Hi All, I have been with LA Fitness for over three years and mostly problems and complaints. About a year ago as I was going to leave but they put me on a special price plan £19.99 (great value for money!) also bear in mind this is a monthly plan so I can leave at any time, no contract. However having checked my bank statements the direct debits to LA LEISURE LTD NO1 have been £23.49 for the last 7 months! I was never informed of the price hike. To top it all off they now have the cheek, to hike the price again to £37 (this is confirmed in my last direct debit to LA LEISURE LTD NO1 ) Price hike with not even the courteousy to inform me of the hike. This definitely is stealing to me. Are LA allowed to do this! Yes the gym is worth £19.99 as is good value for what it is. But £37 a month is a joke for the facilities on offer. Do they have the right to do this to me and countless others I imagine?? I have heard so many horror stories about LA FITNESS but you dont see the reality until it happens to your self. Rant over, any advice more than welcome. Thanks people, wrap up warm. Billybob

Dear all, I have recently been informed that my 17 year old Son had a one month trial membership at LA Fitness. He went with a friend in January 2013 and was informed that he could have a months taster but had to pay up front which he did. I have now been informed by my rather worried son that he has received a letter from ARC Europe for £539:00 which includes a £40 administration fee to be paid within 10 days or it may be passed to there solicitors. I have called ARC today but the response was non helpful. My son turned 18 in April 2013 Please advise Dad67 (worried dad)

Hello all. I signed up to LA fitness October 2011 on a 12 month student off peak contract to which I was told at the time was 12 months contract ONLY as it was a student membership as I was paying a discounted amount . I proceeded to cancelling my membership via direct debit after they had taken the last payment(i think) in September 2012 as i had then finished university and moved out of the area. 3/4 months later I have today received a call from ARC Europe stating that I owe them £59 to pay today but something about owing 100 and something in total. When I questioned the man about why 59 today but 100 something overall he was waffling and not making much sense and about fees? or offering me a logical explanation and only seemed to be currently after the £59. He was rather aggressive in pursuing this money and very firm and didn't even offer a goodbye before he put the phone down. They said they had sent correspondence to the address I had given at the time of signing up but I have obviously not been receiving these as no longer live there. When I asked why they hadn't contacted me by phone or email sooner they did not offer a reason and kept asking for my new address in order for them to send the proof ( i told them i didn't believe them) of it which I declined to provide as I do not currently have a permanent fixed address and kept asking them to email me the details which he kept refusing. I have gone through my emails and found that I signed the electronic copies of the contract on a 12 month agreement stating the overall value of the contract for the 12 months which I think I have paid in full via my direct debit each month. I have now read that I had to give a months notice which I now know I didn't so is partly my fault but I just assumed it was a 12 month contract as I was told that and just assumed all I had to do was terminate my DD at the end of the agreement. I do however think all these extra costs as a result are unjustified and unfair. I would happily pay an extra month (19.99) as the one months notice I didn't provide. Also I have read suggestions that I should not correspond with ARC via telephone and use letters but as I do not have a permanent address is there any other way of doing so like emailing which I am able to do? I am now in the position where I feel very upset and distressed as I am currently unemployed and cannot afford to pay all this money and do not want any problems with my credit score rating etc. Is there any advice you can offer me please in order to help rectify the problem? or am I going to be bullied into paying the debt collection agency this money? If so would they let me pay the £59 or do they want over £100? I would happily make a donation to the site as would rather the money go to a good cause like this rather than con artists like LA fitness and ARC Europe. kind regards

I need help! I cancelled my membership with LA Fitness in March due to both physical and financial reasons. I cancelled my Direct Debit and assumed that was the end of the matter. I was not aware of any other obligations required of me to cancel the contract as when I joined the gym the term and conditions were not explained to me and i was not provided with copy of contract. I received a notice of default sums from LA Fitness threatening proceeding to pass my debt to the Debt collection agency ARC. I phoned LA Fitness and they asked me to send evidence of physical and financial reasons. I sent the required document but i believe the debt was already sold to ARC as I started receiving calls everyday from ARC. I have since received a letter from ARC and now just today a Solicitors letter from Trevor Munn Solicitors instructing me to pay the debt of 176.00 or in 10 days they will be taking steps to issue a Claim against me in the Northampton County Court. What should I do as I really don't want to go to court??? I've kept copies of everything. Please advise, Mar x

