Los Angeles, CA: A lawsuit that commenced on October 2, 2006 alleged that 24 Hour Fitness, the nation's largest privately owned fitness center chain, violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"), the Electronic Fund Transfer Act ("EFTA"), and engaged in unfair and fraudulent business practices, as well as other violations of California's consumer protection statutes in charging monthly membership dues by unauthorized electronic funds transfer ("EFT") after members provided notice of cancellation of their memberships.
After 4 years of hard fought litigation, United States District Court Judge A. Howard Matz approved a class action settlement agreement that provided a $20 monetary reimbursement or a 3-month all-access membership certificate, valued between $150-$200, to just over 1.53 million class members nationwide. In Friedman v. 24 Hour Fitness, plaintiffs alleged fees had been deducted from their bank or credit card accounts after giving 24 Hour Fitness notice that they were cancelling their gym memberships.
Following protracted settlement negotiations, both sides entered into a settlement agreement that provided valuable benefits to the settlement class and puts a complete stop to the practice going forward. The settlement is valued at over $295 million.
Regarding the settlement, 24 Hour Fitness states that: "24 Hour Fitness values its members and we strive to offer the best fitness experience in the industry. We are responsive to our members' concerns and we have settled this case so we can continue to focus on our overall goal of helping people make fitness a way of life."
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I started with 24-hour fitness 20 years ago 2003 with a lifetime cost of 49$ per year
but was recently raised to 139$ initially I paid over 500$ for the lifetime cost of 49$
is it time to suit them as a class action??
Posted by Miguel A Espinoza
on
My wife and me joined around 2005 and our initial fee was over $500.00 and yearly dues of $39.00 .Subsequently the dues were raised to $100.00,and we could not afford to pay my wife's dues so she stopped attending. Currently I am paying $100.00 yearly,.my wife's is still a member but her membership is paid by medicare .I recently received a $200.00 check from 24 hr fitness as presettlement I DID NOT CASH SAME ! What is my next recourse?
Posted by Panayota Sostchen
on
I bought a lifetime membership.
Paid $1.400 in advance and was assured my early fee would be $72 dollars for life.
They raised it to $179 p/year.
The settlement was reached. When will they return the overpayments.????
Thank you
Posted by CW Cressler
on
I filed as soon as I was able after 10 years of complaints. The settlement was supposed to be approved and acted on two days ago. The links provided by the legal team stopped working the same day, and the settlement website that existed up till that day has disappeared. WTF?
Posted by mark lee
on
When will folks start to receive compensation from the settlement? I was notified and registered as part of the class action lawsuit, but to date have received no further information or compensation. My yearly membership rate JUMPED from a promised $49/year to $215/year. I just my membership back at &49/year. I prepaid for 3 years and the next 7-8 years I paid $49/year to any 24 Fitness then 2 years ago I get an increase letter to pay $215/year. I called 24 hour fitness and spoke w/ a representative said it's in your contract that 24 hour fitness can increase your rate at anytime. She said she will email and mail my contract but I never received it. Please keep update on this law suit.
Posted by John Marklund
on
When will folks start to receive compensation from the settlement. I was notified and registered as part of the class action lawsuit, but to date have received no further information or compensation. My yearly membership rate JUMPED from a promised $49/year to $99/year..... The $49/year rate was promised as long as I was "a member in good standing," which meant as long as my yearly membership was paid on time: by the due date.
Posted by Victor Trevino
on
As a lifetime member, my membership also increased and want to know if I am going to be able to return at previous rate?
Posted by arlene campbell
on
My annual renewal changed and i was told I had to pay the new price or be dropped.
Please call me or email me.
Posted by patrick trinh
on
my member ships went from $29 to $76, my wife should be $24 but it went up to $75. we signed up since 2006 in Glendora, I don't think it was fair, I called it when they rise up my member ship fees, they told me because we went to the GYM to much this year and all the cost went up, so I am afraid to go to the GYM to much now, they may rise my fees again, can some please give me the wed site or claim form. thank you.
Posted by Seven Zendragon
on
I started my membership with 24 hour fitness in 2006 and was promised to play 49.00 a year however it out of no where jumped up to 149.00 without an additions to the membership or them requesting me to sign a new agreement. This is not fair not is it what I signed up for
Posted by Larry Dean McCafferty Jr
on
I've been a since I was 39 years old and now I'm 60! The problem I have is my fee are very low, but everytime I turn around the change the Title of the Gym. First it was 24 hr Fitness an the 24 Hr Sport Gym and now it's 24 Hr. Supersport Gym!
Each time the Fees go up! This is how 24 Hr. Fitness is sucking money out of Bank Accounts!
Posted by M E NELSON
on
I have been a member of 24-Hour Fitness as of 1993. July 11, 2017 my membership was cancelled. I was given two excuses: 1) That I did not have a credit card payment set-up,although they had been receiving a Bank Check from my bank and they had accepted them since before 11/03/2016. 2) that I failed to make payment on time for my "annual enrollment renewal"!
As a life-time member I have never had an annual renewal required! I Spoke with five "supervisors" at the Membership Corporate office and they all parrot the same excuse #1 above. I believe that I have been treated unjustly and I am interested in pursuing a Class Act Suit.How do I go about doing so?
Posted by gabriel mcdaniel
on
After I enrolled my family in jan of 2015. a ghost account was created from my sons account and drafted 960 dollars. 30 dollars a month from 1-05-2015 till this month. My son is was a minor at the time and they said that he while being a minor created the account which he did not. Because I had already enrolled him.
Posted by cuong phan
on
I had open member 1998 paid 2 years, every month .after 2 year every years 27dollars , I day they closed
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