Complaint Review: Metro Fitness - Golds Gym - Tucson Arizona

I joined Metro Fitness around Nov/2000 and the only method of payment was to provide your checking account number and your account was to be debited automatically each month accordingly on the same day each month. I was very reluctant to provide this company with my banking information as I want total control of my purchases and debits.

I was assured that the automatic would be performed on the 5th of every month. I very reluctantly signed a month to month contract fearing that the unexspected my arise and out of my control the funds may not always be in the bank on the 5th of each month.

Then on Jan/13/2001, a very dear friend of mine and room-mate joined me on my Metro Fitness membership as well as our dues being doubled to the amount of $62.00 with the automatic debit continuing to be withdrawn from Paul Georges checking account on the 5th of each month.

Unfortunately the unthinkable tragedy happened on April/8/2001 when Paul J George and Robert T Castillo Jr (2 Metro Fitness members) were very illresponsbly creamed by a 4th time drunk driver offender and Paul George was very seriously injured with a broken pelvis, 4 cracked ribs and a broken front tooth. Dear sweet Robert Castillo Jr died as a result of abdominal injuries and trama to major organs.

Paul George was very lucky to be alive and could barely walk without use of crutches. Unable to go to work or use Metro Fitness Gym either until released by a doctor.

This commenced a series of financial problems with one household income gone and Paul George unable to walk or able to go to work. We still had a monthly automatic debit of $62.00 from Metro Fitness as Paul George had massive funeral expenses, not to mention all the other bills. The unexspected had arrived and something of course had to be done immediately.

This is time that Paul George would really like to forget though it is impossible. Believe it or not that Metro Fitness brought more trauma and 100% frustration into Paul Georges life when he attempted to cancel his membership temporarly as he could not walk and use the gym. This was a Major Production to stop the automatic debit from Paul Georges bank account with no money in it.

Then when Paul George attempted to permanently cancel Robert Castillo Jrs portion of the membership,this was the absolute absurd! I was told by Metro Fitness that I needed a Letter of Cancelation from Robert Castillo Jr that he would like to cancel his membership that is debited from Paul Georges checking account.

How was I supposed to get a letter of cancelation from a dead person? This was very extremely devastating for Paul George as The thought of his partner being murdered was an extreme burden to handle. Then Paul George was informed by Metro Fitness that he needed to provide Metro Fitness with a death certificate. This was also a impossibility as in todays society, same sex partnerships are not reconized and Paul George was not in charge of Robert Castillo's estate as his half sister in Sturgis, Michigan was and he had no other family members. Paul George was Robert Castillo's family.

This was so heartbreaking for Paul George to deal with this added trauma and frustration being awarded from Metro Fitness who refused to accomidate Paul George requests at a time of serious grief and sorrow. Factually, Metro Fitness caused more trauma and frustration than anybody including Insurance Companies (Paul Georges total loss of his 1995 Firebird, The drunk drivers Insurance Company, Lawyers, Personal Injuries Lawyers, Victims Avocates and Paul Georges H.R. Department at his work at Bombardier Aerospace). All of these people named conducted business in a very professional manner. Though Metro Fitness was requiring the impossible and adsurd for what should be a simple procedure to cancel a dead mans membership as Cancelation was a very simple process as that was the sales pitch at the original membership sign up and unwanted method of payment with a required automatic debit from the members checking account.

This was finally straightened out months later when Paul George was able to walk and go to Metro Fitness Personally. I was required to sign a new contract with monthly dues of $26.00 for a 2 year contract subject to penalties if canceled before the end of the 2 year contract. Robert T Castillo Jr was not on this contract as I guess that Metro Fitness finally believed me that he was dead. I was also re-assured that canceling my membership would be a very simple procedure.

I pleaded with Metro Fitness to let me pay my monthly dues on my own. They flat out refused and said that automatic debit was there only policy. I should have just walked out at that time. Though, I was hooked on working out and had to do something losing my dear friend to a drunk driver.

I continued to be a member and was using the gym on a daily basis. There was one month where my bank account was low and Metro Fitness debited my checking account and of course I was charged a $30.00 fee by my bank for insuffienct funds. The very fearful transaction that could occur when a company is in charge of your banking debits for payment.

Then my account was back into the thousands the next day after that transaction. I started paying closer attention to when Metro Fitness was debiting my checking account and they were not doing it on the 5th of every month as they promised. It was the 4th, 5th, 6 th, 7th, 8th of the month sometimes.

Then Golds Gym took over metro Fitness and my 2 contract was expired and there was the month of May/2004 when there was 2 debits of $26.00 taken out of the checking account and neither were on the 5th of the month as promised. The 2nd $26.00 was returned to the account several days later with no communication or explanation what so ever! Why contact the member! We are in control of his money.

The last time that I even used Golds Gym/ Metro Fitness was Nov/2003 and when you enter the gym, they scan your little badge to see if you are a member or not and it displays on the computer the last time you were at any Golds Gym facility. My little badge has not been scanned since Nov/2003 and you might think that Golds Gym might inquire why you have not been to the facility? Are you sick? Whats the Matter?

In my case, it was a time factor as I had been working an extreme amount of hours at work and just could not find time anymore. But of course Golds Gym continued to debit my checking account as usual. Why inquire? We are getting to money on what ever day near the beginning of each month.

Then it happened again, unexspected expenses over July 4/2004 week-end with my motorhome and bank account ran low. Golds Gym debited my account with insuffienct funds in the account and my bank charged me $33.00 and there was a 4 thousand dollar balance the very next day. Knowing that I was being laid off from my 10 year job at Bombardier Aerospace in Tucson Aug/20/2002 and Golds Gym/Metro Fitness promised me that canceling my membership was a very simple process and I was being billed for something that I was not using anymore and Golds Gym totally failed my test of how long they would continue to debit my checking account without any inquiries as to why I was not utilizing the facilities anymore.

I formally hand delivered a Cancelation document to Golds Gym on 09/13/04 and gave them notice that I was permenantly canceling my membership. I also demanded that they do not debit my checking account anymore as they are not authorized.

Yes, they did debit my checking account on the very day that was promised. The 5th of the month in October Golds Gym again debited my checking account without my authorization. I told them not to and they did it anyhow. Again, there were not enough funds in the bank account and my bank charged me a $33.00 bank fee. Here is Golds Gym contributing to the stress of a hard worker being laid off due to reduction in force. Just like back in 2001 dealing with Robert Castillo's death. Metro Fitness/Golds Gym was right there with front row seats to contribute with the frustration with there required payment methods.

I contacted Golds Gym corporate via 4 e-mails and no reply until just recently last week informing me That Golds Gym has nothing to do with the Golds Gyms in Tucson as they are franchised. This responded e-mail dated Oct 19/2004 from Shana Brunst (Franchise Processing Administrator) read that all information concerning my issues will be forwarded to Mr Ed Nissan Metro Fitness, Inc 7315 North Oracle Road, Suite 203 Tucson, Az 85704 and he will be contacting me about my issues.

Today is almost Oct/26/2004 and I have not heard a word at all. I am going another route as Ihave turned the cancelation notice to my bank and we issued a reg E dispute. So if anyone ever considers joining Golds Gym/Metro Fitness with the simple cancelation process. I believe that if I did not go to my bank and issue the reg E dispute (Stop Payment) that Golds Gym would continue to debit my bank account until I die. Then they would want a letter from the bank proving that I did die or maybe they want my death certificate.

Its over now, as no company will ever get my banking account information ever for automatic debited as the strict response will definitly be NO SALE!

Paul

Tucson, Arizona
U.S.A.

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