Menu
Bally Total Fitness
Bally Total Fitness Customer Service Phone, Email, Contacts

Bally Total Fitness
reviews & complaints

ballytotalfitness.com
ballytotalfitness.com

Learn how the rating is calculated

3.9 75 Reviews

Bally Total Fitness Complaints Summary

54 Resolved
21 Unresolved
Our verdict: You can expect a very good level of service from Bally Total Fitness. To navigate their system effectively, thoroughly understand their service scope. Check online forums and review sites for others' experiences. When contacting customer service, clear and concise communication can help resolve your issues faster.
Verified
The authenticity of the customer service contact information for Bally Total Fitness has been meticulously verified by representatives from ComplaintsBoard using our proprietary verification system.
Get notifications about new complaints and reviews of Bally Total Fitness. We promise not to send you any unrelated messages.
Share
Claim Your Business
Take control of your profile: address complaints and engage with reviews
Write a review File a complaint

Bally Total Fitness reviews & complaints 75

Sort by:

Newest Bally Total Fitness reviews & complaints

ComplaintsBoard
J
6:39 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Bally Total Fitness Owing money

I am writing this due to the fact I keep getting phone calls from a Litagation place saying I am being sued by Bally's for 1079.00 for a gym membership from 2012. First I paid monthly on my account.Secondly they just up and closed. They never alerted anyone via a letter in the mail or anything. We went there one day and it was gone. So how can you owe money to anyone when the business up and closed. At the point no one should owe anything. If anything was owed they never sent a letter never said my account was in collections. The lady said LA Fitness took them over. How would anyone know that? How can you cancel a membership when there is no gym to cancel it at. This is ridiculous that 10 yrs later I am just hearing about this.

Desired outcome: Want the money owed resolved

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
M
11:44 am EDT

Bally Total Fitness Service and harassment

To who this may concern,

My name is Megan Wilson (Hewitt). Ive been receiving calls regarding my account from 2008. When I was a member for this gym I paid normally. Then got married and gave the Marbach location my deployment papers because I was moving to Alaska where there is not one Bally's. Ive been dealing with these people for years calling about me owing money to them. Which in fact I do not due to deploying with my former husband. Its now been 11 years ago and im still getting harassed by people about this. I've told them a million times I DO NOT this company anything and they still keep calling. I've asked them to stop and wont. Next step will be a lawsuit for harassment.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
C
4:00 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Bally Total Fitness National lifetime membership

Unable to be found at either La fitness or 24 hour fitness. What is my recourse ? What can I do to get my membership transferred over.

Name: Carol Klein.
Hollywood II

Member no. [protected]. The missing no. Is either a 5, 3 or 6.
Enrollment date is 121578
The card has a bar code

I thought that there was a law that required health club memberships to be taken over by the acquiring company. Why would neither of the acquiring clubs have a record of me. I am so glad I did this checking from the comfort of my own home, as I would be very cranky if Imhad gone to the clubs in person .

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review

Is Bally Total Fitness legit?

Our verdict: Bally Total Fitness has achieved a rare feat of perfection in legitimacy, as per the rigorous analysis conducted by Complaints Board. This achievement underscores Bally Total Fitness's position as a benchmark of trust and quality within its industry. Users and clients of Bally Total Fitness can engage with its offerings, confident in the knowledge that they are dealing with a top-tier, fully legitimized company.

Bally Total Fitness earns 100% level of Trustworthiness

Perfect Trust Endorsement: Bally Total Fitness achives 100% ligitmacy per Complaints Board. Highly recommended, yet always stay vigilant.

We found clear and detailed contact information for Bally Total Fitness. The company provides a physical address, phone number, and 2 emails, as well as 2 social media accounts. This demonstrates a commitment to customer service and transparency, which is a positive sign for building trust with customers.

By resolving 72% of 75 negative reviews, Bally Total Fitness is demonstrating its dedication to customer satisfaction and effectively addressing customer issues. While there may still be some practical problems that need to be addressed, such as long wait times or unhelpful responses.

The age of Bally Total Fitness's domain suggests that they have had sufficient time to establish a reputation as a reliable source of information and services. This can provide reassurance to potential customers seeking quality products or services.

Ballytotalfitness.com has a valid SSL certificate, which indicates that the website is secure and trustworthy. Look for the padlock icon in the browser and the "https" prefix in the URL to confirm that the website is using SSL.

Ballytotalfitness.com appears to have online shopping features, it's important to know that the platform supports an extensive range of payment methods, making it convenient and easy to complete your transaction. The payment procedure on the website is also relatively simple and straightforward, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for buyers.

Ballytotalfitness.com regularly updates its policies to reflect changes in laws, regulations. These policies are easy to find and understand, and they are written in plain language that is accessible to all customers. This helps customers understand what they are agreeing to and what to expect from Bally Total Fitness.

However ComplaintsBoard has detected that:

  • No reviews for ballytotalfitness.com on popular sites. Be cautious and do additional research. Look for information about the Bally Total Fitness and be careful with personal information or transactions.
  • Ballytotalfitness.com has relatively low traffic compared to other websites, it could be due to a niche focus, but could also indicate a potential lack of traffic and popularity. The ballytotalfitness.com may offer a niche product or service that is only of interest to a smaller audience.
ComplaintsBoard
N
4:02 pm EST

Bally Total Fitness Unprofessional

I signed up for Ballys Total Fitness at Crossgates Mall in Albany New York. When I initially signed up I was told their was a gym located close to my home being Crossgates is 30 minutes from my house but when asked for the phone number so I can set up a 1:1 over there I was told the location did not have a telephone . I also signed up for 1:1 training sessions. I was passed around initially and then was put with a trainer who was not prepared nor knowledgeable with what he was doing. Then I was questioned about another trainer hitting on me and the 2 individuals started talking bad about the other trainers and told me he hits on all the girls that walk through the door it made the environment very uncomfortable to come back and work out in. I was told I have 60 days to cancel my contract and I would like to do so but when I inquired I was told that I can not do so. Its only been 2 weeks since I have signed up.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
S
6:05 pm EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Bally Total Fitness Club condition, cancellation policy

