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| If people are having trouble getting out of their contracts, regardless of whether or not it has 'expired', why dont you just make them kick you out, to a point where they never want to see your face again in their gym - breach the gym etiquitte rules (big time!) and they will have to rip up your membership there and there. Sounds drastic but it just might work for all those FF members out there. Ive never ever done that but it seems like drastic action needs to be done just to get out of a contract. I was a member and quit about 5 years ago to join another gym, and back then it was just a matter of writing a hand written letter and filling in a form. I also was not impressed with the fact they charged new members, inc gym newbies, to be shown how to use the gym equipment!! Thats what GYM INSTRUCTORS DO FOR FREE!! I saw members there using the equipment in all sorts of funny ways, coz paying 79.95 to work out how to use it is crazy. Unfortunately the FF chain sounds a whole lot worse than back when i went. Lucky i left then!! Anyway, im at Goodlife Wantirna and they are the best gym out there in Melbourne. Been there for 5 years since they were the King Club (still miss the old king club days), Goodlife has enabled it to develop and renovate. Its not cheap but its friendly, bright and welcoming with good equipment and plenty of bosu balls. Thank god they got bought out by Goodlife and not Fitness first!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| They operate on the borderline of acceptable business practice. However the empire is starting to crumble because a lot of members have defected (and continue to defect) to the new Jetz "no frills" chain of gyms. My particular FF site is never crowded and is like a morgue during the off-peak periods. You're right about the sales reps attitudes - it's really entertaining overhearing the sales spiel and the stupid survey questions they ask the people that come in to join up. Then as soon as you have signed the documents and handed over your credit card, they want you to provide the names and contact details of nine of your friends so that they can harass them daily over a period of several weeks. |
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| How can the australian Government allow this to continue even though there are so many unsatisfied customers? Industrial Commission? Consumer Affairs? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| THIS NUMBER NO LONGER WORKS! lol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Andy Basically they are a completer and utter bunch of w*****s. They speak to you in a condesending fashion . I would go in and be calm and state that you are going to contact FITNESS AUSTRALIA whose Postal address: PO Box 1311 Crows Nest 1585 Phone: (02) 9460 6130 Fax: (02) 9460 6211 |
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| As a clinical psychologist knowing something about ethical human conduct I can absolutely assure you that FF is as corrupt as they come! * A pubescent child chats you up after you provide a wealth of personal data * They don't explain or provide you with a contract *They lie and tell you, you can cancel anytime you like, the less time remaining on your contract the less you pay * You cannot just cancel your contract: they tell you to contact someone 'qualified' to talk to you about your cancellation, who might only call you back 2 weeks later * you then are told to drop in at the club you joined at even if you have moved * they NEVER receive your cancellation letters * gym equipment is inconsistent at different locations * thats if your card works and actually lets you in!? * you pay even when you can't attend * if you go oversees forget about canceling * you can never call through and speak to anyone * The trainers are useless, under-qualified, dangerous, immature, uninspiring and disinterested! * equipment is often broken or not working * there is often no parking and the gym is often running beyond maximum capacity, so you spend ages waiting to use equipment while an impatient idiot stands waiting for you to finish * they are being investigated by ACCC * ACA channel 9 has run a program on what a scam job they are * they are extremely over priced (joining fees, admin fees etc) * even once you cancel they take money out your account - good luck getting it back - who would you talk to or complain to even? * once you have cancelled, even though your contract expires they still take money from your account * they claim you have to give them an extended time period notice to cancel, so they make more money out of you * even if you have a medical certificate or relocate etc you STILL pay a cancellation fee * ADVICE: call your bank and cancel your card, call customer affairs or ACCC, take control back, never join again, join a local gym where you ... |
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| don't think its $25.95 per f/n, that would be per week so thats $51.90 per f/n on a premier (no contract month to month) membership, if you did get that rate thats cheaper than any other membership.. Have a look at your contract!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I signed up to fitness first today, no contract, pay every fortnight with 30 days notice to cancel. They waived the joining fee, but I still had to pay $70 admin fee, and the f/nightly rate is $25.95. Seemed like good value at the time - but the main reason I signed was location (2 blocks from my apt). I will post my experience in a few weeks |
