Gold's Gym Rant

I know I promised gory photos of my surgery and such, but as those pictures are on my dad's camera and I keep forgetting to ask him for copies, you are gonna have to wait.

In the meantime, I would like to share a terrible experience I had with Gold's Gym.
"What does this have to do with thyroid cancer?" you may ask.  They are very much related, as you will soon read.

In July of last year, I was feeling that perhaps I was ready to hit the gym once again.  It had been almost a year since radiation, my classes weren't too terribly stressful, and I had some cancer-chub to lose.  Because of it's extremely convenient location of only a mile or so from my place, I chose to join Gold's Gym.  I had been a member before, and while there is nothing spectacular about Gold's, I figured the closer my gym was, the more likely I would actually drag my butt there.  I signed up with the perky blonde sales rep, who told me I would have a free personal training session.  Free, you say?  Hard to pass that up!

My session with Thomas was fun and a great workout, so when he asked if I would sign up for more sessions, I thought it might be a good idea.  After all, I had quite a bit of work to do on this battered body, and could use all the help I could get.  I was hesitant, however, because in the back of my mind I felt that my time with cancer wasn't over.  Thomas assured me, over and over, that if I did have a recurrence the gym would work with me and make sure everything was fine.  Because I am a gullible idiot, I took Thomas at his word and signed my name on the dotted line.

My sessions with my trainer, Andi, were all exhausting and fun, and so I felt satisfied with my purchase.  I could feel my arms and core getting stronger, so while I wasn't losing any pounds (thanks a lot, no-thyroid), I felt like it was a great start.  One of the most difficult parts of hearing that you have to undergo another serious surgery is that you have to begin at square one in the exercise department, yet again.  All my hard work flew right out the window when I saw the results of my CT scan.

Distressed, I told Andi my concerns.  She was very supportive and kind, and told me to get a note from my doctor explaining my condition, and how I wouldn't be able to work out for awhile.  Confident that Gold's Gym would help me out, I drove from Sandy (where I was staying with my folks in preparation for surgery) to the corporate offices in Orem.  I walked in the front door and asked one of the buff guys behind the desk where I should go, and with whom I should speak about my situation.  He directed me to go outside, take a right, and in the doors there.  He said he would love to help but, "If you try to do that here, we have to charge you a $25 to put a freeze on your account.  Upstairs they can waive that, they do it all the time."

I walked around, went in the doors, and told the receptionist my problem.  She directed me to some desks behind her, where one of the sales reps could help.  I told the girl behind the first desk my problem, that I had a recurrence of my cancer and would not be able to use my personal training sessions.  She asked if I would like to put a hold on my account.  I told her that would be great, for the time being.  In my mind, I though putting a hold on an account meant I would not be charged the monthly fee, and thus would not be able to use the services for a time.  The girl told me there would be a $25 charge for a freeze.  I told her what the guy in the gym had told me, and she gave me a look like I was some kind of moron.

"Uh, I don't know what he was talking about," she said, her left eyebrow raised in disbelief, "but we ALWAYS charge the $25.  It isn't an option.  That will be $25."

I was a little taken aback with her rude tone, but immediately decided not to argue with this chick.  She was muscley and tough-looking; a little mannish, if truth be told.  I was intimidated, so I handed over my credit card.

After I signed the receipt I asked, "So when do the payments stop?  Is it too late to stop them this month?"

Rambo-chick narrowed her eyes at me.

"The payments DON'T stop - you will still be charged every month," she said, acting as though I had just asked for a free Ferrari and a date with Ryan Gosling.

"Wait," I said, "so what you're telling me is, I just paid $25 for nothing at all?  If a 'hold' on my account doesn't stop payments, what am I paying for?"

She looked even more annoyed, and told me I was putting a hold on my account so that I wouldn't lose any of my months on my membership, or any of my sessions.  I tried to explain that I wasn't sure when I would be able to workout again, between major surgery and radiation.  Rambo-chick said sorry, but there was nothing she could do.

"I'm sorry," I said, "maybe I didn't explain properly.  I have CANCER.  CANCER.  Like, multiple tumors growing in the lymph nodes of my neck.  Are you telling me that Gold's Gym won't help me out?  That nobody cares that I will, tomorrow, be going into surgery to have my neck cut open?  There's NOTHING you can do?"

I'll admit, I was being a little dramatic.  But cut me some slack - I had just had an MRI (not fun, let me assure you), had a formidable surgery the next day, and would potentially be laid up for some time.  I was exhausted and scared, and this woman is telling me that, hey, sucks to be me.  As though I needed to be told.

Rambo-chick shrugged her shoulders.  "There is nothing in the contract you signed that gives allowances for health problems.  You can't get out of your contract because of a health concern."

At this point I was so angry and frustrated, I couldn't think straight.  I should have asked to speak to a manager, I know.  I should have done a lot of things, but because I was in no frame of mind to deal with one more stressful situation, I turned around and left. 

I stormed to my car, closer to tears than I had been ever since learning about my cancer recurrence.  Businesses get screwed all the time, I get that.  I understand that people try to worm their way out of paying for services all the time.  I even understand that the contract did not make allowances for my situation but COME ON.  There is nothing they can do to help me??  They can't stop payments for a month or two while I am trying to recuperate and pay back thousands of dollars in hospital bills?  How was cutting me a little slack, giving me just a little help, going to hurt them in any way?

Sigh.  Sorry for the rant.  It feels good to get that off my chest.  I also feel badly because I have really enjoyed working out with Andi, and was looking forward to getting back to it someday.  Now I know I will just be resentful and angry anytime I walk in that cursed gym.  I might have to lose the cancer-chub some other way because even thinking about going to Gold's makes me want to sit on the couch forever, simply out of spite.  

Because you were good enough to read this entire post, I will not reward you with a somewhat gross pictures I just remembered was on my phone: