Retro Fitness of Woodbridge, NJ

Complaint: [redacted] I am rejecting this response because:The time my kids entered into the one year contract and they were minors at that pointIt's been years since then and my kids never signed the contact againI didn't initial the day fine print in the contractI have consulted few attorneys and according to them this contract is invalid since the kids were minors at the time contact took placeI need this account closed as soon as possibleThis is how Retro is treating years of loyalty Regards, [redacted] ***

On 9/22/14, members parents came into gym to cancel their two sons membership, I asked why do they want to cancel and their response was their sons are in college and have no time for the gymSo I told them they could freeze their sons membership insteadThey insisted on cancelling, so I advised
them there is a days notice for cancellingOnce I told them about the days notice they said their sons membership is on a month to month and they do not need to give noticeI advised the parents that yes, they have fulfilled their one year contract and they are on a month to month basis but they are still required to give daysThey keep insisting on cancelling immediatelyI kept stating that our policy is days notice for all cancellationsThey asked for copies of their sons contract and where does it state the days noticeI gave them copies and pointed out where it states the days noticeThey took the copies and left the gym and was very unhappy I did not cancel their sons memberships immediately

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:The time my kids entered into the one year contract and they were minors at that point. It's been 6 years since then and my kids never signed the contact again. I didn't initial the 60 day fine print in the contract. I have consulted few attorneys and according to them this contract is invalid since the kids were minors at the time contact took place. I need this account closed as soon as possible. This is how Retro is treating 6 years of loyalty. 
Regards,
[redacted]

The members account has been cancelled with no further payments due.

Review: My agreement was for 1 year to be paid then I would go to month to month. I completed the year as required. I then went to month to month payments. I have not used the gym in 6 months and have now fallen behind in dues by 2 months. I went to cancel the membership and 1st was told I had not completed my year. After they looked at my history they discovered that someone had entered information incorrectly. With that issue resolved, I told them I needed to cancel my membership. Now I am told I cannot cancel it because I have an outstanding balance. Then I am told they have a 60 day notice policy. I was also told they would continue to bill the account. I have not used the gym in over 6 months.

When I went month to month I was told I could cancel at anytime without penalty. I was NEVER told they had a 60 notice to quit. My outstanding balance went to collections and they call me 5 to 8 times a day.Desired Settlement: 1. to cancel the account immediately.

2. to credit October charges from the bill.

3. to send me a itemized bill for the last 6 months.

4. to stop harassing me on the phone.

5. all billing issues to be done by mail only

Business

Response:

[redacted] no longer works at Retro Fitness in Woodbridge. Going forward I am the new General Manager. In regards to Mr.[redacted]'s complaint, he did complete his one year contract back in 2011. Mr [redacted] re-joined the gym in Feb 2013 which was a one year contract. When Mr. [redacted] re-joined in Feb 2013, he was given a copy of the contract and the contract does state our policy. Mr. [redacted] is not receiving phone calls from our collection agency but from our billing company. Our billing company will call if you fall behind in payments. Any other questions or concerns please feel free to call me at ###-###-####.

Consumer

Response:

Review: 9754857

I am rejecting this response because:

I did not re-sign for another 1 year agreement.

When I came back to the gym the staff signed me as a month to month member.

I was also told I could cancel at anytime.

I was not told anything about a 60 notice.

When I was there on 10/07, the staff saw in the computer that I was a month to month member.

As far as the phone calls, I feel 6-7 times a day every day is harassment.

Retro Fitness will have to supply a complete and correct signed contract by me, showing I re-signed for another year.

Which they will be unable to since there is no contract showing a re-sign up for 1 year signed by me.

They must also show that there is a 60 notice policy.

Again there is no written policy stating this.

I want this membership terminated immediately as well as showing that it was closed in October 2013.

Regards,

Business

Response:

Mr [redacted],

Your account has been cancelled. No other payment is required.

