Fitness First - I'm so mad! [Archive]

TeZzY

10-Oct-05, 03:03pm

My contract with fitness first finished up in August. That was my 12 months.. all over red rover.

Apparently not! You have to write to them stating that you wish to now cancel your membership.

I have never heard of anything like this before.

Am I just one of those stupid people who doesn't read contracts properly?
The lady who signed me up, never informed me of this. I'm going to go home and double check my contract of course.

But as I didn't have the correct amount of money in my bank account last week, they withdrew money, left me overdrawn and I got a hefty bank fee!

:( :mad: X(

If I am a stupid person who didn't read the contract properly, here's a warning for others who don't read contracts properly :(

I'm so pissed :(

littlemissnrg

10-Oct-05, 03:07pm

That also happened to me but it wasn't Fitness First it was another gym.

I tried to fight it because they didn't inform me either but looked through the fine print (VERY fine print) of the contract and there it was.

Taught me to always read the WHOLE contract before signing.

Bastards :mad:

Debz

10-Oct-05, 03:08pm

I had to do the same when i quit Space gym in Chatswood after 3 months and i wasnt even on a contract. I think its kinda the norm with bigger gyms.

Pigman

10-Oct-05, 03:10pm

Pretty run of the mill for most consumer contracts with big corporates.

alowflyingpig

10-Oct-05, 03:16pm

Tell me one person who actually likes Fitness First!?!?!?

littlemissnrg

10-Oct-05, 03:20pm

I'm really worried now because I signed for 12 months with the new one opening on the Gold Coast. I signed before I heard about how bad they are, really wish I hadn't now :(

djkilby

10-Oct-05, 03:22pm

My fiance had the same thing happen with Fernwood down here, she was lucky tho cos she found out the actual date she could get out of it and only had one payment taken out. I can see how a few people could get royally screwed with them tho. Fuckers!

TeZzY

10-Oct-05, 03:27pm

If it is written in the contract, It's really my fault for not noticing.

But common courtesy would be nice to point these things out. I just shot off a fax to them, I'm pretty sure they'll pick up on how pissed off I am right now :|

Pigman

10-Oct-05, 03:28pm

Tell me one person who actually likes Fitness First!?!?!?
Me. I have a massive choice of different gyms I can use across Sydney. They are big, well-equiped, and I dont have to put up with hassle from "mumsy" gym instructors trying to give me pointers or tips.

I like putting my back out. ;D

nettsu

10-Oct-05, 03:34pm

Tell me one person who actually likes Fitness First!?!?!?

hi ;D

its pretty much normal - even tho my contract with space was close to expiring - I still had to write them to cancel - I had no dramas with it...

alowflyingpig

10-Oct-05, 03:42pm

hmm, thats 2... anymore??

I take it theres nothing wrong with the gym itself, just the way they conduct there business?!

Busty

10-Oct-05, 03:45pm

Yeah, they do that hoping that you can't be ass'd writing in so they just keep getting money out of you!

TeZzY

10-Oct-05, 03:48pm

I had no problem with the actual gym or facilities. It's just the way they go about things..

Even down to the fact they put my name into their systems wrong. So every letter that came out to me wasn't addressed to ME.

skattakid

10-Oct-05, 03:52pm

i just quit FF too, was trying to do so for two weeks, but apparently it's there company policy that you have to make an appointment with one of their customer service reps, who conveniently only work 9-5 m-f, so if u are unable to be there between those times you have to whinge enough until they decide, ok i'll get them to call you instead, little do they realise that my phone automatically bars private numbers from being diverted to my messagebank, because i have an issue with people calling without showing their identity... so when i went it there again (out of my way) they started rite from the start again, and i went thru all their BS AGAIN!!! but this time i refused to leave until they just cancelled my membership, then the girl at the front desk decided she'll call the cust service rep and then told me that they were trying to call me for ages ( when i mentioned the private no. thing they tried to turn it round on me saying i should've given a propeer number then - i gave it straight back to them stating the only reason they dont use a visible number is because they dont want customers harrassing them back) after enough bickering and bitchiness they finally gave me the form to fill out, which just happen to be behind the front desk the whole time....

just a warning to be careful of these pushy tactics in signing up or trying to leave FF. while i was there i enjoyed the facilities, although was always too busy, and the classes were good too...

PertiVanHelden

10-Oct-05, 03:58pm

Sorry Tezz, standard policy from Fitness First. I suggest you fax them across the letter stating you want to cancel your membership, call them to confirm that they have received it and when the last direct deposit from your bank will occur. They're bastards - but sooo convenient.

no_carrier

10-Oct-05, 04:02pm

Ummm correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most mobile phone contracts have a time frame on the contract? And when you pass the time frame they keep you on whatever plan (minus the handset payments if there are any)? Don't they do the same when they sign you up to pretty much ANY internet plan in existence in Australia? Don't they do the same when you sign up to Foxtel? Don't they do the same on any porn site in existence? :D Have you never signed or read a contract in the last 10 years?

