Fitness 19

Review: I cancelled my gym membership in August, 2015. It is mid December and the company is calling me for my new debit card number because the previous one had been switched out by my bank. They advised me that they do not have my cancellation form which I signed in September and now I need to come back in to sign a new cancellation form.

My husband had this EXACT same situation happen with him at Fitness 19 3 years ago and the coincidence is uncanny. I advised the Manager at Fitness 19, whose name was [redacted] (he refused to provide his last name to me), that this is a deceitful business practice. I advised him that it is not the customer's sole duty to keep cancellation forms and that it is very unprofessional for his company to just "lose" cancellation forms and continue to charge people's cards.

This company has swindled $60 out of me and I want them to stop this behavior for other people who sign with them.Desired Settlement: I want my 3 months of service reimbursed since I cancelled in September of this year.

Business

Response:

Hello,We have spoken to Mrs. [redacted] and will be refunding her the amount owed and have resolved her issue of cancelation. Please call me if you have any questionsRegards,[redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my concern, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Review: I provided them with a written request to terminiate my gym membership on 07/18/2015 (I have the membership terminiation form dated on 07/18/2015 with the name of the employee who helped me...his name was [redacted]) I was charge an additional month on 08/15/2015. I went in and spoke with the manager [redacted] and request a refund since we did not use the gym for the month we were charged. He said he would NOT give us a refund since we only provided a 27 day notice and not the required 30 day notice. He assured us we wouldn't be charged again. We were charged AGAIN on 09/15/2015. We called and they assured us our membership had been cancelled. We were charged AGAIN on 10/15/2015. We disputed the charges with our credit card company and had to have our credit card number changed to prevent further fraudulent charges. We received a collection letter on 11/12/2015 stating that we owe $49 and its due 'upon receipt'. We have reached out to this business including posting on their facebook page with no response or resolution. I am afraid I will be sent to collections and/or it will be reported on my credit report.Desired Settlement: For them to ensure - in writing - that this will be resolved and I will not be reported to a collection agency.

Review: This location took a lot longer than expected to open (it's a new location.). & they kept telling folks (myself included) that they'll be opening "next week. We'll open next week." This went on Over a period of two to three weeks. I felt that they were giving me the run around when I informed them of my wanting to cancel my membership. One of their associates went into a long spiel in trying to get me to stay after I told him after two or three times that I just wanted to cancel my membership. I was able to cancel my membership that resulted in my receiving the start up fee reimbursed. After I got the reimbursement check, I asked their associates if I will get charged for the $14 ,monthly fee again and they said no. Over the last 6 weeks I saw this gym debit $14/month twice. It was during this time while I was trying to get my money back, did I look into other locations and found that other people also had the same problem. I couldn't believe it also had to take me going to my bank and changing my bank account number.Desired Settlement: A full reimbursement of the $28.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Hello

Review: On 8/18/14 I went into Fitness 19 to inquire about their $9 month membership. I spoke with [redacted], who began to sign me up for the membership, and after a bunch of fast talking, he then asked me for my credit or bank card to run for the membership. I asked him just exactly what was the total today for this $9 membership, and he informed me $68. I told him I couldn't afford that much, and I didn't have that much in my account. He asked to run it anyway, just in case the bank would approve it, and I did. My card was declined (as I knew it would be), and I thanked him for his time and left. I then immediately turned around and went back in, and asked [redacted] if I had to worry about them starting to debit my account every month, and he replied absolutely not, that I didn't have a membership because I didn't pay, and that if I were financially to come up with the money, I would have to start the process all over again. I watched my bank account for the balance of August, and through September and October, to make sure that Fitness 19 wasn't going to take money out of my account for a membership I didn't have. As of 10/31/14, there had been no activity from Fitness 19, so I decided there was no need to worry. WRONG! On November 17, 2014, 3 months after I had simply inquired about a membership, Fitness 19 suddenly debited my bank account for $9; they debited it again on November 24, 2014 for $18, and then again on December 1, 2014 for $68.00. My bank reversed the charges while it began to investigate the claim, and told me to come in and get a new bankcard, which I did. I never heard any more from Fitness 19 until February 2015, when I received a statement in the mail from Fitness 19 claiming as of February 5, 2015, I had a balance due to Fitness 19 of $231. I immediately made numerous calls to Fitness 19, and was told that I had to pay my balance of $231 in order to cancel a membership I never had, and now it's up to $323 by 3/5/15. BEWARE!Desired Settlement: I want Fitness 19 to cancel the membership I never signed up for, and to absolve me of any charges for said fake membership. I want them to quit harassing me by email, and to make sure that this has not affected my credit as they threatened me with.

