World Health Calgary review: Misleading won't stop charges 12

World Health in Midnapore is also dishonest. They lie, mislead clients and are fraudulent. I drive a power wheelchair (I have MS) and the club is not accessible compliant to the city of Calgary guidelines, I agreed to a 2 month membership but can't access the club or the washrooms. I can't use the showers and their equipment is just ok (not great). They have hundreds of complaints and don't know how the company stays in business.

An update on my situation with North Hill World Health.

Yesterday I was finally able to buy groceries for the first time in 6 WEEKS because of their scam. Hope you guys are being well fed with my hard earned money by the way.

The general manager Trevor, decided that he would go an harass the managers at MY WORKPLACE a few days after I posted the first review on Yelp.
Clearly he like it so much that he wants another one from me :)

I was told by THREE managers that they were all contacted by Trevor numerous times regarding my review. I was told that there were several phone calls to my work, at least one e-mail, and two of managers were cornered in person by him. He complained that I shouldn't be able to voice an honest (aka. a "bad") review because we both worked in the same mall, and that there should be a policy against that. (Even though he treated me like garbage, of course.)

WHO DOES THAT?!

This "general manager" is unprofessional, rude, CRAZY, and needs to be FIRED!

A WARNING to all of those currently a member of, or thinking of joining World Health gym:

World Health at North Hill makes their money by scamming young adults (a.k.a. waitresses who are paid less than minimum wage) and tricking/pressuring them into misleading contracts that they do not fully explain.

I am an 18-year-old waitress and I have never signed a gym contract in my life, which is something I emphasized prior to signing up. Without a trace of compassion, empathy, or conscience for what they were doing. I was faced with extreme pressure to sign a 12 month contract. Worst mistake I have ever made.

I asked before and during my training, four separate times (each different staff members) if:
1. There were any costs I did not know about.
2. If I would have to pay a large sum of money if I finished all of my training sessions, but had to leave before the year was up.
3. If I had to pay a large sum of money if I did not finish my training sessions at all.

The answers to the following questions were NO, every single time. The staff had evaded my questions for obvious reasons; had they been truthful or at least clear and concise with their answers, I would have never put myself in this situation.
I made it extremely clear before I officially signed up for training, that I could not afford more than what I was paying per month (a ridiculous $130.) I asked once again, that if I left early but finished my set amount of training sessions, would I be charged when I cancelled my contract? My personal trainer told me NO, so I felt assured and agreed to begin training.

I am now faced with a very sudden and unexpected move back to Ontario, and I tried to cancel my contract; thus I discovered the absurd $600 they are charging me before I am allowed to cancel.

I tried to discuss this matter with the general manager of North Hill World Health, Trevor Portsmouth. I don't think I have EVER met a more unprofessional and disrespectful general manager. Trevor was DISGUSTINGLY rude to me, from the second he met me; I tried to remain pleasant but I refused to put up with his arrogant and demeaning attitude. I asked the reception if I was able to speak to a manager for a quick few minutes, because I had to get back to work. Out comes Trevor who immediately begins to tell me in a condescending manner, that he doesn't have time for me, that he has "time sensitive" projects, and essentially that I was at fault for interrupting that.
He told me he would make an appointment with me and I had no problem with that; however I told him I needed a question answered before I could book the appointment with him.

As I am trying to ask (for the FIFTH time) if I had to pay an extra sum of money if I did not finish my 9 training sessions. If so I would continue going to the gym, but if not I would cancel my last four; I made this question very clear to him but he acted bewildered and told me he didn't know the answer because he did not know what my contract consisted of (shouldn't the general manager know this simple question?)
I was persistent with the same question, and tried to tell him once again that I needed to know that moment, before I could book the appointment; he continuously interrupted me by saying he didn't have time for me, and that he had projects to finish by 5:00. He then went on to say that he had to meet his grandfather in the hospital, and that I "obviously didn't care" and that it "meant nothing to me" because I was apparently still taking up 5 minutes of his precious time. He said he "might as well call his grandfather and tell him he can't come" implying that it would be my fault that he couldn't go.

Trevor Portsmouth makes it very obvious that his customers are the dirt under his fingernails, and the staff will do anything they can to suck money out of you.

Yes I did sign the contract, and yes I learned my lesson. I also know of 5 co-workers who are victims of your system, which only fuels my belief you are doing something very wrong. I haven't been able to buy groceries for two weeks to begin with, and now because of world health, I will now be going hungry for an entire month. Not only that, but I am also out $600 to pay for my move across the country. Congratulations World Health! You win! I wish you all the best in keeping your gym running by scamming kids who cant afford it.

Ps. Knowing a member of the family is sick can be difficult, I for one can understand, having just lost my aunt last month. I am also currently struggling with a sick grandparent, but that does not, and will not change the way I choose to treat others (especially in a professional environment.)
I truly wish I had the luxury of visiting my sick family members, like yourself.

I took hours of my own day, and spent hundreds of dollars to come to World Health gym; all I asked for in return was 5 minutes of your time.