I really don't see what the problem is? It's not dirty business activities, it just means that if you're signing up on a cheap deal they're not wasting their time when you drop them after a month. Every company out there does it.

tails

10-Oct-05, 04:10pm

i just tried to get a new plastic tag thingo as i lost mine they tried to sting me for $20.00, you have got be kidding me. I pay those pricks 80 a month and they still try and sting me for 20 squids to get a new tag that could be worth no more than $2

Up yours fitness first, you must have one of the worst rapports with your clients,

your time will come, If anyone ever tries to take you on head to head, i will be the first one to jump ship,

and i ain't gonna write you a letter to tell you about it.

chris_e_fresh

10-Oct-05, 04:12pm

FUCK FITNESS FIRST

WORST GYM EVER!

1 trained there once and once only

liltata

10-Oct-05, 04:13pm

I share your pain completely tezz, although I have a big thing against Living Well Carindale. Two weeks before our membership was about to end, we went to the gym and the guy behind the desk tells us that our membership is up in two weeks, and asks us if we want to give notification. I say to this, oh I forgot about that, yes please could we do that now. He says yep sure thing, fiddles on the computer for about 2 minutes and then we choof off to the gym. A month later, I notice that money is still coming out of our accounts to go to living well. Apparently he did not do notification, we must have misunderstood him, and also you have to give a MONTH notice to end your membership.

Obviously this made us quite livid, and we looked like quite the liers. Being a big company, we still had to pay not only the extra month, but the next month also. We tried everything to threaten that we wouldn't pay but because the guy behind the counter didn't actually write anything down we had no proof of anything that was said or done. Futhermore, in the contract it stipulates that you have to give one month notice if you want to end your membership. I FUCKING hate that gym.

Debz

10-Oct-05, 04:29pm

FUCK FITNESS FIRST

WORST GYM EVER!

the gym or the company?

skattakid

10-Oct-05, 04:59pm

If it is written in the contract, It's really my fault for not noticing.

AHH, i knew it was written in the contract, i read the bit about the 30 days notice, didnt really bother me, just wanted to quit, but they wouldn't just hand over the form to me, they kept leading me in different directions which got me no-where, if u want to quit u have to be rude and aggressive, and then they tell u that u dont have to be rude, well Fark U fitness first, if i see that customer service rep in the street ever she's gonna cop customer service up her ****, coz i felt like i was bein screwd over!!!

oh yeah, i hope they give me a follow up call, i'll make sure i record it and send it too the ACCC...

Gee Frizz

10-Oct-05, 05:56pm

Fitness First -> Service Second.

I postponed my membership this month simply because I couldn't afford it. I had to pay them $10 and I thought the payment would be stopped. I too have been hit with a hefty bank fee and I am not happy.

What are my rights; if I have any? I can't read that tiny contract print, I only have 5% vision ffs and they know it.

Debz

10-Oct-05, 05:59pm

Fitness First -> Service Second.

I postponed my membership this month simply because I couldn't afford it. I had to pay them $10 and I thought the payment would be stopped. I too have been hit with a hefty bank fee and I am not happy.

lol fitness first, service second, so true! I guess it is a gym though... fitness really should be coming first!

did you have to fill something out and sign it? i had to suspend my membership when i went on holidays and paid $10 a month also.. (in advance)

Gee Frizz

10-Oct-05, 06:12pm

Yes I did.

It could have been my fault, I did leave it late and the money could have been exiting my account at that point. I am going to ring St George and explain thigs though; and let them know that a customer of theirs' (a normally happy one at that) is at stake.

Fitness should indeed come first but I have received no satisfactory service in helping me achieve that very thang... there is no one I can approach when I need help with spotting. Personal trainers are particularly rude; if they see that I am obviously in need of help they ignore me completely. I don't want to interrupt their session; all I want to do is ask who I can go to for help.

spudy

10-Oct-05, 06:21pm

fitness first = the suck.

i remember when i went there, the chick went thru the pricing and shit.. then goes 'ill just check out back, we have a special offer... 100$ off the joining fee, it might be finished though' *off she walks* comes back 'your lucky day! we still have 3 left... you will have to join now to take advantage of it otherwise you will have to pay the full price'

.. i go back same day when work finished, i had to wait as she was with another client and i heard her do the same trick, cept this time she came back and told the dude there was 7 left.

:slap:

Cyra

10-Oct-05, 06:38pm

I need to cancel my gym membership with Fernwood as I am moving overseas in a month.

