ComplaintsforTaft Services LLC

• Initial Complaint

  03/27/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Gym membership was canceled with a doctor's note. This was done in person at Gold's Gym. Now 4 years later Taft services has placed what they said was left owed on my credit report and that my membership could not have been canceled due to a balance. However that was not told to me by ****'s Gym when I canceled in person. Gold's Gym told me the membership was canceled.

  Business response

  04/01/2024

  Hello,
  
  This letter is in response to complaint ID #******** regarding *******************. This complaint is filed with Taft Services, LLC however the original agreement signed was with GG *******, LLC dba Golds Gym *******. ******************* was sent to collections on 10/22/2020. ************ did visit the club and spoke with a representative regarding the cancellation of her membership and provided a doctors note. Although we do not allow members to cancel in person and everything must be submitted in writing our team member assisted ************ by sending the documentation and request in on her behalf to the cancellations department on 8/19/20. The cancellations department sent a denial to the member on 8/20/2020 to inform her that they could not accept the provided document as it does not specify a time frame as required per the contract.
  
  As a courtesy we have cleared the remaining open balance and cancelled the membership.
  
  Thank you!

• Initial Complaint

  09/18/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Taft Services handles the Golds Gym membership here in ********. I had bought membership to the Golds Gym ***********- ******* location in which the facility was closing and membership would to be transferred to the ****** location in the first week of September. I had try to go to the location on two seperate locations and the most recent- a representative advised me the location would be open the first week of October and they ran into permit issues. I had reached out to taft services in order to close the membership, and they redirected me to the ************************************* email and CC the email chain to them. Today, I was charged on my card $73.99 for a membership I cannot use because the facility at ******* is closed, and the new gym location had run into permit issues. I had also try to call the ****** facility, which redirects me to the *********, ** Golds Gym location in which they have cannot access the membership in the ****** location. Thus, there is no way to get in contact with the new location unless through email. I am still waiting on a response from the location, but I find it highly unusual they are not able to respond to a cancellation request, but can charge an individuals card of their hard earned money for a facility they can not use.

  Business response

  09/20/2023

  Hello,

  This message is in response to complaint ID #********. The membership has been cancelled and the requested refund has been processed.

  Thank you!

  Customer response

  09/20/2023

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's offer.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved. If the company does not perform as promised I can get back to you at: **********************************************.
  
  Regards,
  
  *************************
  
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I canvelled my membership with Gold's Gym in December of 2022. Golds charged me $19.99 and I disputed the charge and the charge was removed. In January they called me twice and demanded I pay the $19.99. I refused to talk to them and asked them not to call me anymore. I've never received any letters from them and today March 21, 2023 I received a notification of a pending charge of $74.97 from golds gym. They have no permission to charge my card. My membership has been cancelled since December 7, 2022, but they charged my card anyway. I called my credit card company to report it and then called golds gym. I spoke to **** the manager. He said the charge on the card was the $19.99 and a $15 fee which equals $34.99. He would not explain what the other charges were to equal the $74.97. He threatened that if I didn't pay it, it will go to collections. I told him I'd go ahead and pay the $19.99 to clear this up and he would not accept. So I told him to send to collections. I feel they are harassing me and strong arming me. What can I do?Thanks,*************************** ************

  Business response

  03/24/2023

  Hello,
  
  This message is in response to complaint ID# ******** regarding ***************************. **************** is required to pay any fees that fall within the 30-day notice of cancellation per the contract he signed. He disputed his last monthly payment within the 30-day notice which caused the account to become delinquent and remain open as a past due account cannot be cancelled.He also incurred a chargeback fee because he disputed a valid charge per his contract.Since the account was past due and active the charges were processed and once again the member confirmed he will be issuing another dispute. The debt is valid.
  
  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  10/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Absolute WORST business, in my situation they are committing bank fraud and trying to tell me that I owe hundreds of dollars for a membership that I canceled MONTHS AGO. I have provided ample amount of statements and proof showing that my membership has been canceled, and have emailed a multitude of people at Taft Services this information on multiple occasions. I had to call my bank and have them change the account number listed so they no longer could charge me for a membership that has been canceled. The cancellation occurred in June (Im currently writing this in November) and I am still receiving calls claiming that I have an outstanding bill of $400+. I do not know of anything more that I can do to effectively communicate that this membership has been canceled and I do not owe any amount of money. Absolute scam artists.