I have been browsing this forum with interest and see there are similar stories, with very good advice from slick132. I am posting my story in the hope I can receive some advice as well. Last Thursday (28th July) I joined my local LA Fitness. I was given a cursory tour, the sales girl talked at me constantly and I wasn't shown the steam room - it was just pointed at. I was joined up on their computer kiosk, the terms and conditions weren't read to me or pointed out, the girl filled out everything and just told me where to sign. I asked if all classes were free and she said everything was included. I agreed to join for 12m, I was quite overwhelmed at that point and forgot to ask about cancellation. It was only when I got home I saw they had emailed the terms and agreement to me, stating no cancellation was allowed, unless you paid the full amount owing! The contract states I am tied in for 12months at a cost of £33 per month, £40 joining fee and then this is where it gets confusing..they sent a 'pre-contract' and an 'agreement' One states the first payment comes out on 5th August, the other that it's at the end of the month..so will I be paying £66 this month?! I decided to try the gym out anyway. However, the pool had too much chlorine in it, the jacuzzi was cold and the whole appearance was shabby. Tiles chipped off the pool, a big rusty basket in the corner and cardboard covering up damp patches. This was nothing compared to the steam room - a white cell with rust on the walls and stains on the seat. Nothing relaxing about the visit at all. I tried one more time on Sunday and felt so depressed I decided to cancel. I would add here that I subsequently found out Zumba classes have a charge. Ok, so, emboldened by stories I've read online, and articles about unfair terms etc, I drafted a letter to the LA Fitness HQ (addressed FAO the membership services team -as stated in the contract) basically laying out why I wanted to cancel and giving them a months notice. I haven't cancelled any direct debits as I don't want any black marks on my file. I have sent this recorded delivery, today. I live in Northern Ireland and had contacted ConsumerLine about this, the lady was really horrible and basically said I don't have a leg to stand on! She said it was my word against theirs re: charging for classes and I should have made sure to take a good look when I was shown round and it was all my own fault. Surely this can't be right? I understand I may need to pay some cancellation fee but can LA Fitness really demand £396 when I only went twice and cancelled after a week?! In addition to this (and this is not a road I really want to go down) I have bipolar disorder. One of the characteristics is impulsiveness, and I do believe the day I signed I was on a bit of a high. Also, I cannot take large amounts of stress, I take 2 different medications every day just to cope, and a lot of harassment from these people could push me over the edge. I have a GP who can verify this and also a psychiatrist.But as I said, I don't want to use my illness as a get out clause but I do want to make that clear, that sometimes I make decisions that aren't the best idea at the time, Thank you so much to anyone who reads this, I am sorry for the length....please, if anyone can tell me if they think I have a chance of getting it cancelled or anything else I can do, please reply.... Thank you xo

*Noticed the title has a misspelling* Hello, I am currently a member of LA Fitness along with my wife. We are both on a 12 months contract which I pay monthly. When we joined LA Fitness we registered both of our names on the screens and was sent a Membership Agreement (Fixed-Sum Loan Agreement regulated) with our signatures which states a sum of £672.00 x 2 which is to be paid by 12 installments of £56 x 2; which is £112 for the both of us which I pay from my account. Note: A terms and conditions page was sent without our signatures. We are both 4 months in our 12 month contract. During our visits to the gym I have made a number of complaints and calls to clean the changing rooms as they are always dirty; thick dust on the air con, mold in the showers, broken gym equipment which increases the risk of injury (squat rack) and loose dumbbells which could at any moment come apart and land on you. None of my complaints were addressed or confirmed and nothing was done about it. A few days ago I was using one of the dumbbells and one end of the dumbbell came loose and landed on my knee; seems I have bruised it and will be seeing the GP as it's quite painful. I will be going in today to take any pictures of broken equipment and dirty facilities. I am now pursuing a way to cancel both of our contracts. My wife has her own contract with LA fitness which I pay for. Does anyone have any advice on what is the best way of going about doing this?. Attached is my agreements and terms and conditions. Personal details have been removed. Membership Agreement (remove spaces) http: //dl.dropbox.com/u/460884/1.jpg http: //dl.dropbox.com/u/460884/2.jpg Thanks. terms_and_conditions.pdf

Hi there guys my name is Daniel and I would really like some advice on how I can cancel my LA fitness membership. First of all I have been reading posts regarding this issue alot of people have been very helpful and sympathetic. So here goes my story.. It was August 3 2011 and I walked into the LA fitness in Birmigham, and I got roped into joining for a full years membership where i stupidly agreed to because of my impulsive attitude (i regret it alot to be honest) The next day which was August 4 2011 I tried to cancel my membership via theyre membership services but failed I got told by the manager that he will inform the head office( i knew what the result was gonna be anyways). I then sent a request of cancellation letter on the same day. I got a reply today Aug 13 2011 stating that there is nothing they can do and they are advising me to ask a friend or family member to take over my contract. I heavily doubt this as it will take so much time and stress. Just to let you know that I have not even seen their facilities yet and I do feel really really really stupid about myself up until now. I guess I felt pressurized joining because of that crappy offer that apparently ended that day if i didnt sign up. I would be ever so grateful if you have any valuable advice for me. Many thanks Daniel

