Bally Total Firness

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Rgarel

New Member
Jurisdiction
Virginia
I have a lifetime Gold Charter Executive membership (GDCTX) to Holliday Spa that was changed to Bally. My card was originally issued in Md. then changed to Va. It is supposed to have two transfer sales left on it. I have tried contacting Bally but have had no success. My question is whether I can be recompensed for all or a portion of my original membership fee as the company has gone belly up?
 
The answer to that is likely in the phrasing of the original agreement you signed, which you likely do not have.
The real question here is if the amount you might reasonably expect to recover is worth the effort of pursuing.
 
Rgarel said:
I have a lifetime Gold Charter Executive membership (GDCTX) to Holliday Spa that was changed to Bally. My card was originally issued in Md. then changed to Va. It is supposed to have two transfer sales left on it. I have tried contacting Bally but have had no success. My question is whether I can be recompensed for all or a portion of my original membership fee as the company has gone belly up?
Click to expand...

What do you mean by transfer sales? That's not common to how we have our memberships set up..,,

How much did you pay? And how many years did you use it?

Check to see if the state has any protection... I know TX might....
 
Rgarel said:
My card . . . is supposed to have two transfer sales left on it.
Click to expand...

What does that mean?

Rgarel said:
My question is whether I can be recompensed for all or a portion of my original membership fee as the company has gone belly up?
Click to expand...

What company has gone belly up, and why would you expect to be "recompensed for [any] portion of [your] original membership fee? Are you unable to use any of the former Bally clubs in your area? In any event, the answer to your question almost certainly will depend on the particular terms of your membership contract.
 
I live in central Florida. There are no Bally's I am aware of. I have tried numerous times to call Bally gyms and corporate offices and received only recorded messages. I've sent emails and left phone messages but have yet to get a reply.
 
I guess what I am looking for is a statement of my legal options and a recommendation on what, if anything, I should do to try and salvage any part of my initial investment. I have no original paperwork—only my card from Falls Church, VA with with personal info including membership type and member number.
 
Rgarel said:
I guess what I am looking for is a statement of my legal options and a recommendation on what, if anything, I should do to try and salvage any part of my initial investment. I have no original paperwork—only my card from Falls Church, VA with with personal info including membership type and member number.
Click to expand...


Emails and phone calls usually produce no results.

A written letter sent by FedEx or USPS Priority Mail will at least provide proof of delivery.
 
It appears several years ago many Bally locations became LA Fitness. There are 10 of those gyms in Florida. They can tell you if your Bally membership carried over.
You might have some difficulty being several years after the fact if your membership has been inactive.
 
mightymoose said:
It appears several years ago many Bally locations became LA Fitness. There are 10 of those gyms in Florida. They can tell you if your Bally membership carried over.
You might have some difficulty being several years after the fact if your membership has been inactive.
Click to expand...
Thanks
 
You didn't answer the question about what you meant when you wrote that your "card . . . is supposed to have two transfer sales left on it."

Rgarel said:
I live in central Florida. There are no Bally's I am aware of. I have tried numerous times to call Bally gyms and corporate offices and received only recorded messages. I've sent emails and left phone messages but have yet to get a reply.
Click to expand...

As far as I can tell, Bally Total Fitness is out of business as of a few years ago, with all of the former Bally locations either being bought by competitors or simply closed.

Rgarel said:
I guess what I am looking for is a statement of my legal options and a recommendation on what, if anything, I should do to try and salvage any part of my initial investment. I have no original paperwork
Click to expand...

If there is a former Bally club in your area that is now operating under another name, talk with the club manager to see if you can use the club. Your lack of a contract may be fatal to that, but maybe your membership card will work. Beyond that, you're likely out of luck.

Rgarel said:
there are no local gyms I am aware of in central Florida
Click to expand...

All you need do is google "central florida fitness clubs." Of course, I have no idea whether any of the many clubs in Central Florida are former Bally locations.
 
hrforme said:
What do you mean by transfer sales? That's not common to how we have our memberships set up..,,

How much did you pay? And how many years did you use it?