Shopping For a New Gym? My Summer 2014 BallyTotalFitness
Experience

Spending the summer in Thornton, Colorado, I had to
temporarily join another gym. For convenience, I joined BallyTotalFitness. I
originally joined Bally in 1984, in New Jersey. During the 80's and 90's Bally
WAS the place to be. I cannot speak for Bally across the country, but I
can speak for the Thornton and Westminster, Colorado clubs. The condition of
the clubs is poor. Maintenance seems non existent with a number of machines
that either do not function or function roughly. The Thornton club has the strangest
shower heads that spray the water so wide, it becomes a dance to get the water
to actually hit your body. The Westminster club has maybe two showers that
function correctly with pressure that is so low at times you question whether
you turned the water on at all. The others showers are like spinning the
wheel on Wheel of Fortune trying to find where the hot and cold water flows. The
Westminster club also has the largest men's steam room I have ever seen,
BUT it operates when it feels like it, so you may sit in there for 15 minutes
before it turns on.

On the positive side they have some very good class
instructors although when an instructor stops teaching a class, the online
schedules don't seem to be updated. Arriving at a club for a class that is no
longer there can be disconcerting.

The final straw to my dissatisfaction with Bally is there
payment policy. When canceling a membership you MUST cancel within the 10 day
deadline or else. I wrote to Bally and requested a refund for the month I was
not going to be in Colorado and they stuck to their policy, no exceptions.
Granted I was late on the cancellation and maybe I should just be kicked in the
###. It was around Labor Day weekend and I was distracted. Shame on me.

So when shopping for a new gym be sure to inspect the club,
check the machines you know you use often and make sure to check out the
showers to be sure the faucets work properly. With so many more choices
today like LA Fitness, Gold's, Planet Fitness, Life Time Fitness, Anytime
Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, Pure Fitness, there is no need to settle. In
addition, some of these gyms have temporary membership options for travelers or
those who are working in the area temporarily. If you want to skip fees all
together look up Recreation Centers. While traveling through Albuquerque, I
joined one that has numerous locations all over the city for $13 a year!

Best of luck with your fitness
goals!

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness and 18 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
18 comments
Add a comment
A
A
Alexa22
New York, US
Nov 17, 2010 8:01 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

The front desk person (morning person) was "busy" reading a paper when I came in. The mens room had no toilet paper.When I asked the manager for paper He said he would get to it later. The mens locker room is filthy with urine on the floor. all this before noon Watch your personal belongings! There was theft just last week

A
A
afshar
timber, US
Nov 01, 2009 12:03 am EDT

after sending numerous e mails to be sure to stop auto withdraw from my bank account once membership expired Bally continued to take money and refuses to refund.

O
O
Ovo
, US
Oct 04, 2009 11:22 am EDT

Bally's has leased their swimming pools to the Australian Swim Schools and reduced the times and lanes available for their members. The pools are now filled with screaming kids and urine. Because of their bankruptcy, they are doing anything possible to generate income at the expense of their membership. Members can no longer swim at their leisure and are subject to the pool lease.

M
M
Michael Boolan
Chicago, US
Oct 02, 2009 8:05 am EDT

Stay away from Bally Total Fitness. They will lie shamelessly to get you to sign a contract, then immediately peel off the friendly and helpful mask once you're in, and lie shamelessly again and again to keep you from terminating the contract under the guidelines they spelled out. This is not an isolated customer service problem, it is their business model.

S
S
Shut it Down
Signal Hill, US
Mar 29, 2009 12:24 pm EDT

Why doesn't this crap hole just shut down already? Everyone should get together and picket Bally Total F__up. There should be some sort of organized movement that pickets Bally Total Fitness on the same day in every city across the country until we make them shut down for good.

R
R
Robertsk
Abi, US
Jul 01, 2011 8:11 pm EDT

Bally continues to lay off employees. Golds gym is buying bally. They're awful to their customers and employees. Can't wait for all their dirty gyms to close. Never ever obtain a membership there.

M
M
marina
Fresno, US
Jan 20, 2009 4:53 pm EST

I have been trying since the begining of January to cancel my membership and get my money back. I have sent two letters 9 emails, and have tried for over sa week and a half to call, only to hear the lines are to busy, due to high calls, please call back and then it disconnects.

A
A
amyvennerisawhore
Signal Hill, US
Dec 17, 2008 2:17 am EST

If Bally Total Fitness will not cancel your membership, download the documents at :
www.riadhhamdiprofile.blogspot.com, www.riadhhamdiisaretard.blogspot.com
They need to be reminded that if they can aid and abed criminals like Riadh Hamdi, they should be able to cancel training sessions and memberships.

am rond andspecial
am rond andspecial
Portland, US
Nov 25, 2008 6:19 am EST

Go to www.riadhhamdiisaretard.blogspot.com. Download the documents from that blog and fax them to Bally's. I know of a couple of people whose memberships were cancelled after faxing the documents posted on that blog. Try it. Hopefully it will work.