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| if you wanna hear more i can go on all day but frankly i love working for fitness first, im sorry that most of you have had a bad experience but were doing our best to change this.. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| cont. Next thing cancellations, again read your terms and conditions, this is all the website!!! so read before you even step into the club... if you signed up to a 12 month agreement which is 26 paid fortnightly payments which means you cant place a hold on your membership within this time or it extends your membership, then you can give notice to cxl which is 30 days.. if your contract expires for example on 6 June then give notice on 6 May so it will cancel in time. Make sure the receptionist leaves a note on your account that you gave notice and make an appointment to see the customer care manager theres one at every club and its the easiest way. If you cant make an appointment rock up with a written letter giving notice and get the receptionist to photocopy and sign this letter and keep one for your records... if your still within contract, speak to the customer care manager about your options, there are 3 exclusions for breaking a contract, disability, bankruptcy or moving more than 30km from a fitness first which they all need written doc... why? because then any one can make this excuse and break the contract which is a binding legal document... cont.. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hey guys, just been reading up on all your reviews.. I work for fitness first as a receptionist and i must say to this is darren you are right, fitness first did save several Australian and overseas health clubs that were struggling or about to go bankrupt, i learnt this all at company induction. I work for a company that in this day and age is making measures to help survive its economic crisis. I love the fact that my job is secure and we wont be turning into another starbucks coz we all know how well they are doing right now. People will always complain if they dont get there way and its true if you are nice to us we will help you more efficiently. Im not saying if your not nice we wont because thats our job is to help you. I have to point out yes you should read the contract and the terms and conditions booklet because there are a lot of things in there that you may not agree with so better to know before you sign than later down the track when your stuck paying for a 12 month membership. Do you read all your terms and conditions booklets from insurance companies or phone or credit card companies, i can only assume no because i dont and most of the people that i know dont either. Its human negligence so please guys read before you sign.. its true what they say mc's or membership consultants may harass you, but they are just doing their job,do you think that they like asking hundreds of people everyday if they are interested in a membership its basically like telemarketing so please guys lay off, if your not interested then just walk away, dont give out your number then complain when they call you. Really they are getting pressure from their managers who in turn are under pressure from their bosses and etc so its a never ending cycle... cont |
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| I have been a member for 10 years. I went today to put my membership on hold. I just want a three month break. Apparently I can't do that. I have to take out at home membership and sign a contract. That costs $10 per fortnight but I was presented with a contract. I said I did not want to sign anything, since I have no current contract I just wanted to stop it for three months and pick it up again. That's impossible. I'll do almost anything to find an alternative. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You are obviously a prime example of the sort of person that already has a chip on your shoulder about FF, you say it was not about the money for you (I bet that your argument with FF is?) Principle?? So you are happy with the principle of having to give 3 months notice to leave Next Generation's contracts, when even the thieving so and so's, who make it hard to get out of a contract, FF, are only one month? Very sound argument... Again, if you have a complaint about somebody in regards to their abilities...learn how to express yourself with just a little bit of grammar??? "service the staff has received"?? I might be on acid... but you must be just plain dumb to be shelling out more than you should for some misguided principle! |
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| are you on acid? your so delusional, it's like your talking about finding the inner child or something? fitness first are pathetic in every way , service the training the staff has received, their gym equipment, their constant thirst for money and their lack of consideration and respect for their customers. they are disgusting its not about the money at all its about their principals, i am now with next generation and pay much more than i would at fitness first but am so much happier i feel like i'm actually part of something and am getting my moneys worth. |
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| Seems like a lot of anger with FF. After reading a great number of the postings, I see that the majority of the issues that people have are not all caused by FF but in most cases in the actions or assumptions made by the individual. I wonder how most of these people would act or react if they were to have to deal with themselves in the same situations? I might add, if you are going to complain about how someone has gotten such simple things wrong, you might have a better case convincing people of your ability to be above reproach; by being able to do something just as simple...spell! FF saved the gym industry here in Australia, yes that’s right, saved, while all the main competitors discounted and promised (only in most cases to go broke) FF even bailed out some of the Members from these failed businesses and honoured their old contracts (and if not, gave no cost ways to end old ones before FF taking over). Yes it would be great to pay what you like, stop when you like, but them it is also great to have a gym to go to that is not in danger of closing without notice as well. Ask yourselves really... what social activity that involves facilities (and not highly subsidised by a Club), can I get for $20 - $30 unlimited use per week? Let's also observe that our health and fitness will never go away. Sure FF has made some mistakes over the years, who hasn't?? But from what I hear they have a whole new upper management that is all about getting FF to be the leader again of the fitness industry here is Australia, let's hope so, I guess it won't happen by the end of the week, but the staff I have been in contact with lately have been very upbeat that things are changing quickly for the better... all hope is not lost. Let’s all stop complaining and remember why you joined in the first place... to get and keep FIT. PS: If so many people didn't 'make it about the money', I'm sure they wouldn't think FF was all about the money?? |
