Today I called ABC Financial to cancel my gym membership. I was informed by the representative that I cannot cancel my membership via telephone. "Shannon" (Rep # SLG1126) informed me that it clearly states in my contract that a cancellation will ONLY be honored by a 60-day written notification and that they would continue drafting my bank account for the next two months or for 60 days from the postmarked date (even if you cancel by e-mail). She also said that if they do not receive payment or if I refuse to send payment my account will be turned over to collections. When I asked what gave her company the right to extort money from me she replied, " it's in the contract that you signed." Hmmm... I don't remember reading the "Extortion" clause in my contract; that's because it was disguised as the "Auto-Renewal" clause.
I knew something was fishy about this company when in September an extra payment was deducted from my bank account. I thought it was a mistake on the company's part and asked the bank to refund the money to my account. It appeared to me that I had been over-billed. A couple of weeks later I received a collection letter from ABC Financial. When I called to inquire why, they told me I was obligated to pay an " enhancement fee " which was & you guessed it! & " in the contract that you signed ". Apparently, an "enhancement" fee is charged to all gym members to " purchase new equipment for the gym and pay employees ". Um... Isn't that what the membership fees are for?!!! So, I paid the " past due " amount plus their ridiculous late fees.
It's companies like this one that make me not want to do business with anyone. And what is their sorry excuse for extorting money from their members?" it's in the contract that you signed ". It's YOUR responsibility as a consumer to read the fine print. It's not the responsibility of the gym representative to tell you. Of course they're not going to tell you! They are trying to make a sale! This is a buyer-beware society and that is what companies like this one depend on to extort money from consumers. They don't care if it's unethical or bad business. It will ALWAYS be the buyers fault. Companies who operate business in a manner such as this one depend on the ignorance of their customers. Their crime of extortion is legalized by the words " it's in the contract that you signed ". Essentially, the consumer is giving the company permission to extort money from them because " it's in the contract that you signed ".
To avoid being scammed by companies who do business like this one, I believe it is best not to sign a contract at all. There are other, more ethical companies out there to do business with who don't obligate you to sign a contract. However, it is tough to find companies nowadays who don't force you to sign a contract.
Don't these companies know who controls the market? Don't they know it's consumers who keep them in business? Why then would they feel they have a right to take advantage of the people who are putting food in their mouths? Unfortunately, it's the IGNORANT consumer they take advantage of.
I empathize with all those who are reading this who have been scammed by ABC Financial, car dealers, cell phone companies and other swindlers such as these who have been unknowingly taken advantage of. Apparently, these companies do not have to be accountable for their actions. The responsibility is placed squarely on the shoulder of their victims. It's as if they are saying, " It's YOUR fault we're taking advantage of you and extorting money from you ". They totally justify themselves in the same way a rapist justifies his crime by saying, " It's HER fault I raped her. She shouldn't have been dressed so provocatively".
This bad experience certainly has educated me as a consumer and I will never do business with ABC Financial again nor will I sign another contract with any other company. Consumers need to regain control of the economy. Refuse to engage in contracts and get the word out to others.
Contracts are created to protect the interested parties. More often than not, the contract protects the company NOT the consumer. There are bad companies and bad consumers; what it all boils down to is personal integrity. This company has none. They couldn't care less to lose my business. They're are plenty of other unsuspecting victims out there to take advantage of.
We all think it won't happen to us... Until it does.
It has become my top priority and mission to warn others about this company. I will be filing a complaint to the gym itself, the Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, my local news stations and newspapers, The Arkansas State Attorney General, the Arkansas Secretary of State and anyone else I can complain to about this company and companies who do business in this fashion. Hopefully, others can learn from my mistake and hopefully, some day, the government will give a damn and do something stop companies who take advantage of people with junk fees and "fine print".
Once bitten, twice shy.
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