Blue Springs Fitness is a morally and ethically bankrupt company. They are forcing me to pay for a membership even though I have never set foot in the gym. Here is my story, you be the judge.
I was a member of All American Fitness in Blue Springs because they had racquetball courts. They were the only gym in Blue Springs with real racquetball courts (Club 7 had them but they weren't the real thing). I went there to play racquetball.
So what does All American Fitness have to do with Blue Springs Fitness? That was my question too! All American Fitness went out of business June 14, 2013. They ceased to exist. My assumption was that my account ceased to exist too.
Fast forward to August 2013. I saw a bill on my credit card statement for a monthly charge for All American. Investigating further, I had been continuously billed every month even after All American went out of business. I called ABC Financial Services, the company that handles the billing for these gyms, and explained that All American went under and I wasn't responsible for continuing monthly charges. They were already aware of the closure, but informed me my membership had been transferred to another gym and I was still responsible for the charges.
It turns out that in the fine print of the contracts you sign with these gyms there is a clause stating they have the option of selling your membership to another gym if they go under. I admit I wasn't paying much attention to that when I originally read it because I was led to believe that All American Fitness was doing well.
The gym that bought my membership? Blue Springs Fitness. Apparently I have been a member there since June. This isn't a gym I am interested in nor one I would ever sign up for. They lack a racquetball court...the sole reason I bought a membership to begin with.
To top it off, the gyms require a 60 day written notice to cancel your account. There are two issues with this. One, I was only give two weeks notice that All American Fitness was closing and two, I didn't know they were selling my membership.
I called Blue Springs Fitness today to tactfully ask that they do the ethical thing and refund my membership fees and immediately cancel this contract I never signed with them. Not only would they not refund my dues, they are holding me to the 60 day written termination notice. I will be forced to pay membership for a gym I have never used (nor have EVER even set foot in) for two more months. Their attitude wasn't one of empathy, but rather one of "what are you going to do about it?"
In light of these events, I thought it best that their current and potential clients know what kind of company they are considering getting into bed with. This is not a customer first company, it is a money first company willing to use trickery and ethically suspect practices to make a dime.
If you've read this and still plan to sign up, at least go in with your eyes open. Read the fine print and know they are the type of business to take every advantage of it.