Extreme Fitness

would not recommend this gym-unfriendly un ethcial tactics

Would not ever use this gym. Head Office does NOT exsist for assisitng in any complaint- no phone number or mailing address.
Very unethical.
If you wind up messed up in this; call your credit card company, change cards, call the police Fraud unit, Consumer Protection Agency and the Better Business Bureau.

I don't recommend joining Extreme Fitness-Richmond (nor the others). The club is very crowded. You have to leave your member card at the front desk when you arrive and often have to wait to get it back when you leave. If you forget to pick it up, they throw it out at the end of day so you have to pay $12 to get it replaced.

Their strategy is to get people as many members as possible to join. Once in, you?ll have pay monthly for a 9 months (I guess that?s what they mean by advertising no annual contract). Once you do join, they?ll put on the high pressure tactics on to get you to dish out more money on personal training.

If you use machines, good luck getting one. The air quality systems in the spinning and aerobic classes haven't worked since the club opening. I don't think it will ever be working.

If you do aerobics classes, there is constant flow of people walking in and out of the classroom to get equipment. It's disruptive. Why you would store the equipment in the class as opposed to outside the class (like every other gym) is beyond me.

Bottom line, they seem like an honest and professional organization. Don?t be fooled this is just another fitness scam.

I am use at the pickering location, and i would definatly not recomend it to anyone(and i work there) the sales people and the GM are very un ethical and will use any tactic to screw you over, this is a warning to anyone who is thinking about joinging this gym, if it wasn't for the sales people who work there i wouldn't be saying this but unfortunatly the extreme fitness in pickering is a complete joke of a place to work at, its hoestly the worst scaming i've seen.

unfortunatly no, they will want u to prove that ur moving, like a new address or a ticket showing that ur leaving "the country" otherwise they wont break the contract, the only way out is using a medical reason but even with that u will still have to provide a doctors note saying that u will not beable to do any physical attivities. but even then i still wouldn't trust them.

To Megtoast, at the danforth gym was it some asian woman who yelled at you? just want to see if we got treated the same by the same person. i wouldn't recommend this gym to anyone they all a heartless companies and just want you to shell out your money.

I have been at the Richmond street location since day 1. I gotta tell you it has been the best gym I have ever seen in toronto and i have been to alot of them. There are a few hiccups with the building but the guy Gord (who seems to live there) always delivers every time I ask for something. I asked for more weights cause there werent any in the beginning. Then they got MORE then enough. They got extra equipment in when I complained that they needed more. I atleast found the staff helpful and give good answers to my high demands. No health club is perfect but this one is the closest so far. Worth a look and a consideration for sure. Pricing is around 50-60

I raised a large amount of money for a charity and I ended up wining a free membership to Extreme Fitness. I was shocked at how quickly the sales girl's attitude changed when she figured out that I didn't have to pay. She was rude and rushed me through the entire registration. I get it that there is so commission on $0 but I did not deserve to be treated so poorly. She handed me my package and practically kicked me out of her office when the whole thing was done. The only time she paid the closest bit of attention to me was when I mentioned that I worked for a large company which currently didn't have a corporate gym. When the free year is up I will absolutely switch gyms!

Extreme is in big trouble do not join.
There losing money and probaly going to sell quick

Extreme Fitness is a lieing SCAM! The representatives sweet talk you, and lie to your face to get you to sign a membership that gets you bounded for 9 obligatory months.

DO NOT JOIN THIS GYM AT ALL! BUY EQUIPMENT AND TRAIN YOURSELF AT HOME! IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY, STAAAAAAY AWAAAAAY!!!!!!

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as a gym its great; at the least the thornhill location is. Very well kept, clean, top-notch machines, and for the most part, friendly staff. In terms of their "bait and switch" style of advertising, its not ethical. their aggressive sales tactics aren't ethical either. the way they advertise "no annual contract" isnt ethical. however, we live in unethical times where businesses and corporations will do anything to make a quick buck. So the answer: be smart. Don't sign up for a 1 year contract and use the direct deposit method of payment. Heres what i did; i wrote 12 post-dated cheques for each month of the 1 year contract. You still have all the benefits that the other payment methods offer, just without the bullsh*t. Be smart everyone, ask questions, and don't let these sales people persuade you to buy things you don't actually need/afford

I will admit that I feel very stupid when I signed up with Extreme Fitness. They take on to being fast paced so they get you to sign their papers/contracts. It's almost like signing a deal with the Devil (or grotesque being of evil). You see the good side to it, then it rears it's ugly hidden details of what you signed and you're totally screwed over.

Now I'm half freaked at what the hell is going on. See, there is a mistake on my contract (personal trainer/nutritionist) with the payment amount I owe and how it will be done, and I just notice this by the time I got home and looking the paper over. It seems as though no will fix it, because they want the mistake to stay there and take what they can until it gets really serious.

I must be a laughing joke to them by now. By the way, how does an 18-year-old deal with getting something like this corrected? I've never dealt with this type of problem before. Do I go to the BBB or police unit in the fraud department to check is out or something?

DO NOT JOIN ANY EXTREME FITNESS GYM.

THEY ARE SMOOTH TALKING, AND WANT TO RIP YOU OFF. ALL OF THEIR "SPECIAL PROMOTIONS" ETC. ETC. COME WITH STRINGS ATTACHED... THO THEY WILL TRY AND TELL YOU OTHERWISE.

even if they give you a "grace period" or "trial period" where if you cancel within a certain time you will not be charged, DO NOT DO IT. They will make you write a check, or at least sign something- DO NOT DO IT! It is possible to cancel, and they are required to do so within the time indicated on your contract, GOOD LUCK trying to get in touch with the person that can do this for you.
I called and went into the location 5 times within 3 days attempting to cancel before I was charged, and the manager was "unavailable" or "just stepped out" or "not in"... they gave me the run around, hoping the period would run out and they could charge me.

I finally lost it, threatened to file a complaint with the BetterBusinessBureau (which I am still going to do).. and I finally was told my membership had been cancelled and I would not be charged. I decided to still put a stop payment on the check I had given them, not willing to risk it, and totally NOT trusting a word they'd say.

Ignore all their flyers, sales reps, and "promotions" because they have it down to a FINE ART- they know what they can "promise" and how to say it so that you think you are getting a deal- you are not, and they will give you the run around the second you come with a complaint.

In my experience with ethical and worthwile businesses of any sort- they WELCOME complaints and deal with situations properly and promtly because they do not want to upset the customer- They want to be the best they can be. This is absolutley NOT the case with Extreme Fitness. That alone sends up red flags. Any company worth dealing with will respectfully deal with complaints and less than ideal situations. Extreme will just give you the run around and be horribly rude.

Here's a link to a more recent article on blogTO:

http://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2008/05/extreme_fitness_extreme_ripoff/

I had joined extreme fitness recently and had my consultation which by the way is a way to try to get anyone to join their personal training i felt pressured by comments from the staff oh come on you can't afford this much a month I had ended up joining. Two days later i went in to cancel it later that month i was charged nearly two hundred dollars went back in to get my money back didn't even want to help me very rude said i had not cancelled it and too bad they will continue to charge me every month not even willing to do anything for me i have never been treated so poorly in my life is this how you treat paying customers my membership is now costing me over two hundred a month i can't afford this you would think if i am paying for a package i don't even want they would call and try and set something up with me nope they just take your money and ignorantly treat you like a piece of shit if anyone knows how i can stop this or get some kind of response from even head office it would be greatly appreciated....

The President and CEO of Extreme Fitness is James (Jim) Solomon, who is from NYC. There are so many people out there with so many problems with Extreme Fitness, lets get together and bring them down. Yes, what they do is illegal. That's right, it is illegal. What each of you needs to do however, is bring a complaint. Start with a written letter, fax or email to the Better Business Bureau. Flood them with letters of complaint. Next try the City licensing Inspector's office, (believe me it works), How about Consumer & Corporate Affairs (gov't body), CTV or CBC, flood them with complaints. You want to effect changes, then everyone needs to do more than rant! Actions speak louder than words. Lets hold these thieves and con-artists accountable, maybe have them thrown in jail too!

I can't comment as to every one else's experiences - but I have had no issued with Extreme since joining back in March. I went in with eyes open, negotiated a fair deal for my membership, and turned down all offers of personal training. I work out at one of the 'premium' locations and find the facilities clean, well equipped, and staff courteous and professional. Furthermore, their Yoga instructors are better than some at exclusive Yoga studios and for a fraction of the price. I also work out at Dunfield, and save for the headaches with renovations - have found the facilities to be of similar quality.

Unfriendly staff and Managers. Would not recommend this club (especially the North York locations) to anyone

Customer service really really really SUCKS!
When they get your credit card no, finished, you are done.
you can do absolutely nothing if you have a complain or something. I will definitely cancel my membership after my contract.

Extreme Fitness
- Convoluted marketing schemes, sales personnel, and contracts
- Membership fees do not reflect anything in, around, or about Extreme Fitness' facilities or staff
- Gym is more than over crowded; unable to follow a tight workout regiment (facilies might as well be rendered useless)
- weights are all over the place, if they're even there to find in the first place
- Poor air quality/circulation ( a lot of people that attend stink as well)
- Not one ounce of customer service exists unless it is to add additional services, which in turn is you know what, additional fees! "Yeah, great job little Timmy!" says boss
- No options for anyone under any circumstances available for those of us, even legitimately, need to withdraw from the contract.
- The worste part of having to negotiate an alternative is that they have no EAMPATHY whatsoever, which is one of the worste traits a human can exude...and even worse, one that they stand by even for their sad paying job.

I have an idea, you let me out of the contract and i'll give you a real job earning honest money.

If any of us had half a brain, Extreme Fitness would be out of business. Like noted before we must take action ratehr than spit words. I'm about to pull a scheme of my own on them! Tehe

I should have read all these blogs before, definitely is the worst gym EVER.
I cancel my membership because I got a job in another province and after two moth still are charging me at my credit card. They say my cancellation sheet is not there, I faxed it and they said didn't get anything, so I faxed it again and now they say the fax machine is not working, besides everytime I call they are "BUSY".
As everyone says unethical completely and very unfriendly when it comes to coplain, but they very sweet when they are trying to get you in.
I'll do whatever it takes to get my money back....

Joe is an idiot that has no d i c k , this club sucks!!!! Don't JOIN ........If u want to get ripped off , go to this club.

Stay away. They only want your money. They are rude, misleading and have very pushy salespeople - also dishonest marketing!

I'm warning everyone now don't go and join the Pickering Extreme Fitness, i use to work there and the GM Trevor Pattison is a fucking joke, he and most of his staff will try and screw u as much as they can, the trainers there are actually really good but its to bad that u have to deal with assholes like Trevor to see them.

Fraudulent advertising, extremely rude staff, pushy sales. The decent facilities are not nearly worth the shit you'll have to go through with these people.

They try to pressure you into buying diet or trainer programs and when you don't they will start insulting you and tell you that you will accidentally kill yourself without their help.

Their pricing is outright fraudulent as they tell you one thing and then turn around and charge another, staff members constantly contradict themselves and once your money is in their pockets its good as gone, regardless of what they tell you about refund options or 'time credits'.

There are better workout places out there, stay away from this dump.