R
R
Riadh Hamdi
,
Nov 05, 2008 11:03 pm EST

My name is Riadh Hamdi and I am a sorry ### looking for a green card. I go through all members' social security numbers, and their personal info. to find out who can help me get a green card. Find out how I do this:
www.riadhhamdiisaretard.blogspot.com

ComplaintsBoard
P
12:16 am EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Bally Total Fitness Wrong billings and wrong info on my a/c

Bally Total Fitness used to be a good brand name to me. I was one of their members when I was in junior college, and joined them again about two years ago. I signed up in the 6th Ave location, and they switched me to the 32nd street after they closed down the one on 6th Ave. I was taking a small break in January, because I knew I was going out of town, and didn't have time to go to their fitness center in New York. I called them at the end of December, and their rep told me I could continue my membership after I came back. I went to the 32nd street location again in February, and paid my monthly fee as always. In the middle of February they told me I owned them money, and I had no idea what was going on. They told me I didn't pay for January, and I told them I already did. They said the fee I paid was for January, and not for February. They said I have to pay the freeze fee if I wanted to take a break. I was trying to talk to the managers, and they were very bad attitudes. I called their phone reps again, after a long conversation, I thought the issue was resolved. I asked him for a case number, and he gave me one. But, it didn't look like the issue was solved, and I saw there was some information about me on their computer system screen, it said I went out of country... (But they wouldn't let me to read the rest of it), I told the staffs on 32nd street, I just went out of town, and not out of country. I went to a different Bally location afterward because I felt the staff attitudes on 32nd street were totally unacceptable. But after a while, their staffs on the other location were telling me I have to pay for February. I explained my situation to them again. But, they tried to force me to pay... I tried to talk to the phone rep, but it took me to the automated system. I wrote them an email with my case number, but there was no help. Lately, they sent me a bill, and said I own them 2 months membership fee. I tried to call the number on the bill and the other Bally Total Fitness numbers, but couldn't talk to a live operator. I wrote another email to them and hoping they will get back to me soon. I feel sorry for Bally Total Fitness, because they hired the wrong people! I am not surprising to see many of their locations are closed after my bad experiences.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
R
11:37 am EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Bally Total Fitness Missrepresentation, bad service

I bought 48 session with prvate trainer. This was most offal lessons. I was dong the same exersize all the time call plank. Not having a lot of experience with private trainning I went along with lyies he was telling to do what trainer told me to do. Before I know all my lessons were used up and I was in worst shape then when I started. I ask to give me money back and they refuse me. Never by private training session from Ballys. Also I have to say how dirty this plase is. I actually saw huge spider webs on the big windows upstairs. I saw writing on the dust on the rails saying clean me. I knew peopel who got terrible infactions on their skin from going to the pool. my email [protected]@hotmail.com

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness and 1 comment
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
SKOR
SKOR
Toronto, CA
Dec 23, 2012 12:01 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

You should spoken up and told your trainer you were not satisfied with your results after the first 12 sessions. The trainer could have presented a different routine, or the club could have moved your remaining sessions to another trainer.

Asking for a refund after using up all 48 sessions is a bit unreasonable.

ComplaintsBoard
I
12:52 am EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Bally Total Fitness Stole money w/ clerical error

This company erroneously started two accounts in my name back in 2009. I wrote in cancelling both accounts when they told me they had made the mistake. However, they only cancelled one. Come their sale to LA Fitness I get a letter in the mail saying my account is being transferred to LA Fitness. I haven't lived within a 100 miles of a Bally's in over two years! Of course, they have since lost my cancellation letter that listed both accounts. They charged me over $200 in one sum last year! I am a body builder and feel like this gym completely robbed me. Terrible experience.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
L
7:24 am EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Bally Total Fitness Shabby ethical practice

Background ~ My brother and I are survivors from the “Results” to “Sports Connection” to “Bally Total Fitness” rollovers from the late seventies til 2011. The latest had blown away our lifetime membership guaranteed rate which just escalated with every renewal cycle. Our membership status is “Premier Plus Bally’s Total Fitness” with all the associated benefits. This was at the location 20040 Hawthorne Blvd in Torrance.

Segue to this recent episode, first there was the weirdness that happened thirty days prior to the unspoken L.A. Fitness transition announcement. Before the LA to Bally Total Fitness came to pass, a phenomena occurred only for the second time in our experience there. On the men’s side, the shower heads disappeared leaving the pipes poking out from showers. In short order just before the announcement, some odds-and-ends heads replaced them.

Then the clock in the men’s locker room disappeared. While there may be some questionable clientele members, this on retrospect has become highly suspect.

Nine days before the announcement that Bally’s was soon to be no more, we were pulled aside on checking in to receive this magnanimous offer --- 3 year membership offer for $400. Having over one year to go before needing to consider this, we declined this gracious ramp-up offer.

And then, BAM --- thank the LORD He helped us dodge that bullet. Within December, the “change” started to manifest in the removal of products, logos, etc. Passage in did not require a “log-in” of our ID. After 2012 rang in, oops – Jacuzzi down… down… still down as of yesterday. Okaaay…

Over time, we’ve had more than our share of bunged up drains, broken tiles, equipment failures, etc., but overall they usually were eventually taken care of.

Yesterday, of the eight men’s showers, six were without soap. Only the handicapped and one other had soap for all the members coming from the locker room, steam room, sauna, pool, etc. No happy campers. Some speculated since the gym is under new ownership, the members may need bring their own soap. I asked on exiting, but the little attendant at the desk was “surprised” to hear it. Whether they took care of the problem or not is unknown.

Looks like when you review the history of Bally or L.A. Fitness, they have a running history of problem reports with Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and this site. And that’s only scratching the surface. Interesting… Stay tuned, we may be back again “as the story unfolds”.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Update by LogoSeeker
Jan 15, 2012 8:12 am EST

01/14/12 ~ Looks like BYOS (bring your own soap) is the new policy… and looks like the Jacuzzi is not coming back anytime soon. With a year (plus) to go, not looking good -- this place is slipping from bad to worse. They obviously are not interested in signing up any new folk. (Strike back to one star).

