Orangetheory Fitness — Local services in Chicago

One star not because the workouts or instructors weren't great. They were. I loved doing OTF. However, there was a giant miscommunication when it came to ending my membership due to financials and no effort to understand how there was blame on both sides and now I am being charged for another month for which I can barely afford.

I cancelled my membership a month before the next billing cycle because that's what I was told in the beginning of signing up to make sure if I wanted to quit that I do that at least 30 days before the next billing cycle and I was told I need to be a member for at least 2 months. I did that and I did that during the "get one month free" promo. So I paid for one month and got another month free. By the end of the first month, I cancelled the membership so that I would not be charged for my third month of OTF and I continued going to OTF for my last month. They did not inform me that the "two month membership minimum" meant "two month billing cycles minimum". So I signed up to get the one month free thinking I'll do OTF for two months total. But they still charged me for the month of January.

When I called to tell them that I was not made aware of this rule when signing up and if something can be done about this because I can't afford it and I don't have the time to make it to classes for another month - the lady I talked to very bluntly said that there's nothing she can do because I signed the contract. When I tried explaining that it was not made clear to me when I first signed up or even when I was cancelling in person, she dismissed it quickly and basically told me it's my fault for not understanding the contract clearly.

she told me I am able to continue coming to classes but I explained that I wont even be able to due to my hectic schedule and the only offer she gave me was to freeze my account and allow me to come back in 60 days to use those 30 months of OTF that I did not want to pay for .

I am very disappointed that they did not do anything to make right the miscommunication that happened. There should have been a refund exception for this or some sort of compensation for this not being verbally communicated to me about the rule. I was misled into thinking I could only do the promo month and pay...

I really cannot express in words how much OTF has impacted my life, not only physically, but most importantly, mentally. Every morning when I wake up, I cannot wait to get to my OTF workout. I crave it. It has been the best thing that has happened to me. I have been doing OTF for over a year and not ONCE have I left a workout regretting that I went. I love that every work out is unique. It pushes me farther than I would if I were to be by myself. It is amazing what I can achieve when I am inspired by the coaches and the other members around me. I can feel that everyone around me wants me to succeed and do my best. Growing up as a three sport athlete, even through college, I was always in competition with those next to me on the treads or the weights. Coming to OTF I don't feel that pressure or negative energy from others. OTF has something special. I believe that every person that gets to experience an OTF workout feels it too. I am completely honored to be a part of this program. I love that I can do a work out in Chicago, my mother can do a work out in Fargo, my sister-in-law can do a workout in Minneapolis, AND after our workouts we can share our results! Then we get to talk about how tough the floor block was today. OR wow, that endurance workout on the treads really kicked my butt. I love it. Let's also mention the ability of OTF to be able to accommodate all people. LITERALLY, everyone can do an OTF workout. I love the ability to be challenged on an exercise and the ability to have an option if I cannot perform the task at hand with correct form. OTF targets all shapes, sizes, and ages. Guess what?! We are all working just as hard. Being someone who has had open heart surgery and a little more concerned about heart rate when working out, I feel safe being able to push myself, knowing I am being monitored. I could go on for a long time explaining how incredible OTF is. Let me say it simply. Go to a workout and you will get to experience it. Every person I have brought to an OTF workout, ends up signing up for a membership. Going to a workout speaks for itself. Thank you OTF for helping me become the best...

Worst experience ever. I signed up for my first class with Orange Theory and received an email from Orangetheory Fitness South Loop after completing the paperwork that said "If you arrive 15 minutes or later than your reservation time we will have to rebook you for a different class."

I didn't want to be late so woke up super early and arrived over 20 minutes before the session. The class was at 6 AM so I literally showed up at 5:38 AM. The studio was EMPTY, nobody there at all and 2 employees. Immediately when I walked through the door "You can't take the class because you were supposed to be here before 5:30 AM, it's compulsory to show up 30 minutes in advance or you are cancelled and have to rebook a different time."

I showed the front desk the email from them that specifically says 15 minutes and they were like "well, I work here and thats not the policy." I was very confused, why would South Loop Orange Theory email me the wrong arrival time instructions and then deny me entrance. Keep in mind, studio is EMPTY and its not even 6 AM yet, there was over 20 minutes to provide me with any safety instructions and all the paperwork was already done.

I finally gave up and was like, OK I'll just drive home at 5:55 AM and do my own workout. As I was leaving, the front desk worker goes "Oh, and by the way, because you dont have a local address, this wouldn't be a free intro session, you would need to pay full cost." Like, are you kidding me? You've already told me I can't take the class, wasted an hour of my morning, and are now telling me I need to pay for a class that I can't take? This is a joke. Never again trying Orange Theory and actively telling everyone I know that this is the worst fitness class...