I joined the extreme fitness @ Yonge and sheppard approx 9mnths ago. When I first joined Ive never read the sign outside the locker room that says "any lock left on overnight will be cut off". I left my lock on and all my brand new gym clothes, shoes, $100 hair straightner,and my contract in the new gym bag fully expecting it to be there when I came back. I came back in a week. I freaked when I saw the lock gone. I was directed to a semi room downstairs they said was there "lost and found". A door opened and two big tupperware tubs with dirty sneakers and old water bottles was all I saw. No sign of my bag or stuff. directly around the corner of the tupper tubs is a big long hall with many doors all leading to staff rooms. I asked why it wouldn't be put aside. It was obviously brand new and it was staff who cut lock and handled it. I told them i knew it was staff who took it and figured they'd "scored". Another customer told me a similar situation happened recently but the client/customer had been in the gym and were sure that it was staff who had stolen there belongings. Staff acted all indignant and said my fault. Fine. I rarley go to the gym. Ive probably been there 10x at most due to busy schedule of 2 jobs and volnteering. I went a few times and the last time was the evening of Aug 11-08. I arrived and found a bench with no one around it was abit secluded. I went to one locker that was slightly open and it was full of someones belongings so I closed it and went to a diffentent one. As I began to empty my bag an older Asian lady (staff) was just lurking around staring at me. I felt uncomfortable. On the bench was a crumpled towel so I pointed to it and said "its not mine, you can take it". She took it and left. I went in gym and did 1/2 a workout. I returned to locker to get my got my bottle of water. I have a small book I write my exercise routine in. I put the book and lock with the key sticking out the botton, on the bench directly infront of my locker. My locker was slightly open. I went to the washroom around the corner and re-filled my water bottle. I was bery fast, maby 3min. I went back to locker and my book was still on bench but lock with key was gone. There was a couple young women changing and I asked if they saw my lock. I looked under bench and all around like an idiot. I went straight to front desk. I told her i went to washroom, came back and my book was there. Only lock gone. I asked do you have any lock here. she pulled out a lock with a key sticking out bottom but it wasn't mine. I was lived. I couldn't stay and finish workout leabving locket open which Im sure was the "plan". I wonder if the lock front desk had belonged to the locker I originally went to use. It looks like that girl continued her work out leaving her locker open. I wonder how many items were stolen when she returned. Im sure the "staff member who gave me a weird feelling like she was waiting for something, was waiting for people to set there locks down and leave momentarily. Im sure many customers thind they must have misplaced it and continue workout with locker open. I wanted to finish workout, but I left. I guess sometimes the trick/theft works and sometimes it doesn't. As I said iv'e only been about 10x and robbed twice and I know it's staff.

http://www.myfit.ca/gym_ratings/services_available.asp?edit=yes&;id=76

check this out

This Club is terrible.. especially their Danforth location.
The manager Steve Venet is a complete idiot. When I complained about problems at the gym he was very condescending and said they had invested over 3 million in the club and that my complaints weren't reasonable.. ie messy weight room even when they just open in the morning.. a sauna that is on a timer and always cold when you go down after a work out... bitchy staff and high pressure sales tactics by trainers who tell you you need a trainer when you don't. Ive overheard them lying to clients telling them they need another 2-3 months of training when they obviously don't. This place isn't going to last because of they way they treat their customers which is like dirt.

I found a contact for P.R. for the club ! FINALLY

For further information: Alison Stephens, Public Relations, Extreme
Fitness, Ph: (416) 303-0947, alisons@extremefitness.info,
www.extremefitness.info

ok..where do I start. If I would have read any of these comments beofre I "joined" I NEVER would have done it. This gym scammed me out of almost $3000. I joined....Never used the gym once...not once! They now will not let me cancel my membership. They told me I had to go there in person with a cancelation letter which I did, only to have them tell me that they cant cancel it if I still have a balance owing! Which means...they can still bill me month to month for future onths untill I cancel. But I cant cancel untill I pay? HOW DOES THAT WORK??????????????????? The gym is like a factory, too many people, T.V's everything is all in a big line, with sweet talking trainers around only nicve to you if they think they can make a sale. Once you say no they walk away and want nothing to do with you. They wont even correct you if u use the equiptment wrong! DONT JOIN THERE!!

Hello Guys,

I am gather a list of people who wants to cancel. Anyone who wants to cancel can e-mail me their membership ID along with their birthday and I will pass them on to Marcus, director for marketing...

I told him if he doesn't cancel everyone on the list, I will show up with some of you guys to their new grand opening of their Wellington location in downtown with a big bull horn and make a scene on the opening day.

Hope I won't need to do this!

Do not give them your banking information. Only credit card.
At least you would be able to stop them from robbing you by canceling your credit card.

Also just to note - I am a fourth year student, therefore a lot of our material gets out into "real world news" whether it be online or through another broadcast media outlet so if you have something to say and want to be heard please don't hesitate to contact me! Thanks.

Stop moaning... pressuring a university student into signing a $3,000 contract?

I can't imagine, doing this to my customers... I have being in business since age of 16! Now, I am 24... we are talking of years and years in business with thousands and thousands of customers and only 4 complaints!

By the way, they called the cops on me to keep the free of free speech and the cops advise to send them a letter of apology.

This is my letter as following:

Xiao Feng Huang (Charles)
40 Markham Street
Toronto, ON
M6J 2G2


Extreme Fitness
110 Eglinton Avenue East
M4P 2Y1


Extreme Fitness

Not to be ruled, it's impossible to be polite to your company.

So, sorry you are offended my action of putting dirt on your sign, so if you offended I apologized. I have no intentions dealing or exposing further your shameful business practice or have intention stepping in any of your stores, since I already got my message with amount of response from the viewers. So, I have decided to return my membership card, because I never want to touch it again or touch your logos. So, stop sending misleading ads to my home or my businesses.

As a business owner myself since age of 16... and now 24, 8 years in business, 3 difference businesses, served over thousands and thousands of customers worldwide... only 6 complaints! I have attach comments from my customers to you learn what is honest, good customer service, which is a part of my core business practice and belief. Sure, I make mistakes, but no matter what I put my customers first... not money or greed! Yes, I believe in karma!


Lastly, please don't hurt any more people... the stories I am hearing is just too heartbreaking! It really hurts to hear and reads them!



Xiao Feng Huang (Charles)
Chef Director / Producer
Swift Justices (In Production)
Spicy Editions Productions

Extreme Fitness at the Danforth is terrible. When I signed it was high pressure to get a trainer... when I told them no they told me I was out of shape LOL. Once I got past that I started my membership and was disappointed by the cold uncaring attitude by their staff. The sauna is on a timer and always cold when I go to use it.. their is no disinfectant to wipe down the equipment before / after use.. this is a big problem in the winter when everyone is sick.. yuck. A lot of the treadmills were broken when i went to use them.. I complained and unplugged them.. next day the same machine was plugged in and still broken.. ( the machine would stop suddenly.. dangerously in the middle of my run ) I could go on and on.. from missing weights to dirty change rooms. Avoid Extreme... thats what I would say.

Hey Charles I saw your video on Youtube and Liveleak. I don't think you are doing much for the cause. Perhaps a little less drag queen dramatics and more professionalism would help. You come across as a complete idiot. Quit while your ahead... its one thing to have a problem with company its another to take the " to catch the predator " approach.

To Charles,
What a sad muppet you are! I just watched you're video and mate, it's fucking embarrassing. It's not exactly 'The Fifth Estate'. The way you go swinging on into Extreme Fitness' Dunfield location with no clue about what you're going to say and with a total inability to convey anything that makes any sense whatsoever is most amusing. But it's your follow-up 'Apology Video' that is the real winner. Not exactly a pioneer for your cause are you when you apologize after just one poor attempt at a journalistic masterpiece. It's so pathetic. You're so full of yourself kiddo it's kinda surreal! Now would you kindly piss off! Thx.

Hey Anonymous that guy early in the morning is way too funny. When he gives me my card back he doesn't hand it to me he throws it at me on the table... he is a dick !

Another one bites the dust.

On Sept 18th I went in to Extreme Fitness Pickering Location and tried to cancel my membership. So here is the back story. When I signed up in May 2008, I also signed up for training. I was led to beleive that I would only pay for the time I used. So I used up all my sessions in three months which cost me 192.50 a month so far. So when those were done my trainer said I needed to sign up for more sessions,So I did. Little did I know that was going to start another set of payments for 192.50.

So they were going to charge me 192.50 for 12 months for the first set of training, and then another 192.50 for the next set of training for 12 months. Plus 66 dollars a month for my membership.

The best I could do so far is cancel my training, but according to them I still owe 2,232.65 I have only been there since May. It was ridiculous how much they are trying to squeeze out of me. If when I was signing up for training the contract had stated that for the next 12 months I would be paying 192.50. I would have never signed up. Also I thought that when I signed up there are no annual contracts. So why can't I cancel my membership.

They are snakes.

Hey Kimberly it's good that you had a good experience at Cedabrae. I go to the Danforth location and their customer service and sales people are pretty horrible. The trainers are pretty decent and even some really good ones. After your year is up and you do want to cancel don't forget they have a 10 day period to cancel in or the following month applies.

Also, one year contract is good but you have to score a deal with the sales people, I pay $500 with towel service ;) I just wish they were nicer and had more treadmills, when it's busy you can't get a cardio machine.

Surprised to hear your stories. Very unfortunate. I have had no issues so far, happily. My "Smart Start" was a thinly veiled sales pitch for a PT, which I was totally expecting (as I was fully aware that the "no obligation" cheap membership was BS, but I had been planning to join anyway as it is locationally convenient). I gave a very firm no thank you and they didn't push it. Have found the changerooms OK, and after work busy, but generally no problems getting machines. Just another voice in the dark.

A.C.

Ok, so I went to sign up with EF today, the Richmond, downtown location. I fell for the sweet talk. The salesgirl made it sound like she was giving me a great day, she leaned over and whispered that she didn't give this deal to everyone, they only had a few spots left. You wonderful board ppl are telling me that the $76/month is acutally a standard rate! what a scam!!
Fitness One on Peter St does a full year for $360 while EF will steal $720. I KNOW its a nice looking gym, but I see now that any 'deal' I was getting was a fraud. I'll let you know how it works out when I cancel this week...

Kaos: Extreme Fitness is not the "best" gym in Toronto, infact it is worst. Sauna in the gym is colder, and dirty. Lockers rooms smells of dirty rags clothes -- some of them even have old socks! There is TV everywhere. I mean everywhere, and way too noisy even for a gym.

Also you are comparing apple to oranges. Y is a gym for "blue color" people. Extreme is mostly for "middle class" people" you should comapre them to Goodlife fitness. Which itself is not a good gym but not as terrible as Nazi like as Extreme.

I am reading all of these rants and I can understand that people can get pissed by the service they are receiving but don't sweat it. The kids are making $9.00 an hour, they're not going to solve the worlds problems. If you're not happy with the gym, quit, call your bank or credit card company and they'll do the rest. The idea of going to the gym is to relieve stress not create it. I just joined the Danforth location today. Anyone high pressure sells me will land up getting both barrels from me, anyone who is rude to me will receive the same action from me. In life, you get what you give. I feel for all of you who have experienced bad experiences from these people but I say fight back! tell them to fuck themselves and if need be show them how. You're the customer don't forget that. And to the person who mentioned the guy that works the morning shift at the Danforth location..this dudes is rude to me or acts ignorant will end up with his head up his ass, I don't have time fro retards. So if you're reading this Danforth dude, beware little fucker.

Thornhill Location...Aware of lie and scam there.
I would recommend to cancel membership ASAP there.

They are playing a dirty games with you when you start talking about cancellation.

I absolutely agree with the comments. I felt coerced to sign up for a personal trainer, at no point did they tell me that the $75/hour + tax fees were on top of the gym membership. Quite the opposite, they emphasized that this was not a two-tier gym, that everything was accessible to everyone. Stay away. I can't wait to get out.

if your pissed off about your contract that you cant cancle, thats nothing to what I experienced. I was at the gym the other day and these two retards start a fight about one wanted to use the machine before the other. One thing led to another and a fight broke out so some big guy at the gym broke up the fight while the people that worked there just stood there watching. That gym feels like going to high school, the gym sucks. Everyone's cocky and rude.