Review: I signed up for membership then proceeded to cancel my membership by going into the business in person. I was told that the me membership was canceled. I have been billed since trying to cancel the membership in August. My husband has tried canceling for me. He was told by the General Manager that the General Manager was not allowed to make that decision only the franchise owner could. The Manger refused to contact the owner,or provide contact info for him. Contacting the headquarters for the business results in no response.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund of all my fees. The general manager has made it clear he can't make any decisions,and refuses to contact the owner. This is unnacceptable. Contacting headquarters results in no response.

Business

Response:

I want to first apologize for the miscommunication with [redacted] in reference to her account with Fitness 19.

It is our policy that once a cancellation form or a letter is submitted in writing that the membership be canceled within 30 days from the date received.

If [redacted] came into the facility August of 2014 prior to the 15th of that month, her last billing would have been in August but if we received the cancellation after the 15th of August her last billing would have been in September of 2014.

At this time we have no record of a cancelation from [redacted].

[redacted] did sign up on August 11, 2014 and if she cancelled her membership within five business days of enrolling we would have refunded her the $105 she paid when she signed up. Again I have no record of [redacted] cancelling her membership.

When reviewing [redacted]'s membership it appears she and her add-on accounts were utilizing the facility after the month of August as well as purchased personal training. For the personal training purchased we would have also refunded [redacted] if it were within the 5 days of purchase. In this case we have no record of [redacted] cancelling her training sessions.

When reviewing [redacted]’s membership and personal training agreements [redacted] signed and initialed all of her paperwork acknowledging the terms of the agreement. If [redacted] would like a copy of her agreements we would be more than happy to provide her with copies.

At this time we are still waiting for [redacted] to complete a cancellation form.

All billing has been correct on our part. If [redacted] has any other concerns we would be more than happy to assist her in this matter.

Review: Company has double billed and charged dues when they are not due and will not refund charges.

Hello, I purchased voucher for two months membership and two free personal training sessions at Fitness 19. When I redeemed on August 28th, they talked me into continuing a membership after my two free months ended by paying a $35 enrollment fee and $15 monthly dues starting in November. On August 28th they charged my account twice for the enrollment fee. I left a message for management and they did not return my call so I filed my claim with my bank. On September 15th they charged $15 in monthly dues which should not have been charged until November. When I called the manager she said she could not refund my money but would push out my first due date to January. I explained that I was no longer interested in doing business with the company and wanted my $35 enrollment and $15 dues returned to me and would utilize my two free months and two free personal training sessions from my voucher and be done. The manager would not issue me a refund and would not give me the contact information of her superior. I have tried to redeem my personal training sessions and the trainer assigned to me has cancelled twice and is only available during regular business hours for the most part. This has been the most disappointing purchase I have ever made as it has been nothing short of a nightmare.Desired Settlement: $35 enrollment fees, $15 September dues = $50.00 total plus cancellation of contract.

Business

Response:

Initial Business Response

Member has been issued a refund in the amount of $50.00 to cover the $35 enrollment fee and $15 September dues. In addition, contract has been cancelled per members request and no further dues will be billed.

Final Consumer Response

(The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)

Money was refunded in full

Review: I've been trying to cancel for 3 months!!! First I went in and filled out paperwork and somehow they "lost" it. Got charged again, went in and apparently only managers can cancel someone. Left my information and was told I would be called the next day. charged again, and the 3rd time the guy hadn't a clue what to do! Had been trying to talk with the manager [redacted] who first said the "system was down" and would call me back when it was up. That never happened. He's been giving me the run around for over a month, and on top of it acts as off it's no big deal and that you're wasting his time. I have had 2 overdraft fees because I didn't have money in this particular account because I thought nothing else was coming out of it. I can't seem to get a return phone call and still don't know if we are cancelled. If you look on yelp, this is a continuous problem for MANY people.Desired Settlement: I shouldn't have to pay $** in NSF fees on top of 2 monthly charges after I cancelled.

