GENESIS - Free 14 days trial but have to sign contract

lusicul on 06/05/2013 - 15:26

I recently went to their website and saw promotion on 14 days free trial and decided to sign up for it. One of the guys called up and asked when I would like to come in and start the trial. It said on the website and he also told me it's FREE and all I had to do was go to the gym.

So few days ago I made an appointment to see the same guy and had my exercise cloth on ready to do Zumba class on that night. The guy asked me to sit down and he started asking about my fitness goals etc. At the end of the conversation he asked me to sign a contract and told me that it's the only way I can get the free 14 days trial. If I don't sign the contract then I can't get the free trial.

I was shocked and told him that nowhere on the website does it say that I have to sign contract. He then went on about not wanting people to come in just for the trial and then not signing up. He also told me that if after the trial I don't want to join then can always cancel the membership. I said I don't feel comfortable about signing a contract and I was then told that I can't have the free trial.

This is the link to the free trial, it doesn't say on the website that I have to sign a contract. Is this even legal? It gave me an impression that they were being shifty and will definitely avoid this place in the future.

http://www.genesisfitness.com.au/free-trial

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Genesis Health and Fitness
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Comments

  • Moots on 06/05/2013 - 16:25

    Happened to me as well. New dimensions made me sign and pay in full for 6 months before I received the "free trial". I called them 7 days later tp cancel and they refunded me the money overnight.

    It's misleading though, you can make an official complaint about unfair practices, false advertising.

  • exc3113nce on 06/05/2013 - 16:29

    Simply inform the gym that you will be looking at taking this up with the ACCC I'm sure they'll offer you the free trial and some free stuff for your troubles. Seriously though, what business turns away someone from a "free trial" who has taken time out of their schedule to show up?

  • lusicul on 06/05/2013 - 16:54

    Yeah I should have mentioned ACCC to the guy on the spot, feels stupid now.
    Maybe he did that to me because I looked like the type who can be intimidated into signing a contract.

  • lusicul on 06/05/2013 - 17:00

    Just called up their head office to confirm and the girl told me there's no need to sign contract. She will be sending an email to the southbank gym and ask them to give me the free 14 days trial. Was going to mention to ACCC and stuffs.

    So it turns out it's the guy who was being shifty. I will be going there tomorrow and if I see him, I shall give him a death stare :D

  • MelbBargainChaser77 on 06/05/2013 - 20:47

    Genesis did the same to me. Never again, its not like they are the only gym out there. It is shift, and downright misleading. When I went in I explained upfront, I just want the free trial, I dont want to talk to you about my goals, nor do I want you to weigh me, or ask me any questions leading up to a contract being signed.

  • leeroys_dad on 06/05/2013 - 20:52

    yeah, they are commission based so they want people to sign. when i joined genesis ages ago, did some pretty good negotiation and told them i'll pay next time i visit. the person i paid wrote down that he signed me up and it caused a pretty big fight between the staff. ha ha.

    a few years prior to signing up, i used the 14 day trial (was 7 days back then) over xmas/NY period while my regular gym was shut ha ha

  • lusicul on 06/05/2013 - 21:58

    Just got an email from the shifty guy saying he wants to check in with me if I've decided to sign up for the membership.
    He's really starting to piss me off now, I am pretty sure he saw the email from head office about allowing me to get the free trial but he still insists on me signing a contract.
    Apparently he's the assistant manager, not sure if I want to go there tomorrow night and to find out that he's told the other staff not to let me in.
    Maybe I should just go straight to ACCC.

    • leeroys_dad on 07/05/2013 - 06:54

      assistant manager means nothing mate. it's really someone to take charge at 5am-8am or 5pm-9pm until the real boss walks in or leaves.

      don't let these guys push you around. my brother was told he could cancel his contract fee-free anytime… so when he did they put a $100 fee on him. he fought it and won but obviously had the backup of the credit card chargeback

  • lusicul on 06/05/2013 - 22:00
    +1

    Even Finance First is not as bad as this place. At least FF let me used their 7 days trial without signing contract.

    • exc3113nce on 07/05/2013 - 07:38

      I see what you did there!

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