Capital Fitness, Inc. X-Sport Fitness Paid for my full membership upfront. After my year was over, monthly charges started to appear. Chicago, Illinois

Because of past bad practices by companies like Ballys, I was wary of initiating a fitness membership.  To avoid any strange activity on my bank account I paid for my full year up front.  This worked fine the first year (I used cash).  The facilities are a bit iffy and not the greatest, but the gym is convenient and open all year.  When I renewed for the second year I made it clear to the sales agent I wanted to pay the full year up front.  Instead of using cash this time I pulled out my debit card to swipe.  She asked me if I wanted to "secure" my membership.  I told her no.  I also told her I was hesitant to sign the portion of the contract that authorizes monthly debits from ones account since that didn't apply to me.  She told me she needed me to sign it for the "one time" payment and I had nothing to worry about.  My twelve months ended recently and sure enough charges have appeared on my bank statement.  I went to the club to cancel and inquire.  I was told to send a letter to a PO box in Aurora.  I was given a business card with no contact name and a generic number.  When I call the number I can't seem to get anyone to pick up.  The sales agents in the club are telling me they can't help me or cancel my membership.  These are the same people who started the membership and processed my paperwork.  Apparently once your membership begins, the people at the membership desks can no longer help you.  Obviously, that's not the case but it's the excuse given.  They can't help, the generic number doesn't get picked up and the card has a cryptic PO box address with no contact name.  This company seems to be practicing the same predatory and unscrupulous behavior as the much maligned and publicly outed Ballys. Instead of learning from their mistakes and treating people fairly, Xsport fitness seems to be trying to take people's money while they can.