Just an FYI. I went into the Thornill location in mid-October to take advantage of the 60 days for $16. After being shown around, I was asked a number of questions and then told that I should sign up to the discounted rate for a year instead of the higher rate after my 60 days was up. I said that I just wanted the 60 days and if I liked it I would have no issue paying the higher rate. The "salesperson" had to ask permission which caused a manager to come over and try again. He okayed me going for the 60 days then higher rate and the next dance began. The sales guy wanted my drivers license number and then a visa card number for any incidentals. I advised that I would be paying for the 60 days in cash and would not be giving my drivers license number or visa number. Having been in sales and sales management for over 20 years, these guys are the poorest that I have seen. If the club is as good as they want to believe then there is no need for high pressure tactics and no need to screw people. These places are houses of cards that piss off members so they have to constantly add new members. Buyer beware! Do not leave a drivers license number or visa number and if you are within your 10 day cooling off period stipulated by law, just cancel. Do not let it go past -- cancel and you can always re-join. Also, Ontario law states that fitness club memberships can not be longer than 1 year. It's too bad that the fitness club business is generally so shady -- many of us just want a nice place to workout and stay fit.

Most of you who have had some misfortune with this club have given their views on five locations only! If anyone out there is a member of the Delisle Club at Yonge & St.clair, post your comments, good or bad. I'm surprised no one wrote about this one!! Does it mean it's a "nice club", or that nobody knows it does exist? What about the Dunfield club, any comments? You will recall that this chain of clubs used to be called "The Sports Club of Canada" until it changed hands to Extreme Fitness. I too am a member of this club chain. Yes it's not perfect, but it's a club where I can go to exercise. I've had many challenges in the past dealing with personal trainers, staff and even members of the club! The one thing I did was...I took it personally! and that affected my exercise and my well-being. I stopped going to the club because I felt that I was being treated badly. I was still paying my monthly dues to the club (I threw a lot of money out of the window, which I'm not proud of) but I felt that was the only way to deal with it...to stay away! Like Anonymous's comments of Oct.6/08 said: "If you're not happy with the gym quit!" I totally agreed with that. But the only thing that made me want to stay was that this club was within walking distance and the thought of quitting and looking for another club was in itself very stressful. So I had two choices, stay or leave! I chose to stay but not without some changes, With that I mean I had to change the way I thought. Another useful comment made by Anonymous above:"The idea to go to the club is to relieve stress not create it" certainly rings true. I did go back to the club, I still faced the same challenges I had when I first left it but I knew how to deal with them. I just dealt with myself. The same people I had run ins with were still there, so was the staff and the members that were not so nice to me, but you know I was so busy getting back into shape that I hardly noticed them. I mean I still smiled at people when people smiled at me, said hello when they said hello, and I felt like a changed person. There's a saying somewhere where I read: "It's not how you react with someone or something but rather how you deal with it". A lot of harsh words, swearing, let out steam will not resolve anything. Perhaps in the short term one will feel good but in the long term not really. Sometime, somewhere someday you'll be faced with a similar problem, and you'll start all over again; a lot of harsh words, swearing etc., it won't get you anywhere. In the end all that really matters is YOU! Some of us have been fortunate to join a club, to exercise and keep fit for our livelihood, so you could say we are very fortunate. So go to your designated club with one thing on your mind... enjoy the moment and reflect why you showed up at your club in the first place, sure you're bound to come across obstacles while you're there: staff looks at you funny or they messed up your membership. But you'll be able to deal with it in a more productive way, in a calm fashion,in the long run you will have won. At least when you finish your workout you'll feel good about yourself and you would reward yourself for 'NOT LETTING PEOPLE GET INTO YOUR WAY'. AGAIN THIS IS NOT TO MINIMIZE ANY PROBLEMS YOU MAY HAVE WITH THE CLUB, it's just saying that we all have problems with somebody; the mailman, the co-worker, our boss, etc., it's just the way we choose to handle the situation. Everyone does have a choice, but making the right choice is up to you. You really want to go home at the end of the day and feel good about yourself and not harboring over the fact what a wonderful job you did by telling someone off or that THAT person treated you badly and so on. Remember we as humans do have a brain, we're not animals who cannot think for themselves. We can come clean rather than use sticks and stones to get our message out. As for myself I'm still at this club and I'm actually enjoying myself. I'm exercising, doing dome classes I enjoyed doing in the past, talking to some of the staff and members, and just feel good about myself and I'm a happier more productive person I've ever been. Somewhere down the road there will be other challenges to be dealt with but at least they will be dealt in a more unstressed and productive way.

I got a flyer from Extreme with a scratch and win saying I'd won a cruise. I called and the guy said I had to come in a buy a trial membership for $16 and then I will get the tickets. After reading these posts I don't know if it's worth it or not. Has anyone else received this offer?

I go to both Dunfield and Delisle. They're both quite nice. I like the fact they have the internet terminals to use on my way in or out of the gym.

Dunny is a lot bigger and all the stairs are a pain. But the men's locker room is HUGE and airy. Delisle's locker room is a bit small and could stand to be a tad bigger.

However, with all the renovations - well, you should have seen Dunny before. It was like out of the 80s.

I pay $76/month for all-club access, but I also got a month time certificate free at the end, so when you work it all out, it's something like $68 a month or so. I'm very happy with it.

Yes, people are like "oh $40 a month" at Goodlife. Well, have fun I say. Try the Goodlife Union Station membership - now there's a club - but you will be paying more than what Extreme charges for that. Has anyone been to a regular run-of-the-mill Goodlife, like the one at Manulife centre, or Eaton Centre Queen Street (is that one even still open?) GROSS! They're so packed with equipment and old, I'd rather go to the Y than pay Goodlife rates and be relegated to those kind of clubs. EWWW!

It's not about just getting in and out ... its about being in a clean, open, airy and nice environment ... so it motivates you to go. If you don't mind paying Goodlife's (slightly) lower fees, and getting that el-crappo level of service - power to you. Not me.

Hi I want to terminate the contact from EX fitness I joined in March'08 and now manager is showing me very very rude behaviour.Can u plz tell me how i proceed

I used to work there and I do not advise anyone to join this gym. They do not care about ANYONE, even their employee's. They kiss up to you until you join then it's "stop bugging me and just go away".
The GM's I believe are the cause for all of this.
Make your own choice but these are simply my comments. The choice is your's! Good Luck!

Their scratch and win is illegal.
You cannot advertise that people win a cruise, and then force them to join to get the prize.
complain to the link below
http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/frm-eng/PJSH-6X9KQY

Lets get these guys, lets stop them from ripping off more people.

Hey people : Whai I find here are 2 sets of comments.

1. Who feel cheated by Extreme fitness 's business practice
2. Who feel they are getting their money's worth because extreme fitness have great facilities.

However , if Extreme Fitness have such good facilities, I wonder why they have to resort to such horrible ambulance chasing lawyer tactics to get business.

Just a thought, people, think about it.

Pape/Danforth location is convenient and looks nice - equipment fine and lockers/shower area pretty clean... however... very high pressure sales. I'd been going to that location for some time (was Oxygen fitness before) and renewed with Extreme --- but insisted that I pay cash up front for the year and NOT give them my banking info. Paid $624+GST to get multi-location and towel service. It was like having to fight for the privilege of giving them my money. If you must go to this gym - I'd recommend a similar approach. With the economy the way it is though --- I'd hesitate to pay in advance for a full year because who knows if they'll be in business that long. The next battle was over the bullshit "fitness test" - which equals a sales pitch for personal training, etc. Having just been through a struggle to get them to take my cash - I had to argue with a "manager" to get exempted from their fitness test and receive my membership card. Not wanting to face this stress when my membership expires - I've decided to go with a home gym. (Most of the machine exercises I would do at the gym can be done with dumbbells anyway.)

Hello, For those of you who are locked into a contract part of the contract is to have the right to be there and obviously you still have your free speech! start conversation with club members and new arrivals and let them know your story let them know about this site. tell them to see if there is anything on rip off report inform them of the better business bureau ratings. speak loudly. Sit in the waiting room and start conversation let the truth be known to those who are considering and are members! This will most likely prompt a response when you are costing them more money than they are getting from you! i made a shirt that says CAUTION HIGH PRESSURE SALES TACTICS and plan to wear it during a workout session there. if they tell you you cant come back or be there anymore then that cancels your membership..

Their sales approach at Extreme is indeed aggressive, I think that it is pretty much a concensus amongst all and that we all agree the sucker tactics they use is not effective. Negotiate right back and use that as your own tool. Remember they're hurting their own business and losing members before they can get them in the door to try out the gym. They obbviously will DO ANYTHING and RISK ANYTHING to get your business.
Keep the ball in your court...and keep it in play until you get the membership contract you feel most ocmfortable with and see how far you can push them? After all, you are the consumer.

I just had my first day at extreme. Their facility is way better than Goodlifes beat down 80's equipment, but their sales activity is unfair and sometimes illegal. How do I know? - Well, my buddy is in fact one of their best trainer and his room-mate is in sales. Here is some of the things they do,
1. There is a guy/gal at the entrance of each location giving out "10 days free trial" offer. Which is an outright lie. Here is the reason. When ever you get into any legally binding contract, according to law you get 10 days to change your mind. They try to sell this 10 day as free trial and take your credit card info, which definitely not a persons inital interest, to join (but to try).

2. They sell you a $20 per month deal for 3 months only to charge you $80 afterwards.

3. When you sign up they do a fitness test. The guy/gal who does that will make you go through hell for 1 hour just prove that your are totally out of shape. The harder you work, the harder routine he or she will tell you to perform. By the end of that hour, as your heart is pounding, they will tell you to buy personal training (as if it is only for your best interest). Training is $79 per session and the person who takes your evaluation gets a cut from that. Your personal trainer gets a share as well, about 18-25 dollars if you show up. All trainers, sales people, and those fitness assessment people work on full commission. So they are aggressive

4. When measuring your body mass index and measuring body fat, they will intentionally show that you have a higher number, only to alarm you.

5. Now after all these bad experience, when you go to cancel your membership this is what happens. The reception will tell you that you will have to be at the gym at a time (i.e. 11am-2pm) and meet with John Smith, a manager. When you and other upset people show up, John is nowhere to be found. He will probably show up at 1pm only to cancel a few contracts. Basic idea is to keep you lingering long enough so that you are over your 10 day grace period and cannot cancel the contract.

6. Since people get aggrevated and angry with John in a short time, the upper management rotates these Managers among various locations of Extreme. So, the next time you go there, instead of John, you meet Kurt, the new guy. He pretends and actually knows nothing about your facade with John. (The very old good cop bad cop trick).

Did you know, each location of extreme draws about $400,000+ worth of business, each month? HAH

So, after all these, why did I join Extreme? I know thier gig and I know how not to get fucked around by them!

But people, DO TAKE ACTION. ITS YOUR MONEY. TRUST THE POLICE AND BBB (Better Business Bureau).

I have had prior experience with the cop dealing with fraud. They are definitely there to help.

Good Luck and Good Health to all !

Remember the best workouts are free: push-ups, running, walking, jumping-jacks, sit-ups, burpees, jumping, leg raises etc.

They dicked me around too. They took unauthorized money off of my credit card, and after speaking with head office, now claim to owe me nothing. I got out of my contract by moving. All you need to show them is a piece of mail with your name and an address so try and get a friend or relative who lives out of town to agree to pick up your mail for a month and change a bank statement or something official to that address. I know it's sneaky but it is nothing compared to the crap they put you through. Also, I would recommend contacting consumer report with ctv television. Maybe they could help?

I do not recommend joining Extreme.
All contracts are based on 1 year, starting at $50 a month.
They will also try push you into getting a personal trainer which costs $75 per hour. There is a huge lack of customer service!

Craig
Is it for real?
Any strings attached?
What is the actual cost to accept this trip?

Thanks!

1. Anything that is too good to be true is.
2. no company in the right mind would give away a $5,000 cruise for $16 Smarten the hell up.
3. the 2 contract you sign with them states on the back that you have 10 DAYS to cancel or else you are locked in for the year.. Read it. It is comment sense people you have it now don't be outsmarted.

Stay Away!!!! Used to work there as a personal trainer at the bay/bloor location. Complete use of scare tactics, pressure sales and blatant persistent lies. Manager once told me to hit on girls to sell training!
Would not recommend to anyone.