I joined LA Fitness in Holborn in January. Lovely gym, great location, clean and good fun. A week after joining I found out that my contract at work was ending, which was a surprise as I'd been led to believe it would be extended. Not a problem as LA Fitness have many locations and one reason why I'd orignially joined. Granted, the central London gyms are their best, but the others, outside of London's centre, look, on their webiste, good, clean and a good standard. I now commute from London to Southampton and back each day. On route home, I go through South East London and as the Southampton gym is out of the city centre, away from the station, I thought that I could use this gym on route home. I can't, it's awful, filthy and I've complained to LA Fitness: I phoned and they told me to email I emailed the beneath with photos that I'd taken on my blackberry (seriously, it was super grim, I was shocked) I didn't hear back for two days I just called and they said it takes up to 14 days to sort a complaint out. I was furious that no one had sent an email telling me this or recognising that they'd received my emails I complained again and was told I had to wait for the complaints I asked to talk to a line manager who told me that they were 'admin' based and that I'd have to wait for complaints I reminded them that I am in PR and suggested that they contact me soon before I spoke to some journalist friends I was told I had to wait for complaints and that it didn't matter that I've had to pay £31 for those two weeks gym when I have no facility to use. I'm fuming and I don't know what to do. Surely, even though I signed a year's contract I do, as a customer have the right to complain when the standard is not good enough? I also should have my complaint recognised and responded too before 14 days? Also, if their service is not up to par, shouldn't I be able to cancel? Please can someone advice. I'm so cross about this and don't know what to do. I don't want to cancel my DD as I'm worried it will effect my credit rating if they blacklist me and I do not want to pay bank charges for missed payments. Here is my original email: Dear LA Fitness I have recently had to move jobs and my office location has changed from Central London to Southampton. I still live in south east London and commute into Southampton each day. As such, I have changed my membership from Holborn to all LA Fitness gyms. As the Southampton gym is quite a way out of the city centre and in the opposite direction of the train station, I thought that I could use your Sydenham branch as it is on my route home. Yesterday I went to check it out, have a swim and see what the facilities are like. Before I say anything, I am a swimmer, which is one of my reasons for joining LA, as you have so many pools. I was amazed, speechless and disgusted by the pool at Sydenham. When I arrived the staff were very nice and I was advised to use the recently renovated changing room as the one's by the pool weren't very nice. I then found out I had to walk through the gym in my bathing suit and towel, which I wasn't keen to do and not being very fussy, I don't mind if the changing rooms are old - but they were filthy! Piles of towels, empty Lucozade bottles, over flowing bins, hair and dirt all over the floor. A mouldy old wooden stool in the showers! Dirty old toilet, rust, broken doors - it was shocking. I then used the pool. As an ex county and junior GB swimmer I have spent a lot of time in swimming pools. The line of **** at the top of the pool was disgusting - I wanted to get a brush and clean it down. There was a rusty bin by the side of the pool, plastic furniture was set up at the side like being on a holiday camp and was filthy. Roof tiles were missing, people were eating and drinking by the side of the pool, the water was freezing, there was some strange marks on the tiles surrounding the pool (the ones between wall and floor) and I worried the whole time that I swallowed any water as I wouldn't have been surprised if there were rats. I was so disgusted was I that I took photos on my mobile phone. Whilst swimming a female member of staff come in and went into the changing room. I thought that, like the members of staff at Holborn she'd have a little clean up and as it was Sunday, less staff, maybe she hadn't had a chance. I was shocked to go in and see that nothing had been down. That the bins were still over flowing, there was still a pile of dirty towels, rubbish scattered around and she hadn't just quickly put a mop around on the floor. Is it too much to ask? Or should I do it for her? Granted, I did go and take a look at the refurbished changing rooms and and the gym and all was great - but as a swimmer, should I put up with filth in the pool area just because it is 'old' The poor, lovely manager that welcomed me to Sydneham as I left and shook my hand got a complaining upset member. He promised to get a new plastic bin and to personally insure that the pool was cleaned up... but I don't know what to do. I'm now signed up to a membership that I can't use. My local leisure centres pool is cleaner than your pool and my garden shed is better then those changing rooms - it's not overflowing in rubbish, dirty towels, hair and mud... Honestly, I know it needs re-doing, but can't it be kept clean? I'm really upset about it. I pay for your gyms because I expect certain standards. Granted, Sydenham was not going to be as nice as Holborn (although they should be as it's your brand and all should be the same level) I didn't expect this. It was horrid and after showering at the gym, I went home and showered again - I felt dirty after my work out in the pool when I should have felt eurphoric and healthy. I would like my complaint to be acknowledged and for someone to contact me. BW

