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Call Kurtis: 24 Hour Fitness Members Say Company Lied About Lifetime Pricing

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Several 24 Hour Fitness members have told us when they signed up for a membership in 2006 and 2007, they were told their rates were locked in for a lifetime.

Thinking it was the deal of the century, Allison Owyoung-Fong signed up.  "The agent told me that, that rate is for life," she recalls.

In 2007, Owyoung-Fong and her husband prepaid 24 Hour Fitness for 3-years, equivalent to $29-a-month. She says the company promised they would only have to pay $29-a-year each after that for the rest of their lives.

Now, instead of $29-a-year, 24 Hour Fitness recently sent Owyoung-Fong a letter saying it's, "necessary to increase your annual renewal amount" to $79-a-year.

"Why am I getting a rate increase?" she asked.  "It's for life."

And when she called 24 Hour Fitness to dispute the charges they pointed her to a section of the contract, which stated, "if you have a prepaid membership, 24 Hour will not increase your initial annual renewal amount... but may increase all subsequent annual renewal amounts."

But Owyoung-Fong says that is not what they promised in 2007, and she is not the only one. Viewer Kenny Chao of Sacramento writes, "I was advised my rate would never increase. "My rates went from $29-a-year to $79-a-year."

All across the county, we found members voicing similar complaints online.

"I don't think there's that many people that could be wrong," said Owyoung-Fong

Consumer attorney Stuart Talley says it's sometimes tough to prove what a salesperson told you; especially if it was 9-years-ago.

However, Talley says, "You can't lie and say, 'oh; but in the fine print I told you the truth.'"

Although, he says there is power in a pattern of people telling the same story.

"If they tell you that the rates are fixed for life, they have to abide by that promise," said Talley.

We reached out to 24 hour Fitness which said, "From 2006 to 2009, we offered a membership category entitled 'prepaid membership' that allowed a member to prepay two or three years' worth of dues. The annual renewal rate for the prepaid membership was guaranteed only for the first 12 months of the membership."

Owyoung-Fong feels lied to.  "I want them to do is restore my fees bring it back to $29," she said.

In 2006 a class action lawsuit was filed against 24 Hour Fitness. The company started upgrading clubs and added the words "sport", "super sport", "active" and "ultra-sport".  Members were told they had to pay more to attend those fancier clubs. The case settled allowing all early members to use all club levels.

24 Hour Fitness' full statement:

The goal of 24 Hour Fitness is to provide membership and fitness options that are available to meet member needs, so that consumers can select the option that works best.  While 24 Hour Fitness no longer offers the prepaid membership product with the option to renew annually, we are happy to continue service to the many loyal customers who have maintained their memberships with us through the years.  Our new member orientation check list highlights the key terms of the membership agreement-including renewal options and dues increase details.  Members are also provided the opportunity to review their agreement after purchase.  California law also provides consumers with a full refund within a five business day period following purchase of the membership.

Members with questions about their membership options and prices can contact their local club manager.

From 2006 to 2009, we offered a membership category entitled "Prepaid Membership" that allowed a member to prepay two or three years' worth of dues.

The annual renewal rate for the Prepaid Membership was guaranteed only for the first 12 months of the membership.  Members with prepaid memberships were notified in advance of the annual renewal amounts beyond that initial period.

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