World health is a slimy, greedy, shady company that is taking advantage of people who are trying to live a more active lifestyle. They suck you in when your emotions are on the table (wanting to improve yourself). They need to educate their staff to they can at least have a chance to justify all the fees and policies. "It's just company policy" is not an acceptable answer.

I just tried to cancel a no-contract membership. Initially both people that I spoke to on the phone insisted that I had to physically go into a facility and sign a cancellation form. It wasn't until I asked how people who move away cancel that I was told I could send an email. Then I was told I had to give 30-days notice (ie. pay for another month). Again they could not explain to me what they needed notice for.

I agree that World Health mislead their clients, my daughter and I went there for a group enrolment. What I understood from their explanation to me was the 12 sessions of personal training was part of the package in our membership and they did not even mentioned things like conditions when we want to cancel our membership, to me if they are hiding things like this then there are actually fooling there clients.
Now that I wanted to cancel my membership because I went in a surgery they are asking me to pay for the cancellation and even telling me that I have to pay for the personal training that we did. So I asked him I thought it was already included in the monthly membership which was a packaged in the group enrolment and the guy i was spoken to insisted that it was not.

Yes the "WIN" thing is a ripped off unless you won the 1yr membership. Everyone in the draw box WIN a 2 weeks pass, how i know? well not a coincidence when my group of friends all got a phone call becoz we drop off the entry form the same day same location...scam you into signing a membership...locked you in AND HEFTY cancellation fee...they will force you into a personal trainer session ...i got the 10 days pass and left...but the follow up phone calls is hideous..

You don't win the 2 week trial, you don't even get to use it. If someone you know gives them your name and number they call you and want you to come in but they go right to the signing up phase with out even giving you a chance to try the place out first

I got a call from them because my mom had signed up and she had to give them so many names if people she knew. I was only going to do the free 2 weeks. But they try to get you into a year or more. I did the 2 years, and then got a personal trainer. My fiance signed up an got a personal trainer but she rarely gets a chance to go. I go twice a week and the trainers are good at their job and personable, but last month they told me there was a balance owing and I said "i just saw a payment come out for my finance's and mine. My bank had no record of them trying to take the money. They wanted to hit me with a $15 NSF fee. I proved to them there was no bounced money in my account and had to call head office. I thought it was cleared up. But again this month its supposedly happened again, they didn't take the NSF fee away. I talked to my bank today and they said they've seen it alot here on Edmonton concerning Golds gym, World Health and Cash Money. You have to close your bank account because if you end their account they use a separate company to go in an take the money. The bank teller then printed off March's account history. I found out World health had taken a payment on the 8 and the 11, and then twice more! My contract said nothing about double payments a month. The billboards all say "19.95 a month no contracts" my fiance is going in next week to talk to one of their higher ups because she's wasting money on the personal trainer who doesn't try hard enough to book her in. Wants to cancel it

I won that trial thing too and they sucked me into signing a contract, I moved away twom monthss later, they wouldnt let me cancel, associated gyms in Van had no idea about them and they sucked over a $1000 from me and now have collections after me a year later :(

Anyone with World Health Club problems please shoot me an email at morginie@gmail.com
We are having problems as well and would like to form some kind of group to look at ways to take action against the company.
They are treating people without consideration or empathy in regards to their contracts; this is wrong and someone has to put a stop to this.

Sincerely,

I entered a draw and received a call from Bruce about two weeks later informing me I won a two week executive membership. I was asked to come in for orientation before my first workout so I booked an appointment. Well, the facility tour was alright, and the short consultation provided by a personal trainer regarding what I needed to work on to meet my goal was quite informative and taught me some things I didn't know. When the personal trainer left, Bruce proceeded to try and sell me a membership. I asked about the two weeks and was told I needed to sign up, and I would get 14 days unconditional money back guarantee. He explained it by saying I can get my money back if I got sick or work got too overbearing, like that. That was contradicting and only annoyed me, further to the fact that I don't need to told that if you "win" something, you don't need to pay to collect your prize. I said I needed time to think about it and collected my things to leave, but he had to book me with up a followup appointment (to pressure me into buying, no doubt). Well, I don't plan on showing up and I'm walking far away. Goodbye! You're not getting this one! :)

I know exatly what you mean. They are a bunh of liars. The day I signed up I told the contrats rep that I was leaving Calgary periodially (this is at the edgemount loation) and that I need to be able to use my membership in ontario. She said no problem and gave a list of assoiated gyms in toronto via email, there were 16 loations. When I got to ontario (toronto) I went to a few of them and none of them would let me in, they had no idea about the assoiated gym thing that World health gave me. So I called them and told them and they sent me a list with only 2 GYMS! None of which are in the main city area! When I told them I want to cancel they said okay, well we are charging you for the next session (even though I had been in Toronto and hadnt stepped in their gym in a month) plus a 100$ canellation fee! Can you believe this! I had to pay because they lied! DO NOT JOIN THIS GYM THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF AND LIE!