A bit over a year ago, i had scoped out an LA fitness gym, under a 3 day trial to check out the facilities and get a feel for it. I had a chat with a representative, who gave me the whole sales pitch, and signed me up for a membership.
Now, this is the first segue. It turns out I did not have the funds for the activation and the first month, so i couldn't even be entered into the system. That said, i told them i had changed my mind, since financially it was obviously an issue.
Now, they didn't even try this until AFTER i had signed the contract. That said, i asked them to destroy the paperwork that had been started, and that the membership NOT be finalized. I would enjoy the trial and if my financial situation changed, i would be glad to come back and refile the paperwork for a membership. For the record, my payment type was on a debit card connected to my checking account.
So i thought it was over and done, think nothing of it... And aparently they did too, because it was almost like they were hiding this membership from me. No newsletter, no quarterly, it reminds me of "no trace camping" in a way. Well, there was one way they made their presence somewhat known... By sapping my bank account once a month without me knowing.
Apparently the rep i had spoken with had filed my paperwork anyway. Since i had a steady job at the time, i had hardly noticed... Funds come in, funds go out, didn't think to look. However, i'm currently between jobs and money is pretty tight, and i suddenly find myself in the hole about 80 bucks.
Turns out they've not only had me down for a membership for the past year without my knowledge, but they even OVERDREW my account. When i plead my case on the phone with the customer support line, they told me that there was nothing they could do, it was all up to the bank.
So i go to the bank, and they were very nice about the situation, and very clear. Even though they couldn't do anything about it, they were very specific in the guidelines, even the procedure needed for either them to be able to refund the amount, or for me to try to take the case back to the gym.
Advice in hand, i call the number again and get another person to hear my case. They're even LESS helpful than the first, and basically tell me i'm out of luck. They want me to somehow prove that i asked the representative to destroy my paperwork, and abort the membership activation. I asked them to check my membership number's usage to prove that i have not even used the account, and then i get a preprogrammed "fees are not based on usage" spiel which has nothing to do with why i mentioned it in the first place.
I just want to give them their damn proof so that they can give me my damn money. I'm not even asking them for the activation fee back, i'm not even asking them to somehow fix the dent they put in my credit score. I just want my non-membership fees back, while i can still afford to eat.
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