Best Regards,

Review: I froze my account the with the gym because I got into a car accident and could not go to the gym anymore. A couple months later I am getting calls from a colections agency saying I have no paid my membership when I knew I froze the contract. I went to the gym and questioned them about the situation they said they could not find the paper I signed agreeing to freeze my account. On may 5th I wanted to speak to the manager and [redacted] said she was to busy and couldnt help me. They said that I never froze my account and there is nothing they can do about it. When I came to talk to the associate about the collections agency they said I should have gotten a copy of the paper I signed. I never got a copy, the man that helped me freeze my account had me sign a paper and then he had to do something on the computer, and put my paper into my file. I personally watched him take out my file and stick the paper in it. Now I live out of state and im still getting phone calls about the account. February 9th was the last time I went to the gym was the day I froze the account. I do not remember the date but it is recorded. I refuse to pay for what they want me to pay because I know I froze the account and its not my fault they "lost" the paperwork. I owe them a couple hundred dollars and late fees because of thier mistake.Desired Settlement: I want them to take my account out of collections and refund the balance of what I owe : I also want them to cancel my contract becuse they have the worse customer service and they do not want to help.

Review: I joined this location on 1/29/15 and on Friday 2/6/15 I contacted the general manager to advise him that I would like to cancel my membership since I'm completely dissatisfied with the gym. I requested to be signed up for the month to month membership and now that I'm trying to cancel I've been told that I'm in a full year contract. The free training session that I was supposed to receive was a 45 minute sales pitch and not once was I shown the equipment they offer or how to use it.

The reasons I'm dissatisfied with this gym were discussed with [redacted], the GM, on Friday 2/6/15 and he advised me to contact him on Monday 2/9/15 so he could look into the issues I complained about. I attempted to contact him twice on 2/09/15 as requested and their employees are rude and do not know how to treat their customers. After I left a message both times I called, the GM did not return my call. I contacted them again twice on 2/10/15 and was told during my first call that the GM would call me back after his meeting. The second time I called I was told the GM is not in on Tuesday's and he will return on Thursday. I'm trying to cancel my membership going forward and not asking for the money that I've already put down to be refunded, but I can't get this person on the phone. I've also contacted their corporate headquarters to complain but since they are a franchise I was told there is not much they can do to help me.Desired Settlement: I would like for my membership to be canceled as requested without further payment being made.

Review: I tried to cancel my membership since feb 28 2013.I went into the fitness center and spoke to receptionist regarding this matter. The reception told me I have to pay the last 2 months before retro-fitness can cancel my membership. I was not under contract. I have been going to the gym for 3 years. I said take a payment now with my debit card which is suppose to be my first payment. I went in the gym and paid cash for the second month.. The billing company called me and told me that I need to make one more payment.I did not give them sufficient notice. I tried to resolve this matter on several occasion by calling the fitness center and of course the managers were never available. the billing company sent my name to collection agency for 119.78.I have not step into that gym since April but they keep charging me. I need help regarding this matter because it can damage my credit score. Please helpDesired Settlement: I do not feel like I owe them anything because I made the two payments they requested.

Business

Response:

Ms. [redacted] did attempt to cancel her account but as with all cancellations sixty days notice is required This sixty day notice translates into two monthly dues payments. Though Ms. [redacted] did make one payment at the time she put in the paper work the second payment was never made and thus her account did not close out. ABC Financial, the billing that Retro Fitness utilizes, continued to bill Ms. [redacted] until her account went into collections.

ABC Financial attempted ten phone calls and mailed out five separate letters with the final notice being sent out on 11 July 2013. Ms. [redacted] never responded to any of the attempts nor was the second payment ever made and that is why she is in collections. If Ms. [redacted] can produce a receipt showing the last payment being made I will be more than happy to review it but our system does not indicate any such payment.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

I have been a member of Retro for the last 4 years--using the Woodbridge, NJ location almost exclusively. I used to go regularly, dropped off, and am now trying to get back into the habit. Unfortunately, as time goes on, the equipment (specifically the treadmills), are increasingly not working, not being repaired, and maybe 3 out of 20+ tvs work. On top of that, some of the (female) members using the locker rooms are incredibly rude--blasting their music over the already piped-in music (isn't that what headphones are for?) and dousing themselves with perfume, with no regard for how this might affect others. The bathrooms are frequently not very clean. I have complained to the front desk on numerous occasions and each time am told they will let the manager know (though I'd be hardpressed to believe they are not already aware...particularly as it relates to the equipment on the floor). I am ready to take my business elsewhere.

