Fitness First Health Club

SCAM!!! FRAUD!!! FORGERY!!! $ 59 Groupon cost me HUNDREDS $$$!
I purchased a 1-​month trial + 3 personal training sessions through Groupon. I called to set up my PT sessions, and they had 4 employees call me back within 2 hours, some calling twice. Their incessant calls resulted in them telling me I had to pay a setup fee but it would count as a 2^nd month (no setup fee was required per the Groupon). Since I was moving out of state soon, I had to bring in my lease so I could get this short-​term plan. I specifically asked if I would ever be charged again, and they said no.
Fitness First stole my payment information and has been withdrawing money every month. This is a secondary account that I transferred my money out of, so I have been hit with overdraft and bounced payment fees. 20 times in writing I have told them I do not and did not authorize any payments.
Then they sent me a FABRICATED contract! Incorrect and incomplete info, and a TERRIBLY forged signature. However, I still submitted the cancellation docs they were requiring and Proof of Move, etc. Yet they still charge me.
And it is not even just one consistent charge a month. They sometimes withdrawal multiple times a month, sporadic amounts on varying dates. I had to pay to change my bank account, cancel all existing payments and cards, and cancel all outstanding checks. Yet they still charge that account!!! And now I must pay for bounced payment fees because there is no money in that account!
What was supposed to be a $ 59 Groupon has now cost me hundreds of dollars they’ve stolen from me, in addition to hundreds of dollars of bank fees! They’ve asked for my driver’s license to prove that the signature is forged; everything they ask for I’ve given to them, yet they have been charging me for 8 months. **This is being taken up with the police now.**
And don’t let me forget… when I scheduled my personal training session w/​the head of trainers, she confirmed our meeting time and then never showed!!! No explanation! Never heard from her again!

I used to work out at the 19^th St Fitness First location. I have nothing but good things to say about the helpful, friendly staff there.
I can’t say the same for the corporate office.
I moved to LA a couple months ago, and called the FF corporate office to cancel my membership before I left. It was explained to me that I had to provide proof of my new residency, otherwise they’d charge me a penalty for breaking my contract. I offered my employment offer letter, explaining to them that I wouldn’t have a permanent address until I got out there. They said this wasn’t good enough, that they needed a bill addressed to my CA residence. I finally capitulated, figuring I’d try again once I got out there.
A month later I’m in my new place and I try canceling again. I look at my bank statement and notice they charged me $ 50 instead of the usual $ 30/​month. I call to cancel and to find out what’s going on with the bill, and I’m told that its my annual «maintenance fee». I explain that I’ve already moved and already tried cancelling once, and that I’m getting shafted for paying for something I can’t use. They aren’t very understanding.
I figure at this point, I don’t even care– I just want to be away from these guys. So I send my cancellation form in with my proof of address and wait for a response. Nothing. I email them and ask for confirmation. Still nothing. Finally I get someone on the phone that confirms with me that yes, they’ve canceled my membership. I say «So that’s it right? No more bills from you guys at all?» «That’s it, no more bills.» they say. Finally I’m free.
Or not. A month later, I get a call one morning with an automated recording saying Fitness First tried to charge my card, but wasn’t successful. (I had recently requested a new card from my bank b/​c of suspicious charges on my acct). I am livid, as I had confirmed that I didn’t owe them anything when I canceled. I call the corporate office, and am told that I owed a final prorated month because cancellation «takes 30 days», and that I also now owe them an additional $ 25 fee because their attempt to charge my card didn’t go through. So they’re asking me for $ 40 total, 30 days after I cancelled. I am now getting angry on the phone, and all the rep on the phone can tell me is that «It’s not her fault because she’s just doing what she’s supposed to.» I ask to speak to a manager.
The manager is no better. All she can tell me is that all this stuff is in my contract, and that I should have read it. To be fair, she’s right, but c’mon…who actually reads a 50 paragraph long gym contract in point 6 font size? Finally she agrees to waive the $ 25 penalty. I pay the $ 15 feeling shafted, but generally just wanting to get off the phone, sickened at myself for throwing away money for nothing.
The whole experience just gave me the feeling that FF is out to suck every last dime they can out of you. I suppose that’s their business model: lure you in with cheap rates, but stick it to you when you try to leave.
If a single person reads this review and decides to pick another gym over FF, I will feel MUCH better.