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
E
9:42 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Replied
Bally Total Fitness has left an official reply on this complaint.

Bally Total Fitness Harrassment

I had a very unpleasant experience at Bally Total Fitness in Downey California. One of the trainers tried having a conversation with me while I was working out, after being ignored by me on several occasions he rudely interrupted me while I was in the middle of a set. He began demanding me to rack the weights in the correct place, because I apparently racked a 35lbs in the wrong place. Now mind you I'm a female, and in reality how much weight can a female really use. So I politely told the trainer that I was still going to use that 35 pound plate, but he had already placed it in the correct place. So I told the trainer that I would appreciate it if next time he can wait until I was finish with my set before he approaching me. After that he kept on staring at me and I felt extremely uncomfortable.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.

Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
M
10:45 am EDT

Bally Total Fitness Owes me money

I will never recommend or use Bally's Total Fitness again. On August of 2009 I signed up online to Bally's on a 30 day month to month no contract for $30 a month. I had a toddler and figured I could take the baby and work out however I found out Bally's child care schedule didn't fit my schedule and wasn't always available. Then I cancelled after 3 months via phone and email. Bally's continued to deduct/draft $30 for over a year out of my account after my cancellation and now I am owed a little over $400 dollars and they refuse to refund me. Why should I pay for a service I didn't use? All because they are saying I didn't put a cancellation in writing. If and when you sign up via email it never states that. I have written several letter to the Refunds Dept & Corporate Office and still no response. I would never recommend Bally's to anyone or do business with them again.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
K
8:10 pm EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Replied
Bally Total Fitness has left an official reply on this complaint.

Bally Total Fitness Cancellation of membership

This is a complain concerning cancellation of Ballys total fitness gym membership back in 2008. i was a member of ballys by my work in new york. i was unfortunately let go and couldnt keep the membership anymore as i live in CT and the gym is in NY and i was in a plan that i couldnt use my membership elsewhere. there was also no ballys by me and I WAS UNEMPLOYED. i sent bally's a written notice of cancellation as soon as i was let go from my home address. i explained the situation. i never heard from them again or this membership until i got a letter from a collection agency stating i owe them money. turns out they received my cancelation notice and needed more info but sent it to my WORK address not my HOME address. naturally, i never received it as i dont work there anymore. the letter went back to them as undeliverable. instead of contacting me on my home address or my phone, they just decided to let 2-3yrs pass and give my account to a collection agency. Now. i have spent soo many times on the phone with them and the CA to finally cancel this membership that should have been cancelled 2yrs ago and is still getting nowhere. please help me. please suggest ways on how i can finally clear this issue. this is also hurting my credit and finances. please send me any information that can help me finally get this issue resolved and i also want to file complaint against bally. thank you! [protected]@yahoo.com

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness and 1 comment
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
1 comment
Add a comment
V
V
VickyJoJo
, US
Apr 12, 2011 9:26 pm EDT

First and foremost, contact the main credit bureaus right now to put an explanation on your credit report. It is a short term solution but may help because it offers anyone looking at your credit report your side of the story. Secondly, pull together any written documentation you have (a copy of the original letter, etc) - find out who the president of Bally's is and bug the hell out of him/her. The only time I have ever received satisfaction after dealing with a mess similar is when I have gone straight to the top. Good luck

ComplaintsBoard
S
11:42 am EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Bally Total Fitness Joke of a gym

This gym is horrible and only keeps getting worse. The staff here is probably at its worse since I started my membership years ago. The equipment is always defective. If you are a female you must bring in your free weights because they keep everything locked up and only have 10lbs available if you have them hold your id when you are using them. Forget trying to use kettlebells or exercise ball because they are only available if you sign up with a trainer.
Still waiting to find out results to their environmental test they were doing last week. I'm sure the gym is invested with mold from all the leaks through out the gym being captured by buckets.
Air conditioning in exercise room is non existent so exercise at your own risk.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
R
4:29 pm EST

Bally Total Fitness Lied and scammed me

I went to the Culver City location on Wednesday night, January 05, 2011 and sales associate Ana assisted me. She stated that the computer system was down and that she could not sign me up. I agreed to a three year pre-paid contract for $559 and she took my personal information and took my credit card. She swiped my card twice and stated that it was required because one copy goes to the main office. She stated that she was going to give me a call once the computer system is up so she could input the information in the system and finalize the transaction. I was not given anything other than a voided sales slip number 5041191. She assured me that I was not going to be charged prior to the finalization.

However, this morning when I checked my credit card transactions, a $559 charge was posted on Thursday, January 06, 2011. I went to the Culver City location after work around 530 PM and the General Manager - I believe it was Eric Duggert, assisted me since Ana was on lunch break according to him. I told him that I was canceling my membership and he. stated that cancellation has to be made through email and gave me this email address as well as my account number. The General Manager did not offer any explanation as to why the transaction was finalized without my knowledge. The GM was unwilling to provide me with a hard copy of the supposed contract insisting that only the main office has the ability to print it, which I find utterly unbelievable. I find it ludicrous that my credit card would be charged without finalization of the agreement, without any signatures but he could not provide me with the contract. In addition, from what I gleaned in the GM's computer screen, there is a $29.95 per month fee after the three year contract which was never even discussed. I specifically asked Ana what my renewal fees would be after three years and she stated that it would be al ot cheaper like $8 a month because she had a similar contract.

I understand that there might have been an "oversight" in this particular case. However, if this was done with malice, this is unfair business practice to say the least and violates the Consumer Protection Act. I told the General Manager that since he is what he is, he should be responsible for what his employees represent.

I am expecting a prompt full refund of the charges and a satisfactory explanation of what transpired.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
S
6:38 pm EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Replied
Bally Total Fitness has left an official reply on this complaint.

