24hourfitness

[moneymaker]

So it seems they are increasing the yearly rate for the lifetime memberships. My son was paying $49 a year, now it is $124. After googling looks like mine will go from $20 to $79 in December, time to break out the contract and consult an attorney or small claims court if appropriate. 24 Hour Fitness must be hurting for money as I don’t see them investing any of it in the clubs I visit. Can someone say “class action!”.

[plm]

Well if they raise my rate, I’ll just cancel. Probably should cancel anyhow since I think I’ve only went twice the past year.

[livinincali]

24 hour fitness got sold about a year ago to a private equity group and most of the purchase price was in debt financing. It wouldn’t surprise me if they are trying to boost revenues in this manner.

Your new rates are still probably still 3 or 4 times lower than what a new member would pay and at $4 month if you actually used it it was an incredible deal.

This reddit post seems to indicate in the fine print they can indeed do this and they have been doing it.

24 Hour Fitness Increasing "Lifetime" membership rate – is this legal? (California)
by u/FU24HrFitness in legaladvice

[barnaby33]

That thread has people complaining about their rates more than doubling! I remember when I signed up in 97 they said rates could rise, slowly, but almost never do. I upgraded once to an Sport membership and so pay more but haven’t since then.

It looks like they can raise our rates 5% a year. It might be time to join the YMCA.
Josh

[moneymaker]

I have the contract and it explicitly states the rate is $20 per year guaranteed and cannot be broken. Not being a lawyer I would think the “not be broken” part would be equally binding. No I haven’t received my increase yet so maybe I will be one of the few that doesn’t get the increase.

[joec]

[quote=moneymaker]I have the contract and it explicitly states the rate is $20 per year guaranteed and cannot be broken. Not being a lawyer I would think the “not be broken” part would be equally binding. No I haven’t received my increase yet so maybe I will be one of the few that doesn’t get the increase.[/quote]

I have the $20 rate as well. I will try to look for my contract, but from some of the reddit posts, the fine print seems to say they can raise it (at least according to the 2007 member post).

What’s sad with this is if they can raise it in any subsequent year, what’s the point of purchasing a annual fee and pay more upfront when you joined (I think I joined for 2 years) just so they can raise it on you at year two? That sounds a bit misleading.

I hope I can find it. Maybe some of the older plans are better worded.

[moneymaker]

My contract is from January 2005 and explicitly states

3(c) If you have a prepaid membership,24 Hour will not increase your Guaranteed Annual Renewal Amount on the front page of this Agreement, so long as you remain a member in good standing.

The only mention of 3% increases is for monthly dues, and can only be increased once per year.

3(g)states that a copy of the contract can be requested for a $10 fee.

[moneymaker]

[quote=barnaby33]That thread has people complaining about their rates more than doubling! I remember when I signed up in 97 they said rates could rise, slowly, but almost never do. I upgraded once to an Sport membership and so pay more but haven’t since then.

It looks like they can raise our rates 5% a year. It might be time to join the YMCA.
Josh[/quote]

The 5% raise is for monthly dues and started in 2006.

[scaredyclassic]

I hate them .my kid joined for the summer. I tried to go with him. They wanted 20.00 for a,day pass. That is outrageous. Even superfancy clubs might not charge that much. .

10 bucks is,fair. Screw them

[all]

That still sounds like an incredible price, assuming you are actually working out.
LA Fitness is advertising $219/year price, but you have to prepay years in advance. Downtown Fit is $110/month for the most basic membership.

[Coronita]

What is the total cost breakdown for 1 year? Just curious…

[poorgradstudent]

Is there any language in the contract about the ability of either party to void the contract?

[moneymaker]

No, there is no clause to break the contract, I think they worded it that way to make it iron clad, not thinking it also applies to them. My only question is does the new owner, the private equity firm have to uphold the contract? I would think yes as long as it was never a bankruptcy, now the next question is are they headed that way? I would be happy just to get my $600 dollars back and then say adios, my wife (who rarely uses the membership) wants to force them to keep her membership active on the agreed upon terms. P.S.- Just talked to Chris at 24 hour fitness and she said my wife and I would not be getting the increase because we signed up before 2006.

[bearishgurl]

The YMCA of SD County charges $40 month (no contract) for a single adult to work out 7 days per week. They’re open from 6 am to 10 pm M – F, 6 am to 7 pm Sat and 6 am to 5 pm Sun.

They have a HUGE amount of local deep-pocketed donors which equates to TONs of new circuit training equipment and dozens of fitness classes offered per week, all with certified instructors.

I’ve been working out there several times per week for almost 6 years (except when I’m on the road) and I love it!

The Y is even cheaper per person for couples and families with kids and also runs camps, daycare, after-school care, swimming lessons and other fitness programs for kids.

A member can quit at any time and if they sign up the first week of the year, their yearly membership fee is forever waived as long as they remain a member in good standing.

The Y’s pilates and yoga classes alone would cost $12 to $25 EACH if taken at a private studio. (Having rec’d groupons for a 6-8 class trial of these studio classes as gifts, I know this to be a fact.)

Edit: if you and/or your family members qualify as “low income,” you can get a discount on your monthly Y dues. Inquire within.

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