Review: When I tried to cancel my membership, I was told I would have to do this in person. I went to my local Fitness 19 and was informed that because the agent that signed me up was from Orange, that I would have to drive 30 minutes to that location to cancel in person. Or, I could mail a letter to Orange. I went home and mailed the letter. I was charged again two weeks later. I called the Orange location and was told that although my letter was received, I was still responsible for the current month. I was told I would no longer ne charged. 5 months later, I got a bill in the mail for all of those months combined, over 100 dollars. I called again and spoke with a manager. He proceeded to tell me I could come down in person and cancel or mail another letter but I would still be responsible for the preceeding months because there was no letter on file and me telling him I sent it and was told it was received is only 'hear-say'. I have only ever used this membership one time when I first signed up.Desired Settlement: I should not be held responsible for any month after January 2015 since I verified they received my cancellation letter and I never used their facilities during this time.

Business

Response:

When the member called in, I [redacted] did receive the phone call. The member did state that she attempted to cancel at another location and then that she mailed a letter. I than asked if she by chance sent the letter via certified? She responded no and that she was not advised to her. I explained we a do our best to inform members if they are cancelling by letter to send it certified so they have receipt showing it was mailed. After all, we cannot be held liable for a letter not to have been received. I said we do not show any letters on file however I would give her a call back. My apologies you have not yet received any calls from me. I have not forgotten about it and plan on getting a answer to her come this Friday. If we are ever in the wrong we will make things right. I do need to look further into this yet. Thank you for your patience and sorry for the delay.Thank you,[redacted]

Review: Since this gym offered no free trial, I paid to sign up on July 18 for both me and my wife, with a charge of $152.00 on my debit card posting on July 21, 2014. I cancelled my membership after 4 days. They told me that since I am cancelling WITHIN 5 DAYS, that their policy states I am still eligible for a full refund, which I will receive in the form of a check within 2 WEEKS!!!

The sign-up fee will be refunded as a whole but the initial $9/month charge for my wife and I will not be refunded. That's fine. So I asked them if I can then use the gym up until August 18, and they said yes. So then I was indeed billed on August 15, 2014 for $18 ($9/month for 2 people).

TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 17. I HAVE ANOTHER $9/MONTH (times 2 for my wife and I) CHARGED ON MY BANK ACCOUNT WHICH POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 16....AND STILL NO REFUND CHECK DESPITE CALLING THEM AT LEAST 4 TIMES. All they said was, call again in a few days, or call again next week. One time, I was told that there was a backlog in getting the checks in. (This was the third week after I cancelled) It's been just 1 week short of 2 months now, and still nothing. I called them today prior to putting a complain on their Yelp page and here. If you check out their Yelp page, you will see that I'm far from being the only person with this same complaint. So let it be known that this is a legitimate complain.

I called them today and Alex told me that the owner has to be the one to sign for the checks. And after I asked, "well where is he?" "He's getting back from his honeymoon tomorrow," he said. I told Alex, as I'm telling you now, that this type of service is inexcusable, unprofessional, and just plain irresponsible.Desired Settlement: After all this, I want a full refund of the sign up fee, which I am entitled to in the first place, which I am still waiting for. I also want a refund of the two (2) $18 monthly charges I incurred (posted 8/15 and 9/16). A month of free membership will not hurt either, not just for me, but for all the other victims of this policy.

Consumer

Response:

Hi [redacted],

Review: I have tried to cancel my membership to Fitness 19 with phone calls and written letters. They say they have not received my letters and so they will not cancel my membership. I will now send them a certified letterto cancel. This is a common scam for this company as they have and keep doing this to many people. They make it hard for you to cancel and keep charging your debit account. This company is stealing money from people but continues to operate. They should be shut down. Never join Fitness 19.Desired Settlement: They should return all of the money they have stolen from all the people that they won't let cancel there membership. Just check out [redacted] and seeall the people they have stolen from.