  Business response

  10/25/2022

  Hello,
  
  I am writing this in response to complaint ID #******** regarding *****************************. ****** currently has a month-to-month agreement with Golds Gym in ********* with an open balance of $104.97. This balance consists of dues ($29.99) that have not been paid for the months of July-September and a $15 chargeback fee for disputing a valid payment. To terminate a membership, the member must submit a request in writing to an email provided to them. Once the request is received the cancellations department will process if the membership qualifies. Taft Services did not receive a cancellation request from this member. The member chose to stop payments on the account therefore causing it to become past due, memberships cannot be cancelled with an open balance. We have asked the member multiple times to forward the original email she claims to have sent so we can backdate the cancellation request, but we have not received it to this day. We are more than happy to work with the member if she can do what we have asked. Should you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to email *********************************************.
  
  Thank you!

• Initial Complaint

  03/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have been receiving multiple phone calls from this company - without any voicemails - and its becoming harassment. I have reached out to the *** that this company represents - without any response. The callers also identify themselves as calling from ******** - which is not true, as ******** appears to be a software - not a billing company located in Culpepper, VA I have also been advised/threatened with collection - even though I explained medical issues multiple times. The last caller welcomed me to file complaints and pursue legal action if needed. I have already successfully disputed this charge with my CC - as their investigation proved to have the same findings that I have claimed.

  Business response

  03/04/2022

  Hello,
  
  I am writing in response to complaint ID #******** regarding ***** **********. The member signed a term agreement that does not expire until 11/01/2022 and the account is currently past due $******. Mr. ********** has not provided the proper documentation to terminate his legally binding agreement before the term date therefore we cannot process his request. He claims to have contracted COVID-19 from our facility which would be impossible for anyone to track or define as a fault of ****** ***. Does that mean he is not considering the grocery stores, gas stations, and any other humans he came in contact with outside of the gym? ****** *** Herndon followed all COVID-19 protocols and mandates the entire time and still maintains certain extra cleaning procedures. Besides the fact there would be no way for him to confirm that he contracted it at our facility he admits he contracted it in late November 2021 but his last check in to our facility was in October 2021. He also knows the details and policies related to cancelling his contract, they are not handled in the facility and not one of our staff members would ever tell someone that the account will be cancelled. They are always directed to the back office. Just like the majority of the companies in the world once an account becomes delinquent after a certain period of time it is sent to a collection’s agency. Should you need any further information please do not hesitate to reach out.

  Business response

  03/04/2022

  Better Business Bureau,

  It seems the two parties have come to a crossroads in reference to complaint number #********. For the record, the reference to ventilation issues is incorrect. Yes, there was a cooling or heating component down as it relates to one of over 20 different units which does not affect the overall fresh air requirements or the general system operation for the entire facility. Unfortunately, mechanical systems do go down which is why there are service contractors to correct them.

  
  If they would like to contact the Attorney General they are more than welcome to do so from this point forward, they will have to communicate with the managing member and registered agent Merrill ** H***  ******* at the following email address. **************************. Our communication regarding the BBB is complete at this time.

  Customer response

  03/04/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the offer and/or response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  Lets take this to court - Between Taft Services LLC,. and **** ************ - or whomever. I have also reached out to the *** ****** ** office - as they are the owners of the **** *** brand.
  
  Regards,
  
  ***** **********
  
  
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  12/12/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Golds closed during the Covid 19 pandemic and I ceased attending the gym. Autopay continued until the credit card hit its expiration. I had tried to contact golds but the phone was disconnected and the location in Ashburn permanently closed. I started receiving notices from Taft services for past due membership services. These were never rendered and the location was closed. I attempted to cancel my membership at other affiliated golds but they had no ability to terminate the membership. I emailed Taft and received a reply one week later saying I'd be responsible for all past charges and that a formal written notification was needed. This is unacceptable and really deceptive business practices. The main phone for my golds gym was disconnected and Taft has very limited contact hours which occur during the work week. ----email to Taft services ---- Good Morning, I started receiving notifications of processing payment errors associated with an old Golds gym account. I have not been to Golds gym since the pandemic began back in 2020. I have tried cancelling my membership online without success and the phone number associated with this location is disconnected. Have they gone out of business ? I'd like to cancel all membership services. I am not paying for member services that were not rendered. I have not badged or gone to a golds in over a year. Please let me know what has to be done to ensure the membership is terminated and any balances erased/removed. Thank you Will -------- I have not been to Golds since 2020 due to the pandemic. I have been attempting to cancel my membership. Please close the account and remove all past balances immediately. My golds in Ashburn has closed. These balances accrued during the pandemic and not when I was an active member. I have tried contacting Golds and Taft. I want all charges removed immediately and my account permanently closed out. Thank you Will Somers

  Business response

  12/14/2021

  Hello,

   

  We are responding to complaint ID #******** regarding ******* ******. When the Ashburn location was forced to close it's doors all members received an email, an update was posted on our website and social media, in addition there were signs posted on the front doors of the building. Memberships were transferred to our Sterling location and access was also given to our Herndon location, One Life in Brambleton and the DC/Metro Gold's Gyms listed on the notice. Notices are also emailed to the account on file when memberships build up a past due balance. Cancellations have never been handled within the facility and always required a written request to be submitted as notated in the contract. Mr. ****** called in yesterday provided payment information and paid the past due balance, re-submitted his cancellation request and it was processed this morning. A confirmation email has been sent to him. 

