<UPDATE>I've added a comment from The Good Dr. Geertz at the end of this post</UPDATE>
I wrote in A Rant With A Purpose: EULA about the travails of finding a gym membership that wasn't a bait&switch.
I was talking with a friend earlier today who shared that, in her opinion, health clubs are becoming the new "used car dealers". Things got better since I posted that rant and I thought I'd share the fun.
I had called WorkOutWorld on 18 Mar 10 to cancel. I got a bill from them. I called on 29 Mar 10 to ask why I got a bill. Even though I remember telling them I cancelled and Susan remembers my telling them I cancelled, they only have a record that I had a question about charging my membership to a credit card. On the 29th I was told "Verbal cancellations are not accepted. You have to go to your local club and cancel your membership there."
How come nobody told me this when I called on the 18th?
Nobody knew. But to cancel, I had to go to the local club.
Which I did. Got a little yellow piece of paper here signed by the club manager. She told me to fax it to WorkOutWorld's home office. I did. On 31 Apr 10.
And I got another bill from WorkOutWorld on 2 Apr 10, this time owing $24.50.
So I called today (5 Apr 10) and asked, "Why am I getting another bill?"
"You didn't cancel your membership in time so you're being billed for another month."
Could I talk to your supervisor?
Up the foodchain, things weren't any better. I would offer that there was no love. Finally, I asked what do I owe today, right now, right this very second that we're talking on the phone?
"$24.50."
Okay, let me get a credit card. I'll pay it off and we'll be quits.
"There's also a $39.99 rate fix fee due."
You just told me that I only owe $24.50. What's this $39.99?
"That's a rate fix fee. It insures that your club rate won't go up for the remainder of your membership."
I'm cancelling my membership. Today. Right now. I don't need my club rate fixed because I'm quitting the club.
"I understand that, sir. But you didn't cancel in time so we have to charge you this fee, as well."
Are there any other fees?
"You also missed your April membership fee payment so there's another $15."
Uh huh. I didn't pay for April because I called and cancelled before that payment was due.
"But you didn't go to your club and cancel so we had no way of knowing your membership status."
Those phone calls meant nothing? Oh, right. That's the "no verbal cancellations accepted" thing, right?
"And we'll have to charge you a late fee because that payment is late."
And what will that be?
"$9.50."
Anything else?
"No, sir. That's all. The total due is $79.49."
Okay. Fine. Here's my credit card number.
"And there'll be a $5 fee for processing."
Okay. Right now. Today. How much do I owe you to quit the club. Done, forever. Never contact me again quits?
"Your bill today is $24.50."
Then how come if my total bill today is $24.50 it'll cost me $84.49 to quit?
And does anybody remember that my reason for joining the club was that I wanted no hassles, no classes, no babysitting, no nothing except to actually exercise? Anybody remember "exercise"? You know, you move your body, you work up a sweat, you release endorphins, you feel good about life and yourself?
Anybody remember that the bait&switch was that membership was only $10/month?
So in the end, it only cost me eight-and-a-half months membership to quit a health club I only went to three times during my first week of membership.
I no longer wonder why the majority of Americans are overweight, lack physical strength or stamina and don't frequent health clubs of any kind. Especially not WorkOutWorlds, although I'm a'guessin' it's not much different elsewhere.
Funny, though. This never happened when they were gyms.
Comment from Dr. Geertz
WorkOutWorld - Nashua doesn't have a good reputation with the BBB. See http://www.bbb.org/concord/business-reviews/health-clubs/workout-world-in-nashua-nh-92009296.
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