Curves Fitness, Northshore, Knoxville Tennessee Curves for Women, Curves International I signed a 2-year contract and they kept taking out payments for 3 years and 2 months Knoxville, Tennessee

I signed up for a 2-year contract and quickly realized that I wouldn't be able to use the services of the Curves because they close at 7:00 each night, at noon on Saturday, and are closed all day on Sunday.

I work full time and am active in a number of community organizations. I should have joined a gym that's open until 9:00 on weeknights and all day on Saturday and Sunday. I figured my bad... didn't try to get out of the contract.

Life happened--my daughter got married, my husband got diagnosed with melanoma and had surgery (stage 1, thank God!), I got "promoted" to a couple of boards, etc.

Long story short, I didn't think to check my bank statement carefully each month until just a few days ago, and I discovered that Curves has continued to take out $37 a month FOR 14 MONTHS BEYOND THE END DATE OF MY 2-YEAR CONTRACT.

I called. They said come by and talk to the owner. She wasn't there. I tried again. The NEW owner was apologetic but said she had bought the franchise only 5 months ago. She agreed to refund me the 5 months' worth of fees that she is responsible for withdrawing from my bank account.

If I want to get the other 9 months worth of refund, I have to talk to the previous franchise owner. Yeah right.

I'm looking into what's involved in filing a suit in small-claims court. I'm owed more than $300, which is a lot in my book. Especially considering I willingly paid for a year and a half of membership fees without complaint because I felt obligated to abide by the contract I had signed for 2 years membership.

Oh, and the kicker? The new owner told me I could have cancelled the original contract at any time.

Anyone else been ripped off like this? I'm ready to join a class-action suit.