Planet Fitness will not refund my money though I never activated my membership. Capitol Heights Maryland

 I took out a $1 membership for the new Planet Fitness opening in my area in August 2017 in May.  The gym opened two weeks early.  Without my permission and no notice, they charged my card.  Again, I did not receive any notification that my card would be charged or that the membership had actually started.  Though the gym was not opened, the membership for the $1 started immediately, though I did not have access to the gym I signed up for.  I could go to another location miles from my home. 

I never went in to activate my account. Being handicap, I did not have a way to get to other locations.  So, I decided to wait until August, when the gym was "supposed to open."  Since there was no money when they charged the card early, they charged a $20 insufficient funds fee.

I called to inform them that they charged my card without my permission on August 1.  They told me that I would have to go to the location where I signed up.  As I stated, I’m handicap and had to wait for transportation.  When I went in on August 7, I told the person at the desk who I was and what happened.  They told me they could not adjust my account.  I told them I wanted to cancel my account and requested a refund.  The young lady acknowledged that my account had never been activated.  She went to speak with the manager.  She came back and told me that I would receive a credit on my account within 30 days. 

Thirty days had passed.  I called the Planet Fitness to inform them that I had not received my refunds.  After checking my credentials, I was told that I would not get a refund because I did not cancel until August 7 and it had to be done by August 1, though my account was never activated, even though I called on August 1 after learning they had already charged my card before August 1.

This is outrageous.  Planet fitness knows that I NEVER activated my account.  They charged my card early, therefore when I went to use the money on my card, it was not there.  At the very least, they should have contacted me so that I could enjoy my membership, not just take my money.