Review: So, I cancelled with fitness 19 in March. I was very mad because I told them specific dates on when to take money out of my account and they DID NOT listen. They charged me and my bank account had many over draft fees because of them. I was furious. That is when I canceled and asked to see a manager personally. Me and my dad were both very angry at their service. Very horrible on their part. When I cancelled with the manager he said he understood out situation which was nice of him. He said he would cancel the account right away and would not charge any fees. HIS EXACT WORDS. He even offered to throw in a month or guest free but my dad did not want to due to the fact that they have caused many problems with us financially. Now that was all in March. I get a call June 23,2015 saying that I HAVE to pay 149.00 dollars!! This was so absurd I have cancelled with them and on top they charge me after 3 months? What is this? The guy on the phone told me if I don't pay they would have to go to collection. So I tell my dad to call them and they change the price to 85.00 okay what is going on here? This is so ridiculous the manager specifically said NO FEES will be added and I get a call for collection? I'm so furious with fitness 19. I don't get how I have to pay after I cancelled with them.Desired Settlement: I want fitness 19 to stop calling me about how much money I owe them after I cancelled with their store manager. I also want to stop any contact with fitness 19 because that they are doing is basically harassment and I will not tolerate someone telling me pay or collection AFTER I CANCELLED. I want my information OUT of their system. I want nothing to do with fitness 19.

Review: This business has repeated complaints from numerous customers about their billing practices, customer service and cancellation procedures. They incorrectly charge your account and add multiple late fee charges without notifying you, even though it states in their own contract that they will notify you when funds are noncollectable. (For instance when your credit card expires.) The staff is unqualified to handle complaints, problems and will not get the manager upon request, saying the manager is not in. The manager doesn't return phone calls. Their staff, including the manager is rude, condescending and full of lies. When you try to cancel, they improperly handle the transaction on purpose so that they can keep charging you. Their mailer advertises a $9/month membership with $9 initiation fees. But when you get in there, they tell you there is also a one time $49 fee to sign up, plus an annual $30 fee. They want your checking account to withdraw, I refused so they agreed to use my credit card.Desired Settlement: Please file this complaint along with other complaints that I'm sure you have received about this company to down grade their rating. I would also like to see their business be punished for false advertising and billing fraud. Check out their[redacted] rating for repeated similar complaints.

Business

Response:

Good Afternoon! Our agreements state that there is a "optional lock in fee" which guarantees that the member keeps their low rate. It also states that the annual fee applies, which is clearly stated in the agreement. (CA law requires an initial within 4 inches of this). Cancellation is a 30 day written notice by the customer. There is a $15 return fee when a customers card declines. (which is also in agreement. Similar to every banks NSF fee of $29-35 for not having the funds for a transaction. In good health, Fitness 19

Review: Fitness center advertising for No up front cost for gym membership via phone, email and text message. Once signed up gym changed the No up front to a specific membership. I paid $45 out of pocket. Received an email stating again NO up front cost. Now this was for another membership. Received a text with the same "end of the year special" when I questioned the center they said it was for my membership that I signed up for. I have only signed up for a week. They will not honor any of their advertising. I want a full refund! No customer service at all.Desired Settlement: $45 out of pocket

Business

Response:

The issue regarding [redacted] has been resolved. As of 1-15-15 we have refunded all fees and upon her request have cancelled her membership with the option of re-joining at the same rate in the future.

Business

Response:

The issue regarding [redacted] has been resolved. As of 1-15-15 we have refunded all fees and upon her request have cancelled her membership with the option of re-joining at the same rate in the future.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my concern, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Review: My husband and I had a month to month membership with fitness 19 with an added childcare kids club on our membership. In May my husband and I went into the gym in person and canceled all memberships in writing. The gym has continued to bill for my husbands membership even though I keep calling and going into the gym. It's been months. I wrote a [redacted] review, a review on their ** page and no reaoonse. I called on Labor Day and spoke with [redacted] at 10:11am and he said someone would call me. Nobody did. So I went in again in person on sept 10th and spoke with the manager [redacted] and he said someone from billing would call me on Tuesday the 15. Nobody called. I went in on Wednesday the 16th and spoke with page and he said this is a common issue. He can't help me and had no idea how to help. I asked for a corporate number, a billing department, customer service or regional manager. He said he had none of those things. He could skip a piece of Paper under miles door and that was it. I just want my money back. We haven't used the facilities and the Internet is flooded with these complaints. The corporate number I found is disconnected. Please help!!!!Desired Settlement: I want my money back from May 2015 to current. They have been charging me $10 a month this whole time.

