YMCA
reviews and complaints

On 12/27 my two sons visited the ymca and was single out and treated uncomfortable. Typically, on school breaks the children in the community get together with a game of basketball or bowling. Hence, yesterday was not the first encounter of the unwelcoming service saratoga ymca provided on yesterday. When entering with friends my children where asked "where do you two characters, think you're going?" shocked my children responded "our friends are here and we're going to play basketball with them. The y-staff member summonsed another black child and asked did he know my children. He did not! My eldest son recognizing the unprofessionalism disclosed my friends are white. Staff member then responses"well let's just go and see who this is". During another break, my children were turned away. The time before then they were allowed in; but certainly, another unwelcoming event occurred.

I called the Flowood YMCA in November and cancelled my membership, the lady who takes my phone call said she will cancel it for me and my last withdraw will be on November 15th. Yet I received another charge today, December 15th. When I call the YMCA, I was told that, first she didn't cancel my membership and I have to come in person, second, I was supposed to be charge one more time even if I give 30-days notice. I didn't know any of these.

The inconsistent explanation about the YMCA regulation and the bad management is so confusing.

The program is going downhill fast! They promise to treat your children equally but in fact they do the opposite. Too many rules that are not discussed with the parents (kids can't go to bathrooms during class, can't use water fountains, can't sit on furniture in the hallway, etc), BAD teachers and disorganized staff. Bullying is allowed under the excuse that those children are special needs, but not fair to the rest when those same students pick on their classmates, get violent, physical and throw things at windows, walls and people!

I was treated unfairly and unprofessionally while I was teaching a classroom activity in an English as a Second Language class at the Greensburg YWCA in Greensburg, PA.

I was removed from the classroom and another teacher took over my class.

If anyone had a problem with how I was teaching the class, it should not have taken place in front of students. It should have taken place in a room and behind closed doors.

I went to the YMCA schottland in Pittsford where I live to ask for a guest pass, which they were offering during holidays for out of towners and at the beginning the front desk lady was very cutting on her answer and I asked if I can speak with someone else in charge about this and when she went inside the office to speak with the membership manager they where making laugh of me because of this, like “I already told her no”.it was super uncomfortable. The manager was also unhelpful and she don’t even bother in trying to help me.

The Y stats it has not had a rate increase in years and only raising a couple dollars. However, when I used to pay $5 for my kids to play a sport and it goes up to $75 plus, I have to have a membership during that time that’s a HUGE increase! What happened to donated jerseys and the refs we have had the past year have been awful. Hired kids on phones, no make-up games and one trophy per a team? How does that even make sense? We played at the Y because it was relaxed and reasonable with multiple kids. Now it’s still relaxed but paying too much for what you get.

Do you have to go through a process to see if you qualify, we were approved, but we declined to open a membership with them they categorize a household as two people so it’s the same price no matter what unless you do it individual. They give you 25% off and all the other gyms in the area I can pay full price at and still be a lower cost for two people than the YMCA. They give out way better discounts if you work as a nurse or other places that are close

Exercise bike room never available to use. Basketball courts always closed. Basically those rooms are only open if there is a class and there are 0 classes so they are never open.

These rooms need to be open to public use. It’s a bit ridiculous in my opinion that I’ve been a member here for 4 months and have never once had the chance to step on the basketball court or bike room.

A member unlawfully took money out of my account. She is now refusing to let me speak to a manager or anyone other than a front desk associate. I asked the other associate what her managers name is. She gave me Mary Emerson. Also, stated Mary will not be available to speak to me either. No one will process my refund. This is an emergent situation as it seems the associate is stealing.

My name is William Bray [protected]. I have been a member on and off there for 30 years and there has not been a single complaint. Since I joined back i have been harassed by the manager there who a couple years ago sucker kicked me in the head from behind at a bar. I nearly lost my eye but he got the worst of it after. He is still holding a grudge and I walked by him yesterday and he threatened to kill me to another employee. The other employee was a homosexual who was following me around the change room and kept standing beside me really close. I made a comment I didn't appreciate this homosexual behaviour and he waited for me by the front desk to make a scene. I know he works for the YMCA also. This is 2 employees who have been harassing me and the gym just took their side and kicked me out. I plan to press charges for uttering death threats but the YMCA will not give me the employees name. They just cut off my membership. This is the second incident with this guy I plan on pressing charges and need the name. I never cancelled my membership i said if i am being blocked from going they have to refund my money. So they cancelled my membershipt to cover this up. I'll past the last email I got below this one.

