Washington Sports Clubs Columbia Heights

Review: I, per my contract, gave 30 days notice (in writing 3/10/13) canceling my membership. When I was charged incorrectly the full amount April 1, I called and left messages with [redacted] who never returned my call. Then I went in person and asked for [redacted] who wasn't there (and apparently was the only one who could handle my issue). Still no contact.

Then on May 1 I was charged again the full $74 monthly fee. I called and this time spoke to [redacted] who said he could cancel my account but needed corporate head quarters to handle my refund. He also offered to put my account "on hold" for $15 a month which I declined. When I called Corporate headquarters I was informed that [redacted] was the only one who could authorize the refund and of course the corporate representative couldn't get a hold of him while I was on the phone so he said he would contact me.

Then I received the following email on May 2:

Dear [redacted],

Thank you for contacting Town Sports International, Inc. This confirmation email acknowledges your request to freeze your membership ([redacted]) in accordance with our Freeze Policy. You can review our Freeze Policy here: [redacted]. Please review the details of your request below.

Membership Freeze Confirmation (2 months)

Member Name

Member Number

Number of Freeze Months

2

Freeze Start Date

5/2/2013

Freeze End Date

7/2/2013

Maintenance Fee per Month

$15.00 instead of regular dues

frz2012req

*Please Note: During this time you will be billed a $15.00 maintenance fee in lieu of your regular membership dues beginning on the first EFT withdrawal following your freeze start date. Freezes are in 30 day increments only. Restoring your account to active status at any other time will require full payment of your monthly dues.

Your membership will return to active status at the end of the freeze period which is stated above. If applicable, freezing your membership will extend your commitment end date by the number of months you are in this status.

Please retain this email confirmation of the above action for your records. If the information above is correct, no further action from you is needed. If you have any other questions please contact [email protected]. You may also call us at 877-CLUB-311.

Thank you

Member Services

Town Sports International, Inc.

NYSC, BSC, WSC, PSC

Toll Free: 1.877.CLUB.311

www.mysportsclubs.com

I never agreed to put the account on hold in fact I specifically refused that service. Which I immediately responded to, requesting again what I'd already requested 2 months prior, cancel my membership, decline the $15 on hold option (which I had previously declined and refund April and part of May. Clearly the tactic here is to give people the run around until they give up, which is unethical.Desired Settlement: I would like my $74 refunded for May and $37 partial refund for April.

Review: I am an active duty military officer currently stationed in the Kingdom of Bahrain. I arrived in the Middle East in January. I attempted in January to contact the Washington Sports Club to terminate my membership, and was informed that I had to come into the WSC to do so. As I am stationed overseas, that was not feasible. At the time I was unable to find any information online about how to terminate my contract. Recently, I was able to find an address and directions online about how to terminate my membership via mail. I am fairly certain that this information was not available on the website in January 2013. Regardless, in accordance with the specified instructions, I sent a letter via certified mail indicating that I wished to terminate my membership effective immediately. I mailed this letter on 7 October 2013 to the address provided, which is: TSI Member Services Department, 1 Highpoint Drive, Chalfont, PA 18914. The letter has been in Pennsylvania for delivery since 15 October, but the Member Services Department will not accept delivery of the letter to cancel my request. I would like my membership cancelled effective immediately and a refund of my membership fees (which totals neary $60 each month).Desired Settlement: Immediate termination of my membership and a refund of fees paid.

Review: My account is showing an outstanding balance, and I cannot register for classes. The billing information contained within my online profile at WSC is correct. For the past five years, WSC has automatically charged my credit card on the first of the month. I first noted this problem on February 2, and I called WSC Columbia Heights. I was told that I needed to contact member services at ###-###-####. I have called member services at the following dates and times:

*2/3/2014, 9:02am EST

*2/3/2014, 12:22pm EST

*2/3/2014, 4:34pm EST

*2/4/2014, 9:05am EST

*2/4/2014, 3:14pm EST

*2/5/2014, 10:03am EST

*2/5/2014, 1:27pm EST

In every instance, I was placed on automatic hold after selecting option 2 regarding billing inquiries. I was never able to speak with anyone. In addition, I have sent three emails to member services (February 3, 4, and 5) at this email address: [email protected]. I have not received a response.

