Bally Total Fitness Life-time Membership Owners File Class Action Lawsuit Against Bally Total Fitness and L.A. Fitness.
A class action lawsuit has reportedly been filed against Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. (“Bally Total Fitness”) and L.A. Fitness International, LLC (“L.A. Fitness”) (“Defendants”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District Illinois (styled Juan Dorado and Michael Markzon v. Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. and L.A. Fitness International, LLC, Class Action Case No. CV 12-00137) alleging, among other things, that Bally Fitness sold rights to many of its members and their life-time memberships to LA Fitness and sold certain Bally clubs to LA Fitness, even though there are allegedly geographic areas in the U.S. that do not have LA Fitness facilities and even though some facilities have allegedly refused to honor the lifetime membership contract, according to the Bally Total Fitness & L.A. Fitness Lifetime Membership class action lawsuit complaint.
The Bally Total Fitness & L.A. Fitness Lifetime Membership class action lawsuit is reportedly brought on behalf of the following proposed class pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23(a) and (b)(3):
All persons who own or did own a Bally life-time membership. (the “Class”) Excluded from the Class are the Court and any of the Court’s family members, Defendants, and their officers, directors, employees, affiliates, legal representatives, predecessors, successors and assigns, and any entity in which any of them have a controlling interest.
The Bally Total Fitness & L.A. Fitness Lifetime Membership class action lawsuit complaint reportedly asserts claims for alleged violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1346 ([Federal] Honest Services Act); 815 ILCS 505/ [Illinois] Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act; and Common Law Breach of Contract.
If You Have Thoughts On The Bally Total Fitness & L.A. Fitness Lifetime Membership Class Action Lawsuit, Share Your Class Action Comments Below.
Changed my membership number…
My experience has been horrible the past 2 months. Apparently, Bally’s Total Fitness sold many of their clubs to LA Fitness.
I had a lifetime membership with 99.00 per year dues. I went to my regular gym in levittown one day and I was told they couldn’t find me in the computer. I was so confused because That’s my regular gym and I wasn’t advised in any way whatsoever about the buyout.
Finally, after I got tired of waiting, someone advised me that I could use the gym for another week and then I would have to join LA fitness. I was so upset. What happened to all the money I paid for a lifetime?
LA Fitness wants me to pay $250 pus 25.00 per month.
I called Bally’s corporate and I called LA fitness. Both places acted like they didn’t know anything about how the issues were being resolved. Finally, I got a call from Michelle at Ballys 562-484-2792 on December 16th, 2011. She said that there was an error and that she was submitting my contract to LA Fitness so I can be added and it would take a few days but she wasn’t sure how long.
I waited patiently through christmas and new years as they kept on telling me at all the nearby LA fitness gyms that I wasn’t showing up on their computers.
After the new year- I became angry and called Bally’s once again. Then I received a call from martia monroe from Ballys – advising me (via voicemail) that she was apologizing because my contract is not being transferred and she would submit for me to get a “prorated” refund for whatever difference I didn’t use from the 99.00 dues I paid for the year. But mentioned nothing about the fact that I had a lifetime membership and they are cancelling that.
I spoke to LA Fitness again and they said that since I was originally signed up in Brooklyn, NY a long time ago- I am not covered because if they didn’t buy that gym my name wouldn’t be included in their computer hard drives of contracted names to buy.
I learned that LA fitness bought many gyms. ‘IF” you were originally signed up at the gym that is being purchased, and your contract was in that computer hard-drive, then your membership was honored for use at LA Fitness. So the rest of us are out.
How many people realistically stay at the same location for 20 years???
We were sold memberships to be used NATIONALLY at all their existing locations that were on their geographical maps at the time and we were advised that we can use them all. NOW – half of those locations are non existant. Its not fair that some members that signed up get to continue to use their gyms and some of us don’t.
Since I have done everything I could to work this out with Ballys Total Fitness- I have been left with no alternative but to start a lawsuit. I am currently in the process of considering the next steps to take to get justice.
Please send advice on how to proceed. i hear you may have a class action lawsuit started.
Sane thing happened to me when I bought the “lifetime” membership @ fashion valley center in san Diego ca in 1986. How can I get back my 1000dlls back?
I went to pay my yearly renewal for my Bally’s life time membership and was told that I was not in the systems and La Fitness was not honoring my Bally’s membership. When I spoke with Bally’s they had no more Bally’s functioning in the Washingt0n DC area therefore it serves not purpose to me. I am looking for resolve.