Great cozy neighborhood gym. Wonderful for after work or lunchtime workouts. Friendly staff (ask for [redacted]). See you there !

Review: I joined Fitness 19 around March 2012, under a bait and switch advertisement scheme. They announced about $14 month and when you were ready to sign after listening to their sales ploy for 15 minutes, turns out that those $14/month were for only monday, wednesdays, fridays, not the entire week; that if that's what you wanted, you needed to pay $19. Old bait and switch- fine. I only went a couple times and stopped going altogether at around July 2012 because I moved; however, they continued to charge me every month for $19. Everytime I called to cancel they said I could not do it over the phone or email, that I had to come in person at the exact branch I had signed off in, or in writing. They also could not take faxes according to them. I thought the whole thing was sketchy so I canceled charges from that gym to my debit card last month. I finally walk in to the gym yesterday asking to cancel, but they said that since I own them $19 that they couldn't bill me for, I had to pay them that before I canceled. I have seen hundreds of online reviews like this. Outraged people like me. This is wrong and I now see that others are experiencing the same problem. Someone really needs to look into the legalities of their practices. It is inconceivable that in 2012, a business cannot take a cancellation notice over the phone, email, or fax. Its not that they can't, they don't want to, because they can extend your cancellation date by months, allowing them to bill for longer periods of time for each cancellation. You have no control over when they input your letter of cancellation. I call that fraudulent, at the very least, misleading business practices and certainly not ethical, if not illegal. Your notice should be the date you notify them. Not based on their billing cycles. Or, at the very least, it should be prorated from the billing date to the end of that month, not continuing to charge into a new month.

Furthermost, for most gyms and business entities for that matter, you don't have to be in person or use conventional mail to cancel services. I do everything at home and from my computer to initiate or cancel all kinds of services involving much larger sums of money, but Fitness 19 tells me that I have to travel across the state to close a puny $19 dollar membership steal because they need my signature? This is outright steal.Desired Settlement: Refund me of an entire year's worth that they charged me of a service I did not use and could not cancel over a simple phone call.

Business

Response:

To Whom it may concern, Fitness 19 apologizes for the misunderstanding that [redacted] may have in reference to the termination policy. The agreement that [redacted] would have completed and received a copy of would show our termination policy in which he would initial next to. The following statement is located in bold on his membership agreement which explains billing would continue for one month following Fitness 19 receiving the notice of termination form. In order to cancel the agreement with Fitness 19 the agreement states:(c) Member may terminate a monthly dues membership at any time by giving a 30 days written notice. If Member paid for the last month dues in advance, and if Member terminates 30 days before the next EFT billing date, Member’s privileges will continue for one (1) more month and no further EFT billing will occur. If Member paid for the last month dues in advance and terminates the Membership less than 30 days before the next EFT billing date Member’s privileges will continue for two (2) more months and one more EFT billing will occur. Fitness 19 has acted in accordance with [redacted]’s membership agreement. Fitness 19 has made terminating membership agreements very simple. As stated on the membership agreement:#15: Notice of termination is considered given, if by mail when postmarked, or if by hand by filling out a cancellation form at the FITNESS 19’S place of business indicated on this Agreement. Verbal cancellation will not be accepted. Such notice should be sent to FITNESS 19 CA 247, LLC, [redacted], Oceanside, CA 92057. Again we do apologize for any misunderstanding and we have acted in accordance to the signed and initialed agreement [redacted] signed. [redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

