Ladies Fitness Of Tucson II manipulated consumer to sign 3 year contract Tucson Arizona

I signed up to become a member of Ladies Fitness (Ladies Workout Express) on 2/6/06. I asked when beginning to complete the paperwork if the membership was for one year and the LWE employee said yes. Then after all of my billing information was taken for direct debit from my checking account, the LWE employee said I'm going to make this for 36 months so you do not have to repay the initiation fees (99.00 registration/5.00 card/29.95 first month=133.95 initial investment that I paid that day). All I heard initially from that statement was so I don't have to pay. I used the facility for 3 weeks and then was presented with a new employment opportunity (where I still work) that negated my ability to use the gym.

It was only then that I realized that I had been hoodwinked into a contract for three years! (I have since encountered other LWE clients that have expressed their dismay aat realizing that their contracts for for three years also.) I wrote one thank you for your services but I can no longer make use of them letter to the national headquarters, and three letters to the local facilities.

I've also complained in person. I've received their standard response form stating that unless I have a medical excuse for permanent disability from a doctor or move anywhere in the country that is further than 25 miles from a Ladies Fitness outlet, the membership cannot be canceled. They told me I could freeze the membership, and their new notice states that you can transfer your membership to a friend or family member. This company has been deducting 29.95 every month from my checking account for over two years now, and I used their services for three weeks. I feel like my checking account is being held hostage by this greedy calculating company.

Totals paid so far: Initial investment fees: 133.95 Monthly fees paid as of 4/10/08: 718.80 (and still counting) Total paid: 852.75 I can accept one year of fees to this company, as it was my intent to sign up for one year (of course, never realizing that they'd never let me out of the contract if I needed that), but I cannot accept that this company is stealing 29.95 from my checking eccount every month and will continue to do so for ANOTHER YEAR. I left this business on the day I signed up believing that I had signed a year contract, and not until I needed out of that contract di I realize that the contract was for 3 years.

Victoria
Tucson, Arizona
U.S.A.