Check to see if the state has any protection... I know TX might....
Click to expand...
As indicated, my Gold Charter Executive membership is lifetime. It included all activities such as racquetball, pool, personal training, and classes. It was was originally purchased from another couple with two memberships, each having three transfers/sales permitted. My (now-ex) wife purchased a second membership from this couple. After purchase for $2,000 each in the late 1970's or early '80s, there were two transfer/sales left on each membership. Even when we purchased these, Bally no longer offered this type of lifetime/transferable membership. We used them for approximately 5-7 years and then simply stopped going.
 
I checked my card from Holiday Spa in Falls Church, VA. Along with my name, type of membership GDCTX, B8BA1021-32E1-4F1F-AF55-D96EDC06C512.jpeg and ID number, it states I was a member since 1982. A B&W copy of my driver's license is affixed to the back of the card. When first purchased, we used the club in Rockville, Md at the junction of Wisconsin Ave and Old Georgetown road.
 
Rgarel said:
As indicated, my Gold Charter Executive membership is lifetime. It included all activities such as racquetball, pool, personal training, and classes. It was was originally purchased from another couple with two memberships, each having three transfers/sales permitted. My (now-ex) wife purchased a second membership from this couple. After purchase for $2,000 each in the late 1970's or early '80s, there were two transfer/sales left on each membership. Even when we purchased these, Bally no longer offered this type of lifetime/transferable membership. We used them for approximately 5-7 years and then simply stopped going.
Click to expand...

So let me get the timeline right... you bought these in the early 80's used them for 5-7 years so let's say that gets us to 1990....which is 27 YEARS ago -- honestly I doubt any records exist from that long ago as computer systems have change and been updated and clubs have sold and closed. Bally's is now closed -- and I doubt that the takeover clubs took over these inactive, unused memberships. (I've been in the fitness business since 2008).

You haven't communicated with Ballys for 27 years? Why did you not do your own due diligence when you moved? Honestly I don't see you having any luck persuading anyone that you are owed anything as you had access that you chose to let go dormant for so very long. I bet the original contract stated what would happen if the clubs closed. But if you don't have a copy, you are SOL.
 
hrforme said:
So let me get the timeline right... you bought these in the early 80's used them for 5-7 years so let's say that gets us to 1990....which is 27 YEARS ago -- honestly I doubt any records exist from that long ago as computer systems have change and been updated and clubs have sold and closed. Bally's is now closed -- and I doubt that the takeover clubs took over these inactive, unused memberships. (I've been in the fitness business since 2008).

You haven't communicated with Ballys for 27 years? Why did you not do your own due diligence when you moved? Honestly I don't see you having any luck persuading anyone that you are owed anything as you had access that you chose to let go dormant for so very long. I bet the original contract stated what would happen if the clubs closed. But if you don't have a copy, you are SOL.
Click to expand...
LOL! Yes, I just found the card after having moved from WV to central Florida. It was buried in a chest of drawers and I had forgotten about it for all these years. I figured that there would be little chance of getting anything, but figured it would be worth trying--especially if there had been a class action suit along the way. In any event, thanks for your explanation. I may attempt to contact any local fitness centers that may have picked up Bally customers and see if I can get in.
 
Rgarel said:
LOL! Yes, I just found the card after having moved from WV to central Florida. It was buried in a chest of drawers and I had forgotten about it for all these years. I figured that there would be little chance of getting anything, but figured it would be worth trying--especially if there had been a class action suit along the way. In any event, thanks for your explanation. I may attempt to contact any local fitness centers that may have picked up Bally customers and see if I can get in.
Click to expand...

it's possibly that the debt was written off in one of their two bankruptcies too.... So don't get your hopes up that you will get more than "free enrollment" at any local fitness center.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Share this page

Get a free case review from a lawyer
Back
Top