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Life Time Fitness

Life Time Fitness review: stay away from lifetime fitness! 63

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Author of the review
12:00 am EDT
Review updated:
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I'm assuming this is the normal way of submitting a complaint about a "Scam", and apologize if I'm doing so incorrectly.

My situation involves "Lifetime Fitness", - an "upscale", overpriced fitness facility chain with has locations throughout the United States.

Initially, (months ago), I reluctantly activated my membership in Austin, Texas. I use the word "reluctantly" because of the fact that a co-worker of mine, who was an active member and had recommended the club, was paying an overall lesser monthly fee that what I was quoted at the time of sign up. Guessing that he had signed up on some sort of "special", as many of the salesmen often call it, inquired about my new membership anyway.

During my initial conversation with the Lifetime salesman, I specifically asked about using more than one location, - primarily San Antonio and Austin. He informed me that there would be an additional monthly fee, but it would be possible. I elected not to has a "muti-location" account, because the "basic" monthly package's monthly fee would be in excess of $50. (!) (The higher monthly rates were justified by indoor water slides, overpriced sandwich shops, etc. - None of which I had a use for.) I also inquired about a couple of different scenarios. One of the scenarios would be the situation were if I relocated my residence to San Antonio. If I use the SA location, and the SA location alone, would my monthly rates increase? The salesman stated that they would not.

Fast forward to this month: After inquiring to not only their SA location, but Lifetime's Austin location as well, they have firmly stared that my monthly fees would increase, for USING SAN ANTONIO ONLY, not Austin. I've been to the SA gym, and it's the exact, same lay out. - Explain the rationale. I even suggested that I add a member to my membership, But they required more "processing fess" (money upfront) and over $100 per month!

Needless to say, I abruptly canceled my membership. I will contact all of my associates, -personal and professional, and urge them to do they same. I will also inform anyone who inquires, as I am often approached, to STAY AWAY FROM LIFETIME FITNESS.

63 comments
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TECHENGINE
, US
Mar 11, 2010 5:53 pm EST

Definitely a greedy company! I worked for them briefly and now it seems they are trying to make me wait for my final pay. All of a sudden, no one answers my emails or phone calls. I assure you that this is a game they don't want to play with me!

AW

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MICHAEL STADNICK
, US
Jan 29, 2010 1:45 pm EST

It will all catch up with LIFETIME FITNESS. I think it is already, I have had two mailers "$0 to join". They don't care how it is ran! It is the numbers!

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nlynn
, US
Oct 20, 2009 11:07 am EDT

I am also upset with Lifetime! It is a scam. First I went in to question a bill. They automatically increase the bill without notice. Like they aren't expensive enough already. I told them this is ridiculous and I wanted to cancel. I was told there was a 30 day written notice I had to give. Unbelieveable. I wanted to talk to a manager and of course they are never available. The customer service there is terrible. They keep charging my account and I don't go there anymore! I keep calling and they put me on hold. They are avoiding me. This company needs to get sued.

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eemo28
Grandview, US
Oct 06, 2009 10:27 am EDT

To hyen_ass@yahoo:

The statement you make in saying, "By the way, one of the trainers, I still haven't been able to figure out whether it's a dude or a lady..nasty!" Although I TOTALLY agree with your dissatification with LTF 510%, I am not sure why not being able to distinguish between genders is necessary nasty.

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semccar12
Madison, US
Sep 04, 2009 1:30 pm EDT

i had the exact same problem. they are a bunch of crooks. and of course they wont let you set up a cancelation in advance. bunch of crooked ###. go to golds instead. maybe L|A.

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Ken F
Collierville, US
Jun 25, 2009 2:05 pm EDT

The LTF center just opened up a brand new facility in my hometown of Collierville Tn. So far, things are really great! I realize that since it just opened, there's a lot of focus on customer service, etc.. but I am confident they will keep up with everything needed. The facility is the nicest I have ever seen. I am paying $98 for my wife and I which isn't bad at all. I was paying $4 less than that at our former gym which was 1/2 the size and not near as nice.

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preppyboyofIL
Orland Park, US
Feb 26, 2009 10:11 am EST

I was a member of Lifetime years ago and finally got disgusted with the outragous cost and the continual crowds at the Orland Park, IL location. I constantly felt like I was waiting for rides at Disneyland thanks to lines forming for all the weight lifting machines on a continual basis especially after New Years as all the New Years resolution idiots would join. I tried going there at all different times of the day and it was continually jammed, so that was my primary reason for dropping my membership.