Actually my complaint is similar to Lissette’s because I initially purchase my Life time membership in New York City and moved to DC. Look for resolve.
Re: Sale
I am a Lifetime member with Bally Total fitness.I am able to visit any club nationwide. Originally & often I would visit the club in Hampton,VA. In 2000 I moved to Minneapolis, MN where I visited Bloomington,& St.Louis Park location. After 14 years in Minneapolis, I moved to Dallas,Texas where I currently reside. I visit the Camp Wisdom location off of highway 67. Recently,I found out that my contract had been sold. I contacted Bally’s and spoke with(3) Representative’s that informed me that I was with (2) other fitness facilities:Lifetime & LA-fitness. Contacted both no information on file is what I was told. Decided to contact bally’s again, asked to with a manager. Spoke with Jeffrey (Supervisor)who frustrated me more… Then I asked for the general manager (Eric)explained that my contract was sold to a club in Va. I explained each time I had moved I purchased a new Id card.provided new contact information per state everything should have been updated and documented per (Bally’s records)and still he stated,there was nothing he could do after explaining that my new address was provided each time that I had moved.The last move to Texas I entered and updated my information using their Kiosk in their lobby. Yet, Bally’s fail to contact me regarding this transition Eric then stated I needed to contact (One Life fitness) in VA.and for any arrangements because, they now handled my account. Contacted (One Life Fitness spoke to Zachary(manager) who states; they used my home address in (VA.) and they can’t assist me either but if I decide to stay with them their is a possible fee…I reside in Dallas,Texas. Seriously,this is poor business practice… Have they no shame
I am so frustrated… I would consider the LA-.fitness life time membership option (Nationwide)as I believe that would be fair. Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
I live in Houston, Texas, and own a Lifetime Premium Plus Bally’s membership with dues of $54, per year. I bought the membership through a transfer following the guidelines, paperwork and approval from Bally’s. It was only active for few months, since without any notice, the associates of the facilities I use to visit told me either they now belong to LA fitness or Blast Fitness, both denying me access. Just now I have received an e-mail where Bally’s says that my membership was transfered to Red Fitness 24/7, which only has gyms in Ohio. It has been very frustating for me, since I bought this membership to exercise because of health issues.
When in highschool I was in the varsity swimming team. Planning for college, I bought a Bally’s Lifetime Premium Plus membership, since the college that I now attend does not have a swimming pool. My plan was to continue physically active in an enclosed gym where I felt safe. I have been denied access to now LA Fitness. They tell me I am not in their system, because not all the members were transferred to them. On top of this, Bally’s e-mailed me saying that my account now belongs to Red Fitness 24/7, with facilities in a different State of where I live.
I hope the class action makes Bally’s honor their contract and transfer my membership to LA Fitness under the same terms.
I bought a lifetime premier membership at Bally’s 15 years ago. I was informed by Bally’s that my membership had been transferred to Blast Fitness and I would have to call them for answers to my questions. Blast Fitness told me they would not honor my membership and that I would have to begin a new membership with them. LA Fitness told me that same thing. My Bally membership is worthless. The nearest Blast Fitness is 30 miles away. My membership is not being honored at Blast Fitness or LA Fitness. Bally did me wrong and I want to join the class action suit against them.
