Anytime Fitness — Local services in West Hartford

Avoided warnings of long term contracts, but signed on for personal training packages anyway. The trainer knew her stuff, but I did start to question if what I was paying - was worth what I was getting. When I signed on for small group training I thought we'd all be doing the same workout, but instead it turned out to be a once a month print out with weekly sessions where the trainer has multiple clients all doing different workouts. Each session probably gave me 10 minutes tops with a trainer. The initial package I had was for a 6 month training contract - eventually I signed a 2nd contract for the "Black Friday Deal" which was supposed to give me 10 free sessions for myself ...billing wasn't supposed to start until March 2024 (strange it started immediately in November while I was already paying for the first package - paying two packages for the value of one session a week). Well when I started to question the manager Dan in hopes of ending my contract early/confused about multiple charges (silly me I thought there would be an early cancellation fee, but not strict stipulations about moving/medical) - he A - mansplained contracts to me - told me I was locked in until March 2025 and that I had already received $700 of free training sessions (more alarm bells as I had been paying for a this new year long contract on the 15th of every month since November 2023 - two of those months I was also paying for the first contract). B - He only returned my emails and phone calls when I finally got so iced about being ignored that the message I left was about cancelling my training package and gym membership all together. C - he would not direct me to the actual contract that I signed (this was not available to me in the app with the general membership contract and he avoided sending me the contract even though I asked multiple times - eventually he directed me to the date of the signing). He then passed me off to another manager who was much easier/informative to deal with - he sent along a contract and did admit they had made a billing error. I asked since they had already breached the contract by charging me starting in November and not March - and that since I've paid consistently all along with no free sessions given that we just part ways early. Still crickets. What also was shady... the contract I found when I was told the date it was initially sent stated at the bottom that should I be charged more than 15 days before or after the outlined dates in the contract (the first billing date in the contract was noted as March 2024) that I'm to be contacted. The contract they eventually emailed me back was missing that particular stipulation. And I was never contacted when I was billed four months earlier than I...

This is the most disrespectful place to work out in West Hartford. Came here and was working out since about 9am, minding my own business, doing my work out. This tall, white guy and has an attitude right away, who trains and works there, decides to come and clean off the bench I am using while I was getting a sip of water after a set. So I walk over and said I have one more set, which I was about to complete, and then you can have the bench. AND IT WAS RESPECTFUL. He says Well, I can work in with you. Instead of just asking. I told him I had one more set and then I can give you the bench. My stuff is sitting right there. So he goes to tell me that you can’t hog a bench, it’s an open gym, and you can’t claim a bench. He also decided to tell me that he didn’t see my name on the bench. So we get in a heated discussion, he says that I don’t intimidate him, and this became nothing but a shouting match. So he walks in here with his entitled, privileged attitude, trying to bully and intimidate people in this gym. Call it for what it is. I go to tell, the manager, and the manager basically just tried to dumb it down as if it isn’t that serious. “Protect the employee”. I get it. Instead of him telling me to calm down and check his cameras and see that I’ve been working out here since before this guy came in here, he wants to take accountability for the employee instead of making the employee, at that moment take accountability for his actions.

So I let him know I’m gonna leave, I’m not gonna come back to this gym. I walk out and get my bag and instead of the manager going over there and pulling his employee to the side to see what’s going on and why he’s treating customers like that, he still decides to let him work out, so I left. I was told about this gym and that is a bunch of racist people who work out and are employed here, and that I shouldn’t even be coming to this gym.

Well now I see why people were saying not to come to this gym, and to go somewhere else. I knew exactly what THIS WAS living in this town. There was more respect working out in Afghanistan and Iraq! I let the manager know that I have combat PTSD and THIS IS MY WAY OF COPING—WORKING OUT! So, I am in the process of filing multiple complaints against this gym. Terminating my membership, and if that means I need to go higher than that, I will. So if you’re wanting to come to Anytime fitness, go to another one.

Response to anytime Fitness:

If someone was really handling this issue. I would have been called by now. Don’t worry about it. I want nothing to do with any...

A lot of the reviews here are misleading and don’t accurately depict what Anytime Fitness has to offer. Today, I completed Anytime’s 6-week body transformation program after receiving a targeted ad on social media. I was skeptical and not sure I qualified. Full disclosure: You have to put up cash for skin in the game/accountability to follow the program. But, the amount is much, much less than the value you receive over the 6 weeks. If you follow the program and achieve the results, you have the option to your money back or roll into a membership/training sessions.

My results: I lost over 12 pounds, 3.6% body fat, and over 2 inches on my waist (pants that I wore 5 years ago are now too big). My goals were 10 pounds and 3%. I’m stronger, more focused at work, happier, confident, and all at my lowest weight in over 10 years.

I did everything required of the program which is laid out in full transparency at the beginning - working out 3 days a week, following the strict, limited diet (which is critical) - and here’s the thing, it was hard and I wanted to quit, but I trusted the process and the results speak for themselves. Not to mention, the new habits formed due to this program - regular workouts and a more thoughtful diet - are invaluable. The workouts are hard, and it takes a while to see progress, but the support from the trainers is what makes this program different in the best possible way.

Eric, who was my guide throughout the program, would check in on me often via text and even put together a hotel workout for when I was away on work travel.

Lia, who I had for most of the team training sessions showed absolutely no mercy and pushed me to my limit every single class.

Tod, who was my personal trainer bright and early each week, helped ensure proper lifting form and always checked in to see how my fitness was translating to the tennis court and golf course.

And Marilyn, who’s a new trainer but a true firecracker who also helped push me to be the best I can be.

Thank you to the AF West Hartford team, I can legitimately say this program...