This thread insipred me to call up now and find out about it, and I need to fill out a form, then it takes 30 days to cancel from the day I fill out the form. Looks like a similar thing happens with every big gym.

Glad I found that out now though. :thumb:

TeZzY

10-Oct-05, 06:47pm

percy

10-Oct-05, 08:12pm

Thats what i would be doing, close the bank account and go to a better gym, there are plenty around that look after their customers.

littleblonde

10-Oct-05, 08:56pm

Fitness First are evil. They wouldn't even let me cancel my contract in writing, i had to physically make time (between 9 & 5) to go in and see someone there to get the "appropriate" paperwork to cancel my contract. I was fuming....not only did I have to rearrange my entire day after multiple arguments with them over the phone, when i got there they kept me waiting, so i gave it to them well and truly. You do NOT do that to someone who has an insanely busy job. Fuckers.

I think you'll find they won't tell you a lot of things...like the fact they are legally obliged to give you a cooling off period in which you can cancel your membership etc etc.

I have had trouble with them before and this was the last straw so I will never join again (even though I only paid $40 a month). Their classes are poor, and their gyms are too crowded and overpacked. Yuck.

Quite happy going for a walk with the man and to other independant classes around town at our discretion (you know, where they actually teach real yoga and pilates, not ff "yoga" pfft).

Fitness First = McDonalds of gyms. BOOOOO

/end rant. Sorry, I just really hate fitness first.

Chunky

10-Oct-05, 09:04pm

Fucking haters, do you all go to work out or to fill forms and complain.

I've been with FF in the city for over a year and have never had any trouble.

Fatties.

littleblonde

10-Oct-05, 09:09pm

Fucking haters, do you all go to work out or to fill forms and complain.

I've been with FF in the city for over a year and have never had any trouble.

Fatties.

:lol: their classes are overcrowded, they don't offer decent classes in the stuff i want to do (yoga, pilates etc), they merely offer watered down versions and their customer service is appalling. Not to mention it take half an hour to get a locker so you can go and work out.

Good for you, you like them, personally the two times i've been with them as a member i've ended up entirely dissatisfied with them (for more reasons than forms)

Can't argue with you on the fat thing though....so, erm, stuff you. :p

TeZzY

10-Oct-05, 09:12pm

:lol: fatties? wtf? :crazy:

MiSsB29

10-Oct-05, 11:02pm

oh good, so fittness first is off the list.
Im joining the gym, probly zest =)

rayza_kool

10-Oct-05, 11:30pm

i had the same problem with Zest. when my membership expired, the money was still coming out of my account. i rang them and they said the usual spill that i had to give them one months notice and BS like that. However, what really impressed me was that when i explained that i wasnt told of this upon signing up, they apoligised (sp?), cancelled my membership immediately and then refunded my money :D

i thought that was very kewl. :thumb:

loopi

10-Oct-05, 11:38pm

happened to me with another gym too tez. fuckin leeches. grr. X(

TeZzY

11-Oct-05, 08:43am

I'm never joining another gym ever again.

Lots of sex will be exercise enough for me :-D

supa

11-Oct-05, 09:09am

i like fitness first :blush:

PertiVanHelden

11-Oct-05, 09:24am

Good on you Cyra!
I'm glad I helped somebody out with my stupidity :(

I'm even more pissed off now, cuz I can't find my friggen contract! Arghhhh I want to curl up in a ball and die :(

Ok well maybe not that bad.. but its bullshit.

I faxed across my letter to them today. It was quite nasty, in a pollite way :lol: Then I sent a copy of the fax, with a letter.

And I'll call tomorrow to tell them what I have done.

Then I'm cancelling my bank account, so those stupid ****s can't get me again :mad:
Hey Tezzy, you may have trouble closing the account if there is a direct debit in force on it. Ie - you signed an agreement letting FF take money out of your account each month and only FF can cancel that. Talk to you bank first.

Failing that:
Go ninja on their arse :ninja:

Brother Al

11-Oct-05, 10:08am

Geez some really crappy stories. Hope it works out in the end for you TezZy :blush: I'm with Fitness First and i've had no problems with the place, but i know that they are bastards when it comes to getting money off you. Give em hell :)

Tails - thats fucked as if you are gonna pay $20 just for a tag! Cant you just use your license ID?

ADz_M

11-Oct-05, 10:19am

Its a standard contract. You joined the gym with a minimum contract of 12 months. After the 12 month period your welcome to stop at any time. If you don't let them know you want to stop how should they know?

Obviously you need to terminate the membership. How pissed off would you be if after 12 months they just stopped letting you use the gym and you had to rejoin.