I have been going to balleys for year i think since I was 20 (now am 32). I did have a contract with them (2 years for $29 a month only in the ballys). So on 2007 I joined the navy and before i left to boot camp, I had gone to ballys IN PERSON to cancel my membership (i had finished the contract). The lady asked me for my information (liscense, ballys I.D. etc). I gave her all she required and she told me she had “cancelled my membership” I even asked her if she was sure? and she replied yes. So I took her word and didnt think nothing of it (because what they did has never happened to me EVER!). I went to bootcamp and got kicked out in the 3rd week because they discovered that I tested positive for HIV. I was flown back home and went on my buisness for 2 years. One day my mother told me that if i go to ballys anymore? I told her that not I had cancelled it in person before i went to book camp. She told me then why have they been charging $29 dollars a month all this time? I am like NO FREAKING WAY!!!! I had told her why did you keep letting them? and she told me that she didnt know (she’s 66yrs at the time). So I had called ballys costumer service line and told them the situation and they’re response was we do not cancel memberships in person you had to cancel over the phone and even by regular mail. I am like WHAT!!!? NOOOO I WENT TO BALLYS IN PERSON THE WOMEN ON THE FRONT DESK ASKED FOR MY INFORMATION AND SHE TOLD ME IT WAS CANCELLED. SO SHE SAID WELL ITS BY PHONE SO I BEGAN YELLING AT HER AND ASKED HER TO PUT ON THE SUPERVISOR SO I SPOKE TO THE SUPERVISOR AND SHE TOLD ME i AM SORRY FOR THE INCONVININCE THEY HAD NOTED MY INFORMATION AND THEY WILL BE INVESTIGATING IT AND IN A MONTH THEY WOULD GIVE ME MY ANSWER. ITS HAS 3 MONTHS NOW WAITING FOR THEY RESPONSE AND NOTHING. SO I CALLED AGAIN THIS TIME IT WAS A MALE AND i TOLD HIM EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED AND HE RESPONDED “THERE’S NO RECORD OF A CASE FROM YOU. i WAS BOILING MAD SO I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO DO I HAD TOLD HIM WHAT I WANT MY MONEY BACK THAT THEY STOLE FROM ME ($900) AND HE TOLD ME I HAD TO RELAX THAT HE DIDNT OWE MEN ANYTHING SO HE SAID HE WILL FILE A FORMAL CASE WITH MY INFORMATION AND THEY WILL LET ME KNOW IN A MONTH. i STILL HAVNT HEARD FROM THEM. i WAS UPSET THAT THEY CHARGED MY MOM $900 DOLLAR FOR MY MEMEBERSHIP WHEN I HAD CANCELLED IN PERSON. SO I AM LIKE I AM NEVER GOING TO BALLYS AGAIN AND LET IT GO UNTIL i RAN INTO YOUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE.
you know what funny? they opened an L.A. fitness closer to my house, like an idiot i signed up not knowing they belonged to ballys, there was not contract but i have to pay $29 dollar a month (my credit card this time) and then 4 months have passed and i didnt pay for the last month cause i lost interest in going to the gym. So I came in to tell them i want to cancel my membership and the MANAGER told me that i still had one month left (free) but they would need my credit card. I told her why do you need it? and she told me because you owe one month i have to put something in the system or it wont give you the free month and told me that THEY WILL NOT charge the card that i had. I had told her again ar you SURE! cause i dont have much money in that card and i dont want it to overdraft. SHE says I PROMISE THEY WONT. a week later they charged the card $29 there was no free month and it went overdraft. I was PIIIIIIISSSSSSSEEEEEDDD!!! So i calmly go to the L.A. fitness and told her what happened and what she told me and she says “oh no the card was to charge your card for that month” i told her word for word what she had told me before and she kept denying it. So i told her give me the number to your district office so she gave it to me in a post it without her name. I told her PUT YOUR NAME ON THE POST IT YOU THIEF! she put her name on it and I left. I had reported her to district and they reponded to me the lady told me she was sorry that that had happend and that I will talk to her and that’s it. THAT WAS IT no refund no anything. I was still mad so I gave them a really bad review on the yellow pages.
I would like to join any open action lawsuit applicable to BallyFitness and “Red Fitness 24/7”, which seems to be a defunct company in Ohio (at least their website is non-operational).
Please include me in any class action suit regarding the Bally / La Fitness deal.
I have a lifetime Bally’s membership that neither Bally’s or LA Fitness recognize.
I have been denied access to LA fitness club In NJ did not honor the terms of my contact is a Bally`s total fitness club I bought a lifetime premier membership at Bally`s 14 years ago Nestor thank you
IS THERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK , I HAD A BALLYS LIFE TIME MEMBERSHIP , AND NOW THAT I MOVED THERE ARE NO BALLYS IN MY AREA. I LEARNED THAT MR. JOE ARCE ID. # 3638 INFORMED ME THAT MY BALLYS LIFE TIME MEMBERSHIP IS NOT GOOD ANY MORE , REASON BEING THEY CANCELLED IT. TRYED TO GO TO LA FITNESS AND THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF MY MEMBERSHIP. THE BALLYS WHERE I USE TO LIVE IS NOW LA FITNESS.
MR. ARCE STATES HE HAS SENT MAIL TO MY NEW ADDRESS AS I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY MAIL. LOOKING FOR THE CLASS ACTION SUIT TO FILE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK .
Please include me in the lawsuit. LA can’t find my membership in the system and just told me that Bally’s probably didn’t transfer it.