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| Notice how all the complaints are about money ? Should we discuss the actual gym and its staff ? I am at Fitness First Mosman. After many years of *** machines they have finally begun to replace them. Is there anyone to show you how to use them ? No. Do they have a staff member walking around correcting peoples bad techniques ? No. We have gym equipment laying all over the floors, do the staff ask people to put them back or if dont want face to face do they announce over PA system to put back the gear ? No. Its an accident waiting to happen. A couple of the staff are very friendly , most just swipe you through without even looking at you acknowledging you. Its just a very cold atmosphere they create. They do use the PA system to promote other products to get more $'s and thats all they are interested. Sure its there to generate $'s but if they just spent 10% of the time on making people happy/comfortable they wouldnt get as many complaints. |
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| Choice magazine rates FItness First as the worst gym in regard to them being - upfront about membership cost - they found marked variation in cost from one gym to the next - they found it was impossible to get a cost price in initial enquiry - large amount of burearucracy to make cancellation difficult and delayed even when the initial contract period was completed - some found classes over full & access to lockers dificult |
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| *** k you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glad to hear that you got your membership sorted out eventually. I used to work at FF and I must say though that there are situations where the fault lies with FF and there are situations where the customer is at fault too. If someone wants something done then be nice to the staff. Don't start swearing at them or yell at them..threatening the staff with lawsuits,consumer protection or the media don't work either.It's not their business and they are just doing their job..Take a different approach and be nice from the start, afterall it's human nature to go out of their way to help out people who are nice... for those nasty ones who are rude and condescending, you will find that the staff would just stick to the policies, esp. when you have signed a contract that clearly states when payments are due or how much is getting deducted or the contract term.Don;t sign if you don't agree to it. It may be a gym membership but it's just like signing a contract with a bank or phone company etc...Don't sign a year contract and then expect to cancel after 3 months. Always read the contract before signing because somehow the banks or CC company won't stop the DD.. I was on the phone with my CC company for hours trying to stop a DD from another gym and they refused to do it which sounded quite ridiculous considering it was my credit card. Anyway, always read the contract before signing it and if you don't agree or if they tell you something different, then make sure it's written on the contract too. When cancelling, send emails instead so you can keep a record or keep a copy of the cancellation form. For those that have been rude to the staff, how about taking a different approach especially if you have signed a contract. Be nice and see if it works. The staff there don't get paid much so complaining to main office won't make much difference especially if everything is signed in black and white and they were just doing their job... |
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| and correct the problem himself even though its his error. That shows how low he was and thank god for that friendly lady at the recepetion she did save me alot of hassel coming back for appointment and all that cr*p. I cant believe how easy it was to cancel she did it infront of me. It literally took less than 2 mins. Plus do not wait for them to send you a cheque for refund or whatever they can do it on the spot through their eftpos machine. Dun settle for their BS. As many of the people here will know i wont be joining them ever in the future. Although i did cancel i still went to my bank after with my cancellation form and they were forced to block off all future fitness first Direct Debit. Just again cannot believe the so called manager cannot even face up to his mistakes and want me to make an interview to correct the error. OUTRAGEOUS. I got to say i was lucky the lady came out just in time to help me out. Otherwise i would of been shown the door. People if you ever get in this unfortunately situation DO NOT INSIST ON APPOINTMENT. No one is so busy in their time that they dont have 5 mins to spare and correct their mistakes. Anyways the nice lady who helped me at fitness first rockdale her name was Astrid so if anyone have problems with that gym go see her. Shes a senior receptionist. PS always get a cancellation form even if they say its ok dont worry bout it! Better to back up ur tracks then be sorry. Hope you get your one solved keyhole and the rest! Good luck | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ok this is how it went. Fortunately for me it went well i cannot imagine what a nightmare it would of been. Firstly i went to give my bank a visit and was told no we cant block Direct debit as it was set between you and fitness first etc. You have to prove you sent them a letter or something i was like it's my account why cant i do it? The lady didnt seem to be interested and insisted i contact FF. I was kinda angry as i told them i contacted them 3 times but they still do it. So i left and headed for FF. Ok got there asked to speak to the manager and it was the same security the night i cancelled my contract. I asked if he remember me he said faintly and went to get the guy who was meant to cancel my contract someone called Steve. Anyways expecting bad news he came out and said sorry steve is busy doing something. I was like ok i will wait his like no i think he will take all day. Very Fitness first like behaviour. I was getting quite upset then and said isnt there anyone i can speak to? Managers? His like all managers are on annual leave expect the steve guy. Yeah right BS! His like make an appointment and he will call you back. Seemed like i was been played around again and funnily enough the guy dont even know where the guys schedule for booking is. If it existed. Then got to say i was surprised the lady at the reception came at the right time and looked into my file. The security was like yea steve said he cancelled it, she was like no its not cancelled i just checked now. That shut him up as i can tell he just want to get rid of me either probably from steves request. The lady kindly took over and checked there was a mistake with my payment and said ill fix it straight away and refunded my money on the spot and said i will cancel it immediately. She even gave me a signed cancellation form and a refund receipt plus many apologies. I just cant believe steve the manager who had 10 days to cancel my contract and didnt and didnt have the guts to come out | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Andy Basically they are a completer and utter bunch of w*****s. They speak to you in a condesending fashion . I would go in and be calm and state that you are going to contact FITNESS AUSTRALIA whose Postal address: PO Box 1311 Crows Nest 1585 Phone: (02) 9460 6130 Fax: (02) 9460 6211 I intend to and let me know what happens. Dont loose your temper keep calm because they will tie themselves up with their lies. Might be useful if you have a recording facility on your phone also, just dont let them know it is on. Please let me know how you get on. Keyhole |
