LA Fitness — Local services in San Diego

I rarely write a review but this time I should talk about the worst experience I had with LA Fitness at 10535 Heater Ct, San Diego, CA 92121.

First issue: In June 2022, I contacted with Drew (General Manager at that time) to ask for changing membership fee from $45 to $35 with annual maintenance fee of $100. He worked on the paperwork for me and asked me to sign it. And I did. He told me to wait for a few weeks, someone will ask me to sign another paper when I check in and new membership fee will be activated. And no one ask to sign anything but LA fitness still charges with normal fee regularly. For this issue, I think I am okay because I work out almost every day. The price is still reasonable for me. But my trust issue with LA Fitness just began to build up.

Second and more serious issue: I had a plan to travel in December 2022. So, I contacted Javi (current Director of PT program) one month before I travel. I told him I need to freeze the PT program for a month and I will resume on January. First time, he told me to give him the itinerary to confirm the day I leave. Next two days I gave him my itinerary, he said he will put it down and let me know. (Actually I should have not given him that because that is personal information). In next few week, I constantly asked him if he process my case or not. His answers were always like: “Yes, I will take care of that”. I emphasized “ If you do not process that, it will charge me in next cycle.” He said” exactly” but DO NOTHING! On the day of new cycle. LA Fitness CHARGED me for PT program again! I came to talk to Kevin (new General Manager). Kevin said that he will ask Javi to call me by 11am that day (Friday 12/02/2022) but I did not received any news. I texted him back and tried to call at 1PM. He texted me: I asked Javi to call you. (So disappointed!)

I came to meet Javi directly. He said that because I was actively in training program. If he canceled it I would not be able to book the training sessions. I told him that you said you process this and I DO NOT NEED to book sessions in December. He replied the start of freezing will be from the day I fly and I will not be charge in January. He apologized me. I actually do not need his apology, I just need this freezing working. Otherwise, I will be charged again for no reason on January. He said that he will freeze it right after the talk with me and I will receive confirmation email by the end of Friday or if not by Monday (12/05/2022). He also said that if you do not use the sessions, it will be refunded.

And guess what’s happened? NO EMAIL WAS SENT! I came to Javi this afternoon! He said he received a message from his manager asking if my case got refunded or deferred to January. Haha, I DO NOT BELIEVE in whatever you say any more! I ask him to immediately cancel my PT program so I don’t have to deal with this issue in the future. He said I cannot get the refund and I have to use as many sessions as I can book this week before my flight! OK! I think I am fine with this! If I do not get out of this program and just believe in his promise I may loose more!

I post my experience here so everyone can know! Thank you.

Other than that, I have very good experience with the Trainers here. They are...

I really like the service here. I've been away from the gym for years and it was time to get back in shape due to some health issues. I originally spoke with Titus about signing up. Titus was great and knowledgeable about signing up.

Part of signing up for a gym is a fitness evaluation. I had an appointment and went today. Unfortunately the original person I was going to be meeting with was out sick, but Fred Castro stepped in. He read my notes and really took his time in finding out why I was there and what I was hoping to get out of the fitness evaluation appointment. My biggest thing was not being very comfortable in a gym: not knowing how to navigate, what to do other than running on a treadmill or an elliptical machine, things like that. He took his time in his evaluation and made some suggestions. Although I need to lose weight and get my eating right, he also suggested some exercises in addition to what I was already doing. He appreciated that I was an ex athlete just trying to get back into shape, make a lifestyle change and be healthier, but that I'm older now and may not have the time (or the energy) to get back to THAT kind of shape. It meant a lot to me to hear that. Although he mentioned that he was newer to the facility, he still invited me to come back to talk with him AND the other trainer to make sure all bases are covered and that I know what to do when I am there, how to use the machines, and how to maybe ultimately achieve my goals. I realize it didn't take me two weeks to get to where I am now, so I have to give myself that grace, but it was an overall pleasant experience to be here and I'm excited about my new fitness journey to a better, healthier me. Thank you so much Fred! I look forward to again meeting with you and your colleagues to help...

I had the membership at LA fitness for over a year. I even had personal trainer. They try to make every move and lie to have you sign the yearly contract. I got carried away with all great talk and information(lies) provided. Initially they told me an hr of training cost X amount. After I started, I came to know they just spend 30 min with you! Remaining half an hr is for you to get warm up...wohooo..

Anyways...that's one of the complains.. I had many.... I would never join LA Fitness again. The personal trainer do not really help to train you and keep records of things we do or putting up a total goal chart. There is no exact track record of what you gain and what not. There is no conclusion provided. If you fail, they simply ask you to extend the membership. That is not how personal training work. For initial 3 months, they just told me the same thing..."You will get there... keep trying". After that, "You are getting better". After that, "You are on your track to get to your goal". In reality, I never progressed to do anything impressive. We keep personal trainer to have someone push you all the time and motivate you and do things that you cannot do alone. None of that helped!

Moreover, when I asked them to discontinue my membership, I always got the answer "The manager is no here at the moment, you need to fill a form and send it to our regional office in LA" ...really!!!! It took me more than 3 months to discontinue my membership and they charged me 30 bucks each month... 90 bucks wasted just to cancel the membership...

Everyone treats you like a King when you walk in to join.. When you walk in to Cancel the membership, they treat you like their enemy. Nobody want to attend you and you have to wait for hrs to just talk to someone.

I...