Bally Total Fitness Discourtesy

On aug 23 2010 at approximately 4:30 pm I walked into ballys at rockville center with my wife and 2 children. I was hoping to work out with my wife and leave my kids at the kids club. The gentlemen at the front desk informed me that my kids would not be able to stay at the kids club because the kids club starts at 6:00 pm. I explained to the gentleman at the front desk that if they could please let me leave my kids at the kids club and I would check up on them, this is something that this gym has let me do before. The gentleman said he could not help me, I then asked to speak to the manager whos name is Brian Miller. I asked Mr. Miller if he could consider this because this is something that they let me do in the past. Mr Miller was very arrogant and discourtious, he told me that never happened at that gym, basically calling me a liar. Mr Miller told me he was the manager there since october, I told him that this courtesy was given to me last summer. Mr Miller did not care or speak to me in a respectful manner, he told me that the kids club started at 6 and he did not want kids in the gym. Mr Miller then became irate because my wife took the kids to see the pool he said "there go your kids walking around the gym thats a problem" I told him that my wife took them to see the pool and that she was a member when he stated with a very bad tone that he didnt see my wife. Ive been a member of ballys for 13 years and I never had a problem. I know that ballys has its rules and regulations but the way Mr Brian Miller was very unprofessional. He never even bothered to ask me for my name. I feel that a gym that welcomes kids to there gym should be a little more considerate and thoughtful on the way they handle kids and the parents that bring them. Mr Brian Miller left a sour taste in my mouth and I am honestly considering canceling my wife and my membership and going somewhere else where I may be treated with more courtesy and professionalism

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
P
1:16 pm EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Replied
Bally Total Fitness has left an official reply on this complaint.

Bally Total Fitness Scam

I'm wondering if I could find someone in the US to advocate for consumer justice. I walked in a Bally Total Fitness club in Jersey City, New Jersey, back in February 2009. The Management team asked for my Driver's license + my Social Security Card + Credit Card. Without paying attention on the foot print notes, I've signed a paper work that ties me up with Bally for 3 years.

Later on, I found out that I was scammed by Bally company. To cancel the contract, Bally is asking me to pay the balance of 3 years even though I'm not going to the club. If they check the punches, they will the handful times I've been at the Gym club. It won't be 12 times since I started in February 2009.

I've been paying every month, no matter what, $42.78.

I just don't understand how such scam and abuse can be legal in the US.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness and 3 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer's satisfaction.

Hide full review
3 comments
Add a comment
I
I
Izzy
, US
Jun 30, 2010 2:01 pm EDT

After years of warning my friends of Bally's potential scams, I too got caught! Recently, I renewed my membership for only three months because I was relocating outside of the country. I spoke with Robin at the Ballys in Oxford Valley, PA., she explain that for the three months I will be charged $78.00. What she failed to explain was that I was also going to be charged an additional $25.00 for the card/processing fee. I was not aware of this additional charge until I saw my credit card account online. When I called three days after the transaction I spoke with the manager, Victor, which stated I will need to visit the following week when Robin and him will both be at the office. When I spoke with Robin and Victor, it was a complete waste of my time. The manager Victor listen to my concern but said that there was nothing he could do because it was my word against his employee. And, that it was too late to cancel the contract (this is why he wanted me to visit the office three days after signing the contract). When I spoke with Robin, she claimed that she explained everything to me. I explained to her that she did not. In conclusion, I left the office very dissapointed because I paid $100 for a three month membership, when I could have paid my $190 yearly renewal fee for 12 months. And although there isn't a Ballys where I will soon be living, I still will be visiting the U.S. frequently enough to use any other Ballys in the country. I was going to complain to the main office about these two individuals, however, my life is too hectic because of my relocation, and sometimes you have to pick and choose your battles. Leason learned, " even when you know enough not to be scammed, someone will always get you". So be aware of BALLY TOTAL FITNESS.

J
J
jerry g g
Dunedin, US
Jun 08, 2011 2:49 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

i had the same experience in 2006. i am as frustrated as you are at the lack of recourse and agencies willing to help. even the ftc is of no assistance. bally's takes full advantage of our helplessness. perhaps there's a law firm willing to start a class action law suit.

L
L
lululi
Takoma Park, US
Sep 16, 2010 1:33 pm EDT

Bally is only interested in your money and trick you when you sign for the "contract" in order to charge you a 3 year period - so even when you do not use their gym you still have to pay even after repeated letters, mails and calls...they do not care what proof you bring, all they care is the easy money they make by stealing from you..it is so sad and the worst is that there is no way to stop this type of scams...

ComplaintsBoard
W
12:38 pm EDT

Bally Total Fitness Harassment

I got my membership on 8/14/2008 (account # [protected]).The manger told you can cancel your membership at the first 10 days, My doctor advice me not to do that, because I have heart failure according to Fairfax hospital 2004 and Arlington hospital 2007, Icancel my membership three days later with the manger of Ballys landmark VA (8/17/2008) .I call the main office and I E-mail them more than three times, And I dispute the first payment with Bank of America, Because I never attend Ballys even one time and Inever used their facilityes, But they still harassing me on the phone over hundred times They asking me to pay $ 2400 for what Idonot know why, They missup my credit, , one collection in CA, call me names on the phone, please I need your help can you correct that, or you can take me to the court in Fairfax, please stop harrasing me.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
T
5:50 am EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Bally Total Fitness The corrupted wendy a. Tilley

I'm back and hopefully for the last time to warn everyone about all the dark secrets that hides within corporate Texas. Please note that corruption only resides within certain individuals and not everyone is involved.

Please let me begin by presenting you the basic package of what a regular sales employee (that's me) endures. Your mandatory training throughout your employment will be provided by a lunatic known as Wendy A. Tilley along with a few sales managers that specializes in thuganomics and old school street hustling.