I am a former employee and know all their tricks. This company should be put out of business for unethical borderline and sometimes legitimately illegal practices. I have so many stories of my time there. The bottom line is,. they will do ANYTHING and I mean ANYTHING from lying (giving out wrong nutritional advice so you actually gain weight if you want to lose it so you can come back and sign up for more nutrition sessions, etc.) I will be so happy when this company goes down. Its a shame that it still exists. behind closed doors the employees and managers are making fun of the clients! ive seen and heard it all! They pay garbage wages and people there are quitting every week, everytime i went into work there i always saw a new face. im surprised i worked there so long. To hell with extreme fitness!!
This city needs a gym where its employees actually care about their members and their goals and not their money. I wish peter silverman would do a story on this and do a full 1 hour expose on this extremely garbage company. do NOT sign up at this gym!!!

I recently signed up for online banking, and was horrified to see that Extreme Fitness was still debiting my account monthly. I had closed my acount back when the club was still "Bally otal Fitness" at Bay & Bloor. This was in November of 2007. So, for over a year, I had been paying them what amounted to over $750. It's outrageous. I went to the club to call them out on their mistake, and was told that - according to their system - I had my account frozen, not terminated. So I asked to speak to a manager, who conveniently wasn't there. After a week of trying, I managed to track one down, who shut down my account for the second time. I got a printout of all the transactions, and I'm now writing a letter to their head office to get my money back. I don't expect to see a penny of it. I will never, ever, reccommend this gym - or any others under this brand - to anyone. Immoral schemes and intimidation tactics don't make a business. I will never understand how an employee can stand behind such a cheap, bastardized product.

I agree, this is the last they're going to do this to innocent people, a gym should be a place to relax and do ur good body and destress you, what they're doing is fucking illegal and I should know I happen to work for them and they're screwing me over as well, they will be playing my game now.. this is the last straw justice will be spoken for.

I signed up at the Delisle Club back in the summer and yes I too felt the pressure of their sales gimmicks; I went in for an assesment and they made me feel like I couldn't even leave the place without agreeing to personal training and nutrition counselling. And I took it anyways. And yes it was a bit expensive. They cut me a deal for my membership because of where I work, so that made it easier to swallow, and I made the most of my personal training (I had two trainers - a total bitch for one session and then a really great guy who knew what he was talking about for the other 15). Towards the end of the sessions they tried to lure me into buying more, but I simply told them I can't afford it right now and I'd think about it once I had finally paid off my original sessions. And they backed off.
I switched over to the new Yonge and Dundas location once it opened up and I go there about 4 times a week now. I think the layout is great, the facilities are top notch and despite what people say about the service, the folks at reception are cheerful and even call me by my name now when they see me. Nobody has tried to strongarm me into anything there; I get to go in, work out, enjoy the steam room and then go home feeling good. The only thing I am less than thrilled with is how some dirty freaks are turning the locker room into Extreme Bathouse and spend their time stalking the place in their towels wandering in and out of the sauna, the steam room, and the cold room. Oh and peering into the next shower stall through that gap between the divider and the wall. Pigs.

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Do not join Extreme Fitness!! I used to work for CIBC Visa and everyone knew that Extreme Fitness was one of the worst for misusing people's credit cards. Do not dare join them!!!!

I just joined Extreme Fitness on saturday. After reading all your comments i am SERIOUSLY scared and a lil upset that so many people feel that way. I think that if a majority of people feel this way that the outcome of me feeling this way is high. I am currently in the 8 dollars a month for 2 months and then the year contract. Because ive singed up 4 days ago. It there any way that i could cancel within the 2 month period?

I AM A MEMBER AND I AM COMMITTED TO DISCOURAGING ANYONE AND EVERYONE FROM JOINING THIS CLUB.

I used to be with Sports Clubs. Never complained once in my 15 years as a member. Great chain of clubs. So when I heard Extreme Fitness was buying SCC out, I knew the end was near. Since that time, it's been a slow and steady decline in amenities, services, many broken promises (aka lies), ZERO customer service. Management are like replicants. Ask them a question and it immediately gets deleted from their memory while they smile and nod as you talk to them.

THERE ARE NO COMMENTS BOXES AT EXTREME FITNESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE!!!!!! Don't believe me? Write head office and see if they reply.

I'm pressed for an alternative, and maybe that's what they're betting on. They bought good locations and facilities with established members who liked the old clubs. It's clear that it's just a matter of time before someone will get smart and build competitive clubs right across from every Extreme Fitness club, so they can watch members file across the street. I can't wait.

I'm a member at the Richmond location, I go 4-5 times a week.

I don't understand all the complaints - it's a good gym, especially for the location. When they called me to book a fitness assessment I just said "no thanks." When they called back, I asked them to stop calling me.

It's pretty busy around 6:00 p.m so I try to go earlier or later, but I assume that's true of any gym. It's busy on the highway at 6:00 p.m. too, that's when a lot of people want to use certain things!

I would think about what you're doing before you sign a contract, as one other poster mentioned. You shouldn't get mad at Extreme Fitness because you bought a gym membership that you don't use. I paid $684 for 12 months + 2 bonus months, which includes access to all locations except the premium one. In any case, I only use the location that's 3 minutes from my house. Ultimately, that's the gym you should join - the closest one to the place you live or work.

This gym should be shut down and sued by all of the members who have been cheated from it.

Too many people have voiced their complaints about fees charged to them by this gym even after they have advised of membership cancellation but sadly, by not uniting and taking a stand, this gym continues to profit by using unethical tactics like the aforementioned example.

In my case, my one year membership at the Wellington Street location expired in August 2008 and coincided with the due date of my baby. In May 2008, I requested the gym in person to cancel my membership as I was physically unable to exercise during my pregnancy. The person who I met with agreed, however, indicated that he could only place a freeze on the fees until my one year contract was up. He asked whether I wanted to resume my membership on a monthly basis and I declined knowing that I would not be able to exercise with a newborn and since there was no Extreme Fitness near my home. He told me not to worry.

Woe is me for trusting him. A couple of months after my baby was born, I noticed that monthly deductions were made from my credit card. When I called the gym manager, he declared that was the case because I had not come in person to request cancellation and when I explained that I had, he insisted that my earlier visit was made just to request a freeze and that I should have known that my membership would continue on a monthly basis for which I would be charged. When I advised that was untrue and illogical since I knew I would not be able to exercise so soon after having a baby, he said that my pregnancy and postpartum situations were not his concern.

I am appalled at his behaviour and disgusted at being cheated by this company. Unfortunately, the channels of escalating my concerns appear to be limited but for now I advise everyone AGAINST ever joining this gym.

Hi Beata.

My advice to you would be to try out the club for the standard 10 day trial and make a decision afterwards. Something to consider is that Extreme Fitness would not have expanded so much if they only prayed on the 'weak' so to speak.

Yes, I work for Extreme and I am well aware of all of the policies and procedures. Everything is in writing for you, and nobody can pull the wool over your eyes.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask me here.

The problem is any Extreme Employees soon become Ex Employees, and the sales people are paid commission up front.Therefore when an Extreme employee decides they had enough of the BS that goes on at Extreme they just tell customers dont worry you can cancel anytime, and know they will not be around when the customer comes back.
The working environment since extreme got bought by the american investment company Falconhead is terrible.
They treat their employees like their members. GARBAGE
I heard they are even suing Ex Employees that left.
These guys are your typical know it all bully Americans that think they can do what ever they want. We are just stupid Canadians that live somewhere up north.
Spread the word lets Boycott Extreme Fitness, Only buy Canadian, and send a message to these low lifes.
Anybody know a good lawyer that will do a class action lawsuit against Extreme Fitness, it would be a sure winner.
Lastly, I would tell all the Extreme Employees that look at this Blog go work for a real company dont sell your soul to the devil.

Went to sign up for the Extreme fitness in Cederbrae yesterday. A sales rep by the name of Drew was being a real prick when I told him I wanted to check out the gym for a couple of months due to the promo and make my mind by it later. Forgot my direct deposit form, was sent back home, didnt' get a good feeling from the staff or directing manager. Glad I checked out these reviews and decided not go to back there.
Bunch of con artists.

Been trying to cancel my membership because I moved to another city that don't have any Extreme Fitness gym. I called the manager (Timothy Nielsen) everyday, he is never available and he is not returning my calls. I left voice mails and sent emails. I faxed my proof of moving, he still didn't get back to me. When I asked the receptionist for his superior or the main office phone number, she said she couldn't give it out. WTF???

hi there,do you know which location is the main office? I talked to a lawyer and consumer protection so I am writing a letter but the main office is no where to be found.plzzzz

poechuu@yahoo.com

Has anyone whose contract ended actually got this shithole to stop charging them? Mine is up in July, so I need everything in order by May to give them 60 days notice. Apparently faxes, letters, talking to managers etc. does not work and the pricks keep on charging and charging and charging. I can also imagine cancelling my credit card will result in a hefty bill via collection agency 1 or 2 years from now.

Please let me know any tactic that has worked, I hate this over crowded crappy gym so much and really don't want them to get anymore of my money.

Extreme Fitness Inc (Head Office)
8281 Yonge Street
Thornhill, ON L3T 2C7
(905) 709-1248
Just dial 0 for a representative.

I think I know the reason behind the crappy service at Extreme Fitness.

The employees are not motivated because the company pays them crappy salaries. (However, that does not justify being rude.)

I guess the owners of this gym are after only one thing - PROFITS.

It does not care about the service, its members or its employees. That is why the service is so bad. There are so many complaints from members and the management is not doing anything about it.

They are aggressively recruiting new members with their misleading deals, like "$8 a month for 2 months". Yeah, right!

They are after your MONEY and nothing else.

I wonder if this gym will last with this kind of strategy.

Even Bally went belly up. And Bally was not bad like Extreme Fitness is.

By the way, good work Charles Huang.

It is a business after all. And I understand that a business has to make profits.

When I was a member of Sports Clubs of Canada / Goodlife, I was happy with what I was getting. I knew that they wanted profits. But they looked after the quality of their service, equipment, employees and most importantly, the satisfaction of their members. They delivered their end of the bargain. Even their cleaners were very efficient and polite (and not at all rude).

In contrast, I get the feeling that Extreme Fitness is after profits and nothing else. I don't think that I am alone in this one. Other people have used words like unethical, scam, fraud, etc.

My mistake was in switching gyms.

I hope Extreme Fitness changes its strategy. Otherwise, I do not see them doing well long-term, with this kind of service and bad publicity.

Just my opinion ...

My little sister just arrived in the Canada and thought she'd take advantage of the $8 per month deal at the Danforth location this month. She soon found out that "No Annual Contract" meant yes there is an annual contract. She said that she couldn't sign up because she'd only just arrived and didn't have a bank account yet and the sales rep said he would walk her down to a bank and get her an account set up! That's got to be breaking some privacy laws. Thankfully she didn't do it. I would advise people to look for a gym with more ethical practices.

Thanks Alison for the info about the hot yoga studio - I didn't know about that and I will definitely check it out.

There's no argument that the physical foundation, equipment, etc., of the facilities are excellent because they were created and developed from the Sports Clubs model... unfortunately, it's not about that (again, I continue to begrudge the renovations because they were simply about changing corporate identity, and not improving the member's experience). Goodlife is also psychological torture for anyone who has any type of "expectation" or experience with a high-end facility (having to ask for towels?! pu-lease!).

Anyway.... I agree with you... complaints from members are strictly about high-pressure and dishonest sales tactics and absolutely ZERO customer service or respect.

I still find it absolutely shocking that they are getting away with this type of conduct in this day and age. I thought the government stepped in years ago to enforce rules about high-pressure contract tactics with fitness facilities. Perhaps I will contact the appropriate ministry to enquire about this.

Lore,

I think there is some contact info for the company further up in this posting.

Everyone else.... please note, I don't think there's a law that states that all payments made to a business must be made either by debit or credit card; therefore it would be my advice to all new potential members to pay monthly via cheque, so that they can't continue to debit the account. Unfortunately anyone who is reading this forum is already disgruntled and stuck, so it's advice that comes too late.

