I am, unfortunately, a member of Bally Total Fitness. I paid in full for a three year membership. I have three small children. Of course I decided to join because it was the only gym near my home and they had "child care" which is always full. I decided to take a Pilates class and paid extra for that too. So my 3 and 5 year olds could go and have something fun to do with me, I decided to sign them up for Karate. I was on my way to class and brought them in with me. I asked at the front desk and a rep quickly said sure we can sign them up and had me sign a paper and said it would be 42 bucks per child every month. The 3 year old was too young to be in the same class with the 5 year old so that totally negated the reason I had them there together which was to have them with me while I worked out. I was only able to handle that scenario for about 2 weeks and then could not do it anymore. I also teach and attend graduate school. At no time had anyone ever explained that the so called "enrollment" was not just a contract, but a three year contract! I had pulled them out of a Karate school to take them there with me. No other place I have ever heard of holds a 3 year old and 5 year old to a contract for three years. I had called to cancel their program and the front desk never mentioned not being able to cancel, but rather said I had to go in person, so a couple of weeks goes by and I go in person and the man at the desk said he could not do that for me but I could call the corporate number and have them do it. So I call them and they say that I can't cancel, that I have to continue paying for the kids for two more years. I said they have only gone twice and they are little, what are you talking about? That is when I first learned I signed a contract for three years. On the website it says that that membership is more for those wanting a black belt and that generally children under 5 are not enrolled in TMA! Well, the reps at Bally's sure needed to get their numbers up because I totally got screwed! I hate that company for trying to make a buck on little kids and their stupid mom (me)!
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