NYHRC - Scam

I usually hate rants but this one has my blood boiling:

“Anyone considering joining a gym, you'd be insane to consider the criminal organization that is NYHRC the New York Health and Racquet Club.”
EA New York from Ripoff report

Also, checkout the following, directly from the NYHRC's Terms of Service

“NEW YORK HEALTH AND RACQUET assumes no responsibility regarding the accuracy of the information that is provided by NEW YORK HEALTH AND RACQUET and use of such information is at the recipient's own risk. NEW YORK HEALTH AND RACQUET provides no assurances that any reported problems may be resolved with the use of any information that NEW YORK HEALTH AND RACQUET provides.”
NYHRC TOS

So last year, both me and my wife signed up for NYHRC, 23rd street location. I was careful to sign up for a month-to-month no contract membership for $119.00/month. Earlier this year, We were so excited upon joining NYHRC. I realized that I've not been using the club much so I called the club and asked them to cancel my membership. I was told that they can put my membership on freeze and whenever I want I can unfreeze the membership. I was also told that if I unfreeze after 3 months, I would have to pay a penalty to join again.

“NYHRC has a deceptive month-to-month commitment membership”

I emptied my locker and upon NYHRC's demand, surrendered the membership cards belonging to my wife and me.

We even started receiving emails that we should join NYHRC again. This further provided me a sign that our membership is now closed until we want to make it active again.

Recently, I was shocked to see that NYHRC had tried to bill me again! Today, when I called them, they totally changed their story and told me that the freeze is temporary and I must pay not only for current month but also for the next month in case I need to cancel. And, the cancellation must be sent via registered mail. When I explained that was not what I was told the clerk started showing me attitude and getting rude over the phone. I walked to their 23rd street location. Again everyone was rude there the moment they heard that I want to cancel my account. I told them that you'd already taken our membership card then how do you expect us to use the club? First they kept denying that my account was even frozen and then told me I must have talked to someone inexperienced???

And, I am not the only sufferer as you can read deceptive and horrible customer service stories at Ripoff report about NYHRC.

“Buyer beware: New York Health and Racquet Club's business model is based on a near-impossible cancellation policy. Even if you have a month-to-month 'No commitment, cancel anytime' membership, you can not simply cancel by phone, email, fax, or even in person.

First, you must go to a physical location of the gym to pick up a form (if you're out of the country, tough luck). But you are nor permitted to fill out the form on the spot and hand it back. No-- you must mail it, by REGISTERED or CERTIFIED mail. Then, unless the letter is received a full 30 DAYS before your next scheduled billing, TOUGH LUCK: you'll be billed again, for a membership you've already asked to cancel.

This fraudulent policy is buried in the fine print of their 40,000 word contract, and they will not under any circumstances waive it. I know, because I called from FRANCE, where I had to move due to a death in my family, told them that to send a registered letter from there would be nearly impossible, very expensive and unreliable, and they refused to make an exception!

I spoke with 5 individuals at my branch, and was then referred to a Heidi Krebs (phone number: 212-220-0763; email address: hkrebs@nyhrc.com), who never returned by repeated calls or emails. Aside from the borderline criminality of this policy, the sheer refusal to make exceptions for humanitarian reasons indicates the depth of the hit-and-run, to hell with the customer mentality at this company.

Anyone considering joining a gym, you'd be insane to consider the criminal organization that is NYHRC the New York Health and Racquet Club.”

WTF. My conclusion is that NYHRC uses really deceptive practices to keep you tied in and to extract a few hundred dollars rather than provide good and honest customer service. Take my advice and stay away from NYHRC. Take your money to someone who doesn't engage in deceptive practices. There are better clubs out there.

NYHRC, you could have had me as a very happy customer but you chose to have yet another blog post highlighting your deceptive practices. Shame on your customer service! I am also planning to file a report with FTC. Hopefully this post will turn away many folks from NYHRC to other gyms with better customer service.

New York Health And Racquet Club - NYHRC
Phone: 212-220-0763
60 West 23 Street , 132 East 45th Street, 20 Eat 50th Street, 115 East 57th Street
New York, New York, 10010
U.S.A.