In Feb 2000 my bf and I joined the Premiere Fitness / Mademoiselle Spa. We paid for one year's membership up front through Interac. We went for the first few weeks but then we stopped going. I bought an Orbitrek and decided to exercise at home instead.
Last week we received a letter saying that we owed them money and were in danger of being reported to the Credit Bureau. Since we had paid in full we had no idea what they were talking about.
My bf called and made an appointment to speak to someone. It turns out that our contract had been renewed by the gym at $59 per month (we had paid less than $400 for an entire year). There had been no renewal notice and no bill prior to the letter threatening our credit. (Btw both letters were dated 13 June but postmarked 26 June.) When I complained the gym said they didn't have to tell us that they were renewing and weren't obliged to send us a bill either.
When my bf spoke to someone at 3:30 yesterday afternoon we had not been reported to the Credit Bureau. When I phoned at 5 to tell them what I thought of their renewal policy I was told that I had been reported (but no my bf) . When my bf went there to pay the membership at 6 he was told that they had cancelled the report. I wonder how many people they have to pay just to call the Bureau every 30 minutes?
If you're thinking about joining PLEASE read the contract thoroughly. I had asked the rep when we joined what it would cost to renew if we were interested in continuing our membership and was led to believe that it was something we could choose to do. It never occurred to me that it would be done for me.