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| first for the next 3 months and when you join it will be a $300 start up fee. I was thinking to myself dont worry mate i will never join again. So thats how they treat customers for leaving in the cooling off period. Very nice. Anyways he walks away again when i stopped him and asked if i needed to sign anything as i know it was still a contract he said no so he left with my membership card and copy of my contract. I was suspicious but he went into the office already. So i went up to the counter and asked the people there if i needed to sign any form then they went into the office to confirm for me and said no you can go. Ok so i thought that was it im off BUT no today i recieved a direct debit from fitness first of $126. Obviously the guy did not cancel my contract and $126 cannot be the cancellation fee as thats only $70 and it cannot be what i signed up for which was $16.45 a week so $$70+$16.45+$16.45 still doesnt equal $126 even if i didnt want to cancel the contract. Not only they didnt cancel my contract they even put me on a higher rate then what was agreed on the contract. Im furious and is going to go see them tommorrow. One problem guys is that i do not have any written cancellation contract and them been who they are can just say i never cancelled it. But i did have 2 friends with me which were witness and their camera will show i was in the store on the 30th and handed over my card. I admit i dont think the $126 is retrievable but i just want them to stop debiting me! Going to give the bank a visit as well. Cant believe it's such a hassel! What are the chances ill get off successfully since all i have is my words, 2 witness and footage if they let me view it? |
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| Hey keyhole54 im in nearly the same position as you. I joined up about 10 days ago through pushy tactics and deceptive lies. Me and my mate went in just to have a look at Fitness First Rockdale and pretty much just have a chat over the prices etc. The sales rep lady convienantly told me i should sign up now before june offer ends bla bla bla. However i was hesistant so i asked her bout the cooling off period which she told me i quote "you have 7 days no obligation just give me a ring ill rip ur contract up if you like no cost." I was like cool might as well 7 days. Anyways got a bit suspicious when i was filling out the form she wanted my account number and bsb. I told her i didnt have it as i never intended to join that night she become pushy and insistated i call the bank now to ask them. I felt since i signed half way might as well since she said 7 days no cost etc. Ok went home then found out she has lied to me i went on to the Fitness first website and it says even in 7 days cooling off you still have to pay the $70 admin fee. I had a change of mind immediately after hearing so many bad stories about them. So i went in straight next day to cancel. I have not even use the facility once. First i was directed to a male rep or worker there and he became aggressive towards me questioning why i want to quit etc. Is it money, lifestyle etc. I found those were quite personal questions and it was my right to cancel in the first 7days anyways. Then he rudely decided to walk back to his office when i asked mate just to confirm theres no charges right? He then said "no there is a $70 admin fee" I told him the only reason i joined was because your staff told me there was no cost and i specifically asked her twice. He was been rude and insisted bla bla then the lady who signed me up came up. She seemed new and she said oh i forgot to tell them that. The guy had no choice but to say ok ill do it this time. He even threatened me by saying by the way you cannot join any fitness | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fortunately I have not been a member for as long as you but in the short time I was a member I found them to be completely dishonest. They took money from my bank which made me overdrawn even after I told them the day they had arranged was not good. I then incurred a $45 charge for going over drawn. I rang them up and was spoken to at two different gyms by someone called Eddie the first time who was so rude to me he had to ring me back to apologise. The next person I spoke to sounded like she had had a frontal labotomy and was completely disinterested. The third person Katie - I cannot even remember her name she was so dull - was Customer Services Manager. She spoke to me like I was a 16 year old , when in fact I am 50. She told me she would " See what she could do" She came back all puffed up and said I have cancelled your membership even though you have gone over the 7 day cooling period by 4 Days - BIG DEAL!!!!!! I demanded my money back and my charge and was told I would only get part of it back if I could prove that the money had come out of my account as they kept $70 Admin Fee. What for I did not even step over the door of the gym and start my membership up. I rang back again and again and they obviously recognised my number as they kept putting the answering machine on to say they were closed and it was 4.40!!!!!! Good Customer Service. Then when I asked where on my form it said about keeping the Admin Fee she said it was in the box at the bottom. It was then that I told her it was the Direct Debit Form and what had that to do with their contract. What a bunch of Villans, Thieves and Liars. I intend to take this further. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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