ABC Financial Charter Fitness, Pump Fitness Worse than a scam, imo a total racket. Reported them to FTC.gov Sherwood, Arizona

I have had it with these people! I rarely complain let alone post on websites, but I am so infuriated by what they pulled on me, along with their (ABC Financial's) 'F-off, too bad attitude' and after reading all the complaints here, it pissed me off even more that they are getting away with this racket, so I just got done reporting them to the FTC.gov website, which recommended I report them to the State Attorney General, which I will do tomorrow... I hope the rest of you do the same, these people should not be able to get away with this!

Like everyone else... I signed up for a One Year contract at a special rate.  When I signed up at Charter Fitness, I wanted to pay the whole amount for the year up front and they wouldn't let me.  The guy said they didn't have a credit card machine, and when I told him I would go get cash, he said they didn't accept cash either, and everything had to go through their home office.

It somehow made sense at the time, in hindsight, I see they use this tactic to get a hold of our bank information.

So at the 10 month mark, I double check with the gym guy to make sure there wasn't anything I needed to do to finalize my one year contract being up.  He reassured me there wasn't because I signed a One Year contract and once the year was over, the contract was no longer in effect, and I should check back with them to see what kind of specials they had, if I wanted to re-sign up.  I thanked him, end of story- Hah!  More like the beginning of a nightmare!

My contract ended just before Thanksgiving, so with the holidays etc.. I got a little behind on opening (what I assumed was junk mail) and scrutinizing my bank account.  When things settle down in January, I notice that I am STILL being charged by ABC Financial my monthly fee PLUS a signup fee!  WTF?!

So I drive to the gym and it's not there anymore.  No info, no equipment, nothing.  I remember that junk mail I didn't open from the gym, go home open it, and find out in that letter that they are closing the gym.  'They are sorry for the inconvenience, so have done me the favor to sign me up at Pump Gym' huh? what? WTF!?  OMG, my head almost popped off.  I NEVER gave these scammers permission to sign me up to a gym I've never heard of!

I call ABC Financial since Charter Fitness no longer exists, and get the bitchiest, who gives a s**t, 'customer service' I've EVER experienced in my life!!  Bottom line, the B** tells me if I want to cancel my membership (didn't matter when I told her my contract expired, gym closed, etc...) I have to WRITE A FREAKING LETTER AND SEND IT VIA US POST OFFICE, REQUESTING THAT THEY LET ME CANCEL, ALONG WITH MY REASON!!   hahahahaha right?- No Seriously she did....

.... And the kicker, it would take at least 2 months for the paperwork to be processed and would continue to charge me in the meantime.  That was it, it was obvious these people were total scammers, and of course you can't reason with people that are knowingly stealing money from you, so I hung up before I had a heart-attack from the stress of trying to deal with these people and called my bank and challenged the charges.  The bank was awesome, blocked ABC Financial from taking anymore money while they investigated, OR SO THEY THOUGHT...

... Actually make this the kicker.  ABC Financial took out dues the following month.  I called the bank thinking they messed up, but no.  Apparently these kinds of scam operations know that people will challenge the charges, so when the bank blocks their ID (or whatever) number, they have a handy-dandy back up number to use... Swear to God!

So now the bank is pissed off too, and I get all my money credited back to me.  After that ordeal was when I saw the rest of these & had to post to share my own nightmare with ABC Financial.  I went to the Better Business Bureau and these %$&$#'s have had over 800 complaints in 3 years AND STILL HAVE AN A+ RATING.  WTF?!  I will NEVER trust BBB ever again, and I have a mind to write to them also! 

I mean who would know that when you sign up with a company to ask them who does their finances so you can check that company out also??

It sounds like ABC Financial is some kind of front company for fly-by-night cheap gyms that they open, close, rename, etc... or should I say the gym's that are constantly going out of business are the front companies for ABC Financial to scam THOUSANDS of us.  I urge you all not to bother trying to talk to these people and report them to your banks, ftc.gov, your state attorney, and any other consumer protection agency.  IMO (and what I've read of the legal description) they are a fraudulent company that are knowing scamming people that are already hurting and need to be put out of business, and not just so they can start the same scam with a different company name. 

I hope you all recover your funds as well, good luck to you all, and THANK YOU RIP-OFF Report for giving us consumers a truly free forum.  When I first did a search, your site came up first and I knew my experience wasn't the exception, but the rule.  You are truly doing good work here!