What is it we are supposed to be hustling? The answer is membership sales or often referred to by employees as units. How we were trained or taught to achieve these units is what made me quit my job.

I would require dozens of red bulls laced with crack in order to stay up all night to list every forbidden detail about their sales pitch painfully embedded in my memory banks but a brief summary will suffice.

Know that while you're branding Bally's uniform, every single visitor entering our fitness facility to inquire about pricing or simply trying to utilize a free online guest pass is supposed to leave with a membership contract. No excuses. Period.

It's your job to sell them a gym membership no matter what the circumstances are. If anyone...ANYONE leaves without a membership, you screwed up. If they leave empty handed, that means you couldn't present properly, deliver properly or close properly. If you were conducting your job appropriately, people will never decline our memberships. So when anyone rejects our offers, prices, services and equipment, there is only one person to blame. YOU. IT IS ALWAYS YOUR FAULT IF ANYONE WALKS OUT WITHOUT A CONTRACT. Brilliant.

Every day while I was employed was like an episode of The Apprentice with Donald Trump in the boardroom. Treachery, backstabbing, deceit, disloyalty and war is frequently exhibited for all to despair.

One name easily comes to mind whenever I mentioned those words above. The infamous WENDY A. TILLEY. She's actually Bonnie and Clyde goes by Devin Verdon. Devin is another chapter which I'm debating to post or not.

The climax started when my sales manager Ryan Colin was suspended over the weekend for forging signatures on contracts. Very illegal and subject for arrest if anyone didn't know. I kindly volunteered to fill in on my day off that Saturday. Big Mistake.

That afternoon, I had the pleasure of being under surveillance by a woman who was in fact a mystery secret shopper. These customers are actually visiting to rate their overall experience back to corporate based on HOW we deliver our services. PLEASE keep in mind that how we deliver our services is HOW we were trained by corporate!

Inquiring about our memberships, I firmly presented the System 30 plan which was the best overall package that included supplements for dieting and 4 personal training sessions. Of course this hefty membership comes with a hefty price.

She loved the plan but hesitated on the price and inquired if there were anything cheaper. I replied, "No, not for what your specifically looking for. If I dropped the price to a lower value membership at a lower monthly rate, you'll indeed pay a cheaper monthly due but lose all your privileges such as your supplements and personal training sessions."

I applied logic atop of reason and firmly stood my ground and finally convinced her that what I presented IS the best choice. After she joined, I felt relieved knowing that the past 45 minutes I spent with this lady was not in vain. The commission check for what I just sold is $98.00 so I guess forfeiting my Saturday day off was not completely in vain.

After their secret shop visit, they're instructed to participate in a brief customer satisfaction survey provided by Wendy A. Tilley and corporate. The purpose of the survey is to rate how much we employees learned from Wendy's class and whether or not we utilized her teachings during the undercover shop. A spy if you will.

A few of her teachings along with Devin Verdon's philosophies ultimately resulted in the same thing. To be aggressive and close the membership no matter what. I remember them saying, "Sometimes they don't know what they want. That's why you're our sales counselor. So you can present what is best for these potential members. Of course they'll show concern and reluctance towards our higher priced packages. Who wouldn't? Anybody would! But it's your job to ultimately convince them that our prices ARE affordable by breaking them down. $50 bucks a month is only like $1.66 a day!
You're telling me they can't afford that in a single day when they buy cigarettes and $5.00 Starbucks Coffee every morning!? Ridiculous! If you can't start closing these big expensive deals, your clients are simply closing you instead of you closing them. They convinced you they can only pay a certain amount instead of you convincing them that our deluxe packages are easily affordable. They won and you've lost. DO NOT DROP the prices and stay focused! You have to show them who's boss by putting your feet down. If they give you a "no", your job is to flip that around to a "yes". Be aggressive and DO NOT GIVE UP! Cause when they walk, that's saying you gave up. You didn't try hard enough and they took control of you instead of you taking control of them. You dropped the ball and we lost another potential member because you failed. Understand? BE AGGRESSIVE, GO OUT THERE AND START HUSTLING AND DON'T TAKE NO FROM ANYONE!"

Believe it or not, I actually failed that shop based on the survey because the lady reported primarily that I was too aggressive and I did not drop the price to a cheaper membership. Uuh Ooh. It appears that Wendy Tilley and Devin Verdon's advices to be tough and aggressive throughout their lectures have backfired. Gee, who would've imagined?

Here comes one of the best parts. Shortly after, Wendy approached this mystery shopper and tossed me right under the bus. Ready? She expressed, "We are so deeply sorry for your horrible experience. Are you absolutely certain this sales counselor never bothered showing you our many other convenient and cheaper membership options? He ne..ne..never bothered dropping the price to a more affordable membership plan for you? OH. MY. GOD. How dare he?! Please believe me when I say this, that is NOT how we train our employees. Where does he get these ideas from? I am soooo speechless. Ma'am, on behalf of Bally Total Fitness, we like to extend our most sincere apologies and please rest assured, we will discipline this employee to the fullest extent. Here, in the meantime, please accept this free membership on the house as a token of our gratitude and appreciation for your honesty. We could not be a better and stronger company without your honest input. Thank you so much for your cooperation and once again, forgive us for any inconveniences that our employee has caused. He does NOT represent the rest of us and it just breaks my heart knowing that the people we trust to present our memberships in our uniforms could do something so inappropriate. We will get to the bottom of this incident immediately without further delay. Okay now, give me a hug. It was a great pleasure meeting you. Have a great life and God Bless. Buh bye."

Hey Wendy, you honestly didn't think I knew about that?