Hi Bill,

I have cancelled your membership as per your request below and have refunded October 28, 2022 payment of $38.99. In reference to the Building fee, as per our policy this fee is non-refundable. Your membership started on September 16, 2022 at which time the "no joiner fee" promotion was applied to your account and you were not charged the building fee.

Unfortunately, at this time , we will not be able to reinstate your membership until we meet and discuss the last two incidents that occurred at the Ron Edwards YMCA. I have also attached the YMCA Respectful Environment policy, which will need to be adhered to at the time of our meeting.

As per my voice message , do let me know a day and time that you would like to schedule a meeting.

Cindy Webster

General Manager

Ron Edwards Family YMCA

YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford

500 Drury Lane

Burlington, Ontario L7R 2X2

[protected] ext 6250

Cell: [protected]

cindy.[protected]@ymcahbb.ca

I am on workmamscomp and they paid for me to attend the YMCA of the Sandhills in Fayetteville NC for A year. Now the only reason why they paid for me to come is because this facility is because of the pool because my ankle is bad. I had double ligament reconstruction surgery. So the pool was helping me with my ankle and I have heart issues. All I'm asking for is a refund for what's left on my membership. The gave a a month free next door at Fit 4 l8fe but the have no pool and it's very small. Can some one please help me.

I signed up for the Stage 5 Stroke Development Adult Swim Class at Greenpoint YMCA in July 2022. After my 1st class on July 7th, my instructor suggested that I take the Stage 4 class instead. Since I was only available on Thursdays to take the class, I signed up for the Stage 4 class at McBurneys YMCA which was held on Thursdays. I sent a message on July 10, 2022 to Greenpoint YMCA but received no response. I sent additional email messages on 7/14/22, 7/17/22, called on 8/27/22 as well as at least 4 additional calls since calls since 7/10/22. To date, still no response.

I am appalled that no one has had the courtesy to contact me in any way. And I should not have had to contact the YMCA over a half dozen times. It has been nearly been 4 months! I have been attending the YMCA for over 50 years, since I was 8 years old, and have NEVER been treated like this at ANY other YMCA ANYWHERE else. This is the worst case of poor customer service I have EVER experienced from any company… EVER.

If this matter isn’t resolved within the next 3 days I intend on advancing this complaint all the way to Sharon Greenberger, President & CEO.

Signed,

Denise A. Lomus

[protected]

[protected]@gmail.com

About 3-4 weeks ago, a sexual harassment claim was filed from 1 staff member to another. After two weeks, HR did not follow up with the person who filed the complaint.

The perpetrator was in a different department, and once contacted by HR, the bosses within their department did not want to take the claims seriously. HR mentioned to the perpetrator that they must keep the procedure confidential after a slap on the wrist.

HR wrote a write-up, and about 1 week went by. The perpetrator then allowed another uninvolved staff member to bring the CONFIDENTIAL paperwork home with then to read as entertainment. The perpetrator also had 3 other complaints come forward from 3 women about sexually crass comments, and sexually explicit photographs sent to female staff. The Maintenance staff is hardly able to retain female staff as a result of this one mans behavior. They seek to “extend him grace” and maintain his employment at all costs.

HR still has not followed up with the person who filed the original complaint to explain their proceedings 2 times in a row now over the span of 1 month.

The perpetrator who exposed themselves to woman, and harassed married women, was only suspended for 1 work day.

Their solution was to hold a staff meeting with only the 1 department where they “went over paperwork” regarding harassment and the perpetrator did not even bother to turn the pages.

This situation was extremely mishandled and reveals the broken culture within a Christian organization, a family and children organization.. the YMCA… where illegal activities are not taken seriously and brushed under the rug time and time again.

The problems at this organization run deep, and there needs to be a focus on educating people about their job descriptions, general harassment, the steps to be taken to report harassment to make the workplace safer and maybe more transparency within the organization and less compartmentalization.

I had a packet return to me from a case I tried to file dealing with abuse at camp mccln Camp MacLean this was over 10 or 15 years ago during the COVID 19 pandemic it was aired on TV about the abuse of young boys and camp or retreats my son was sent home and I was given a refund check I never found the outcome of this event and what happens to other children however I kept the information to file a complained 9 2003

I recently tried to cancel my membership with the YMCA and was given a huge runaround while they claimed they couldn't cancel it. I was told multiple times to call someone else, try something online, come back later, etc. Finally when I got in touch with someone they were completely unhelpful and even started harassing me when I asked them to stop contacting me. Unfortunately the person in charge of this Local YMCA (lakewood) is friends with the person harassing me and I don't feel comfortable complaining to him directly. There doesn't appear to be a national governing body and I don't know where to report this harassment issue. Can you help?

