Nancy B.
I received a call requesting payment…
I received a call requesting payment method update and I elected to cancel my membership because, with Covid and my health, I elected to cancel my membership. I cancelled my membership in person, signed the cancellation agreement electronically and paid the payment using the same credit card that Crunch Fitness had on file because it was never inactive. One month later I was notified by phone that my membership was still active and needed to pay an additional month of dues plus a late fee. The representative confirmed the cancellation request had been made but that there was an outstanding balance that prevented them from cancelling the membership. Crunch Fitness also sent an Email on the same day and I responded to the Email notifying them that I had paid all fees and cancelled the contract in person and would not be sending any additional funds. Six months later I receive a demand letter from a collection agency threatening actions against my credit and legal actions unless i paid about 250 dollars. I went back to the Crunch Fitness gym and the representative claimed that my only option was to pay the money and again cancel my membership. I offered to pay the requested amount but told them that I would be taking legal action, the requested amount then increased by about 40 dollars, which I paid. After several confrontations at the front counter on several days I was able to get a copy of my account ledger, and this is when it gets interesting. I discovered and it was confirmed by the representative that each month Crunch Fitness was charging my Credit Card $2.00 for Credit Card Processing Fee. Florida Statute 501.0117 makes this charge illegal. There was also a $15 per month late fee charged because they claimed that the Credit Card Charge was declined, My bank confirmed that no charges were ever declined and though two months after the first claim that the card was declined the automatic card renewal did occur. In the Member agreement Crunch Fitness acknowledged the right to change the credit card expiration date and continue charging the account. Crunch Fitness elected to not charge the Credit Card and used this as the excuse for the $15 late fees. The account balance of $6.83 that Crunch Fitness used as the excuse for not cancelling the membership originally could never be explained but was in the account ledger from the beginning of the membership and was never charged to the Credit Card. State law limits late fees to 5% of the balance due so if anyone is charged this, the charge is not consistent with law. I have filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and they have opened an investigation, I would recommend demanding a copy of your account and examine it.