So let's realize the enormity of the situation here. They force feed you with their asinine garbage on how to sell properly. It doesn't work and easily backfires and when the bullet riccochetes back, they grab you as a bullet proof vest while plunging a kitchen knife deeply in between your shoulder blades while conveniently tossing you under the bus.

In a way, they're rather similar to the Italian mafia. A "job" is ordered to be fulfilled according to their specifications and when something goes wrong they'll clip you off so no traces could lead back to them.

Throughout this whole ordeal, I was written up twice within that same week and Wendy even went out of her way to make a special request to the finance dept. that I do not get paid for this shop. FYI. It's company policy to pay employees even if the deal sold was a secret shop. That $98.00 that I thought I earned during that excruciating 45 minute timeframe was denied to me by special requests of Wendy A. Tilley. Wow. Conspiring and breaking own company rules to screw someone. Not only is she evil, she's a thief as well.

You thought the worse was over? It just barely begun. We had another class after that incident the following week and Wendy decided to make me the ultimate sacrificial example. Throughout the entire class filled with 35 employees, she would casually call me out every five minutes or so like some ###ed kid back in the fourth grade who apparently forgotton his homework and fell asleep in class. She would bombard and ambush me with pop quiz questions involving principles and fundamentals of Bally's Total Fitness expecting me to bark upon command like some pet lapdog whenever she pleased in front of everyone for her personal amusement.

Here's a brief example. What does retention mean? What does attrition mean? How do you calculate the resting heart rate? Do you know this? Did you know that? What's two plus two? Do you know how to spell your name? Etc..well, you get the idea. She'll viciously embarass and deliberately humuliate you like a slave. If you don't play along or have a problem with how she's conducting her class, you can freely leave or she'll simply kick you out. Here's the thing, you need to finish her class in order to retain you employment so tolerating her lunacy was a common requirement.

She made a complete fool out of me where the instant she mentioned my name, people would giggle. Even when she wasn't calling me out and someone else was responding with an answer to whatever was being discussed, she'll come up to me in front of everyone and ask, "Did you know that? Are you sure? Really? OKAAAY."

It was one of her finest masterpiece setups or traps if you will. Here's the thing. If you don't know the answer to her pop quiz question, you'll instantly look stupid in front of everyone but if you know every single answer she throws at you, you will just eventually look like her pet dog. It will now look like there's a dog collar around your neck attached to the leash she has in her hand.

So you have the convenient option of looking stupid now by not knowing how to respond to her ambush or slowly crash and burn the other way and appear just as foolish but in a entirely different manner all together eventually later on. It makes no utter difference whether you know the answer or not. Due to her hidden alterior motive, you'll going to burn regardless. Remember the painful Katie Couric and Sarah Palin interview? Imagine fours hours of that.

After Wendy disrespects you throughout class by treating you like a slave, she'll cleverly try to avoid looking like a jerk by pulling this manuever right before she dismisses everyone. She'll playfully ask using a innocent tone, "Who did I pick on today? Hmm? Who did I pick on today? Okay, I was "playing" with him because we're very good friends and I like him. Who else? Who else did I pick on today? Who else?"

Wendy, you're so clever. Gee, it appears I may have learned something from you after all. But I bet you wished I hadn't picked this up, eh? Hope you don't mind me picking on you this time.

Next time you screw..excuse me. Next time you "pick" on someone, better make sure they're not capable of picking back.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Update by The Imperial Monarch
Oct 05, 2020 10:06 pm EDT

interesting. complaint here states resolved when nobody notified me of anything regarding this matter. i suspect decoys contacted administration and lied on my behalf. absolutely nothing was resolved and these folks are still at large pulling bigger scams. this wendy nut here is the equivalent of ellen degeneres and the toxic environment she created is eternal. apparently, she's so sneaky she fooled administration thinking this issue here has been resolved. and to give everyone a good idea of who she is, i've took the pleasure of attaching new photos here. she's doing some namaste yoga now but i still recognize crazy when i see it lol. behold.

View 0 more photos
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
T
5:00 am EDT

Bally Total Fitness Stay away

Hello to EVERYONE that have had a Bally's Total fitness problem related to consumer fraud and deceptive business practices. I am in the process of collecting as much information on consumers that have been mislead and abused by those thieves and fraudulent company, ruining consumers credit reports, using tricks and fraudulent promises to make you responsible for a fitness contract you never agreed to. They were reporting me negatively to the credit bureaus for 7 years affecting my credit score and history terribly since I was 18 years old and now they resold the fake debt to an other collection agency after it fell off of my credit report, trying to ruin my credit again.

Please write me to angelusms3 AT yahoo.com if you guys are interested in taking part of this law suit with a brief story about your experience with Bally's (If you don't have the time for right now at least copy and paste it from your consumer complaint website enclosing your contact information such as telephone # and or email address so I can contact you as soon as I have everything ready) This is so I can put a case file together and take it to a few different attorneys I know since I am gonna at least be seeking financial compensation for all the damaged they have done and emotional stress caused. If you are in CA is even better since that's my state. The more people willing to join the bigger, powerful and credible the case will be. I have so much free time right now and I can do this for you! I am just really upset at this company because they also target young adults and teenagers...The vulnerable consumers with no experience and I was one of them.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
T
2:49 am EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Bally Total Fitness Crazy Wendy A. Tilley

The caped crusader exposing corruption in Bally Texas is back. My previous complaint only limited to shady figures positioned in management at certain clubs in Houston. Unfortunately, unethical behavior and illegal practices also lurks in human resource and corporate as well!

Let me first provide you readers a friendly reminder. What you are about to witness is corruption and scandal at its core. As always, please discontinue if you are easily offended by corruption in corporate. The true evil I'm about to expose that operates in Bally Texas will leave you in utter disbelief. Why? The answer is simple. I was the victim of this evil back in Jan of 2008 and I'm STILL in disbelief even now in 2010! So if I'm still reluctant to believe the events that occurred and I'M the actual person who got screwed, it makes sense you'll doubt what I'm about to spill out. Ready?

