Bally club in Lowell to close as part of restructuring plan

That sucks, why wouldn't the landlord negotiate a cheap deal for ballys.

Anyone have any luck getting a refund?

Is there a list of the 26 clubs that will be closing somewhere?

They don't have one club in new hampshire. They just sent me a notice to renew a month ago, so glad that I didn't.

Yeah, I took a 7 day free trial there a few months ago and I am glad I didn't sign up. That club was a dump. Though, I could see why people wanted it since it was one of the better deals in the area.

What we do need in the area though is a Planet Fitness. I've been to the Salem NH, Derry NH, and Manchester NH ones and they are a very clean and well-maintained facility. Though, they don't have a pool and group fitness, so I can see why people wouldn't like it. But if you're just there for the machines, for $10 a month, its a good value. Unfortunately, I pay $300/yr at the UMass Lowell gym b/c there is no Planet Fitness around here. So, with the joining fee and the annual rate guarantee fee, I could have a gym at $178 the first year and $159 after that.

Stan wrote:

Yeah, I took a 7 day free trial there a few months ago and I am glad I didn't sign up. That club was a dump. Though, I could see why people wanted it since it was one of the better deals in the area.
What we do need in the area though is a Planet Fitness. I've been to the Salem NH, Derry NH, and Manchester NH ones and they are a very clean and well-maintained facility. Though, they don't have a pool and group fitness, so I can see why people wouldn't like it. But if you're just there for the machines, for $10 a month, its a good value. Unfortunately, I pay $300/yr at the UMass Lowell gym b/c there is no Planet Fitness around here. So, with the joining fee and the annual rate guarantee fee, I could have a gym at $178 the first year and $159 after that.

There is a Planet Fitness in Tewksbury

Joey wrote:

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There is a Planet Fitness in Tewksbury

Stay away from Planet Fitness in Tewksbury, if you are smart! I am canceling my membership there because the place is always crowded and stuffy and the locker room always smells like mold. It sucks there.

I heard planet fitness is going into bally's spot on plain St.
I tried to get my three years advance dues today (300.00) and they said that plain st to cambridge store is under 25 miles so I get nothing. they said 19 miles. I did mapquest which had it at 25.14 miles. I called consumer affairs and they told me what to do. It is going to be a hassle getting my own money back. I do not need this.

Bally said customers with questions can call (800) 515-2582. That number does not get you to a representative. It gives you another number, 1-866-40-BALLY. Ive been on hold for the last 25 minutes. . . I just renewed my membership with them for another full year.

There is a fitness center in the Chelmsford Mall, and there is a Gold Gym on Rt 38 in Tewksbury, and there one on Route 28 in Salem New Hampshire.

The GOld's Gym in Tewksbury is the best fitness center around.A little expensive, but if you're willing to spend the extra $ you won;t be disappointed.

Alma
go to mass.gov/consumer then search health club then read making a health club to work for you. It explains how to cancel. It does not mention the 25 mile rule when a club leaves so call consumer affairs help for info on this. They said if you do not get your money you have an option to take them to court with a 30 day demand letter. Lets hope we will be counting our money soon instead of all this!

Gerry from Chelmsford wrote:

Alma
go to mass.gov/consumer then search health club then read making a health club to work for you. It explains how to cancel. It does not mention the 25 mile rule when a club leaves so call consumer affairs help for info on this. They said if you do not get your money you have an option to take them to court with a 30 day demand letter. Lets hope we will be counting our money soon instead of all this!

By law the consumer has the right to cancel his/her membership if they move their residence more than 25 miles. Bally's carefully positioned their clubs so that no matter where you moved to, there would always be one within that radius.

By law, if the health club that YOU joined at ceased operation, YOU have the right to cancel your membership and if you have prepaid any money you are entitled to a prorated refund. I suggest that you don't bother calling them. You will not get a response. Send a certified letter w/a signature required to their corporate office.

Also, I understand that they "upgraded" everyone to nationwide all access memberships. Be wary of this tactic. This means that they are not going to cancel you monthly debit if you pay monthly (contract or not). Unless you want to travel to Cambridge or Revere to workout, I suggest that you cancel your membership correctly. Don't just stop payment at your bank. Send a certified letter canceling your membership.

I've been in this business a long time. Everyone in the industry knew that this day was coming for Bally's. They have been in trouble a long time. Shame on Bally's for blindsighting their Lowell staff and continuing to sell memberships up until the day before they announced their closing. They give all of the ethical and legitimate clubs that are out there a bad name.

Best of luck to all of you.

So do u know the address for bally's corporate office? I signed a contact for me and my 2 friends last year in august. They live in the apt. under me. So should we all or just me send a letter? And I'm pretty sure we on the nation wide plan.

KNOWLEDGE wrote:

So do u know the address for bally's corporate office? I signed a contact for me and my 2 friends last year in august. They live in the apt. under me. So should we all or just me send a letter? And I'm pretty sure we on the nation wide plan.

I don't know the address for the corporate office. I have never worked for them. You should be able to access it through their website.

You should send a letter the same way your contract was written. If you are the primary account holder and your friends are listed on your contract, then one letter referencing all 3 of you should be fine. Make sure you clearly spell out each name, address and Bally member #(if you have one)on the letter. Good luck!

Anyone belong to Best Fitness in Chelmsford? I'm thinking they may be an option and their web site certainly seems like it's a nice place.

My bf and I are members of Best Fitness. They did the club over recently and its not a bad place. However, depending on the time of day you go it can be difficult to get a treadmill, etc. Honestly they need a larger location for this gym as it is pretty popular.

Yeah, I've been to almost all of them in the area (not Gold's Gym in Tewksbury yet though). I don't know about the PF in Tewksbury either, but I know that the PF in Salem NH is very nice if you happen to live around there. But nothing beats the UMass Lowell gym for $300 prepaid per year. You do either have to be an alumni or related to someone who goes there though. But if you are eligible in some way to get in, its worth it since you are only committing yourself to a year instead of 2 or 3 years. Really, I don't know what other clubs in the area have to sell to those who are eligible for the UMass Lowell Rec Center. Gym around my house is Cleveland and they are crooks!$39.99/month plus $49 joining fee for 1 year contract or $29.99 per month plus $49 joining fee for 2 year contract and the place is a dump.

This so typicall Ballys! I have been a member there since they opened. They sent me an email recently sayingthey "upgraded" my membership saying I could no use any club - they never had the decency to say they closed Lowell, along with several others!

Make sure you read the contract for Planet Fitness if you think about joining. I heard they are really strict.