Hi, Some time last year I decided to join a gym, I couldn’t decide between the David Lloyd or LA Fitness. A friend of mine used LA Fitness and I decided to go there with him to check it out, I used the gym and found it to be quite decent although very basic! The woman who showed me round advised me that they had a deal running that was £22pm (I think) but was only available that day and I had to join today to take advantage of it, I was very hesitant and the woman advised me that she would not make me sign anything and until the end of the month and if I wasn’t happy I could cancel, so I gave her my details and joined for the month but did not sign anything!! After having a trail with the David Lloyd I decided to sign up with them and cancelled the LA Fitness membership. A few months later I received a letter from ARC eu ltd saying I owed £380 in unpaid fees and they would be taking me to court, I phoned them and after a lengthy conversation the said they would send me proof. A few days later I received the letter and obviously in the “Proof” (see attached) it clearly states I need to sign the contracts, thus backing up my story?!? I phoned Trevor Munn (the company now dealing with the debt) and they told me that I apparently signed up on the internet and that’s why they didn’t need a signature, this is completely untrue, they are now demanding 420.51 and are preparing County Court Application against me. I really do not know what to do and with a baby on the way in 12 weeks I could really do without the stress! Any help would be really appreciated Thanks http://i51.tinypic.com/xe50s4.jpg http://i51.tinypic.com/oa92pz.jpg

Hi All, I would really appreciate some advice with the following: Some background. In February I visited LA Fitness and enquired about a corporate membership. I filled in a form with my contact details and a sales advisor showed me around the club. Later that week the sales advisor contacted me to see whether I was interested. I returned to the club the next day and gave my debit card (physically at the front desk) to the advisor. He took the information and gave me my membership card. I don't recall signing a debit card form however I definitely didn't sign a membership agreement (LA Fitness has confirmed this ). Later that same day I received an email (I can only assume it was generated by the sales advisor) of my 'agreement' This email included the following information: - 12 month contract. - Agreed to the terms and conditions - The normal cooling off period of 7 days does not apply as you were signed up in club by a sales advisor. - During your induction you will be requested to sign a membership agreement, this will allow you access to the club. Upon your first visit you will be able to pick up your membership card, please bring a form of identification'. This month I contacted LA fitness to discuss my membership as the fees I am paying are much higher than my colleagues and the facilities I feel are declining. My intention was to discuss my fees and either receive a lower fee or cancel my membership. After two weeks of little progress and refusals to discuss anything through the member call centre I'm now in email discussions with member relations. Member relations have advised the following today: 'It states on the email that you have signed up in the club. The sales person took you through the contract in the club and explained everything to you. You then would have clicked to say that you agree to the terms and conditions which is legally binding. You do not sign anything on a self paid corporate membership as you agree via the internet'. The above is simply false. At no time did I see a contract, terms & conditions & didn't touch a computer. Frankly I don't actively pursue a company to sign a contract unless it is absolutely necessary and in the sales advisors exuberance he failed to ask me to. My position at present is that the original confirmation email from LA Fitness states that 'during my induction I would be requested to sign a membership agreement'. I did not have an induction and therefore if LA Fitness cannot provide a signed membership agreement, I would like a renegotiation of my fees or cancellation. Additionally the original confirmation states that the 'normal cooling off period of 7 days does not apply as you were signed up in club by a sales advisor'. If I had signed up over the Internet as they are suggesting I would be granted a 7 day cooling off period under the distance selling regulations. Therefore this suggests I didn't sign up online. LA Fitness are essentially saying that I signed up in the club over the internet (is this even possible?). Therefore I agreed to the terms and conditions and they do not require a signed member agreement. In conclusion, I've been very reasonable in my dealings with LA Fitness throughout. My main gripe is what I consider unfair fees. In fact my preference is to stay with LA Fitness, with a fairer fee, which is the position I've stated all along. However, if a mutually agreeable arrangement cannot be made I would like to cancel. Is this enforceable as LA Fitness are stating it is? I appreciate any advise you may be able to provide Dan