Omni Health & Fitness / National Fitness Financial Systems, Atlanta, GA - unknowingly locked in to 3 year contract

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on September 17, 2002:

From:

RE: Omni Health & Fitness / National Fitness Financial Systems, Atlanta, GA - unknowingly locked in to 3 year contract

My wife and I signed a gym membership with Omni Health & Fitness, Augusta, GA 30909. When we signed the gym contract the sales agent stated it was a one year "promotion" two-for-one special. We agreed to pay $50 a month for one year.

When I signed the contract I noticed he put a rate guarantee of 36 months on there. When I asked him about it he stated that just guarantee's the promotion price for up to three years, should we decide to renew our membership after one year.

He assured me this was not a three-year contract. Conveniently he neglected to annotate what type of membership it was on the contract.

Now, both Omni Health & fitness, and National Fitness Financial Systems, who handle all contractual issues, are telling me I am locked into a three year contract, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I have contacted both companies and neither one will do anything to help me.

All I want to do is pay the one-year I originally agreed to. I was misled and lied to in order to get me to sign the contract. All I want is to pay for the year I commited to, and not the two additional they say I owe.

Comment On This

These people are crooks. My wife got caught up in the same scam. They've charged her checking account now for almost an additional year. She has talked to them numerous times, and they say all you need to do is send us your request to close the account in writing. She has done that three times and they close the account for one month only to have some moron somehwere re-open it and place it in arrears. They constantly call, and ask for monies they are not due, and refuse to acknowledge that this is their mistake. If your reading this, be smart and run as fast as you can from these criminals.

Comment On This

If you what you say is true then the principal's (Omni) agent (the salesperson) made knowingly material misrepresentations to you (aka fraud) and that will get you out of the entire contract. Have your lawyer write a letter.