This character's name is WENDY A. TILLEY and she used to be staffed rather highly in corporate Texas. She's about 4 1/2 feet tall and looks like a dead ringer for Disney's Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. Not the Johnny Depp version but the original cartoon from 1951 voiced by Ed Wynn. More noticeably, she suffers from a bad wheezing condition when she laughs.

What she did was train new employees with her "principles and fundamentals" of Bally Total Fitness in Sugar Land Texas. God only knows where she is now and godspeed to the employees putting up with her. Before I relate my incident a few years ago, I must acknowledge that Wendy is borderline crazy.

If you're a sales counselor in one of her classes being trained, you better hope she doesn't catch you folding your arms while she's lecturing. Huh? What? Why?

Wendy sees that as a sign of extreme disrespect and gets the message that you're either bored or getting impatient with her teachings. When you fold your arms in class, you're basically telling her that you have more important things to do and you simply don't want to be there. So what she does is help you along with your wish. She kicks you out of her class and tells you to run a few laps around the building if you wish to return. Believe me, I've seen this happen a few times. And keep in mind employees must attend and finish her class if they want to retain their jobs. In other words, tolerating her insanity is a requirement.

Amazing, isn't it? To see something so normal as a person folding theirs arms and twist that around like it's something inappropriate or disrespectful. Really?

Gee, last time I checked and properly investigated, people fold their arms for a number of common reasons. For instance, employees could simply be thinking or contemplating about topics being discussed or perhaps the room is too cold. Hell, sometimes I do that just because it feels more comfortable. So of all the infinite possibilities and variations as to why people fold their arms, Wendy identifies that as something completely rude, vulgar, combative and inappropriate.
One might even get the idea she sees it that way because she IS that way herself. Rude and combative.

This kind of reminds me of an incident I saw back in high school when students were walking down hallways getting to their next class. A self proclaimed big campus senior jock who thought he was the alpha male of the century caught a little squirt of a freshman making eye contact as they crossed paths down the hall.

The big guy stopped dead in his tracks and basically asked, "What you staring at!? We got a problem!? Man, I better not catch you making eye contact with me again or I'm going to mess you up! When you look me directly in the eye, that's telling me you trying to disrespect and challenge me. I'm big dawg here, you understand!? This is my cell block, my hallway and my campus. Don't you EVAH let me catch you looking me in the eye!" Brilliant.

Odd, don't you think? Of all the logical reasons why anyone would look at another person, this half mental [censored] thinks he's being challenged into a fight. Perhaps the freshman was trying to ask for directions to the nearest bathroom. Maybe trying to say hello? And here is the most common reason of all. Perhaps eye contact was innocently made by both parties simply because they were walking pass one another. Of all the infinite reason why some new freshman made eye contact, the crazy senior identified that as something disrespectful and actually had the nerve to act upon it. Hey Wendy, remind you of anyone?

So far I only described how crazy she was but not the evil part. Tell you what, I'll indulge readers on part two later on if anyone's interested. Giving you guys the opportunity to stop reading because the rest WILL piss you off.

Read full review of Bally Total Fitness
Update by The Imperial Monarch
Oct 05, 2020 10:03 pm EDT

Interesting. complaint here states resolved when nobody notified me of anything regarding this matter. I suspect decoys contacted administration and lied on my behalf. absolutely nothing was resolved and these folks are still at large pulling bigger scams. this wendy nut here is the equivalent of ellen degeneres and the toxic environment she created is eternal. apparently, she's so sneaky she fooled administration thinking this issue here has been resolved. and to give everyone a good idea of who she is, i've took the pleasure of attaching new photos here. she's doing some namaste yoga now but I still recognize crazy when I see it lol. behold.

View 0 more photos
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
Trust badge
Collect Your Trust Badge
Be recognized for outstanding customer service

Contact Bally Total Fitness customer service

Phone number

+1 (855) 666-7397

Website

ballytotalfitness.com

Your Voice Matters: Our Commitment to Genuine Reviews

Empowering Real Experiences

At ComplaintsBoard, we believe in the power of true customer stories. Our platform is a space for authentic voices, where experiences, both good and bad, are shared openly and honestly.

Dedicated to Authenticity

ComplaintsBoard is vigilant in our fight against false reviews. Our team employs robust verification methods to ensure every review reflects a real customer experience, upholding the integrity of our platform.

Encouraging Detailed Feedback

ComplaintsBoard values reviews that come with real evidence. Whether it's a photo, a detailed account, or additional documentation, such substantiation adds credibility to your story, helping others make better-informed decisions.

Balanced and Constructive Conversations

We're more than just a complaints board; we're a community for balanced dialogue. ComplaintsBoard encourages reviews that not only highlight issues but also acknowledge positive aspects, fostering a fair and comprehensive understanding.

Free and Fair Platform

ComplaintsBoard's commitment to maintaining a free and unbiased platform is unwavering. Every review is treated equally, ensuring that your voice is heard and respected, regardless of the nature of your experience.

Is ComplaintsBoard.com associated with Bally Total Fitness?

ComplaintsBoard.com is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Bally Total Fitness Customer Service. Initial Bally Total Fitness complaints should be directed to their team directly. You can find contact details for Bally Total Fitness above.

ComplaintsBoard.com is an independent complaint resolution platform that has been successfully voicing consumer concerns since 2004. We are doing work that matters - connecting customers with businesses around the world and help them resolve issues and be heard.

Use this comments board to leave complaints and reviews about Bally Total Fitness. Discuss the issues you have had with Bally Total Fitness and work with their customer service team to find a resolution.