Yeah! everything you said or your comment here are true and too bad for me because it's too late when i read this( your very bad experience) because when i go the ExteremeLY "GREEDY" Gym (Cedarbrae) I ask One of their Employee his name is " Rajan" first he is so nice and friendly and after you sign the contract THAT'S IT! they don't care about you and by the way up to now i didn't receive my Gym bag and tumbler they are TRULY LIAR DON'T GO TO CEDARBRAE AND BEFORE YOU SIGN THE CONTRACT MAKE IT CLEAR ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP BECAUSE THEY SAID AFTER 14 DAYS YOU CAN CANCELED YOUR MEMBERSHIP BUT WHEN I COME BACK AFTER SIX DAYS AND I WAN'T TO CANCEL IT DUE TO FINANCIAL PROBLEM I NEED TO FINISH MY MEMBERSHIP WHICH IS MEAN YOUR CONTRACT(BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NO CONTRACT OR ANNUAL FEE) AND THEN I SAID TO THE EMPLOYEE" YOU SAID THE MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY 14 DAYS AND I CAN CANCELED ANYTIME I WAN'T" AND HE SAID "AFTER 1 YEAR AND THEN YOU HAVE A 14 DAYS TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE OR NOT" so that so very tricky right you should clear about the membership.

AND TO ALL EMPLOYEE: HOW CAN YOU SLEEP? HOW CAN YOU EAT YOUR FOOD THAT THE MONEY YOU'RE SPENDING FOR IS FROM THOSE PEOPLE THAT A "VICTIM" OF EXTREME GYM FITNESS MANAGEMENT, WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE JUST FOLLOWING YOUR "CROCODILE" BOSS BUT SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO THINK YOU GUYS ARE STEALING THE MONEY OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD FOR THEIR FAMILY.

AND TO ALL COMPLAINANT: I STRONGLY SUGGEST TO SUE THIS COMPANY LET US UNITE AND LET US GO TO THE MEDIA(SILVERMAN) TO EXPOSE THE ANOMALY OF THIS STUPID COMPANY

ppcdec4> If you know you didn't sign anything, ask them to show you a copy of the form in question. They should have a scanned copy to show you on the computer itself. They tried the same thing with me. When they finally pulled up this 'contract', my signature was nowhere on it.

I joined Extreme after 'winning' a 4-month membership from filling out one of those ballots. I signed up at the Yonge & Dundas location, and at the time, I repeatedly asked for the terms of my contract to be explained and clarified in detail before I signed and gave them my credit card. The terms spelled out for me VERBATIM by the representative were:
- That the length of the contract was ONLY 4 MONTHS, after which a membership fee of $96/month would kick in should I choose to continue.
- That I was under no contractual obligation to continue past 4 months.
- That if I wanted to cancel the trial membership before the 4 months were up, all I'd need to submit would be 2 weeks written notice.

After about a month, I realized I would no longer be able to use the membership due to my work and commute schedule. I took my written notice in, and was told I could not cancel. I spoke to the Manager, Alex Kumar, who told me I was violating the terms of my contract. I was NOW informed that I had signed a YEAR'S contract with 4 months free, and that the two week's written notice ONLY applied once I had finished the year's contract. When I asked to speak to the representative who signed me up, I was conveniently told, "He no longer works here, so whatever he told you isn't our problem". I had to meet with Alex Kumar TWICE before this mess got sorted out. Both times he was rude, evasive, and extremely condescending. As luck would have it, the credit card I had given them was stolen, so I had to cancel it, before they had a chance to take out any payments. I refused to submit information for an alternative credit card until I was shown their copy of my contract (the copy I had did not have ANY of the terms they were talking about). As previously mentioned, my signature was nowhere to be found on the copy they had on file, so Mr. Kumar was forced to cancel my membership.

The Sheppard and Yonge location is way too full, and the front desk girls are rude, the managers are rude, but the people who go to that gym are very pleasant. I used to go there for 4 yrs and loved it. Now since I moved, I go to the Interchange location. I love that location, the fron desk girls and managers are nice, no complains at all. The only thing I would change is better service from the employees there.

All of you who say that you feel pressured to sign up for memberships and personal trainers, NOONE is pressuring you! You need to have a voice and a brain of your own before signing any contract. So get up from your lazy ass and go work out without complaining at the gym!

The Cedabrea (Scarborough) location is Extremely filled with people. Its packed! I wouldn't recommend this location. Not a special gym by any means.

In 2007 I signed up for a contract and quickly changed my credit card number after numerous uncomfortable run-ins with sales representatives and other issues with my situation. I am now in collections which I wished to get rid of. I went into Extreme Fitness in March of 2009 to simply ask them who I pay and how I pay it, and somehow walked out with a totally new membership. I did this on the terms that what I owed to collections would be void and I would no longer owe them; I would pay Extreme Fitness. Collections is now calling me saying that that representative has no authority to void a pending account, thus, I now owe $450 for a new membership and $350 for my account with collections. The stupidest part of this was that I actually believed Extreme Fitness, and the more I talk to people; in hopes of them fixing my situation, I feel as though they will not fulfill (what should be) their obligation to help. All gyms are pretty much the same, although the facility is nice, it is not worth the hastle of dealing with all the employees. In my personal opinion, do not use Extreme Fitness.

Currently I am attending Durham College in Oshawa which has a gym; although not as nice as Extreme Fitness, has the equipment needed to perform most of ones daily exercise routine. This gym is included in my tuition, but I do not make any payments on it, and no one bothers me. Durham College's gym is the most relaxing place to exercise.

hi there! did u get your contract termnated? or did u have to cancel your credit card? im having a hard time with these guys and im leaving the country soon. any thoughts? thanks

yeah right because you are employee of that company no wonder you like it he he he he he

Good to know your experience was positive, but if you hadn't noticed, you're in a minority. ALL these people can't be wrong. And if you also notice, it's the same complaints over and over again, which goes to show that there is prevalent and systemic abuse of the consumer's rights accross all locations of this chain. No one is complaining about the price of the membership itself. The problem is that the terms of people's contracts are being misrepresented, so it doesn't really matter if you read your contract carefully, EF's employees will still find a way to breach the terms. Also concerning are the multiple reports of employees and trainers coercing and bullying the consumer, which is completely unethical, and it's no wonder that people want their memberships cancelled and their money back. It has nothing to do with being lazy, and everything to do with the humiliation and frustration the customer feels when they get screwed over by EF.

Compile as much of a paper trail as you can. Start with a copy of your contract and training agreement, which should state exactly how much you consented to pay. Also, bank statements showing exactly what they are taking from your account would help. As long as you can show a discrepancy between what you (by your signature) agreed to pay and what they are withdrawing from your account, you should be able to lodge a complaint with the BBB or take it to your lawyer. Also, whenever you speak to an EF employee, on the phone or in person, make sure you take down the person's full name, and keep a log of any meetings or conversations and what was said.
Worst-case scenario, maybe you can call your credit card company and ask if there's any way to block payment transfers until the matter is resolved.

I recently joined 2-3 days back and was surprised and shocked too see that whatever they told me was totally untrue for the "Pay as you go" plan with $8 a month and no contract.They eventually got me signed for a full year at a price of 129$ per month. It was foolish of me that i gave credit card details and didn't read there fine print. But good that i read the blogs and got to know the full story. God save from extreme fitness. Keep away. Lastly I was aware that i can break any contract within 10 days of signing. Well i did the right thing by personally going there and cancelling the contract.
Guess I was very very lucky to get the contract cancelled. Be sure to get the reciept of the cancelled contract.

OMG I was fighting with them again last night and they keep telling me there is no head office and keep smirking at me thank you for your help.

I know the feeling they scammed me for 157.00 and I am still waiting for my money

Charles Huang, you sound like a complete EXTREME moron!

USE THIS LETTER ON EXTREME FITNESS

To Management of Extreme Fitness

Al the manager at your fitness club at Yonge and Sheppard location was extremely rude and confrontational when trying to cancel my membership on May 8, 2009. During our conversation Al made the following statements:

Al's Statement
"I have no problem starting a war with you"
"listen buddy"
"listen you liar"
"prove to me clause waived in contract"
"I dare you to take us to court"
"I've been working for this company 12 years, and yes I'm the boss and I make the rules"

Given that I poorly treated by Al from Extreme Fitness. I was made to "prove" that my contract did in fact allow for cancellation. I experienced lost of income for 3 hours, in the process of "proving" my contract details, I took time out of my schedule to do the following.

* contact head office
* meet with Extreme fitness representative
* find extreme fitness contact
* scan and email supporting documentation to Paula Dow the Extreme Fitness Club services Manager
* write letter and phone conversation explaining situation.


Requesting the following:

1. payment of $*** make cheque payable to "***** *****", consulting rate is $**/hour for 3 hours
2. Written and verbal apology from Al the manager at extreme branch location
3. Delete all personal information stored on company computer systems
4. Return all photocopies of identification in whole or in part


Extreme fitness has 30 days from the date of this letter to comply with the outlined requests. If requests not met the following actions will be pursued.

1. File a lawsuit for the amount of ($***+$250 = $***) with the City of Toronto Small claims court.
2. Request Toronto Sun newspaper to write about this incident with Extreme Membership.
3. Post Membership Agreement and story on Facebook group.
4. File complain with MasterCard, indicating that Extreme Fitness has breached their MasterCard Merchant Agreement by charging credit card without proper authorization.
5. File complaint with the Privacy Commissioner. Alleging that Extreme Fitness is not in compliance with PIPEDA the federal "Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act" of Canada.
6. File complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Informing them that Extreme did not adhere to Membership Agreement, which waived the "25 miles distance cancellation" clause. The waiver was written and signed by a company representative (Jeff Assistant Manager).



This whole situation could have been resolved quickly if Al had engaged in a higher level of customer service. It saddens me that such a trivial customer request could not be resolved in a appropriate manner by Extreme Fitness management. A copy of this letter has been delivered to Extreme Fitness Corporate office and the Yonge and Sheppard fitness location.

Address and Contact Information
Extreme Fitness

Club Services Manager
905-709-1248 ext 280
pdow@extremefitness.info

Corporate Office Address
8281 Yonge Street
Thornhill, ON
L3T 2C7

a friend of mine back in june 2007 recevied a flyer in the mail from extreme fitness
promoting a free for 3 months deal. we decided to check it out at the location on eglinton close to yonge in Toronto, Ontario. we went there and apparently after the 3 months, you as the customer can decide whether or not your going to continue with the gym and that would be the point where you would start paying a monthly fee.

The sales person we spoke to named Nino was very friendly and seemed very genuine in helping us. After he explained 'half-assed' about what the gym consists of, he told us we would have to sign a contract. i was skeptical and told him i would rather bring the contract home and review it with my mother. In a sort of annoyed voice he told us that we wouldn't be able to take the contract with us and we had to sign it now.

He highlighted some sections on the contract about the equipment and new sound systems that were being installed, but didn't put much emphasis on the money that had to be spent.

After we spoke with him a bit more, he told us he needed a credit card number or void cheque. I said but wait a minute, if it's free for the first 3 months and you DID say after the 3 months we decide if we're joining or not, why do we need to have our credit card number? he gave some reason that I was obviously dumb enough to fall for, and I gave him the number. My friend didn't have her visa so we put my number temporarily on hers as well.

After we talked some more, my friend and I left and we were very skeptical. Signing up for this gym seemed too easy. After we discussed it, we decided this wasn't for us. Two 18 year old girls who were working and would be going to college in the next few months, really couldn't find the time for the gym.

Sometime in July, I called the Dunsfield club and asked to speak to a manager. The receptionist asked me what the nature of my call was and i explained to her that I had 3 months free and I wanted out. All of a sudden, the manager wasn't available, he was in a meeting. so i said okay and called back about 5 hours later. still the same response, manager's in a meeting. This continued for about 2 weeks until I'm like this is complete bullshit so me and my friend found ourselves down to the gym.

I told the receptionist what we were their for and she said he's just about to go in a meeting. so after waiting there for close to 2 hours and knowing that we're being duped, we decided to leave, but not before asking for head office's number.

