Scammed by gym! Help srs.

[BklynBrunette93]

I am currently working with a personal trainer at Synergy Fitness in NYC. I paid 880 for 16 sessions with my trainer which already sounds absurd each time I think back at how stupid I was to agree to that. Anyway, I'm nearing the end of my training, I have about 4 sessions left. My trainer said he would want me to continue with another 16 sessions and he would give me a great deal and cut the price to 600 bucks. I said I didn't want it because I'm a college student and I'm trying to save for a vacation this summer. Anyway, he pressured me in the office and I said I would think about it and to give me till Monday to decide (today) whether or not I wanted to go thru with it. He told me to sign that I would pay in cash and he wouldn't submit the contract or anything until Monday.

I went on Saturday to tell him I didn't want the additional sessions and he said it's too late and that he already submitted the form into the company's account and if I don't pay 600 bucks they will deduct it from his paycheck. I can't believe how stupid I was for signing the stupid contract. After arguing with him for two hours and getting nowhere, I decided to read their reviews on Yelp. All their NYC locations have the same reviews about how they're scam artists and have conned several people out of thousands of dollars!

I got a call from their accountant today telling me that I owed them 600 bucks and I spoke with my trainer and told him I said I didn't want the stupid service. The contact says that I can cancel within 3 business days of signing. I brought that to his attention and he said there's no way out, they're expecting the payment. Me continuing to be stupid, mentioned the idea of paying a cancellation fee. He said he would call me back and see if that was possible. He called and said I would have to pay 194, 30% of the charge in order to cancel..

How did he go from saying I can't get out of the 600 because they're expecting the payment to saying he would accept the cancellation fee? He wants me to go pay it tomorrow. I already called my CC and told them to block any transactions from them. What would happen if I just don't pick up their calls or show up anymore? They can't sue me, they'd lose more than I would. I don't even care about finishing my remaining sessions.

Has anyone else here been scammed by Synergy?

SRS ADVICE PLEASE

[Oburoni]

You tryna get the pipe?

[Oburoni]

But srs I would just cancel my card and not respond to any communication with them.

[kingT525]

just show him your teddies im sure he'll compromise after that

[ComaVision]

I'm hoping with 12 sessions under your belt you have an idea of what you're doing in a gym.

I would say ignore it completely but they could give it to a collections agency and that would damage your credit rating. You could try threatening to get a lawyer involved and see if they'll back down because it's clearly not legal. The thing is though, it's more expensive to get a lawyer than it is to pay the BS cancellation fee. Personally, if it came down to it, I'd pay that rather then let my credit rating get fuarked.

Depending on how tight $194 is for you, you could try reaching out to local news. If they do a story on the gym chain you can bet they'll be apologising to you quickly.

Hope that helps.

[Horizon92]

Take it to court

edit:

I guess you can't afford that. Wait for them to take you to court then, I guess you can just get a lawyer for free then? idk how that chit works in the states

[BrahPlease]

So you called ur credit card company and blocked the gym, plus you told the gym no, plus you arent going to the sessions. So whats the problem? You owe them nothing, its over with. Tell them to fuack off.

Find the highest employee you can and tell them ur getting scammed and u want it all cancelled. Places cant automatically sign you up for crap. Bill them for time and expense of having to deal with fixing the problem they caused. Srs.

[wisdommaster1]

just go No Contact... serious I don't think they will pursue you over it especially when they are the ones being deceitful and there is a clause in the contract saying you can cancel in 3 business days

[BklynBrunette93]

I'm hoping with 12 sessions under your belt you have an idea of what you're doing in a gym.

I would say ignore it completely but they could give it to a collections agency and that would damage your credit rating. You could try threatening to get a lawyer involved and see if they'll back down because it's clearly not legal. The thing is though, it's more expensive to get a lawyer than it is to pay the BS cancellation fee. Personally, if it came down to it, I'd pay that rather then let my credit rating get fuarked.

Depending on how tight $194 is for you, you could try reaching out to local news. If they do a story on the gym chain you can bet they'll be apologising to you quickly.

Hope that helps.

I only agreed to the first training sessions because I was a complete gym noob. Now I'll be able to work out on my own thank god and at a different gym for sure. I don't want to give them another cent! He went from saying I can't escape the 600 to now saying 194 is okay. He just wants money outta me. They do it to everyone as I've learned from Yelp.

[GravityLee]

Tell them you are going to go to the better business bureau

[Titansfan08]

I work for collection agency and i collect on gym memberships all the time. You goofed signing that but if it says that you have 3 business days to cancel they can't make you pay for that then. Have you spoken to the GM at that location? I would threaten a lawyer.

[BklynBrunette93]

So you called ur credit card company and blocked the gym, plus you told the gym no, plus you arent going to the sessions. So whats the problem? You owe them nothing, its over with. Tell them to fuack off.

Find the highest employee you can and tell them ur getting scammed and u want it all cancelled. Places cant automatically sign you up for crap. Bill them for wasting your time too. Srs

I work a block away from there and I was really cool with all the employees...till I saw how they wanna fuk me over and screw me with a bill. I didn't even start the new sessions, I don't owe them shiz. But they'll continue to hassle me over it.

