Bally Total Fitness

STAY AWAY UNLESS YOU DON'T PLAN TO CANCEL EVER!!! ONE STAR RATING IS TOO HIGH FOR THIS BUSINESS!! I joined Bally @ Englewood Cliffs, NJ with my wife on March of 2011. The sales person that helped us, ALLAN RAMIREZ was very swift and helpful to get us signed up. At the time, he told us we could bring a cancellation letter to him and he would take care of it. A few weeks ago we went to the location and we were told we could ONLY cancel in writing. I called customer support today and spent over 30 minutes trying to get a representative on the line, which you can only do by asking to sign up or add a member. The rep that picked the line ""LUIS UGALDE"" told me that even though I was the husband and the account buyer/payer, we had to send SEPARATE CERTIFIED LETTERS EACH. He even said to mail to a different address other than the one on the contract. I called my local Bally to corroborate the address. The ""manager"" there ""ALEXIS HERNANDEZ"" said he didn't have the address and that I should call customer service. What kind of manager can't give you this kind of information??? This guy even put me on hold every two minutes, then pick the line as if he didn't know who I was or what I was talking about. This has been BY FAR MY WORST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE! THEY ARE ALL TRAIN VERY WELL TO GIVE YOU THE TURN AROUND SO YOU DESIST ON CANCELLING! BEWARE!! STAY AWAY, YOU WILL THANK ME!! more

I am pleased to report that five years after the last reviews of this place were posted, it looks like nothing has changed. I (as well as most others) joined because the rates are amazingly affordable compared to the over-priced offerings at other Manhattan fitness clubs. However, you get what you pay for at this gym. The gym is a sub-basement facility, which may work for some who are accustomed to working out in their home garage. I am not. The shower stalls are questionable and there is no towel service, so be prepared to add another couple pounds to carry in your gym bag. Oh, and don't think twice about storing your towel and some supplies in a fee-overnight locker. They don't have those either. Working out between the hours of about 4-8pm is basically a nightmare, particularly in the winter when fewer folks step outside to exercise. The group exercise classes are capped at about 25 people, though the room should probably hold no more than 20. Overall, this place doesn't make me too enthused to work out, which first and foremost is what I'd expect from my fitness club. I guess I will cough up an extra $30 a month, join somewhere else and make it worth my while. Pros: Location, Monthly Fees Cons: Size, Staff, Hours, Cleanliness, Group Exercise Offerings more