When i get home i call the number the recptionist gave me and low and behold, it's a fax number. Now with working and stuff we sort of forgot about it because accoring to Nino, the guy who signed us up, no money would be taken off my credit card. about october now, i see on my visa statement that $160 (80 for me and 80 for my friend) had been takin off my card. Now i'm extremely pissed now because Nino did say after the 3 months, you decide if it's for you. Now mind you after the day we signed up, we hadn't gone to the gym. And if we were so called 'members', where were our membership cards?? so we go to the gym and ask to speak to Nino. I tell him that there's a charge on my credit card and the friendly, enthusiastic, scammer that we once witnessed, was now speechless, not enthusiastic anymore, and telling us he can't do anything about it, we have to talk to the manager.

So I decided that i was going to contact head office, which is supposedly located in Thornhill, but when we call the Thornhill office, they say their not head office. So we called the yonge and sheppard extreme fitness and asked them for head office....and they gave us the thornhill office?? like wtf?? what kind of game is being played here. so i decided to call back the gym we had signed up for and ask to speak to the manager, but i realized once you say you want to cancel, no manager is available. so i finally after many weeks got an appointment with the manager named Stefan at the end of October. I went in i told him him listen i am a student, i work, i have responsibilities at home, there's no way i can make time for the gym. I told him me and my friend were duped, we feel scammed. and he told me well you signed the contract you deal with the consequences. i said well listen your salesman Nino didn't put enough emphasis on the money part and he was rushing us to sign the contract, plus if it's SO EASY and SO CONVIENIENT to sign up, why can't i cancel???contracts can be broken you know. he said wll your on a 12 month contract! now at this point i'm thinking of socking this fool in his face but i kept my cool and explained again that i have no time. his response, well im sure u can find a few hours in your day blah blah blah. and im like this fool isn't hearing me, so let me just leave. so now we're in mid november and me and my mom are having conflicts, so i decide to move in with a relative in brampton. i'm not sure when i'm going back home, so i decided to buy a P.O Box at the post office, so at least i dont have to change my address but i can still receive mail in it. So i make another appointment with jackass Stefan (this is december now) and show him my po box that shows i will be living out of the city, which i believe is the only way you can cancel your membership. so he tells me theres no gym location in Brampton but it's still in a 40 km radius from another. I'm like are you a dumbass??? i go to school in etobicoke, live in brampton, and you think i'm going to travel all the way to the closest location, the vaughn location??!!???plus is not like i have a car, it's public transportation, I take.

well after all that, we are now in January and i'm trying to maybe contact head office one final time, and then possibly take this a bit further.

I am now 19, i work on weekends, because travelling from etobicoke to brampton doesnt really leave much time for anything. and from october to now, $160 has been takin off my visa, which totals about $640. Nino sucks and Stefan royally SUCKS!!!.....ANYWYAS IF ANYONE IS READING THIS AND CONTEMPLATING JOINING EXTREME FITNESS, DON'T!!!!AND IF YOU DO, READ THE CONTRACT OVER 5, 6 ,7, HOW MANY TIMES IT TAKES YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR SIGNING UP FOR. AND IF YOU NEED TIME, INSIST ON TAKING THE CONTRACT HOME!!!!DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE ME AND MY FRIEND MADE, BECAUSE YOU WILL REGRET IT.

I had the same exact thing happen to me - only the person who sold it to me at the North York location fully lied to my face about the contract and payment. My boyfriend also suffered from a similar fate where he specifically asked a question and was lied to regarding the contract. The moral is definitely to not sign anything you're unsure of, but the practice of flat-out lying is clear misrepresentation and definitely something that can be disputed in the courts. I am trying to find the witness who was in the room with me the day of the incident (conveniently, she has left the company). Once I do, you can be sure that I am going to file a complaint to the better business bureau. They've also double charged me this month, and having dealt with them already, conveniently the manager is always busy. In trying to deal with this gym, I actually had to stay on hold for 20mins before a manager finally consented to pick up the phone. Further, you'll notice that the managers only work Monday - Friday 9-6pm (because everyone who goes to the gym doesnt work...).

Bottom line - Extreme Fitness = SCUM

I'm curious if you could provide the organization or purpose behind collecting complaints. Are you going to use respondents' information to file a class action law suit, inform the media, develop a petition, etc.?

Thanks!

Oh man, Last night i went down to the Extreme at Danforth. I just wanted to find a decent gym where i lift weights and run. Nothing fancy. But of course they gave me tour and asked me a milion questions. Brought me into a room, and i straight up didnt want to pay 70 or whatever it was to sign up. Asks me to wait. Brings in smooth talking manager, trying to bring the price down, and sweet talk me into signing up for a year. Trying every angle they posibly could.

Just from how hard they push you can tell that they know if someone walks away without joining, they're never coming back.

It took me so long to finally break away from the HIGH preasure salesman. It was close though, they were really trying to get me to put down a credit card or my bank info. I said i didnt have it on me, My sister was with me, and they started asking her for her credt card for me. Cleary just wanted an account.

I had a bad feeling about them, seemed shady to me. Told them i would be back the following monday.

After reading these post, i can cleary tell i made the right decsison, and i feel bad for all those who got suckered into signing up with them.

Importnat thing to remember is never to let anyone bully you into buying something.

Ok So my bf cancelled his personal training over the phone and left a voice mail within the 10 day period. The manager remembers the call and states he tried to call him back but because he never reached him, they decided to process the payments. Now we owe them about $3,000.00. I need help on fighting this. It is Bull**** they knew we didnt want it but yet they still went ahead with it and there is anything we can do about it. Does anyone know anything i can do to get me outta this???

Convenience has had me a member at Extreme - Danforth for two years now. Aside from a few pleasant people at the Front Desk however, the gym is poorly run, overpriced and the people (and in particular) the trainers - 'extremely' rude. A trainer last night was using 3 separate pieces of equipment at peak hours - when asked how long he would be - his response was "12 sets on each left" and turned his back. When a complaint was lodged - the GM's response was: "We don't have a policy regarding trainers using multiple pieces of equipment - we would hope that they would be courteous". For anyone who works out at Extreme Danforth, you will note that ALL of the trainers regularly use multiple pieces of equipment when training others - effectively, encouraging the trainee to do the same when they are on their own - hardly courteous and certainly not showing any gym etiquette. Most of us have to work out at peak times when going to the gym. That Extreme Fitness works so hard to have you sign up and then disregards your interests in favour of their trainers once you are there - is entirely unacceptable. I will be moving on at the end of my contract. Maybe by then they will have figured it out - without members - there is no gym.

LAFF @ u

you people are stupid as shit to sign up. laff @ u x2

Hello,
I am in the process of suing Extreme fitness and based on the posts on this blog I think it should be a class action law suit!

Their bait & switch policy is illegal and I think they should be made to stop it. My brother and I signed up together. He was with me when I asked the question:

"Can I cancel at any time?"

Not only was I was told yes by the sales rep, but he also went out of his way to reference a section of my contract that stated I just had to give the club 14 days to cancel the contract!

So while I agree that consumers have a responsibility to read the documents that they're signing, I also feel that a company should not be allowed to lie to potential customers!

In regards to my upcoming lawsuit, I would really appreciate it if I could get statements from everyone. Alternatively, I would also welcome anyone else who wishes to join my lawsuit. Please feel free to contact me at my email address: nashebes@hotmail.com

Thanks in advance to anyone who helps!

Nasheba

Beaware if you are a guy they'll get ya a slutty beautiful female trainer and if you are a girl they will get ya an handsome trainer male and both are willing to sell themselves really cheap for ya to attend the club just for the sake of money, and the list goes on and on from simple flirtation to touchy touchy to short term relationship.

... check the blogs of other gyms ... it is not as bad as Extreme Fitness ... not even close ...

AVOID EXTREME FITNESS LIKE THE PLAGUE.

I had the worst experience with Extreme Fitness particularly the one at yonge and dundas 319 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 1R7.
The Manager by the name of Alex Kumar has absolutely NO moral or ethics at all! i cant even believe a place like extreme fitness has him working there! Im not sure if this is the same with all extreme fitness gyms. but be careful when you go in and do not sign anything! The do not care about you as a person at all! All they care about is stealing your money!! I made the mistake of signing a contract trusting the salesperson who signed me up and i did not read the contract to find out i signed up for an entire year and when i went back in to cancel my contract after only 25 days, using the gym ONCE he did not want to hear a thing i had to say and wants to charge me about $800bucks! So they are currently charging my CC monthly and i live about 1hour from the gym!! ALEX KUMAR is probably one of the most UNETHICAL people i have ever come across in my lifetime!!
Be careful of the scams they pull over there because they DO NOT care about you as a customer!

I joined the gym with a promise of two months free, half way through the first month these ass holes took three payments off of my credit card, two months later I am still waiting to get my money back and that mighty mouse on steriods Trevor is a complete asshole and an uneducated waste of space. That gym is just as bad as ballys was... DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY WAY TO GET INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. I have now had to cancel my credit card becasue of them useless bunch of SCUM BAGS!!!

I joined this gym @ the pickering location with a promise of two months free, half way through the first month these ass holes took three payments off of my credit card, two months later I am still waiting to get my money back and that mighty mouse on steriods Trevor is a complete asshole and an uneducated waste of space. That gym is just as bad as ballys was... DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY WAY TO GET INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. I have now had to cancel my credit card becasue of them useless bunch of SCUM BAGS!!!

I tore my knee up skiing in February this year - nearly lost my lower leg to circulatory issues. Since that time I've been forbidden by my surgeon to do anything other than carefully monitored physiotherapy for range-of-motion at a rel physiotherapist. Just this past week he gave me the ok to begin strength training on my injured leg to prep me for surgery (that's righ - I'm still waiting for surgery - for legit non-waiting time reasons).

Since the accident I've been flat on my back for nearly the whole time and did not know the fee 'freeze' that EF offers.

So I went to the St. Clair gym last week to see about which machine I'd consider using to build my leg back up. Some staffer told me that I would be eligible for a 'freeze' even though I didn't 'book' the 'freeze' in advance (seems it's meant for people who have lengthy travel on business or who are on vacation for months at a time). It sounded reasonable to me and I agreed to bring what documentation I had confirming the date of the injury next time I came to the gym.

I limped into the gym yesterday and they refuseed to accept my hospital records as proof and tell me that I need a letter from the doctor stating that, "I had not been to the gym since my injury". I pointed out to them that my doctor couldn't possibly know if that was true or not because I had been at home almost the whole time since the injury, but the doctor couldn't confirm that, and that I would not ask the doctor to lie.

I was then told that I had been misinformed by the person I had spoken to last week about their policies and that I could not get credit for the time I was unable to use the gym due to my injury.

At no point did they offer to discuss this with a manager, even though I requested that be done. At no point did they express any other method that could be used to resolve the discrepancy between what I had been told last week and yesterday.

I canceled my membership on the spot, and told them that they had just lost my business and that of anyone else I could persuade not to join them.

It looks like that the old strategy of Premier Fitness
Clubs is now being used by Extreme Fitness. It just
probably needed a little tweaking to avoid being fined by
the federal Competition Bureau. It is sad for the
consumers.

See the 2007 ruling below.

http://www.cb-bc.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/02518.html

Premier Fitness Undisclosed Fees Investigation
Successfully Concluded
Competition Bureau Reaches Settlement with Fitness Club
Chain in Ontario

Ottawa, November 27, 2007 – The Competition Bureau
announced that it has reached a consent agreement with
Premier Fitness Clubs, resolving the Bureau’s concerns
over some of the company’s advertising practices from
1999 to 2004. The agreement was filed today with the
Competition Tribunal.

During the course of its investigation, the Bureau
determined that Premier Fitness Clubs did not adequately
disclose additional fees that consumers would be
obligated to pay in some of its advertising of membership
offers on the radio, billboards, storefront signs, and in
newspapers and flyers. Consumers who were induced by free
trial offers ultimately had to pay a mandatory “fitness
assessment” and/or had to sign up for a one-year contract
in order to receive the “free” 30-90 day trial offer.