  Should you have any further questions or concerns please reach out to goldscustomerservice@taftservices.com.

   

  Thank you. 

  Customer response

  12/14/2021

  No written notification was ever provided. I have throughly searched my email inbox and there are NO notifications or emails with respect to the Ashburn gym being closed or alternative gym locations. The only email notifications EVER received from Taft are auto processing payment errors that began AFTER the Golds gym was permanently closed. I find it disturbing and deceptive that our memberships were transferred without our knowledge. A letter sent to the address on record would have been sufficient notification but that never occurred. I find it highly amusing that Taft cites posting on social media as sufficient notification. It is not, and nowhere in the contract does it specify that I need to follow Taft services instagram to know the status of my gym membership.
   I further want to point out that the web portal had ceased functioning and timed out, the main phone line to the gym was disconnected without any sort of message or call forwarding, and the gym itself had no signs when I went. I started randomly calling Golds in the local area to attempt cancelling my membership assuming that Taft Services and Golds Ashburn had gone out of business.  By the way the local gyms had NO power to cancel membership nor did they ever mention Taft Services. The only reason I knew to contact Taft was that I began receiving random auto processing payment errors that didn't make sense to me, if it wasn't for the payment errors I would have had no idea to call Taft services.
  Further I want clarify the payment I made recently against my will. I strenuously disagree with the ethically challenged and deceptive business practices employed by this company. Here is the truth, they refused to cancel membership if any amount is owed on the account. So a balance is contained to accrue and membership will not cancel until everything is paid up and the next month is prepaid !   So I requested termination but was denied because there was a balance from the processing errors even though the gym was closed and no notification about the transfer sent out via email or actual mail.They refused to terminate membership and requested continuing  payment unless I prepaid for December and January. This way you continue to accrue a balance month over month and your membership cannot be terminated until the balance is fully paid up even if you vehemently disagree with the amount. Additionally they have a 30 day termination euros so even though, I wrote Taft back in November I had to pay for membership through January. That's right you are paying for the current month plus the next month cause of the 30 day clause. Additionally you can only cancel membership once any dues owed are paid, so even if your gym is closed and you want membership canceled  they will not cancel it until everything is paid up so you will continue to accrue on a monthly basis.
  I also want to point out that cancellation services are open only during the work week with limited operating hours. Membership can NOT be canceled in person at the gym even at the gym your membership was supposedly transferred too.
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* ******
  
  
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  11/19/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I opened the account online. I came into the business to ask about my spouse joining. The customer service representative said, that I would be allowed to bring her. I returned with her and another representative said she wasn’t allowed. I explained previous communication and was told that my guidance was given by a 14 yr old intern and they were wrong. I immediately asked to cancel the membership. I turned in the key fob, emailed Taft service and requested twice for funds to stop being debited out of a negative balance. They refused to reply to emails and cancel the membership after speaking to a employee.

  Business response

  11/23/2021

  Hello,
  
  We are writing this email in regards to complaint ID #******** by ******** *******. Mr. ******* signed an online contract with a term of 12 months on 7/19/21. It was not until November when the member began calling Taft Services regarding his concerns. Taft Services has followed all policies and procedures and is only upholding the agreement Mr. ******* signed with ***** ***. The *** informed him that he could pay for a day pass or add his spouse on to the membership and once that was done his spouse could workout, he did not like either of those options. We have answered all correspondence and had multiple phone calls with the member. If the proper documentation is provided that qualifies him for early termination we would be more than happy to assist, we have yet to receive that. Should you have any further questions or concerns please let us know.

  Customer response

  11/23/2021

  This response is not accurate, especially when I have pulled my phone log and made the first call and complaints in July. I came into your business to ask questions about the contract and your company provided me with guest service from a 14yr old intern. So don’t sit behind this desk and type neat and incorrect communication between a juvenile and I. The juvenile said I could bring my spouse and I complied. I was told the same afternoon after we showed up that he gave inaccurate business advice. I spoke to a Caucasian female, who was being nice nasty  on the phone when I ask to cancel the contract because there appear to be inconsistent communication by management and this 14 yr old juvenile employee. I asked to cancel this contract same day. Don’t log into this site and say the first communication was November and I have pulled my Verizon phone bill that says when I called in July, September, October and most recently 11/20/21. It’s clear that this is a poorly run company who needs contracts to stay afloat
  
  Regards,
  
  ******** *******
  
  
  
  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