[jwarrenfit]

you have a 5 day cancel law here in cali, and 3 day back in texas when i worked there. I have been in the gym industry for 10 years

If they do billing in house it is a very easy fix. You will have to go through circles but place the blame on the trainer. He obviously was very shady and i am familiar with the tactic he used.

Dont sign anything, thats dumb. But you can get out you have at least 3 business days just keep going to managers above their head. At the end of the day a gym will lose more business by screwing someone out of 600 bucks through the bad reviews. Speak to the GM

If they use an outside billing company make sure to get in contact with them directly. Dont allow yourself to be bullied anymore. Find out what exactly you signed as well. Was it one form? because usually there are 3 or 4 for waiver liability etc.. he may have forged to push the deal through

[trapaholic93]

Pics?

[Rellay]

your fukkin fault for paying for lessons instead of looking though a forum with tons of info for FREE.


Cancel your card and go NC

[strikeplay]

Google: Consumer protection agency in your area. Worst case you take it to small claims.

[BklynBrunette93]

I work for collection agency and i collect on gym memberships all the time. You goofed signing that but if it says that you have 3 business days to cancel they can't make you pay for that then. Have you spoken to the GM at that location? I would threaten a lawyer.

GM there is a joke, I know them cause I always cash their checks (I work a block away) and I'm so shocked they'd fck me over like this. They're not professional with me

[Sebstan01]

I Anyway, he pressured me in the office and I said I would think about it and to give me till Monday to decide (today) whether or not I wanted to go thru with it. He told me to sign that I would pay in cash and he wouldn't submit the contract or anything until Monday.

I went on Saturday to tell him I didn't want the additional sessions and he said it's too late and that he already submitted the form into the company's account and if I don't pay 600 bucks they will deduct it from his paycheck.

Unconscionable conduct. Breach in contract law. Take it to court. Legally speaking, he can't hand in a contract or any document where its ascension occurs on unethical terms (i.e. he pressuring you to sign, or handing the document in w/o your express permission).

*Edit: The above is only a general gist of things, btw. I'm sure there are other ways to resolve this. Good luck.

*double Edit: Upon reading your OP again, its probably unlikely that you'll succeed if you sue them (given that you were given time to think about it and signed it). However, as others have said, perhaps cancel the credit card...? Either way, I hope it works out. Gym membership contracts can be a pain in the ass, srs.

[Ayudha]

So you called ur credit card company and blocked the gym, plus you told the gym no, plus you arent going to the sessions. So whats the problem? You owe them nothing, its over with. Tell them to fuack off.

.

This... don't sweat it..

[BklynBrunette93]

you have a 5 day cancel law here in cali, and 3 day back in texas when i worked there. I have been in the gym industry for 10 years

If they do billing in house it is a very easy fix. You will have to go through circles but place the blame on the trainer. He obviously was very shady and i am familiar with the tactic he used.

Dont sign anything, thats dumb. But you can get out you have at least 3 business days just keep going to managers above their head. At the end of the day a gym will lose more business by screwing someone out of 600 bucks through the bad reviews. Speak to the GM

If they use an outside billing company make sure to get in contact with them directly. Dont allow yourself to be bullied anymore. Find out what exactly you signed as well. Was it one form? because usually there are 3 or 4 for waiver liability etc.. he may have forged to push the deal through

I'm an idiot for signing it in the first place but I've never heard the bs of "you're not allowed to cancel" he wrote that I paid in cash on the 25th and also signed but I didn't give them shiz. They're stuck with the bill now and want anything they can get outta me

[BklynBrunette93]

Take it to court

edit:

I guess you can't afford that. Wait for them to take you to court then, I guess you can just get a lawyer for free then? idk how that chit works in the states

I can afford it I just don't wanna give them another penny. ESP knowing they're fcking me over.

[Gsxr25]

lol he's trying to trick you. Don't pay for chit.

[Horizon92]

I can afford it I just don't wanna give them another penny. ESP knowing they're fcking me over.

Thats the point tho, since they are scamming you, they'll be the ones giving you pennies

[momason]

go NC

[jwarrenfit]

your fine. look for a corporate number if possible but as long as they dont have auto set up on your account they cant take your money. If they are a bigger gym chain there is usually a contact form online that goes to the higher ups.

[tk217]

Advice: Read what you sign. Just say no when you can't afford it. It looks like you dun-goofed.

[PatheticPeter]

Show us your form on sldl.

[BklynBrunette93]

Unconscionable conduct. Breach in contract law. Take it to court. Legally speaking, he can't hand in a contract or any document where its ascension occurs on unethical terms (i.e. he pressuring you to sign, or handing the document in w/o your express permission).

*Edit: The above is only a general gist of things, btw. I'm sure there are other ways to resolve this. Good luck.

*double Edit: Upon reading your OP again, its probably unlikely that you'll succeed if you sue them (given that you were given time to think about it). However, as others have said, perhaps cancel the credit card...? Either way, I hope it works out. Gym membership contracts can be a pain in the ass, srs.

I blocked them from my cc but will change the cc number if they contact me again. Thank you for your help!

[Lolzing]

lmao, seems like sloots doesnt have it easy as misc thought

[Maverick77]

If the contract says you can cancel, cancel. Call them back and say you have cancelled, if they keep pushing you say you will report them to the Better Business Bureau.