The same with a phone contract... they continue to supply you the service you agreed to at the same cost you agreed to. However, once the period of time you initially agreed to stops you are welcome to stop the contract at anytime.... you just need to request they stop providing you the service.

dynamicbaddog

11-Oct-05, 10:41am

Fitness First = McDonalds of gyms. BOOOOO

.

You can say that again, from reading this thread I can see that they are crap the world over. :lol: I joined them here in London a few months ago, and found that most of the machines were falling apart, they had'nt provided enough locker space so often you had to wait for a place to put your stuff,the sauna was often bust all sorts of things like that. I cancelled my direct debit at the bank before the end of my contract as I believe that they had broken their end of the deal by providing such shit service. Bastards have been hounding me for the money since, but they can whistle for it! :p
(i'm new here BTW - I came across this forum whilst googling for gabba/drum'n bass stuff!):thumb:

TeZzY

11-Oct-05, 11:50am

Hey Tezzy, you may have trouble closing the account if there is a direct debit in force on it. Ie - you signed an agreement letting FF take money out of your account each month and only FF can cancel that. Talk to you bank first.

Failing that:
Go ninja on their arse :ninja:

Yeah that's ass :~(

I'm going to go up there tonight, sign their stupid little form.

I've faxed a letter to them, and posted a letter enclosing the other letter.
So if I sign their form.. they better not fricken take any more money out.

But this is the shit part of it.. I can't find my fucking contract! I wonder if they'll give me a copy.

TAKEtheBLUEpill

11-Oct-05, 11:57am

Am I just one of those stupid people who doesn't read contracts properly?
Quite clearly yes...........

sway

11-Oct-05, 12:15pm

sooo glad i got out of the fitness first wagon.

i had to cancel due to work relocations.. and canceling my membership was just as nightmarish as the other stories on here.. it involved me trapsing around the city and waiting for over an hour before the brainless dolly behind the counter (lets call her kerry, customer service manager, fitness first park st) tried to convince me that their brand new world square gym on liverpool st was JUST AROUND THE CORNER from my house in newtown.

alowflyingpig

11-Oct-05, 12:25pm

But this is the shit part of it.. I can't find my fucking contract! I wonder if they'll give me a copy.
it may cost you!! :lol: ;D

TeZzY

11-Oct-05, 12:43pm

I phoned up asking for a copy..
"oh.. TEZ?" :lol:

one_tjc

11-Oct-05, 12:53pm

Lots of sex will be exercise enough for me :-D
this is my theory :D

Gee Frizz

11-Oct-05, 01:33pm

How long is the cooling off period? I joined in July this year.

thestablishment

11-Oct-05, 01:33pm

This is why I only ever join community gyms (run by the council). If you live in a decent area, chances are their gym is better than anything Shitness Farce will give you.

dan-

11-Oct-05, 02:49pm

yeah, fitness first is a bit difficult to deal with sometimes...

...i joined healthworks in brisso, i find them to be good!! good service, good quality equipment, etc.. they're at hendra and tenerrife. can be a bit expensive, but if you bargain with them about the price then you can get it cheaper :)

Gee Frizz

11-Oct-05, 03:13pm

I used to love going to the South Lake leisure centre run by the Cockburn council. Their equipment was basic thus easy (but not too old) and their staff were unbelievably friendly and approachable.

Thems were the days of living in a convenient location... the best bottlo in Perth 25 mins walk away, the local gym, 30 mins by bus into Perth & Fremantle (and it didn't take 22 mins to walk to the bus stop) and yeah, I need to move!

I am going to try and cancel my membership and I'm sure with my disability I'll get somewhere. I'll be checking the mission statement first.

Pigman

11-Oct-05, 06:09pm

Fucking haters, do you all go to work out or to fill forms and complain.

I've been with FF in the city for over a year and have never had any trouble.

Fatties.
:bow:

Debz

11-Oct-05, 06:09pm

:lol: fatties... says 'chunky' :P

Gee Frizz

11-Oct-05, 06:43pm

TeZzY

11-Oct-05, 07:09pm

I didn't get a call back from the gym today, so I went there.

Turns out they don't have a record of me calling them today
They don't have a copy of my contract, or not that they could "find"
My membership hasn't been cancelled, I need to make an appointment with a consultant.. eventhough I was told otherwise..
The consultant doesn't work past 5pm
But they might call me within the next 48 hours

Oooh this is going to be fun!

Taxman

11-Oct-05, 07:38pm

the brainless dolly behind the counter (lets call her kerry, customer service manager, fitness first park st)
:lol:

A certain troublemaker, I'll call her Lisa S, no, that's too obvious, lets just say L. Simpson.

Pigman

11-Oct-05, 07:49pm

The title of this thread makes me think of 'Norfolks maddest man!'

Brother Al

11-Oct-05, 11:46pm