My wife signed up as a member of the kosher gym about a year ago. Over the course of this past year not knowing that the gym aerobics classes cost extra money, she has taken maybe three or four aerobics classes at the gym. About two months ago I noticed a higher then usual charge on my credit card from the kosher gym. Having authorized the gym to only charge my credit card every month $15.60 for my monthly membership. I was surprised when I noticed a charge from the kosher gym for $171.60. The first thing I did was e-mail the gym asking them to contact me right away, and then I contacted my credit card company to hold the charge, until I figure out what this unauthorized charge is about. The next thing I know, I get this 16 page letter listing a bunch of criminal charges against me, and the kosher gyms main charge against me is for disputing the gym's unauthorized charge.

My complaint against the gym is as follows:

My wife has been a member at many different gyms in the past. Never has she been to a gym which charges separately for classes. Any class that is a separate charge, the gym makes sure to notify the customer first. Being that it is not the general practice for gyms to charge separately for classes, if there is a gym that does, they should have clear visible signs indicating that there is a charge for a class. Being that there is no sign posted anywhere in the gym facilities, anyone taking classes, has no idea that there is a separate charge. If the gym has a complaint against a customer, for not paying for classes, The first thing the gym should do is notify the costumer that there is a charge for classes and only then if the customer still continues to take the classes, then the gym has full right to charge the customer. Never since my wife started her membership at the gym has anyone indicated that there is a separate charge for classes.

The following is a few interesting things that I have recently learnt:
1)I recently spoke to a few other members who also the same type of unauthorized charges had charged to their credit cards around the same time that it happened to me.
2)About two weeks ago the gym announced that the gym just finished selling off to a large fitness chain.
3)I believe that there is a connection between the unauthorized charges and the sale of the gym happening at the same time i.e. to show more revenue so they can ask for a higher purchase price.

Chirpy
brooklyn, New York
U.S.A.