Victim of Hardsell tactics at California Fitness Gym
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I was harassed by a few gym instructors from California Fitness Gym (Orchard) to buy a training package costing more than $1000. I kept on saying no but they still persisted. Calling more and more instructors to talk to me, even once I was cornered by 3 of them at the same time. The whole harassment lasted 1 hour from about 7:15pm to 8:30pm. The instructor called his senior to harass me, then his senior asked his Mgr to harass me.
The manager (Zen Lee) was using very hard sell tactics. No matter how many times I say no to buy the fitness package of more than $1000, he keep asking me when I can pay. I told him I am financially UNABLE to spend that kind of money because I have retired parents to look after. I tell him I have no money more than 10 times. But he did not listen!!
And he just ask kept asking “So when you able to afford.” Finally I just say a month, December. I DID NOT WANT TO BUY THE PACKAGE!! Then he keyed in something to the pc and just said to me "I have credited the amount (bill) to your gym card". I was so shocked! I DID NOT AGREE TO BUY THE GYM TRAINING PACKAGE!! I simply said I will have money in December. I never once said I will buy or I want to buy. So I was shocked with his actions. How can he just say I have credited the amount to my gym card when I did not agree?!! Saying I will have money does not mean I want to spend it on the gym package!!
He then passed me some contracts to sign which I did because I was so confused since he said he ALREADY credited the amount to my gym card. The amount will only be credited on 11th Dec, bcuz I said I will only have money in Dec. I just anyhow made up the month, becuz I wanted to drag as long as possible, if not I will have to pay immediately.
Just to add on. I also have medical bills to think of. Costing $600 to more than $1k a month on serious cases....this incident will just wipe my bank dry.
Whalao! Guys. Have anyone had this experience before? I need to go to CASE tomorrow. I am so worried sick about this. Will CASE be able to help me??
Edit: This is NOT THE FIRST TIME such harassment case happaned to me. Even once, I was told by an instructor if I do not sign up a package with them, I will not be able to get a girlfriend bcuz my body is not impressive. I was like WTF MAN. In fact every 1-2 months or so I will either get harassed to sign up for a gym package or they will want me to spend a lump sum of nearly $3k to upgrade my card to the lifetime membership. Just 1 year alone I have been harassed like nearly 10 times.
Once even a manager, at the entrance where they will scan your gym card, did not give me back my gym card and wanted me to sit down with him to discuss the "Great Discounts" he can give me for the lifetime membership card. I am really sick of california fitness gym and I AM going to all forums that I can think of to paste this and let everyone read it. -
write to CASE
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Don't worry, the gym card is not legally binding. It is only a normal plastic card they issue right? You did not sign any payment at all, so its ok. He is just trying to employ some scare tactics.
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just complain to CASE
they desperate already, even jackie chan cannot help them raise money
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I got this feeling you were on MTV's boiling points
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why the hell did you sign the stupid things?
hmmz, not sure if the gym packages got those 14 days return policy. anywya maybe as suggested go to case? -
sad....
i used to join this small gym in wlds...
no politics... no hard selling.. just purely train for the passion of it....
now its closed down... cos ppl prefer big big names like california fitness.....
are there anymore small gyms around besides these megagyms..?oh besides FF also...
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Yeah I'm going to CASE tmr. I really am worried sick.
I have an important project to handle and jsut given my dream job and yet this SHIT happened to me!!! -
I did not want to sign the contract. If he DID NOT SAY THAT 'I have already credited the bill to your card" i would just walk away.Originally posted by hisoka:why the hell did you sign the stupid things?
hmmz, not sure if the gym packages got those 14 days return policy. anywya maybe as suggested go to case?
But he already did the billing without my permission, what can I do? I was so confused and tired. After getting harassed more than 1 hour by 3 instructors. Plus the manager. I didnt know what to do. -
Check out the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act
http://app.mti.gov.sg/default.asp?id=84
extracted from the FAQ:
8. Would consumers be able to cancel contracts under the Act?
MTI has gazetted regulations to allow for cancellation of time share and direct sales contracts within a 3-day cooling off period (excluding Sat, Sun and public holidays). The cooling off period is specifically targeted at situations where the consumer is subjected to high-pressure sale tactics. During the cooling-off period, consumers should review their purchasing decision and, if they decide to cancel the contract, give the trader notice of cancellation in the manner provided under the Regulations.
In the event that the consumer encounters an unfair practice in the course of a time share or direct sales transaction, he would still be able to commence action under the Act and seek civil remedies. He may also exercise any other rights of action he may have under any other law, for example, contract or tort law. This is irrespective of whether the 3-day cooling off period has lapsed.
I think you can consider yours as a direct sales contract if you had signed any.
