Functional Lifestyles — Local services in Palo Alto

Functional Lifestyles fraudulently billed me for $1000 while refusing repeated requests to stop.

When I started at Functional Lifestyles I enjoyed their novel approach to working out through fitness. But when I tried to quit, their customer service turned into a bureaucratic nightmare. They would stop my billing temporarily and the re-start it without my consent. Then they would refuse to give me a refund for charges for dozens of classes which I never attended.

Do not trust them with your payment information.

Edit: The owner has responded, which compels me to respond with more detail: On Friday, August 28th, 2020, I asked their billing to "Please stop billing until I restart it." in an email telling them that I was leaving the state. In stead of stopping my billing, they put it on pause for 3 months, and then automatically restarted it.

These charges continued for 3-4 months until I caught them charging me on March 2, 2021 and requested a refund, shocked. They refused the refund because they told me that I needed to tell them not to bill me repeatedly, months later, if I didn't want billing to be turned on again. This was in direct contradiction to my request, which was to cancel billing, not to pause billing, and is the basis of my complaint here.

They told me that I needed to have messaged them 3 days prior to my bill date (after 3 months of not being billed and with no direct notification of the automatic unfreezing of my account) in order to not bee charged. They tell me that the contract I signed says no refunds and so there are no conditions under which I will get a refund.

The response from the owner claims that I was under a 12 week commitment and so was not billed wrongfully. I moved away in week 10, requested they cancel ("Cancel billing until I turn it back on") in week 10, and discovered that billing had been restarted automatically from week 22 to week 38 without my knowledge or presence. If the owner had only charged me for the 12 week commitment I would not have complained - they charged me for 28 weeks and then refused to refund me. I felt betrayed, dismayed, and cheated, and then they fine-printed me on the the non-refund policy in the original 12 week contract.

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Stronger. Flexible. Faster. Mentally tough. Well rested. Injury free. After working out at Functional Lifestyles since they opened in April I feel all of these things and understand their Pursuit of Balance. Over that time I have achieved personal best times in a marathon, 10K, and increased my overall endurance and strength. My sleep quality has improved and my eating habits are better thanks to the advice I’ve received. Bottom line, Functional Lifestyles has a formula that helps balance your life without burning you out.

It’s not just a gym where you train to get physically stronger, it is so much more than that. It is a community of liked minded people of all abilities coming together to pursue a healthy lifestyle they know can’t be achieved on their own. The encouragement I receive from the coaches and fellow athletes has enabled me to push through glass ceilings I never thought possible. The fun relaxed atmosphere coupled with the energizing music is so contagious you can’t help feeling motivated to do your best in this judgment-free environment.

Classes are offered at 6, 7, 8, 9am and 4, 5, 6, 7pm Mon-Fri and 8, 9, 10am on Saturday. There us a 12pm class on Mon, Wed, Fri. The workouts are programmed on a 6-week cycle with each day complementing the one before. I like the variety of the classes and available options which make it easier to attend based on my schedule.

The price per class is significantly cheaper when compared to other Palo Alto gyms like Equinox. The more you attend the cheaper the cost per class. Personally I feel that I get the value of a trainer, coach, nutritionist, and mentor wrapped up in one low cost. If you are looking to achieve a balance and sustainable way of life Functional Lifestyles is the...

I reluctantly joined FL two years ago after much nagging by my daughter who is a big FL fan and goes to the gym 7 days a week when she is home from college. Fast forward two years and I am a convert and fan of FL.

I’m in my mid 50s and have been relatively healthy and have been more career focused as I took my health for granted. FL has been very good in educating me in the importance of being healthy - a good balance of strength, mobility and conditioning.

When I first joined the gym I was stiff as a board, had ongoing joint pains and could see that age was starting to catch up much sooner than I expected. Now after two years (3 times a week) at the gym, I feel much stronger, my mobility and flexibility have increased 10 fold (I still have some ways to go), and the joint pains are a thing in the past.

The coaches do care and the small class size feels like you have your own personal trainer without having to break the bank. All the coaches are well informed and they do make real-time accommodations for each of the individuals in the class. Coach Mike has literally been my personal physical therapist to help me work on my mobility.

The monthly coach check-ins to review your goals, make adjustments to your workout plans (both in and out of the gym), address nutrition, etc. help in accountability and ensure progress.

I do see myself being at the gym for years if not decades. FL has become an integral...