I praise the Revdex.com on its mission to resolve unfair business practices; a well amount of them stemming from the "what the contract says" agenda. This is no misunderstanding from my part as Fitness 19 stated. I am fully aware that any gym membership will continue until canceled, and also pay for the last month. But that's not what I was addressing. What I am addressing is the nature of their membership cancellation "policy"- more so what actually happens in practice, as it has been my experience. Fitness 19 said and I quote "Fitness 19 has made terminating membership agreements very simple ". Which isn't the reason this very complain is being made because terminating the membership is everything BUT simple? 24 hour fitness' agreement is simple to cancel, you call or simple go on their WEBSITE. How is not accepting phone calls, e-mails, faxes, or even an online submission form making it very simple? Its not, and is made for one sole purpose only, and I quote myself: "It is inconceivable that in 2012, a business cannot take a cancellation notice over the phone, email, or fax. Its not they can't, they don't want to, because they can extend your cancellation date by months, allowing them to bill for longer periods of time for each cancellation. You have no control over when they input your letter of cancellation".

Fitness 19 expects for me to pay one more final month of gym membership (worth $19.00) so that they can cancel it, according to their "policy"; after I paid them about 12 months and a yearly fee already- all under the devious pretext that it has to be a written notice- that I couldn't simply call, unlike about 99% of transactions of our modern world. Just because you have a contract designed in such a way that in practice you can squeeze every single last penny of your members does not make you immune. Contracts like this get disputed every year in US courts. In fact, I know someone who won a settlement against Fitness 19 for this very same reason. My question is: Is it really worth pushing this contract agenda, allowing to escalate?Or simply settle for resolution that sounds just and fair?

Regards,

Review: I was once a member at fitness 19 I paid 170 dollars start up fee to keep my rate at 9 dollars a month so if the price changed I would keep my rate still until this day the price is still only 9 dollars and not everyone has locked in there rate and continues to pay the same 9 dollars a month I know other members.I eventually stopped going to fitness 19 but was continued to be charged and I was no longer attending the gym this went on for some time I figured since it was month to month if I didn't pay then they would cancel me but then I recently received a charge for 28 dollars and I went in to talk to some one there they told me it was the annual fee and I owed over 400 dollars I told them I haven't been going and I told him they don't let you use the gym if you owe them money they make you pay your dues first they told me I had to cancel it in writing so I asked him if I can do that and he told me no I couldn't I said I didn't want to continue being charged and he told me sorry I cant cancel and I am gonna continue being charged I asked him to put my 174 towards the balance they say I owe since the fee never even got locked in and he could have the owner call me and I never received a call I just don't want to be charged any moreDesired Settlement: I don't want to continue being charged and I don't feel I owe them 400

Great gym. They know what they are talking about. They will also take the time to explain thing to you and make sure you understand.

Review: I called the gym to have my membership cancelled. They stated I needed to mail a letter to them stating I would like my membership cancelled. I sent them a letter on 10/3/2014 and still continue to be charged. I call them and they said "very rudely" they have no record of receiving anything from me. I then went in 12/15/2014 and canceled in person. My membership number is [redacted].Desired Settlement: The membership I signed up for stated it would be first and last months membership free. Therefore I should be refunded for my last month prior to cancellation (September) as well as the continued charges after I sent my letter on 10/3/2014 for a total refunded of $**. $** Sept, $** October, $** November and $** December and a $** renewal fee = $** Total.

Business

Response:

I am responding to [redacted] Revdex.com complaint on his memmbership. When he became a member he enrolled on our Black Friday sale in 20*3. This sale was structured as a month to month by EFT draft for only $* enrollment and 2 months free with an optional lock in and a once a year Annual Fee?The membership option he selected was $* enrollment with out the lock in at $** monthly for anytime to use this facilty. His upfront cost was only $*.00 to start with his *st and last months dues upfront cost was waived as they were his 2 months free as advertised. His monthly billing began on **/*5/*3 as his *st monthly withdraw. This membership is a month to month EFT automatic withdrawl.

Review: I signed up for a trial membership in February. I cancelled my trail membership 5 days in to the trail, inside the store with a store representative. Yet every month I continue to get charged $15 a month and it is now almost December. I have made multiple calls to the store where the "manager " who handles what I'm told is "this kind of stuff" is never in and refuses to return my phone calls.Desired Settlement: To be repaid for unused monthly payment and make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else

Business

Response:

We have contacted [redacted] a couple of times prior to this notification but we have not yet received a return call from him in regards to this matter.