As a result, the actual price of memberships was greater
than what the advertisements led consumers to believe.
This contravened the false or misleading representations
provision of the Competition Act. Premier Fitness Clubs
owns and operates 35 clubs in Ontario.

“The Bureau is committed to ensuring that consumers are
not enticed to make purchases based on misleading
information,” said Andrea Rosen, Acting Deputy
Commissioner of Competition. “Truth in advertising is
fundamental so that Canadians do not sign contracts or
make purchases only to find that additional costs have
not been disclosed.”

Following the Bureau’s investigation, Premier Fitness
Clubs has voluntarily taken steps to correct its
advertising practices in order to conform with the law.
This cooperation, along with the consent agreement, have
resolved the Bureau’s concerns without having to proceed
with costly litigation.

Under the terms of the 10-year consent agreement, Premier
Fitness Clubs is required to:

-pay an administrative monetary penalty of $200,000.00;

-publish a corrective notice in three Ontario daily
newspapers (the Toronto Sun, the Toronto Star, and the
Ottawa Citizen);

-display a corrective notice in its clubs and on its Web
site;

-implement a new corporate compliance policy to cover its
marketing practices; and

-not make false or misleading representations in future
promotional materials.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement
agency. We contribute to the prosperity of Canadians by
protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling
informed consumer choice.

Extremely HAPPY indeed! Thank you for the Consumer Protection Act, 2002. Lost my sleep but, it was ALL WORTH IT! I had to wait nearly 2 hrs, and before you know it I AM HOME FREE ONCE AGAIN! Woo hoo!

I'm a member at the Richmond Street gym, and I have no complaints with them. When I signed up, they tried to schedule me with a trainer. I told them I wasn't interested, and they stopped calling me. They wanted to do a fitness assessment, and I also told them I wasn't interested.

I don't do any of the classes, I just go 5-7 times a week to exercise. It's a good gym with good equipment, it's conveniently located, and I'm paying $78 per month (with 4 additional months free, so net monthly price is $58.50)

If you want to learn about exercise, check out some forums like bodybuilding.com, johnstonefitness.com or Arnold Schwarzenegger's Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding. You can teach yourself - this stuff pretty simply, and it's much better to be self-reliant in the gym. I can't believe what some of these trainers charge, it's crazy. If I paid that much for training I would regret it too.

this is the WORST gym I have ever gone to. They start off by taking double the amount out of my bank account.. took three months to get them to stop that, and they would not reimburse me for it!! I had to cancel my visa.. then they stop my account, this took alot of work, time, and fare money to finally get them to stop taking the 'extra' membership.. I am ONLY one person..therefor i ONLY need one membership!!! I have also gotten a 'free' trainer for an hour.. it was 15 mins of weights, and 45 mins, sitting in the office getting pressured to pay for a personal trainer. As i got up to leave, being so fed up, she took me to the personal trainer manager where he told me " Doing cycling class and cardio 6 days a week, will NOT help you to loose weight.. all its going to do is make your heart strong, is that what you want??" he then went on to tell me that i need a personal trainer, as i need to loose weight and there is no way i can do it on my own. I am 5'7, 133 pounds..he made me feel like garbage.. i walked home crying that day. i keep trying to get out of this contract, which is whole other story. DO NOT JOIN EXTREME FITNESS. it IS a beautiful gym (young/dundas), with great equipment.. but they need to get there act together and learn some respect! PS: thank you for the head office number!

your moronic! so why did you leave goodlife in the first place?

Name: Extreme Fitness Inc- HO
Phone: (905) 709-1248
Fax: (905) 709-5643
Address: 8281 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON L3T 2C7
Website: www.extremefitness.com

Principal Contact: Mr. Taso Pappas, V.P. Sales/Marketing
Customer Contact: Mr. Taso Pappas - (905) 709-1248
Email Address: tasop@extremefitness.info

Dear David on.
stop posting how much you love extreme fitness.. you obviously work there, or a part of their team.
go away. none of us care, or want to read it. if only you have gone though what we have gone though.. you would see EXTREME FITNESS IS A LAYING PIECE OF SHIT. thank you.

They are no better than thieves, muggers, goons, and thugs.

I will not be surprised if they go bankrupt in a few years, after grabbing all the money they can get and running away with it.

How incompetent can one company be?
I was going to try extreme fitness with a ten day trial that lead into a membership. After deciding prior to my ten days ending that this gym was not for me I canceled my membership. I went to the branch I had joined and after waiting for ten minutes to see a manager-to cancel- I had to wait another 15 minutes for them to complete the process as their systems weren’t working, understandable it happens. The cancellation was completed by a paper form and the manager on duty assured me that once the systems were back to working he would correct the account as canceled. Everything was fine until two months later I receive a credit card statement with charges to the gym. After calling the same branch speaking to the manager working they said my account was still active. She felt that calling me ‘sweetie’ and asking for me to find my information for the situation to be resolved that this was good customer service. I explained I would like the manager who set my account up and canceled it to take care of the issue, which she said he isn’t working and will get to it when he can. I then asked for the phone number to the head office, which no one knew. How do associates of a large company not have the simplest information regarding their company? I am so turned off from Extreme Fitness that the thought of the gym leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, maybe that’s their trick to getting people fit- treat them so poorly they’re so disgusted they can’t even think of food. Word to the wise when seeing their ‘offers’ or ‘great deals’, if it seems too good to be true-it isn’t true- case point, Extreme Fitness.

I am a member of Extreme Fitness and I agree that their sales tactics are tacky, high pressure, and unethical. However, the Richmond and Dundas locations are very clean and the equipment is top notch. The facilities are fantastic and there are a lot of serious fitness enthusiasts there. If you want to get the best out of the gym, and you want to make a significant commitment to fitness and minimize all the game playing with the sales staff, this is what you do: DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY BANKING INFORMATION OR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION. PAY CASH FOR THE YEAR AND ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE AN EXPIRY DATE ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD AND ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT (no contractual ties after your 12 months that you have paid in cash). DO NOT SIGN THE CONTRACT UNTIL YOU HAVE READ EVERY SINGLE SENTENCE ON THAT MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT. TAKE YOUR TIME AND ASK QUESTIONS. DO NOT LET THE SALESPERSON RUSH YOU. BE DIRECT WITH WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF THE CLUB AND GET WHAT YOU NEED.

Enjoy the gym, but be smart about how you join.

Ive been a member since 07, and been a member of Goodlife, system fitness (kingston/woobine) and other gyms. This is a mostly pro-post. I go to Pickering, Whitby, Danforth and Richmond locations, mostly Pickering.

When it comes to these gyms, you are paying the facilities, and in most case these gyms are large, and well equipped. All gyms have busy times, complaining about this is childish.

I agree the Richmond location pushes trainers way too hard, however if you are firm, they will back off. The management staff there was efficient in meeting my requests.

I have seen unprofessional front desk staff at Whitby but overall the staff at all locations are good. Some are very good.

Recently Ive seen young people at Pickering, 13 or so and do not think that they should be training even if they have trainer. It generally not accepted any kid under 16 has the muscle and skeletal development for resistance training, and any gym staff should know this.

Other than that this gym chain is on par or better than others, depending on what you value.

Stay away from EXTREME FITNESS.

They care ONLY about your MONEY.

And they will screw you. They know they can get away with it.

It is ONE BIG SCAM.

The number for the "head office" (905 709-1248) is only the gym that is located under the head office. There is no client relations to assist. The issue will be escalated to the general manager and if you are having an issue with them and you want to persue then it goes to a regional manager. This is if you have the energy to persist with the situation. If this is still not resolved then as previously mentioned email Consumer Protection Agency and the Better Business Bureau.

Just a piece of advice. Check your bank statement after your 12th month. Extreme Fitness has a history of over-charging. They might debit your bank account for $238.00 even after the 12 month period is completed. It has happened to some people. And it took so much time and effort to make Extreme Fitness to stop. Cross your fingers because it might happen to you as well, if you are not so lucky.

Frank- Thanks for the advise. I'm thinking of paying the remainder off soon, just to avoid that!
Disgruntled Member- I didn't know it was 34 sessions first of all. They gave me a TOTAL cost before any other info. And before I signed up for PT, they had giving me a specific trainer that would match my specific goals and physique and told me no matter what my schedule was, that this specific trainer would have to oblige by it. So, thats what made me confident in getting PT.And i did complain after, and the manager of the health cntr switched me with 3 diff trainers in that period of 2 months. so go figure i didn't reach my goals.The trainers' schedule was either so packed that they couldn't fit me in for weeks at a time,or some BS.And im not stupid, I always cancelled 24 hrs notice.Maybe you have a stick in ur pants so they treated you a bit differently....

OMG, Thanks so much Sugars! SOrry to hear your troubles though.Ugh, gyms.

That is the business strategy of Extreme Fitness.

They will never let you off the hook. They will create barriers and excuses so that you can not cancel your membership - unless you create hell for them. Do a search on Youtube for "Charles Huang Extreme Fitness". You will see what I mean.

I suspect that the managers lose commissions or salary whenever there are cancellations. Thus, these managers lie, bully, harass, intimidate, and do everything else to avoid any cancellation.

They know how to play the game and they get away with it.

That is how these greedy people make money. They have no morals.

I am in law school now. Lawyers don't defend cases such as a few hundred dollar cases. It would cost you more in lawyer fee's than what your fighting not to pay for.
In cases like this, they are usually settled before any court action is taken.You have to simply imply that you have the intent to take it to court, and if you do, represent yourself. If there isn't a binding agreement (contract) which by law can only be enforced through a signature of an adult over the legal age of minority; then it is null and void. No questions asked. Take that to management or the head office. But make sure you make copies of the contract and always travel with a copy of the contract, not the original copy. Keep that safe, that is your only evidence and can't afford to be tampered with.
hope that helps

Further to my post above, the General Manager replied to me and said that "the document will only be given to me in person, and this is not negotiable." He does not say why.
Since it is not in the contract that I must retrieve the agreement in person, he is clearly intimidating me. Now I can make my complaint to Ministry of Consumer Services.

Violet,

Just a few suggestions.

In case you will see the manager in person, be prepared. Bring in a friend or someone as a witness and moral support. Expect bad behaviour from them. They could be abusive, rude, intimidating, insulting, etc. That is part of their strategy and dirty tricks. They might even let you wait for an hour or so before seeing you. They will try every trick in the book to force you to give in. They are also trying to scare other members from cancelling.

That is why it is important to bring a witness, or even a recorder/video (it worked for Charles Huang - see him on Youtube).

You can let them know as well that you will consider going public - internet, media, BBB, facebook, youtube, blogs, etc. Bad publicity could hurt their business.

You might consider filing a complaint at Better Business Bureau (www.mwco.bbb.org). If you file a complaint, Extreme Fitness will be obliged to respond to your complaint since they would not want to have a bad record at BBB.

Check out also Ontario Consumer Protection (http://www.gov.on.ca/MGS/en/ConsProt/050451.html).

Good luck.

Frank

Now I remember they printed 2 copies. One copy I signed and it stayed with them, the other print was not signed and was for me to keep.
I asked today for a copy of the signed contract to be scanned and emailed, or a copy mailed to my house.
General Manager's response was - I must come in to the gym for a copy of it and get it from him personally, and this is not negotiable.
I replied... OK will do, and that I will go in tomorrow at a certain time to pick it up.
I will keep you posted of how it turns out.
Thanks for your responses and support

Violet,

If you have a lawyer friend or anyone who is a good debater, you should bring him/her along. Expect to be verbally harassed or abused. Be ready to protect yourself and stand your ground. They might even claim that they do not have a copy of your contract anymore. They said this to one former member.

Good luck. I hope it turns out in your favor.