So I put my grandson in flag football. It ask if he has any disability on the paperwork.

I never got anything on 1 practice. Then we went to practice and you can tell the kids have some disability. I don't have anything wrong with that. I don't have a problem with grandkids with autism (2) and adhd

So they stacked the teams. That don't help the kids at all. So they put pictures on there facebook page. The only team color was orange, purple and green. plus 2 random people. I sent them a message about the black team. Funny they put it on there quick.

All this place cares about is the high up class who make sure there family and friends are on a great team and not worry about the others. The purple team had no good spots menship

Isaac Ramirez is never at the ymca when we need him. He treats the guards unfairly and treats them with little respect. One of the lifeguards called out and he had no issue with it, but a different guard called out the same day and he told that guard it was unacceptable and wrote him up. Multiple female guards have come to him and filed sexual harassment claims against one of the male guards and he pulled the male guard aside told him to stop, and did nothing more than that. The male guard did not stop, and he has yet to make any form of action towards it. He's never at the YMCA when we need him. We had a code red and we called him about it he didn’t pick up because he was at home cooking dinner for his girlfriend when he should’ve been at work. He does not do his job and is very unprofessional.

I have had a membership with the YMCA at Carver off and on for the last few years but have had nonstop issues. The first issue I had with them was the lack of staff available to run the daycare center. I understand staffing issues so this is the least of my worries but needs to be noted that I pay for my child to go there and have had multiple times he was unable to use the daycare area. I requested to pause my gym membership and it never happened. I had to reach out and request a full cancellation and refund because someone did not do their job correctly. I signed up my son for martial arts at the Carver location online and have not had issues up until today 8/30/22. On Sunday, 8.27.22 I decided I would give the YMCA at Carver Village another go around as I have met another mom that uses the YMCA and would like to work out with the other moms that attend. I arrived to the YMCA a few minutes before closing (100% my own fault for not checking the time they closed) but was "greeted" with a rude, elderly, bald woman at the front desk with an attitude. I heard the manager of the facility state that the YMCA would be closing in two minutes while I was speaking with said rude woman at the reception. I had asked the lady if she was able to pull my account up as I had recently got it re-instated and I mentioned I had bad timing for these things and she said "you think". I then had the "pleasure" of seeing this rude lady again today 8.30.22. I have been taking my child to his Karate classes for MONTHS on end that I, of course, pay for IN FULL the moment they are even available. For the last few months, I have not had an active membership due to the issues prior but always present my sons name to enter in to get into Karate. This has never been an issue as a guardian is needed to be with my young child to attend karate. My husband came along, who no longer has an active membership, but was the guardian for my child today for his karate class. She cocked an attitude when I told her this has NEVER been an issue before for myself or for any other moms who I know attend without a membership to the YMCA but happily pay for their children to go to their Karate/Martial Arts class. There is no "requirement" that I, or my husband, purchase a full membership for my child to attend his martial arts classes. She said with an attitude "oh they just let you get away with it everytime then huh" and rolled her eyes. She then said "why would you even have your kid in the class if you don't have a membership here" and rolled her eyes again. My husband then came down from putting our child in his class to see what the commotion was about and I told him to go back up and sit with our child while I handle this situation. You have lost yourself another "member" as I am cancelling this "membership" this week and once my sons final karate class is done with we won't be coming back. The only good thing about this terrible YMCA is Joey the Martial Arts teacher.

I don’t pay $50+ a month for you to close at 4 pm on a Saturday. Fix it. I don’t understand way the ymca is only open from 7am-4pm on saturdays, I understand why the hours are short on sundays because you’re a Christian company and that’s expected blah blah blah, but it really [censored]s up my vibe when I’m trying to work out with my friend who doesn’t get off work until 3:30 on the weekends and we can’t better our health at the local young man’s Christian association. So making healthy living more accessible to people that work odd hours or on the weekends would be great. Not everyone is excited to get up at 6 am to pump iron.

In conclusion, y’all suck, I hate you, pay your employees more bc I know my $50+ a month ain’t going to them. [censored] everyone at corporate.

Thanks babes,

Love you and SLAY the day

There are no respect for people at this branch, they are a nightmare if you have a need. No consideration or any lack of empathy. I had an issue to have access to my online account, they never had a interest in help, over the phone they said to come to the branch, once in the branch they said we are closing in five minutes, come back another day, once I am back they said we can not solve here send a email to our support. These people are disgusting.