LA Fitness, 77 Cole Strret, Ridge Hill in Yonker, NY .....My Experience…read more
I joined the LA Fitness in Yonkers looking forward to getting back into shape. Instead, what I expected to be a simple purchase of six personal training sessions turned into months of disputed charges, repeated requests for my contract, and ultimately having to involve my bank to stop the withdrawals.
On my first day, I met a trainer named Giani. He was personable, engaging, and clearly an experienced salesperson. He initially presented me with a personal training package that was far beyond my budget. When I politely declined, he brought over his manager, who lowered the price several times. Even then, I explained that the cost still wasn't something I could justify.
I also explained that my hesitation wasn't just about the money. Years earlier, I had been trapped in a gym contract that kept renewing and was nearly impossible to cancel. Both Giani and his manager acknowledged that they had heard similar stories. They assured me that LA Fitness was different and even gave me a separate written document stating that once my six personal training sessions were completed, my contract would not be renewed. That reassurance is what convinced me to move forward.
We ultimately agreed on $71 per one-hour session. I paid $142 that day for the first two sessions and specifically asked to be billed $71 per month for the remaining four sessions.
Before leaving, I asked for a copy of my contract. Giani told me their printer wasn't working but promised to mail it to me the following day. Looking back, I wish I had insisted on receiving it before I left. What has always puzzled me is that they were able to print the separate document stating my contract would not renew after the six sessions, yet I was told they couldn't print the actual contract itself.
The contract never arrived.
Over the next several visits, I asked Giani for a copy of my contract multiple times and was repeatedly told the printer still wasn't working.
The billing problems started almost immediately. Instead of charging me the agreed-upon $71 the following month, I was charged another $142. At first, I assumed it was simply an oversight and expected it would be corrected.
When I was charged $142 again the next month, I contacted Giani and explained that I had been overcharged. I requested a credit for the extra amount.
The charges continued.
On June 26, Giani emailed me and stated that I had signed up for 12 personal training sessions, to be used at a rate of two sessions per month, at $71 per session. He also told me that if I wanted to end the agreement early, I would have to pay a "buyout."
That email was the first time I realized that what he believed I had agreed to was completely different from what I believed I had agreed to. I had agreed to purchase six training sessions--not twelve--and I had never agreed to any buyout provision. At least I finally had some indication of what had apparently been written in the contract I was never given. It also explained why I continued to be billed and how many more months I likely would have been charged for services I never believed I had agreed to purchase.
By the fifth month (last month), I had been charged $284 more than I believed we had agreed to. I contacted my bank, disputed the charges, and asked them to block any future payments from LA Fitness.
When another $142 charge appeared this month, I went to my bank in person, canceled my debit card, obtained a new card number, and filed another dispute. The funds were returned to my account while the dispute was being investigated.
I also called the club and spoke with someone at the front desk. I mentioned that I thought it was unprofessional that I had repeatedly been told the printer wasn't working. She responded that their printers were working just fine and that they had no issues with them. Hearing that left me wondering why I had been told for months that they couldn't print my contract.
Unfortunately, even though Giani said he would email me a copy last month I still have not received it.
All I have are the notes I wrote in my LA Fitness notebook on the day we reached our agreement. I have no way of knowing 100% what was actually written in the contract they have on file except the inaccurate version that Giani informed me at that
If you're considering purchasing personal training at this location, my advice is simple: don't leave without a signed copy of every document you agree to, verify exactly what you will be charged and when, and keep detailed records of every conversation.
Better yet join another gym it will be less worry.
