In February I was laid-off from my interior design job in Las Vegas, NV. I moved back home to Tulsa, and saw an advertisement for All-American Fitness $25/month NO Contract! When I talk to the salesman he informs me that it is $25/month but there is a $75 sign-up fee. I explain to him that I just got laid-off and it would be a bad idea for me to spend $100 for just one month at a gym. Here's when the swindling started. He told me if I signed up for a one year contract at $25.00/month he could waive the $75.00 sign-up fee. I told him, since I lost my job I had no idea if I was going to find another one in Tulsa, or have to move again. He says, "If you have to 'move', come in and tell me and i'll cancel your contract". Then he adds "Actually, my best friend is an interior designer and she needs a lot of help right now. If you bring me your portfolio and resume, I'll give it to her and I'm almost positive you could work as her assistant". The whole time he is saying this he is looking down at my contract doodling on the paper, no eye contact. He eventually starts telling me what a great Christian he is, and how I should go to his church and get a free cappuccino... I did NOT care what religion they guy was, I was only there to get a one month gym membership. So after awhile, he convinced me I could cancel the contract anytime and save $75.00. I signed and initialed the contract, he gave me my gym card and I left... Without a copy of my contract.
So for the next few days, I worked on making a new portfolio and resume. A few days later, I take my portfolio and resume to him and he acted like he had never seen me before. After that, I emailed him, called him to see if he gave my stuff to his 'interior design' friend. No response. No reply.
A month later, I checked my bank account and $37.98 had been taken out of my account. So I call ABC Financial (All-American's financial company) to tell them they were taking too much out. Thats when I was informed that my contract was for $37.98 for 2 YEARS!!!
Soon after, I go back to All-American and tell my salesman that I need to cancel my contract (like he said I could). He looks away and says, "You'll have to call ABC financial and cancel with them." Frustrated, I go home and call ABC financial who tells me that I need proof that I am moving far (2 utilities bills with my name on it) and a $100 cancellation fee. So now I'm stuck, and haven't used the gym in months, because of it's poor and dirty conditions.
A year and half later, I noticed $34.00 and $37.98 were taken out of my account from All-American. I call ABC Financial AGAIN and find out that the $34.00 is for yearly maintenance fees!!! So I tell them I want to buy out of my contract and be done with them FOREVER... The lady tells me, "Well, remember to cancel your automatic renewal" Whats that? In my contract it said that my contract automatically renews after 2 years! I just received a copy of what they said was my original contract, my signature is on there... But everything else is NOT in my handwriting! I had originally filled out the entire contract myself... Address, emergency contacts etc. AND this contract is doodle-free...
I reported them to the BBB, and if you have been scammed by them, you should too. Somehow they have an A rating... Even though if you google 'All American Fitness Reviews' it is almost all stories of being scammed by them!!
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