Home Canceling Gym Membership?

[AmberWaves]

I signed up for a Bally''s Total Fitness membership back in 1998. I''d had my account debited monthly since then. The problem? I haven''t gone in 7 years. Yes, seven years. I hate it there, it''s gross and stinky and well- with an almost 5 month old, and working full time I have no time to go. So I called to cancel. They said I have to send a letter to the EFT division and that''ll do it.

I''ve heard so many scary things about canceling a membership at Bally''s (like them not even registering that you had canceled), like them constantly calling to get you to "pay your fees" after you had supposedly canceled. Then, when you don''t pay they sell your account to collections- while you think you had canceled legally.

I am going to write a cancellation letter to Bally''s and send it registered. Should I also send one to the bank to keep them from auto-debiting my account?

Any help would be great.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

If they have a reputation for being a pain about cancellations, do all that you can to protect yourself. Sending registered sounds grea. Also, maybe go into your bank along with mailing a registered letter to make sure they are aware of the situation. I''m not sure about this - so ask the bank - but they may provide some sort of form you can fill out to explain why you''re cancelling the auto-debit.

Losing control of how money is being distrubuted is one reason I''m not a fan of auto-deductions. We only have three auto withdrawls and I go through the hassle of writing out checks for everything. Sometimes I forget to pay on time (like the water bill - hehehe) but it''s better than someone else having my bank info in their hands.

 

[VegasAngel]

Have them write up something that states you canceled your membership & that you have zero balance.

Sorry I didnt read the post well. Registered letter is a good idea.

 

[waterlilly]

Woah do I have this straight? You have been paying dues on a membership you haven''t been using for SEVEN years?!

Yowza!

I think a registered letter should do it - and yes, go to your bank and simply cancel that automatic deduction. Canceling an automatic payment is totally under your control, they can''t take money you have not authorized.

 

[Octavia]

Certified mail, return receipt requested, should do it. It's cheaper than registered mail and will get there more quickly (registered is kept under lock and key, signed for at every transfer, and can take FOREVER). Certified mail offers delivery confirmation, and the return receipt is proof that someone at that address signed for your letter. Asking them to send you a letter confirming your cancellation is a good idea, too. I would wait until after you receive (or, more likely, don't receive) the confirmation letter to notify your bank -- usually in gym contracts, it says that cancellations are effective 30 days after the end of the month you cancel in, so you will probably have to pay fees for May as well, if you cancel now.

Good luck!

 

[AmberWaves]

Thank you, everyone! Waterlilly, I know!! It''s terrible, but the 18.15 a month wasn''t enough for me to really think about it- I could always decide to go... yadda yadda.

 

[PumpkinPie]

good luck AmberWaves - I hope that they''re not too difficult to deal with!

 

[lovinsparkles]

AmberWaves, definitely, definitely send them written notice with return receipt. Even better if you can make your letter sound "lawyerly". Trust me, been there and done that with Bally''s/Crunch. It''s a long story but involved an exceptional amount of hassle (including them calling three times a day) before they finally took care of it. Many times along the way they would claim never to have received things I faxed. Keep all paperwork/names and dates of people you speak to, send everything with some sort of delivery confirmation, and cross your fingers! And yes, demand the confirmation of cancellation letter. I still have mine, years later, just in case I hope it goes smoothly for you!

 

[Miss Sparkly]

I''m so sorry! Sending a letter to the bank isn''t going to do anything. You can place a stop payment on the funds, HOWEVER, if the amount changes by even a penny, or if it is coded a certian way then the bank must honor the transaction and pay your gym. Send the letter to cancel your membership, demand that they send you a letter back confirming your cancellation, and then cancel your funding source. This may mean a new debit card or bank account number depending on how you set up your EFT. From everything that I have seen, the fees WILL continue unless you shut down the funding source. Best of luck and I hope it goes smoothly for you!

 

[Clairitek]

My husband got totally screwed by then so I hope you don''t have the same fate! They still owe him almost $200 but we have decided to just drop it. I''ll spare you the long story but I think you''ve gotten some good advice- get a return receipt with certified mail. Make sure that you hold on to all proof that you mailed it to them as well (receipts from the post office, etc.)

Good luck!