Ballys stealing my money...PLEASE HELP?

[klipsch555]

I signed (what they told me was) a two year contract at ballys. I moved to Florida where there was no Ballys for 50 miles. They had told me that this was a stipulation to were I can cancel my account. First I sent them proof that I moved. Then I sent them my Bally's ID cards. They rejected all of this. They did not sign for the letters, they rejected them and sent them back. They kept taking money out of my account even though I went through all the proper steps to cancel the contract. now I get a call from a collection agency saying that I had signed a 3 year conract and I owe them $2,000 for the remaining year. It has been nothing but a nightmare with this gym. Has anyone had a similar experience? Anyone able to get them back in any way?

 

[Raven]

I made the mistake of signing up for a gym, too (one you might know of called Curves). While I wasn't in the same boat as you, if you fulfilled your obligation to provide proof that you can no longer go to a Bally's because of moving, you could sue them if they take more money out of your account. Keep all the paperwork you get sent from them, whether it's a refusal to sign slip or whatever. You can't make them look at the things you send them but you can damn sure make them look like fools in court when you prove that you did everything correctly, especially if it specifically states in the contract that you may cancel your membership due to relocation. Make sure you write down or record everything the collection agency says or sends to you, too.

Hope everything works out for you!

 

[JohnR]

I had the exact same problem with the exact same gym.

I didn't find out about it until it was in collections and I saw it on my credit report. I sent an objection letter to the credit bureaus and it came right off. That's been over two years ago and I haven't heard a peep from them or the collectors since - nor has it been on my credit report.

Send an objection letter to the credit bureaus if it is a derogatory on your report. If they come back as "verified" (which is unlikely) send to the collector directly a copy of the contract highlighted where it says if you move and there's no Bally's around you don't have to continue with the contract and proof that you moved to a new address on or around that date (cell phone bill, rental/lease agreement, driver's license issue date, something...)

Good luck and f**k Ballys!!!