I also agree that staff there was really rude as well as other members, but that just more or less goes with the territory when dealing with Orland Park (Rude people), so I didn't think to much of it. After being a member there for over 2 years and dealing with continual crowds, rude employees, kids continually crapping in the indoor pool, kids peeing in the hot tubs, and guys making messes in the showers and urinating on the floors in there making the showers smell like a sewer pipe, I finally had enough and dropped out. Lifetime did charge me a drop out fee though which I thought was lousy, but I'm at La Fitness now and never been happier!

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hyena65
Aurora, US
Feb 08, 2009 11:09 am EST

I am at the Lifetime fitness here in Warrenville. I've been a member for about 8 years. It's a joke. It's gotten really bad this year since they removed their initiation fees. Not sure what's worse--the whirlpool contaminated with children's poo, the equipment that never gets fixed--this is unacceptable at a gym this size, the kids running around all over the gym and basketball courts (it's romper room all over this stupid gym), the cluelessness of the staff, cramped locker rooms, ...
By the way, one of the trainers, I still haven't been able to figure out whether it's a dude or a lady..nasty!
It's the waste of $60 a month..

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dave
,
Nov 24, 2008 5:01 pm EST

I AGREE LIFE FITNESS SUCKS THEY DONT CARE ABOUT THERE MEMEBRS THEY CANCCLED MY MEMBERSHIP SAYING I WAS HITTING ON THERE TRAINER THAT WAS A BUNCH OF CRAP DONT GO TO THERE GYM AND TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THEY SUCK BA..S

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Jason Burdette
,
Aug 18, 2008 4:23 pm EDT

Hi

I'm Jason Burdette I left Lifetime back in Febuary of 2007, to join La Fitness her in Evanston IL. I told Lifetime I was leaving I wanted to close the membership they said no problem made my last payment, I thought I was done guess again I had to pay two more times. My advise to anyone check out Lifetimefitness stay away. I'm happy at Lafitness.

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Jay
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Mar 25, 2008 3:29 pm EDT

I just went into flagship and had a medical related "appoved" suspension on my 6 week account, Im a student. an Ashley who claimed to be a manager was absolutely absurd in her customer service and wouldn't me nor my two guests in the club. My parents who are long term members of the club are outraged and was in disbelief someone who treat a customer so low. They are canceling their memberships immediately.

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Chris
,
Jan 12, 2008 4:08 am EST

Expensive start up costs, expensive monthly charges, rude employees, snobbish clientèle make it not worth going. It cost over $200 dollars to start up but i was lucky to cancel within 30 days and got it back. There gyms are super nice with excellent facilities. If the employees were not snobbish then it would be a good gym to go to.

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Adrenalyn
,
Jan 09, 2008 5:37 am EST

Wow! Lifetime Fitness is a scam! Well whatever you do, make sure you cancel by the 5th, or the charge you for 2 whole months if you don't! I've got my own issues with them, which you can read about in comments section of the 30 day cancellation policy thread. To anyone thinking about Lifetime Fitness, do yourselves a favor and run. Run as far as you can! If you don't, be prepared to be screwed over by them. Lifetime Fitness is a rip off.

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tim orr
, US
May 09, 2017 8:32 am EDT
Replying to comment of Adrenalyn

The club Is mostly all gays, they have kicked out people for defending themselves from bad behavior by others, from what I've seen like the prices yes people are paying different prices and that's insane, the club Isn't good anymore, I seen club open and now its mostly big queer guys in most of all there clubs

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Bill Barilko
, US
Sep 19, 2018 11:37 am EDT
Replying to comment of Adrenalyn

Yep... and they charge you to make changes to your membership. I had a family membership and my boy turned 12, so I had to add a membership for him on top of my family membership... so I was increasing my monthly membership from $135 to $170. At age 12, kids no longer qualify on the family membership. They charged me a $10 service charge to change my membership, which was spending more money per month. I have since cancelled our membership, but not without push back and two months of fees from the date I cancelled. I image that it's easier and cheaper to leave a cult.

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Joyce
,
Dec 04, 2007 4:10 pm EST

I totally agree with you. When Lifetime Fitness acquired Northwest Athetic Club here in Minnesota, LTF pretty much monopolized the fitness center business here. They increased the membership prices and have this crazy schemes when it comes to membership types (fitness, sports, advantage, etc). It created confusions as to what centers you can go.

However, the only options left for Minnesotans are pretty much the YMCA and Bally's. So that sucks!
I wish there will be other fitness center options for us like the Golds