I'm sharing my experience with GRITT located in Islip (used to be in East Islip) to warn others about their deceptive and unethical billing practices.
I met the owner, Saraii, in February after trying an intro kickboxing class. I was very upfront that I already had a personal trainer and do private Pilates sessions so I didn't have the time or money for another program. I was suckered in anyway and gave my card for a month .. 4 sessions .. I was then told they "prefer" a 2-3 month commitment, so I agreed to that short period (12 classes) to support a local small business. They were adding Pilates to the studio so I figured worst case I would have 12 Pilates classes and get to experience a different instructor.
A few weeks later, I realized their schedule really didn't work for me and texted the owner in March and April telling them that and asking to cancel my account and turn off automatic payments. In the texts I said I would pay for the 3 months. I was responded to so I assumed my account was no longer active. Again, I figured I had 12 classes I paid for and could make use of.
Fast forward to September, I decided to try one of their new Pilates classes, believing I still had a few unused class credits banked from the short commitment I had paid for. After class, I was told I had to download a new app to sign up for their classes moving forward. I was told to put my card info in there so yesterday when I saw my account was charged by them I assumed it was cause of the new app so I texted to have my money refunded. No response, went to class at 4:30 and asked the owner about it who said she was going to get back to me. I then learned once I was home that they had been charging my account every single month since February totaling over $2,000!!! Mind you, I've attended fewer than five classes and didn't go there from February - September but they continued to collect money from me UNAUTHORIZED with no contract.
When I asked for a refund for all the months besides the 3 I "committed to", I was told I had a "verbal contract" with the owner WHICH IS A LIE and I have to email to cancel, even though I never signed a written agreement and had already texted multiple times to stop payments. Instead of responding to my MULTIPLE TEXTS that the only way to cancel was in the form of email they just kept charging my account. I have now found other people they've done this to through social media so this is common business practice for them to STEAL!
Instead of resolving the issue, they now have blocked me on social media and had my reviews removed. This is not how an honest business operates. I am filing complaints with my bank, the BBB, and the NY Attorney General's Consumer Frauds Bureau. read more