Conned and ****** by Curves.

Let me start by saying that the staff at the Curves Branch I attended are lovely.

BUT... The business practice is hardly what I'd call ethical.

I went to my local Curves to get a feel for the gym and see if it was for me. Even though the Curves website currently promotes "SIGN UP FOR A FREE 7 DAY TRIAL" - when I went there, they did the physical assessment, and then said that if I signed up for a full contract that very day, then they would offer me my contract at a certain rate, and not the proposed new increased rate. Thus pressurizing me into committing to pay for a product / service before I had tried it or seen if it was for me. Money is tight. Even signing up for the gym in the first place was a HUGE stretch for us as a couple, but we figured health is an investment... After only 2 days, I dislocated my shoulder and couldn't gym for 2 weeks. I returned thereafter for about another 4 sessions but they were difficult considering my recent shoulder injury. Shortly after I came down with a CMV viral flare up (basically, Glandular Fever) which makes me at risk to secondary infections and I'm also contagious to other people. It is irresponsible if you have a known active viral infection to go into public spaces and put other people at risk, in my opinion. After a couple months of really struggling to get well and trying to get my immune system back on track, I discussed with my doctor the fact that the Curves communal environment was probably not the best place for me to exercise given that equipment is shared and the quick change-over time does not allow one to thoroughly wipe down equipment before and after using it to prevent the spread of germs which is needed in the case of me being immuno-compromised.... So my doctor writes a note asking Curves to release me from my contract because of my ongoing health struggles. Of a 12 month contract, I attended the gym 6 times.... Curves advertises a 7 day free trial, but I have been signed up since the word GO.... and committed to paying every month via debit order. I've paid now for 7 months and when I approached with my doctors note, they informed me that in order to cancel, I'd have to pay them a cancellation fee of 50% of the outstanding amount... that's R1022.50

That's a LOT of money. I had to cancel a much-needed appointment at a specialist doctor the other day because I couldn't afford the R900 consultation fee... and here, with me simply being at the mercy of my own medical and health situation, and only just trying to pursue a healthy lifestyle, get fined HEAVILY for it by the people who supposedly want me to be my healthiest self....???? That's not empowering women. That's crippling them. You didn't hear my side at all. And basically conned and then ****** me.

I'm wiser for next time and will NEVER recommend your gym to anyone, because you really and truly don't have the best interests of your clients at heart.