my account over to a collection agency.

Eventually I contacted the Attorney Generals office of Arkansas and filed a formal complaint against ABC Financial. After doing this ABC Financial finally canceled my membership, and the Attorney General's office has been very efficient and attentive with my complaint. I would strongly recommend anyone who has had problems with ABC financial to do
the same. If they receive enough complaints they will be forced to take further action against ABC Financial. The link to the Attorney General's office is below:
http://www.ag.arkansas.gov/contact_us_consumer_complaint_form.html

Dear K,
Don't give up in your effort to hold Golds/ABC to account. These credit companies and businesses are determined to make it difficult for you to obtain restitution. They count on the fact that most people will give up rather than deal with the endless delays and lack of response.

Reputable companies will work with you by phone to cancel service, especially ethical credit companies. The shady companies will obstruct you as much as possible and will stonewall you as long as possible with endless requests and referrals.

The best thing to do is never sign up with any company with an auto-renewal contract. That is a clear warning signal that trouble is ahead. Spread the word and when enough people say no, they will go out of business or change their ways.

I BELIEVE THE POINT WAS MISSED. GOLD'S GYM WAS NOTIFIED AND HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY SEVERAL METHODS. CHOOSING TO IGNORE NOTIFICATION DOES NOT ELIMINATE GOLD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL FAIRLY, ETHICALLY AND LEGALLY WITH CUSTOMERS.

You ended your earlier post by saying that you contacted the Georgia Governors Office and "we'll see what happens next". I can answer that for you, NOTHING!!!! Just as your credit card company told you there is nothing that can be done because you signed this contract and agreed to the terms. By law, all gym contracts have an auto-renewal clause and to cancel your account it has to be done in writing via fax, email and some gyms request that you even send certified mail so if it mysteriously gets lost it can be traced.

Wether or not you were explained all of this by the gym representative, only you know. However, when you sign a BINDING contract IT IS YOUR DUTY TO READ ALL INFORMATION. I promise you all of this is in your contract. Call ABC Financial and ask for a copy and I guarantee you will find this information verbatim. As far as you being angry that you could not cancel via phone THAT IS THE LAW.

Anyone can call in pose as yourself. Companies request all correspondence in writing so that when a problems arise and customers say I did not tell you to do this to my account, they can go in their files and prove that it was you who made the request via written request and they can compare the signatures with your contract to verify that the request was not fraudulent. Sweetie, this is common sense.

So in a nutshell you can write letters to everyone you want and take whatever measures you deem neccesary, but until you make full payment the account will remain open and anything balances existing past 90 days will result in you being referred for collections which will then begin to affect your overall credit score. IS IT REALLY WORTH IT? DOUBT IT!

You made the agreement, fulfill your obligation.If you did not read it or abide by the terms of written request to cancel that is your mistake. A fax machine is a form of technology that is mistake prone. Protect yourself and send the request via certified mail or even save your fax confirmation if you choose to fax it again. As long as you have that to prove, I promise you no one can hold this against you.

As I am sure you were told all of this when you called in. THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Stop blaming others and just pay the balance. No lawyer in their right mind is going to take this case because you signed the contract and even gave your billing information. Sweetie, no judge will rule in your favor and furthermore, a judge is not going to hear," they didn't tell me when I signed". IT WAS YOUR RESPONSIBLITY TO READ!!!!!!!!! As sad as it may seem, representatives will tell you anything to make a sale. At the end of the day you've got to be responsible for you own actions. PAY THE BILL AND STOP WASTING TIME AND RUINING YOUR CREDIT!!!