Greystone "Family Branch" YMCA (branch of the "YMCA of Greater Birmingham")
IS THE GREYSTONE YMCA PARTNERED WITH A SHADY CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU?
Once again, I have taken the matter detailed below to the Better Business Bureau. My first attempt was met with much stalling, pretty much what I'm experiencing this go-around. One has to remember that the Better Business Bureau is being paid by these businesses. Not by YOU, the consumer. You can imagine that the Better Business Bureau may be just a little biased. The Better Business Bureau will prove to you that it is only yet another once respected institution that has been tarnished by corruption. See:
IS THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU A SHAM?
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/2010-year-impact-abc-news-investigations/story?id=12467469
IS THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU RELEVANT ANYMORE?
http://www.energycircle.com/blog/2013/04/10/better-business-bureau-relevant-anymore
I was encouraged by the BBB to discuss this matter by phone with their Chief Operations Officer. NEVER DO THIS. You could easily find yourself talking to the company's lawyer, be it the YMCA or any business entity. Communicate only by email.
The YMCA and the BBB did agree to do this. However, here are some things you'll notice about the YMCA and the "Better Business Bureau's" efforts to "serve" you:
A. You'll find it very difficult to even find the particular YMCA location on the BBB website. It is somewhat confusing, until you find out you must direct your complaint against the "YMCA of Greater Birmingham". Or is it, "The Greater Birmingham YMCA"? Or the name of the particular branch upon which you wish to issue a complaint? Of course, the YMCA, nor the BBB, their partner in crime, isn't going to make it easy for you!
1) This is one layer of insulation from complaints provided to the YMCA by the BBB.
B. As mentioned above, the business will attempt to persuade you to discuss the matter by phone.
1) It is legal, at least in the fair state of Alabama, for a lawyer to record your conversation, to be used against you later if necessary.
2) The BBB will pressure you to communicate by phone with the company representative.
C. You may actually post a negative review of the company on the BBB website, but you cannot also file a complaint to which they must respond.
D. It would not be very easy for the consumer to look up a company on the BBB website.
E. The Better Business Bureau will pressure you to interact with the company on THEIR terms. If you do not, they will begin to threaten to close your case.
Here is a brief synopsis of the bizarre treatment I received at the Greystone Family Branch YMCA:
A. During the entire time I was harassed, I was a heart patient, having had stents placed in the main artery of my heart.
B. This was listed on the contract I had signed, and these people involved in the campaign of harassment and intimidation waged against me obviously didn't take the time to consider this information.
C. The staff, and members encouraged by staff to harass me seemed very practiced at it, seeming to ensure that the perpetrator of the harassment had at least one friend or staff member in tow to act as witness as they tried to make me become belligerent. It seemed as if they were trying to encourage such behavior in me so as to have an excuse to ban me from the gym facility.
D. Upon first joining the YMCA, choosing to frequent the Greystone "Family Branch", I encountered Dana Harmon, a personal trainer and acquaintance of someone with whom I'd also experienced harassment.
E. KRISTEN HARRIS, WHO WAS THE MEMBERSHIP MANAGER FOR MOST OF THIS TIME-PERIOD, BEHAVED IN A VERY IGNORANT FASHION BY CONDUCTING A HARASSMENT CAMPAIGN AGAINST
A PERSON THAT SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW, IN A TIME WHERE THERE WERE AND CONTINUE TO BE ERUPTIONS OF MASS MURDERS IN MALLS, CLASSROOMS, OFFICES, EVEN CHURCHES.
The obvious end was to force her target to become paranoid, belligerent, and finally "snap", giving the YMCA an excuse to ban me from this and all other facilities. COULD ANYONE BE MORE STUPID?
In doing this, she could have ENDANGERED EVERYONE, children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, staff, etc., ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO FREQUENTED AND FREQUENTS THE GREYSTONE "FAMILY
BRANCH" YMCA.
Fortunately, I am a very patient man, but have dealt with this ever since. I have long since left the grade school playground, YET WELL INTO ADULTHOOD, WHILE CARRYING THE EXTRA BURDEN OF AN ADVANCED HEART CONDITION, I WAS STILL BEING BULLIED!!!
I have no doubt that, were I to try to go back to the Greystone Y, I would soon be met with the same treatment. It's happened there before.
I notice that someone rated my review as being "funny". This is likely one of the morons who I had mentioned in my review. I'm sure they'll remain amused until their family members are present at the Greystone Family Branch YMCA when one of the rude employees picks on the wrong person, and the bullets begin to fly. read more