Premier Fitness Lied to my Face, and took over $300 dollars and more from me Dayton Ohio

When joining Premier Fitness in January of 2005, I was informed of a good deal I would be getting, with relatively cheap monthly charges. After informing the manager at that time, Bud, that I was a college student and would be leaving to school in August, he said there would be no problem in cancelling my membership. After I clarified, asking "There will be no problem cancelling my membership in August?", he repeated "No", to my face. I signed the contract and used the gym until May.

As Bud told me, I went up to a manager one day to give my 30 days notice that I wanted to cancel in August, when I was informed that was impossible. I was told that unless I had medical problems or died, that I had to stay with the gym. I talked to Bud the next day, where he told me this was the case, and after pointing out he lied to me, he told me there must have been some "confusion". I was told to contact National Fitness Services, with whom they did their membership finances with, and had to supply proof that I lived outside of a 60 mile radius of the gym when at school. I repeatedly called their 1-800 number to see what proof I needed, and my calls were never even answered. I looked up and wrote their customer service department a number of e-mails, which were also never answered as well.

As the days and months stretched on, I had to watch the gym fee be deducted from my bank account. I sent in copies of bills I had from my college address as proof and recieved no answer.

After 6 months, I contacted a friend of mine who was a lawyer who wrote a formal letter notifying them that I wanted my contract cancelled and the money deducted from me since I had started attempting to contact them refunded. Then, and only then, did they contact me, letting me know I needed to send a copy of my lease in. After I did this, I continued to have my gym-fee deducted, so I blocked them from my account. They then contacted my friend's office over and over, despite him giving them my phone number and e-mail to contact me. After more of the same giant mess, I fear I will have to deal with collections over the matter.

Stay away from cheap gyms, and especially from Premier Fitness. The management is very poor, they are not willing to help the customer, and National Fitness Services is unreachable. This has been the biggest headache in my life.

Mike
Centerville, Ohio
U.S.A.