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Thread: Bally Total Fitness

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    Featured Member *Iris*'s Avatar
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    Default Bally Total Fitness

    Will I get screwed if I just take their offer of a 2 week free trial? Im reading all over the place on how horrible this gym is. But I would like to take advantage of the offer.

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    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    I could be completely wrong .... but check the fine print. When I was going to sign up for a promo of theirs like this, part of the deal was that I had to sign up for a year @ $x/month and I'd get the ffirst 2 weeks as a free trial. If I didn't like it, I could cancel. However, you HAVE to cancel in person and it had to be with a manager, who was conveniently unavailable when I was trying to cancel. I fought it and did eventually get out of the contract. But it was a giant pain in the ass. It was several years ago though.






    (just click to donate FREE food to those in need...REALLY!)

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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    I've heard a lot of people complaining about getting out of Bally's, but that's where I go, and it works well for me I started out with the 2 week free trial, and I had no problems. Ended up signing up for that deal they have (It's like $19 a month 3 days a week or something like that), and now I have a platinum membership. I hear it's hard to discontinue your membership, but it's the cheapest one out there so I don't plan on leaving for a while.

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    Featured Member hot4ablackchick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    Yes it is cheap, but I would not recommend Bally's if you have children and need childcare while you are at the gym. You won't get the 19/a month or whatever deal and the childcare sucks.
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    Featured Member aviendha's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    Bally's is a good deal if you join with the intention of going regularly. If you ever need to get out of the contract prior to its expiration, good luck--I think they had the fucking Supreme Court draft their legalese because it's practically impossible. But if you DO fulfiill your contract, your rates drop to super-cheap. I've been going for 9 years and I only pay about $13 a month--up from $10 when the cheap rate first began. I'm not sure what level of membership it is now (they've changed since I joined) but I can visit any club in the nation, any day.

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    Featured Member *Iris*'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    So basically its a good gym if you want to be a member for a very long time. Hmmm yeah I wasn't thinking about signing any contract just wanting to take advantage of the 2 week offer. Do they even provide childcare for the trial offer? I guess i'll just have to ask them.

  7. #7
    made_of_sequins
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    They are super-shady. I tried to cancel (month-to-month membership) and did everything by the book (they said I had to write to a certain address and send a $25 cancellation fee ( ), and I did...and...nothing. So I went in and talked to a manager, who said he would cancel it online through their system. Never did. Went back and talked to him AGAIN; this time he said I had to send the cancellation letter, WHICH I ALREADY HAD. I ended up sending two more letters and still no response, they just kept billing my credit card.

    Finally I cancelled the credit card just so they couldn't bill me anymore. And got a nice letter along the lines of "we notice your card has expired; please update your information with us so we can continue to provide you with blah blah blah..." Yeah, sure, I'll get right on that.

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    God/dess ahmeerah's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    As long as you don't give them your cc info, you'll be OK.

    They WILL try to hard sell you though.

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    Featured Member CherryBomb954's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    Iris, I would advise you to stay away from them completely, and this is based on personal experience.
    I have an ugly mark on my credit from them for about $1300.....Long story...but bsically you have to fake your own death, be sent overseas in the military or become severly disabled to get out of contracts there.
    I fucked up and let them get the best of me. Their staff is trained VERY well in the art of sales. As a matter of fact their trainers there are better sales people than they are trainers.
    Also, they are CONSTANTLY harassing you either at the gym in person or on the phone about buying training sessions, buying supplements and bars or many of the "upgrades" they have on their memberships.

    Can't tell you how many times I'd be on the bike or treadmill sweating it out, with my headphones on, and I would get a tap on my shoulder from a staff member trying to sell me training packages. Like, leave me the fuck alone!!!


    There are so many new gyms opening up all over the US that are super cheap and NO CONTRACTS. Do NOT get into a contract.....whatever you do.

    I just joined a great gym here called Snap Fitness....It's 30$ a month, you come and go when you please, and only pay your dues if you use the gym. So say you can't workut or won't be around for a month, or two, or three.....you just don;t pay, and they don;t come after you for it.
    It's kinda like a month-to-month lease with an apartment only with a gym.
    Look around in your area, I bet there's something just like it.

    Good luck!

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    Featured Member short skirts's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    That depends on how many muscle head "trainers" you want sharking you within the free two weeks to buy a long term membership. I've been a Bally's member for 18 yrs and I quit going there due to the shark maneuvers.

    I do love the facilities though and the classes are great.

  11. #11
    Featured Member aviendha's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    I've actually never been approached at Bally's for training sessions or anything. (Lucky me.) The annoyance factor must depend on who's managing the gym.

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    Featured Member *Iris*'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    Maybe I will try it out for a day and if I get annoyed i'll just leave . I know I won't sign up because when I googled Bally's alot of people had problems with them.

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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    I joined bally a few months ago with the $19 a month 3 -days a week membership (the cheapest one they have) and I like it. I took my friend with me and made her try the 2 week free thing and she did it with no problem.After its over its up 2 u if u want to continue.You should try the $5 down 3 months free offer that they have going now, because 2 free weeks does nothing for your body.

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    Veteran Member AmberHoney's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    Ballys = Bullshit.

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    Featured Member saphire123456's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    according to consumer reports ballys are the lowest ranked national chain for customer satisfaction-so that's telling you something. on a personal note, i also can confirm their unscrupulous business practices, i signed up with them, tried to cancel later, had collection agencies calling me for years, finally it went on my credit report and i successfully disputed the charge but they are a huge pain in the ass,- go to a different club
    These days I like to count my money. I like to wash it delicately and iron it. Sometimes I dry it with some bounty to make it all nice and cuddly. I love my money... did I say that out loud?

  16. #16
    made_of_sequins
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    ^^ how did you manage to dispute the charge? Inquiring minds want to know, because I'll probably end up having to do that. Even though I cancelled it no less than 3 times by letter and 2 in person. I've just discovered that b/c my cc info is the same as on the old card, they're STILL billing me. I've had it.

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    Featured Member Jeska's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    hmm, I never had a problem with Bally's (in chicago area). I used a bunch of free trials I got from oranges and was a member after that for 2 years. I miss that club, there are none in my town.


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    Featured Member saphire123456's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bally Total Fitness

    Quote Originally Posted by made_of_sequins View Post
    ^^ how did you manage to dispute the charge? Inquiring minds want to know, because I'll probably end up having to do that. Even though I cancelled it no less than 3 times by letter and 2 in person. I've just discovered that b/c my cc info is the same as on the old card, they're STILL billing me. I've had it.
    i disputed it once it got on my credit report. you just write to the credit agencies and tell them that you cancelled it. its pretty easy
    These days I like to count my money. I like to wash it delicately and iron it. Sometimes I dry it with some bounty to make it all nice and cuddly. I love my money... did I say that out loud?

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