LA Fitness — Attraction in Casselberry

This is one of those instances you think only happens in the movies. My significant other and I had signed up for gym memberships and personal trainers through LA Fitness. When we signed up, we thought we were signing up for a month by month basis. It was never explained to us by either the Sales Rep or the Sales Manager who was called over to offer us a better deal we were signing up for a 12 month program. 13 days into our program, and two training sessions later, the unimaginable happened: We lost our jobs. No income. Both laid off.

Working for the entertainment industry, I knew I could find a new job within a few weeks. However, my partners industry isn't as forgiving. We pleaded with the gym to cancel and reimburse at least a portion of the sign up fees, and the Sales Manager insisted there was nothing he could do. If we wanted to opt out, we would need to BUY out. Paying for half of the unused training sessions for the YEAR. Well over $1,500, just to cancel, on top of the $700+ we had just spent signing up. We weren't pleased with his answer, and we asked for a customer service number. He was unwilling to provide us a number. Not just unwilling, he blatantly refused us. He went as far as saying there was NO Corporate number. Then he told us there wasn't anything THEY could do for us anyways. The way we were treated by this supposed Manager was unacceptable.

We had to look up a corporate number to call seeing the Sales Manager at our gym was refusing to be of any help. We called and called, and no one offered a single solution saying, "Well, you signed a contract. Sorry," as if these people had never heard of an Extenuating Circumstance. We were finally put on the line with an Avalon, saying they'll look into our account and get back to us. It's been two weeks, without a single call from corporate besides the billing department telling us they cannot bill us. What a shame!

I decided to call myself, pleading with the customer service reps that if we do not receive some sort of refund, we'll not only default on our payments to LA Fitness, but we'll lose the roof over our heads as well. Of which, the rep's reply was "It's not LA Fitness putting you on the street," as if that was some sort of consolation. 72 hours over a grace period, and LA Fitness refuses to help. What was offered, we would have our memberships cancelled and no further billing department calls would occur. We spent over 700 dollars on training sessions and memberships, of which, we used 2 hours of training each, and 5 entries into the gym. We had signed up for 8 one hour sessions a month total. Basically, we only used half of our months training sessions, and are now being told we will not be reimbursed for the remaining half due to contractual obligations, simply being 72 hours over our grace period.

The unwillingness to help someone in need. The awful treatment we received from the Sales Manager at the gym here on State Road 436, Winter Park, FL. The ineptitude of the customer service department. All prime reasons to NEVER sign up with LA Fitness. Who wants to go to a gym where you're viewed as a dollar sign rather than a human being? Because that's how LA Fitness views...

Updated 04|11/2022

I’m quite disappointed by their cancellation process. You have to go in person during business hours (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm) to answer three questions (email, phone, how do you want the cancellation confirmation).

I wasn’t even asked the reasons I wanted to cancel, so there goes the opportunity for improvement and customer retention.

I’m guessing they don’t care because the gym is crazy busy. In fact, the gym gets so crowded after 6pm that you have no room to workout let alone use machines/ weights.

I was already thinking about cancelling a couple of months ago because I was changing in a stall and the lady who does maintenance kicked me out (knocked on the door, yelled at me about taking too long, got inside the stall while I was still in there). I reported it to the ladies at the front who are lovely and said “so sorry” but didn’t do anything about it. After that I just never went into the bathroom again by myself.

Then, after confirming two different times I could bring guests in with my pass, did so for weeks (brought a friend with me every day), this week a random guy behind the desk who I guess is a trainer, said I couldn’t. Lol.

Anyway, instead of dealing with whatever is going on with this location, I changed to 24 hour fitness. Same price, more machines, no weird hassles.

Old review, 2+ years ago: I really like how many different areas there are inside the gym. And I Really appreciate everything is ALWAYS clean and mostly organized!

They’re remodeling the facilities and adding a bootcamp-style/cross training area which is sweet!

Haven’t used the pool or sauna yet, but I regularly see people in them.

They have a bunch of rooms for racquetball too, if you’re into that.

Cons. I don’t usually go at busy times but I can imagine the treadmills (dozen of them are broken), stair masters (only 4) and leg machines get hella crowded. It’s a big gym though, they have tons of other equipment you can switch to!

Improvement that I do care about, get some mats!

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Overall I think the price is very fair for what you get. They used to be LA Fitness and I don’t know what’s up w the name rebranding. Hopefully it won’t mess...

RAMPANT THEFT!! I had my car window busted out in the middle of the day on May 29th 2018 at 1:30pm. The manager was informed of the brake in approximately 10 min before in walked out by another member. NO ONE had called the cops yet!! I stood outside by myself after the cops left cleaning all the broken glass into a bag I had trying not to make more of a mess in the parking lot. I have cuts all over my arms, sobbing I collected myself and walked back into the gym an asked if someone could please help me clean the glass off the parking lot so no one would get hurt. They had no intention of ever coming out to help or helping at all!!!!

There where NO sines posted in the gym or outside the gym warring people about the massive amount of theft on the property. Apparently there is a news article that was written the previous week on Thursday May 24th 2018 in the Orlando Sentinel. It talked about this location and planet fitness in Castle-berry over the last two months. The article was on numerous cars are being stolen, lockers broken into and windows busted out in large numbers daly. I spoke with the manager two days later and still no VISIBLE sines posted! She said there was only ONE but it was way off to the side of the desk in a small plastic holder wedged in-between many other sines about Zumba. Not in plain sight at all!! That same day in the morning someone had just been robbed right in front of the main entrance! She said she did not want to put up more sines or put them in a more noticeable place because it would scare away business. I said you will..... if you keep letting people down by not helping spread awareness!! The crooks are laughing at your business and praying on your members!

Pleases be aware, help and look out for...