09/29/09

Never Sign Up for Bally's. They Will Not Let You Out!

by esorlien

If you sign up for a contract with Bally's, you will not be able to get out of it for any reason. Failure to pay will only ruin your credit score. Stay away!

• Pros: None
• Cons: Can't get out of contract

08/12/08

Lies about contracts-do not sign up!

by digster

I signed up for Bally with a friend. We were told that all contracts were month to month and we could cancel anytime for any reason. After a month, I decided to cancel but guess what? It turns out there is no such policy and I continued getting billed. I was lied to! I ended up moving soon after to take care of a sick parent so I tried to cancel based on relocation, a very legitimate reason. They would not let me do so without a $50 relocation fee and they conveniently "never received" my proof of relocation. So I am still getting bills for hundreds of dollars, phone calls with threats to be turned into collections, all for a membership I don't want and was told I could easily get out of at any time. What a scam! I called the guy who signed me up and he said to not pay anything, I don't owe anything, but I'm still getting these bills and calls. This is ridiculous. If an employee says you can cancel at anytime, is it too much to be able to trust what they are saying and assume they are not blatantly lying? Don't sign up for Bally's. You will find loads of reviews just like this all over the internet. There are other gyms out there that actually do have month to month contracts like they claim!

• Pros: lots of locations
• Cons: lies about contracts, hidden fees

This budget gym trims the fat off its patrons at streamlined facilities.

by Contributor

The Scene
Most Ballys stick to the basics for their design. Televisions broadcast silently above multiple rows of cardio machines; mirrored walls act as the primary decorative components. But thanks to high-energy television ads and low-impact membership premiums, this national fitness chain has steadily attracted a clientele bent on saving money while losing weight or gaining muscle.

The Workout
Using fairly standard strength-training equipment and/or racks well-stocked with free weights, the best of the trainers here, who are classified at four different levels, can be as skillful as those found at costlier gyms. For group classes, signature exercise options include Spinning and Powerflex, as well as a number of patented routines inspired by Tae Kwon Do.