Gym Customers Shocked: Bally’s Doors Locked

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Customers of a popular fitness gym got a shock Wednesday morning. After showing up to workout, they found out their gym closed overnight without warning.

NBC 4's Tom Brockman went straight to the source for answers.

The Bally Total Fitness on Fuji Drive on the city's Northeast Side was closed overnight, and the facility on Macsway Avenue will be closed within a week.

When members arrived at the Fuji Drive facility Wednesday morning, they were greeted by locked doors and a sign.

Nineeva Prentiss and her boyfriend, Chris Cardwell, waited in their car on a damp, cold morning in the parking lot. The two said they became members less than 24 hours ago.

"A three-year contract. That's $29.99 plus $19 for him. I had to pay a $29 enrollment fee. $5. It was $84 dollars last night. It's gone," Prentiss said.

Their only option: call an 800 number. This is what they heard: Thank you for calling Bally Total Fitness. Please stay on the line and you will be connected to the next available representative.

"It would have been nice to have known this was going to happen because she wasted my time last night," Prentiss said.

"It's disappointing," Cardwell said.

They weren't the only ones who were upset and confused.

"I couldn't believe it," said John Adams. Adams is a lifetime member.

"This is crazy," he said.

As customers drove up and read the news, representatives with a former competitor Lifestyle Fitness made it clear Bally members were welcome at their gym.

Lifestyle Fitness offered those affected by the closures a special deal of no enrollment fee and a $29.99 monthly fee for membership -- it would normally cost twice as much.

Urban Active Fitness offered the affected no enrollment fee and the first month free when they show their Bally membership card.

Brockman spoke with a Bally spokesperson Wednesday. He said those clubs were shut down because they were underperforming.

When Brockman asked why members weren't notified in advance, he told me this was the way it was communicated.

He said affected members will get a free upgrade to any existing location, but the nearest one is in Dayton.

Brockman asked whether customers could expect a refund and the spokesperson said, "They will work with members to meet their individual needs."

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