Frank

Hi, there:
I went in and at reception they have 4 young good looking people standing there doing nothing and all laughing and talking with each other. They each avoid meeting my eye, and ignored me, until I finally said... excuse me...Then they act like spoiled brats and look at me as if I am irritating them for interrupting their nonsense.
I asked to see the general manager and one of them called him. After talking with him for a while, I was told that he is on a tour... do I want to wait? I said I was supposed to pick-up a copy of my agreement from him, and maybe someone else can get it for me. The fellow got on the phone and called the office to ask for a rep to help me with this. While I was waiting a girl at reception said... 'You can just go and sit down, someone will be with you' with a certain degree of contempt. I replied... I am talking to him... and she backed off.
This place is like high school all over again....
I went to the office and the rep said they keep the signed original since they are the ones who need it, the customers get an unsigned printout and it is all we need because it has the rep's name on it. I said... if you have a signed agreement between two parties each should get a copy. She looked amazed. Obviously the general manager is good at bullying customers who want to leave the gym, and not so good at customer service and training of his staff who adopt their attitudes from him.
Incidentally, when they are selling memberships, and expensive services that no one needs - like training; they are very polite patient, friendly and answer all questions.
I got my signed copy of the agreement in the end, and will send them the documents they want so they can cancel my membership once I move to another city. If any other problems arise I will post them.
V

All i have to point out is that before you sign anything ever again read the CONTRACT.....read all the clauses, make sure you are comfortiable with it. Ask questions...they hate questions....have you ever tried to make one of those jocks or bimbos think...it can be quite amusing. If you are moving out of the country get your company to do a dear john letter on your new role...or show them a bill or make one up they wont know the difference. Just stop complaining that you're stuck in a contract that you all agreed to sign. it's not the gyms fault it's yours. Yuo also have 10 days to cancel your contract its ontario law. That is 10 Days NOT business days. Extreme's policy is that the general managers deal with the individual club issues, not the head office. there is no customer relations line there so dont waist your time calling. Look all i am really trying to say here is read the contract before you sign it....this goes for everything you purchase from now on...know the policies and out clauses....dont jump into it because it seems like agood idea.....think people

To all of the people, like yourself, who have been ripped off by this company, here is some advice on how to fight back.

1. Inform the management via a dated letter of your problem and send this via registered mail or email - be sure to keep a copy of the registered mail receipt and/or email. You need proof that you tired to resolve issue in writing.

2. Call your credit card company to ask how to reverse an unauthorized charge. They will ask you probably to submit your problem in writing and will give you a file claim. Be sure to include a copy of the letter you sent to Extreme Fitness - to prove that you tried to resolve the issue with the vendor.

3. VISA and other credit card companies give vendors 30 days from the time you make your claim against a vendor for the vendor to defend themselves. If they do not have adequate reasons for the charges - then VISA enforces a credit back to your account. There is a time limitation on requesting charges credited to your account - usually 90 days - so act within this time frame.

4. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. The Consumer Protection Act (2002)has a special provision for the rights of consumers who join fitness clubs. For example, all contracts with these clubs must end after 1 year and renewal depends upon a club sending adequate notice (at least 30 days) and also re-submitting the contract to you for approval before your renewal date. If a contract is renewed without notice, you have the right to terminate the contract and receive back any fees that you have paid. Even if you mess up a bit by signing a contract that puts you at a disadvantage - you still have rights - Follow this link to receive more information.
http://www.gov.on.ca/mgs/en/ConsProt/STEL02_167897.html

3. After you receive your credit back, cancel your card and request a new one. Inform Extreme Fitness in writing that they are no longer entitled access to your credit card.

4. AS a general rule - never give companies free access to your credit card! Cheques are equally acceptable if you have to pay for something in installments. You have much more control over your funds.

5. As a way to combat the fraudsters at Extreme Fitness, I would suggest that anyone who has been forced to accept unauthorized VISA charges through the unethical management should write to the Consumer Protection Agency to complain about the vendor. The agency investigates companies and prints lists of problem companies. Here is the address: Consumer Protection Branch
5775 Yonge Street, Suite 1500
Toronto ON M7A 2E5
Fax: (416) 326-8665

Also - here is the online complaint form:
http://www.gov.on.ca/mgs/en/ConsProt/STEL02_168949.html

Scam. Nice facilities in some cases, but this place is all about the money. They also make it very difficult to cancel. I went in a year ago with a friend for a ten day trial. They took our credit card numbers - said it was pro forma. We had cancelled after the ten days. Or so we thought. One membership got cancelled the other didn't. We didn't bother keeping the paperwork in either case. Who would have thought cancelling a membership would turn out to be so problematic?? We received a letter six months later saying the membership was past due. We told them it was cancelled, and were told that it would be handled. Not so, apparently. Just the other day I recieved a bill for 718 dollars for the one year fantasy membership. They threaten to send it to collections - in fact the letter we got was all about scare tactics - going to collections, going to equifax, ruining our credit rating, etcetera. I suspect they try and scare people into paying. Boy that's good for your health, hey! Speaking to them on the phone was like speaking to a wall. Basically their line is: you signed a contract, it doesn't matter if you never ever came in, it doesn't matter if you cancelled it, unless you have the paper work to prove you cancelled you get charged and if you don't pay this goes to colections. They did 'kindly' offered us to give us a time extension if we paid the $718 so we could use the gym for a bit. I suspect many people capitulate here...this is too disgusting to do so. I'd be curious to see what a lawyer has to say about this, because if this ain't illegal, it should be. I've been a member of the YMCA for five years, and I love it even more after this experience :-)

YUP

I joined the Thornhill location with a friend in August and we were signed up by the GM Lynn - she was quite excellent and to the point. I made it clear we just wanted a simple membership, and she quoted the options without any sales schpeels or pushing trainers on us. She also told us how to set up our membership so it terminates within a year and can re-negotiate after then. I was disappointed in the first free assessment we had with the trainer because he tried to sell us services and did not show us how to use machines or anything. The Dundas location is good and classes are worth it for the monthly fee. The Thornhill location is pretentious and the parking lot is almost like a car show some nights. Interchange is a bit more down to earth. My main complaint is members who are dirty and leave stuff in the showers or gum on the machines. Otherwise the equipment is all good and have never really had an issue with over-crowdedness.

Buy from Goodlife. I was there for about 2 years and stopped this March and took this past summer off to go play baseball in the States. Extremely courteous, friendly and share mutual respect amongst employees and management.

Extreme is a beautiful gym with some of the best instructors around. I have checked out all kinds of gyms. The problem with extreme is handing over a credit card for monthly billing and trying to talk to the GM about a move or mischarge. Yes, I was decieved by a bully GM....I wish I never experienced that becuase it puts a damper on the best gyms/

YMCA is the best. Use their membership in all their clubs. Be great if there was one in our neighborhood. I worked for the sister company of a place like this in Winnipeg and it is all about enforcing the contract.

I suggest that every body should file a complaints to the BBB, how they can keep on doing this for such a long time.

Hi Forkypine...I meant to respond to you directly...the BBB issues Reliability Reports on all businesses, whether or not they are BBB accredited.

Hi, Danforth Disstress. Anyways I came across your complaints and don't worry am a cop. But anyways to get out of your contract. You can simply change your account number, or if you gave them your credit cad number then change the CC number by telling your bank that you lost your wallet and they will easily help you to change it. These are the 2 ways and no cost ways to get rid of these bumbs. I was with the Xtreme fitness but I got out a long time ago.

Peter r

I don't have an Extreme Membership. I do fine with the gym in my condo building - having shiny equipment, a $12 juice bar, or 40 foot ceilings isn't going to make me more fit ;)!

Anyway, I'm just posting to say thanks! I have many friends who are EF members and have asked me to join. But after a quick search and this blog, I will stay away from that corporation for as long as I live!

I'm glad people are sending complaints to the BBB. Giving government cubicle workers something to do for our taxes!

The problem is, the BBB or anyone else for that matter will not bring EF down! You people have to realize that whoever started EF, sat down, invested their own money, and came up with a killer business plan to feed off the naive, young 20/30 somethings living in the condo-world that is Toronto. EF during it's conception most likely had a team of lawyers proof-read and design their business plan. They all know that what they are doing is unethical. It's not a scam though!!!! They're just using our poor economic/business policies to their advantages. They've found loop holes in the system and their feeding them for every penny.
It's your own fault if you give in to some sale person's sweet talk and drop your credit card information without reading all the fine print. Ha. It's not a fraud or a scam. It's smart (greedy and unethical!!) business people taking advantage of stupid, naive mostly young Torontonians who continue to put everything on credit and who are willing to go into major debt to join the "posh" gym with the "in crowd".

Terrible, awful Extreme fitness club! Is there any way to cancel the membership? I canceled my TD credit card but TD VISA company still sends me bill every month for the Fitness fee. I can't believe what's going on. I asked the credit card company to stop billing me because I closed the credit card account, but they told me I have to ask fitness club to stop taking money. What can I do?
The sales general manager, STEPHANIE, is a terrible person. She doesn't care about any complaints. why she's general manager? she only cares about money. That's it! we have to do something against Extreme fitness club.

I canceled my credit card 3 months ago but the credit card company still sends me the bill for fitness fee every month. I can't believe what's going on. I complained the credit card company but they told me that I have to ask the fitness club to stop taking money. What should I do???

Special Offer - $10 Monthly. Yeah, right. Smells fishy. Probably another scam. Reminder to all: Read the fine print. Don't just sign the contract. Don't believe everything the sales rep tells you.

Hi Terry:

Last week, I threw away one of the infamous ExF $10 promotion flyers. The moment I saw it in my mailbox, I shook my head and thought, "No way you're pulling me into your web of BS, pushy, intimidating marketing/sales tactics." These people will never change. They're consistently strong-arming people under the auspicious of an accommodating work-out facility. And heaven help those who sign on the dotted line without doing their homework. Just read this thread from beginning to end. It's scary; the education is priceless. It's amazing how these people haven't changed their "extreme bullying" since inception. With experience, and reading and hearing about the experience of so many others, all I can say in conclusion is, "Beware of ExF's web of deception." I repeat, "Beware."

Other gyms do not have "F" rating in the Better Business Bureau.

Managers and staff of other gyms are not rude and unprofessional.

Managers of other gyms do not yell or bully members.

Other gyms do not engage in misleading ads and promos. Such deceitful ads indicate bad faith.

Extreme Fitness make it extraordinarily difficult to cancel, even if it is within the 10-day time period.

Other gyms do not double bill members and then fail to reverse it.

Other gyms do not get tons and tons of complaints. Just read this blog.

Something tells me that something is wrong with one specific gym.

So many people have the same complains. Surely, they can not be all wrong.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.
If it smells like a rotten fish, then, it must be rotten.
And Extreme Fitness smells very fishy.

Found something funny at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p0uerkQtFo

Extreme Membership contract runs for one year.

Extreme Fitness should deliver by mail, at least 30 days but ot more than 90 days before the completion date, a written renewal notice to the member at his/her address. The notice would give the member the option to renew (or extend) the contract or terminate (or cancel) it.

Based on the experience of some members, it appears that Extreme Fitness DOES NOT SENT OUT this RENEWAL/CANCELLATION NOTICES to members. Well, we should not be surprised. Because if members do not receive their renewal/cancellation notices, they will most likely not be able to send a cancellation notice to EF.

And in short, if the members to not send a cancellation notice to Extreme Fitness, their membership contract is AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS. Surely, that makes Extreme Fitness very happy because they will continue to automatically charge your bank account card / credit card.

And if you want to cancel you membership contract, after the completion of the one year period, I wish you GOOD LUCK. Extreme Fitness will make it difficult for you to cancel it. (1) They will not allow you to do it over the phone. You will have to come in personally and talk to the General Manager. (2) They will not see you immediately. They will let you wait for hours. (3) They will be impolite and rude to you, once they know that you plan to cancel your membership. (4) They want to give you hell, and anybody else who wants to cancel their membership. If you want to know why? They get commission for the fees they collect. Thus, if you cancel your membership, their membership fees collection will decrease, and so will their commission.

I hope they change their strategy because it is unfair and unethical. Besides, many members would surely like to remain as members if only they get treated professionally and honestly.

Anyway, good luck to you Lore, if you want to cancel you membership.