I joined Pivotal Fitness in February because I was living in an apartment within walking distance of the facility. I was attending College in Greenville SC at the time. My boyfriend was also signed up with me on the same contract. At the time, I was 18 yrs. Old and the guy who signed us up (and is no longer employed at this facility, due to similar situaions, I have been told) said it was less expensive to have a contract together.
In March, only one month later, I had a relapse of Epstein Barr Virus, and had to move back home with my parents. According to the two acceptable reasons for terminating the contract, moving a distance of over 30 miles from a Pivotal Gym or having a health disability, I would qualify for distance. This is where they were very dishonest.
They said since I was in school, I had to give my parents address, because I was only renting and not permanent. Though I questioned this, he told me it would not be a problem since I was only paying monthly. I know that I was 18, and now realize I should have read EVERYTHING myself and not taken the emloyee's word, but it was my first time joining a gym and I was not worried about my monthly payments. I was also working at the time. When I became ill, I had to quit my job, and move back to Anderson. The catch is, that the address I had to list was over 35 miles already, so it doesn't show a distance at all for the move. Although I am not able to do any type of strenuous activity when I have relapses with the EBV, I am still not "disabled" so my doctor couldn't fill out a disability form (the other qualifying reason for termination of a contract). I asked my mother to talk with Nation Fitness, and they were extremely rude to her, as well as to me, and we have both contacted the Taylors manager, leaving numerous messages, as well as sending a letter to National and the Taylors facility.
They have continuously disregarded any of these attempts, and have sent letters saying they are turning it over to the collections and my credit will be ruined. I only used the facility for ONE MONTH. They deducted the amount for both of us, for 3 months, and I had to close my account to keep them from continuing the automatic draft. I have no job right now, because I am struggling to finish school. I have an appointment with a lawyer next week.
The last time, my mother called National for me, because stress is one thing that triggers my health problem, and she didn't want to upset me with the stack of letters they had sent. She was told that they would take a payoff of HALF of what I owed... Totaling somewhere in the area of $800.00 or more... But because the address did not indicate a significant move, I was just out of luck. I am 19, no longer with my boyfriend and still unable to participate in any gym program. I am not the only one who has had a problem there. I go to school with another former employee who told me that they do whatever they have to to tie you into a contract. How unethical and money hungry can one company be???
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