Anytime Fitness — Attraction in Minneapolis

I joined the Anytime Fitness earlier this year with the intent to get in shape for a surgery I had that was coming up in 18 months. Like everyone in the neighborhood, I wanted to support the local franchise.

At the beginning of March, in the middle of the night, I blacked out and fell from standing, hitting my head on the linoleum kitchen floor. I have a brain injury and cognitive issues since then. Things were exacerbated by two motorcycle accidents while learning to drive at the motorcycle safety course at the end of June. At the beginning of July, I alerted AF to let them know that I was struggling physically and cognitively and needed to cancel my monthly membership because I was unable to utilize the facility due to acute injuries sustained from my accidents.

I had applied online. Applying online was a huge mistake because it didn’t tell you that although you are paying biweekly, you are also locked into a year contract for over $800. Had I known that, I never would have signed up. It was a regret that the facility manager mentioned regarding signing up on the website because in person, that was something she would have told me. She admitted it wasn’t clear in a phone call I had with her to explain my situation.

I said that I would get a letter from my general physician. My physical therapist also told me to let the gym membership go to focus on more gentle chair exercises that she gave me. It took a few weeks to get the letter from my doctor, which I had let Af know. My physician was extremely busy during these summer months. When I got the letter, I immediately sent it over to the manager at AF. They said they couldn’t reimburse me for the month I didn’t use and that they would continue to charge my bank account for the additional month of August and that they would charge an additional $50 to cancel the membership. These fees would come to $106. Charging me additional fees and a cancellation fee WAS NOT discussed when I was asked to get a note from my doctor.

They charged me for the first payment in August. I emailed and asked them to stop since they had the doctor's note. They informed me that I could refuse the payment but that it would go into collections.

I hate to say this, but this was pretty shady.

You don’t need to go to a gym where your fixed income is deeply impacted due to the greediness of franchises that lock you into a membership where they continue to siphon money out of your bank account even though you've proved that you are unable to use their facilities. It’s an apathetic, poor business model. No wonder there aren’t very many people in their gym. It’s unfair and added an enormous load of stress.

I would get your own weights, bands, bikes, and go for a walk around your neighborhood, because it accounts to the same thing.

Gym memberships are highway robbery and with the tariffs that are about to hit us so hard that things can go up to 40% over what they usually cost, luxury items like, gym memberships are financial leaks that can be plugged or avoided at all costs.

Their rote replies about caring for customers and hoping for a second chance is childish and doesn't heal the problem. Read through their reviews.

After letting them know that I would write a review, I received a passive aggressive email. See photo. Again, there's a lack of responsibility and...

This gym is the worst. When COVID-19 started in March they closed the gym but they still charged me for the month of April?? I didn’t say anything because I thought they would open soon. Then in June they didn’t let anyone know that they would start charging our accounts again I made sure to put a stop payment because i didn’t want it to pay for a service I didn’t want anymore. I wanted to cancel my membership due to health issues but the manager said I couldn’t cancel my membership because i owed money for the month of June(the payment I put the stop payment for) he said I would have to pay that amount so I could cancel my membership but that they owed me for the month of April? Simple math you owe me but I owe you.... then we are even, right? I decided to ignore them but then ABC financial their financial partner kept harassing me saying I owed for the June, July, August, etc. and that if I didn’t pay them they would send me to collection. I tried talking to the manager again. He said that I should freeze my account until I’m able to pay because if I don’t they’ll keep adding everyone month to how much I owe. I was very clear and told him that I couldn’t and wouldn’t pay anything to a greedy corporate company who is willing to take advantage of locals especially after everything out community has been through. Don’t even get close to this gym what they are doing is illegal and unethical. I made sure to report them to the Better Business Bureau and I advise that others do the same. This is not the first time and I’m sure I’m not the last one to go through this ignorant process. I’ve given them two cancellation forms and they still don’t accept it until I pay off the amount owed which keeps adding up...

This was going to be a one star review until the manager, Stephan, handled my COVID cancelation request promptly and with excellent customer service. To be clear, I'm canceling not because there is anything wrong with this Anytime (in fact, it is solidly above average) but because I won't feel comfortable in any gym until there is a vaccine or therapeutic available.

I initially asked for my contract to be canceled on April 13, when I noticed I had been billed during the lockdown. I was then charged on July 13, after the lockdown ended but long after I requested to cancel. Stephan noticed this immediately and offered to refund my July 13 charge, and to honor April 13 as my required 30 days notice. He also acknowledged communications to members about this (which apparently was only a Facebook post, which they admit now didn't suffice) had been inadequate and acknowledged my frustration.

Obviously I would have preferred a more seamless customer service experience, but I'll extend grace in this extremely bizarre time and also give kudos for a strong and satisfying response to my concerns.

I look forward to rejoining after...