I do not want to be charged late fees or kept from registering for classes due to a billing issue that is not my fault. I have done everything possible to resolve this issue to no avail. I am hoping that the Revdex.com can assist.Desired Settlement: WSC needs to reinstate automatic billing to my credit card retroactive to February 1. In addition, I should not be assessed late fees due to their error in billing.

Review: I cancelled my membership with Washington Sports Club three months ago when I moved from the Washington DC area to [redacted], CA. For the past two months, the club has been charging me membership fees and forcing me to wait 40 minutes on their customer service line to correct the error. It has been a waste of my time and I would like them to correct their mistakeDesired Settlement: I would like Washington Sports Club to stop charging me $276 a month for services they are not providing.

Review: I first learned about swim academy at Washington Sports Club in January I contacted [redacted] which was the person in charge. We set up the arrangment for my son to obtain 16 lessons and because of a promotion going on she was going to add two additional lessons for a total of 18 lessons. I paid the lessons and set it up on February 1, 2013, when I contacted her to set up the lessons she would always tell me she would call me back because of the lack on instructors, so I waited until I recieved a call but nothing happened. I then prompted to call Washington Sports club and spoke with several supervisors, but recieved the run around yet again. I then contacted other locations and was given the email fo [redacted]s supervisor I emailed her but I recieved no response. I continued to reach out but didn't recieve any feed back. I then contacted [redacted] who is the cooperate person that I have my membership through he then referred me to [redacted] on March 27th upon me calling the location again I spoke with him and he set up the refund process and informed me that it would take 7 buisness days. He also informed me that [redacted] no longer had the position. Today marks 3 months since I paid for the lessons and a little over 2 weeks of the 7 buisness days that he said the refund would take. I went to the Washington Sports Club today and attempted to speak with a supervisor, but no one was available because they were in meetings. I was then told by the front desk person that I would have to contact the new person in charge of the swimming lessons and that [redacted] no longer worked at that location but a new one. I called the new person in charge and was advised that she would email the person in charge of the swimming lessons that apparently is located at the Columbia Heights location. She stated she would email [redacted] and cc me on the email. But I have my doubts of it happened and decided to contact the Revdex.com to attempt to resolve the situation.Desired Settlement: I would like my refund in full as I do not desire to have the swimming lessons for my son because of their lack of commitment.

Review: My membership was set to renew in August of 2013. In order to cancel membership, you must give 30 days notification. As I was going on a remote field trip to central Africa in mid-May and returning at the end of June; 3rd world travel is never firm; and I was anticipating potential illness upon my return (which I was for 2 weeks), I attempted to cancel my membership renewal in early May 2013, before my work trip. I went in person to cancel and I was told by the WSC employee at the desk that, since it was earlier than 30 days notice, I would be charged an early termination fee. I explained I didn't want to cancel early, but merely wanted to give 30 days notice of that my membership would not renew and explained about my trip and all of the problems that can arise from working in remote locations. The employee was extremely unhelpful and said I had to cancel upon my return. I regret not pushing the point on this ridiculous notion since I assumed it was noted in their system and I could deal with it after my trip (reluctantly so).

Upon my return, I called WSC Columbia Heights to cancel my membership and was told that I'd be charged for August but that it was canceled. Later on I checked my credit card statement and noticed I was still charged in September and called customer service this time. I was told that they had no record of any attempt on my part to cancel and that they would cancel right away, but I'd be charged for October as well. WSC deliberately made this process as difficult as possible in order to wheedle as much money from me as they could. I did my due diligence by attempting to cancel ahead of my difficult work travel in order to cover all of my bases. When I last spoke with them on the phone I was even willing to meet them a bit halfway and eat one of the charges. They declined, blamed the problem on me, were completely not willing to mediate, were insulting, and backed their unethical business practices all while stating "this happens all of the time." Yes, it happens all of the time because it's a shady, unethical practice and they keep getting away with it. WSC customer service/employees were, and have always been, extremely difficult to work with and completely unethical in their contract/cancellation practices. I have wasted hours upon hours trying to cancel and now trying to get a just outcome. In essence, their contract requires you (but doesn't explicitly state this) to cancel 30 days in advance on the nose, which is ridiculous.Desired Settlement: 1. They return all erroneous charges from 8/1/2013, 9/1/2013, and 10/1/2013.

2. That they desist from such unethical practices.

3. That other consumers are alerted to this fraud.