Anyway, I suggest you go to CASE first to seek advices.
Cheers,
BabyRex -
should have jsut told him to cancel it or you would go to case/lawyer. this type of pple no need to give face de.Originally posted by EdmundHeng80:I did not want to sign the contract. If he DID NOT SAY THAT 'I have already credited the bill to your card" i would just walk away.
But he already did the billing without my permission, what can I do? I was so confused and tired. After getting harassed more than 1 hour by 3 instructors. Plus the manager. I didnt know what to do. -
one of my client, powerzman.
She said "Am I supposed to call my lawyer now, or should I record the conservation and call him later?"
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btw, edmundheng80, do u have the names of the instructors?
did u have any of those paperwork that u sign? -
I suggest you quick quick go and settle this within the 3 days. Hmmm and if i were you, i'd just call my bank and ask them to stop process of the payment. Whatever it was you shd not have signed it.
I was over at Cali as well over the weekend and got pulled into these sales talks. Came out feeling so disgusted with them. -
if i were u
after a few NOs
i will get irritated and jus shout at them to get lost
this is wad i do to those pesky strangers whom approach me -
The 3 instructorsOriginally posted by airgrinder:btw, edmundheng80, do u have the names of the instructors?
did u have any of those paperwork that u sign?
1) The nice instructor is Donald Lincoln. He gave me a free trial and taught me to train my arms n abs n legs.
2)
3) The annoying 2nd and 3rd instructor, one of them was called Frederick. Can't remember the other one.
After they annoyed me for 1 hour, they left me to the manager Zen Lee.
And this Zen was talking so much crap to me I was so confused....so many kinds of payment methods, so many kinds of gym sessions, I was so confused and just went "HUH" at one point. It was 830pm, I wanted to go home n have dinner and I was seriously tired of listening to all kinds of package deals that they are trying to offer me.
It was the manager Zen Lee who said he billed the damn thing to my gym card without my agreement.
Seriously. "I WILL HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND IN DECEMBER" is SO much different from "I AGREE TO USE THE MONEY TO BUY"
I was so confused at that time when I heard that I have billed it to your card. I couldnt think straight.
And yes. I have the paperwork that I signed.
And I am going to CASE tomorrow. This Zen Lee is so going to be history.
Zen.
You better go and meditate now. -
no matter how hardsell they are, if u are determined to say NO all the way, u wun fall victim to it
so, it's not ppl hardsell, but ur own determination fails u -
Such is the plight of the human race. Everything that was once pure is being eaten up by our greed. -
Yes, ask your bank to stop payment. In the future, always threaten to call the police when face with these kinds of unreasonable people...
Saying stuff like:
"Are you threatening me?"
"What is your name?"
"Who is your boss?"
Or just screaming/shouting at the top of your voice. Usually works. -
the moment u sign it, thats it. who ask you go and sign? you could have just walk away. even if he say credit then credit lor. credit to who? unless you have given them your particular, how are they able to create a card for you?
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eh no wor. Tat time when i got dragged in. the guy asked me if i had XX credit card have discounted rates blah blah. Then i say have.. then he asked if he could see the card (check if its ok to use that card). so i took it out and showed it to him. Now that i think abt it He could have copied the credit card number -___- i think i aslo better call my card company to cancell card or to get me a new one. i read other reviews on Cali it seems they have a lot of problems with all this payment issues also .
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From the way TS described the situation, i think the staff there were using their 'muscular bodies' to block his way and corner him which might amount to criminal intimidation.Originally posted by freedom4ever:the moment u sign it, thats it. who ask you go and sign? you could have just walk away. even if he say credit then credit lor. credit to who? unless you have given them your particular, how are they able to create a card for you?
Signing something under duress/criminal intimidation is not valid. Lodge a police report asap and give those buggers hell. -
even if they are using their 'muscular bodies', you still can walk or run away. what can they do to you? hit you? this is Singapore.Originally posted by Stoat:From the way TS described the situation, i think the staff there were using their 'muscular bodies' to block his way and corner him which might amount to criminal intimidation.
Signing something under duress/criminal intimidation is not valid. Lodge a police report asap and give those buggers hell. -
Ya...its Singapore, thats why these buggers need to be taught that there is something called 'the law' which makes sg a safe place to live in.Originally posted by freedom4ever:even if they are using their 'muscular bodies', you still can walk or run away. what can they do to you? hit you? this is Singapore. -
ya. hope TS learn something. no matter what happen, they won't dare to touch you. If they hit you or what, you can always go to the police. As long as they are not ang mo or rich people, the law will help you.Originally posted by Stoat:Ya...its Singapore, thats why these buggers need to be taught that there is something called 'the law' which makes sg a safe place to live in.