Review: My two young kids ([redacted] & [redacted]) became Retro Members in may 2009, as they were minors at the time of contract I had to co-sign the contract for 1 year term and I was told if I cancel within the 1 year contract term I have to provide 60 days written notice to cancel the membership and after the one year term is complete it will be on month to month basis and I can cancel any time. I never signed anything else after that initial contract, never seen a statement or any type of com**nication from Retro. They kept on automatically drawing money from my account. Now my kids are in collage and they don't use the gym any more since it's always packed at the times they can go to gym after collage. Looking at that I decided to cancel the membership because my kids were not able get any workout’s at the gym at the times tey were free and I can't afford to pay for something that I am not using as I am going thru hardship, I visited Retro and requested them to cancel my membership but I was very rudely told that even though I want to cancel today and I won’t be using the gym services, I still have to continue to pay for 2 months as they require a 60 day notice to cancel. Basically they are asking me to pay for the services I won’t be using and on top of that I am on month to month basis and I am not bound by a 1 or 2 year term contract. Several other people are experiencing the similar issue as well and internet is full of such complaints. I asked for the manager so that I can explain my situation and the front desk personal named [redacted]i told me that she is the Manager of the above said location but she was extremely un-professional and rude and showed no concern. I told her that I don't even have a contract with them and I am on month to month basis but she rudely said that I still need to pay for 2 months after I cancel and that’s the Retro Policy. They are trying to charge me for the services I am not using currently and not going to use in the near futDesired Settlement: I would like my membership to be canceled immidiately and I need a letter from them stating that my membership has been cancelled starting Setember. They have already charged my account on sep 15th and I will need tat money refunded back to my account since they charge month in advance.

Business

Response:

On 9/22/14, members parents came into gym to cancel their two sons membership, I asked why do they want to cancel and their response was their sons are in college and have no time for the gym. So I told them they could freeze their sons membership instead. They insisted on cancelling, so I advised them there is a 60 days notice for cancelling. Once I told them about the 60 days notice they said their sons membership is on a month to month and they do not need to give notice. I advised the parents that yes, they have fulfilled their one year contract and they are on a month to month basis but they are still required to give 60 days. They keep insisting on cancelling immediately. I kept stating that our policy is 60 days notice for all cancellations. They asked for copies of their sons contract and where does it state the 60 days notice. I gave them copies and pointed out where it states the 60 days notice. They took the copies and left the gym and was very unhappy I did not cancel their sons memberships immediately.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:The time my kids entered into the one year contract and they were minors at that point. It's been 6 years since then and my kids never signed the contact again. I didn't initial the 60 day fine print in the contract. I have consulted few attorneys and according to them this contract is invalid since the kids were minors at the time contact took place. I need this account closed as soon as possible. This is how Retro is treating 6 years of loyalty.

Regards,

Business

Response:

The members account has been cancelled with no further payments due.

Review: Retro fitness was contacted to cancel a memebership in which I was only a memeber for less than a month because I recebtly found out that I was pregnant and would be unable to work out for my own health and the health of my child I was then told by [redacted] that unless I was dying I would be unable to cancel and that was the policy. This policy is outrageous and unconstitutional.Desired Settlement: I would like to cancel my membership with retro fitness with a zero balance and a apology.

Business

Response:

Ms. [redacted] did, indeed, contact the gym with regards to cancelling her account but I believe either she misunderstood or my staff person misspoke with regards to her request.

Retro Fitness policy clearly states that cancellation of a member agreement within the first year can only occur upon death or permanent disability, if the disability is fully described and confirmed to the health club by a licensed physician or if the buyers change of permanent residence to any Retro Fitness facility is greater than 25 miles. Ms. [redacted] can find this policy (Item #14) on the agreement she signed back on 8 August 2013.

As for Ms. [redacted]'s pregnancy, my staff person, [redacted], stated that we can freeze her membership during her pregnancy at no cost. This would give her piece of mind for the health concerns she has for her child and herself as well as any concern of paying for a membership she cannot utilize during the pregnancy. Ms. [redacted] just needs to contact me and let me know how long she would like to freeze her account for and I will get it done as quick as I can. I must also add that the length of Ms. [redacted]'s agreement will be extended by the same amount of time her account stays frozen and it (the agreement) will not be cancelled until the terms have been fulfilled.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Sincerely,

Review: I had requested my membership be cancelled several months ago, however I am receiving collection calls, emails and letters for payment they claim I owe even though I requested cancellation. I'm not sure what to do to make this stop but I do not want it affecting my credit score as they have threatened to do.Desired Settlement: I would like for the business to stop trying to collect monthly dues and stop the collection process.