La Boxing

This is technically from the Durham branch, but that gym is run by the same owner as this one, and it is the unethical billing practices that this owner perpetuates that I am reviewing. L.A. Boxing took $ 512 from me after I had cancelled my membership, and I am still fighting to get it back. See my adapted BBB complaint, pasted below:
I attended L.A. Boxing in Durham on a month-​to-​month membership from September of 2012 until January of 2013. In December or January during that term I cancelled my membership in person by signing a cancellation form, which is in accordance with the gym’s policy. My account was inactive until the gym suddenly started charging me membership fees again ($ 64 per month) over a year later, from May of 2014 through January of 2015, at which point I discovered the issue. I did not reopen my membership, authorize these charges, or have any communication with the gym before this happened. In fact, I do not even live in Durham, North Carolina anymore.
I started contacting the gym (now UFC) in January of 2015 to resolve this dispute, requesting that they refund me the membership fees they started charging in May, 2014. They have been less than helpful. After a couple weeks of calling the franchise, I was finally able to get the contact information of the owner (Mona Johnson) and have her eliminate the late and processing fees I was slapped with by her collection agency when I cancelled the January payment from my card. I was also able to confirm with the staff that my membership has been «re-​cancelled.» However, Mona refuses to respond to any request from me to refund the membership charges the gym placed on my account from May through December of 2014.
In our correspondences I admitted to Mona that I no longer possessed a copy of my cancellation form, given that it has been over two years since the cancellation was made. This should not be surprising. Surely, I thought, no company would expect a former client to keep their paperwork forever, and certainly not for more than a year after a membership appeared to have been successfully cancelled. Apparently I was wrong. After hearing this, Mona said she would check her records, and — shockingly — claimed that she does not have any cancellation paperwork on file from me. She asserted that my membership must have been frozen rather than cancelled, and therefore that she would not refund the $ 512 that was charged to my account. Nonetheless, she’s ignored all of my requests to send a copy of my original gym contract and any membership freeze form I would have signed. Instead, she claims that I may have frozen my membership over the phone, even though this is against company policy. She also provided no explanation as to why my membership would have been frozen for 15 months, when according to the gym’s policy the longest an account may be frozen is for 4 months. Furthermore, I would have had no reason to freeze rather than cancel my membership because it was month-​to-​month; therefore, I had no outstanding commitment to the gym that I would have had to fulfill later on.
Ultimately, Mona Johnson seems to feel entitled to keep the money her business took from me simply because I’m unable to definitively prove my membership cancellation. Either her management is completely incompetent and does not keep paperwork on file like they’re supposed to, or they are just blatantly stealing from former customers. I have seen multiple reviews from other former members on Unilocal,Facebook, etc. who have experienced the same thing at either the Durham or Cary branch. I have filed complaints with the BBB (which the gym did not respond to), the NC Attorney General, and sent Mona a formal demand letter. This is unacceptable, and I hope that no one else will have the misfortune of experiencing it. Stay away!

After being a member for over 1 year, I am sad to say that trying to cancel my membership has been a horrendous ordeal. The owner of the gym Mona Johnston has not ever been available to speak with regarding my cancellation paper work that they claim was never turned in along with the double charging of my account for over 6 months.
I know have disputes with them from my credit card company, The Better Business Bureau and my attorney is now involved.
I say NEVER join this gym unless you like paying for years after canceling your membership.
STAY AWAY from LA Boxing.

I love LA Boxing the classes are great and the instructors are motivating. I always leave drenched in sweat and feeling good about my workout.
Only complaint is the jerk at the front desk. I don’t know why he was rude but I guess he felt it was necessary. Otherwise love me some LA Boxing!

First — I feel really guilty because I need to go more! I don’t get enough use out of my membership! And I should go more because I always love it when I am done.
I hate gyms. I was very hesitant to join. But I need the class motivation. And I got none of the gym-​cult-​like vibe when I attended a bunch of free classes.
The first time I walked in they were very friendly, not judgmental, explained everything very well, and gave me a free 2 week pass. I got good use out of it. They helped me wrap my hands and didn’t treat me like the «new girl», even though I have never done anything like this before!
About money: After signing up for the free classes, I received a bunch of promo emails, and one helped me get my new boxing gloves and wraps for practically free. Awesome! Some may think it is expensive to join, but after some convincing and a coupon, I got the price to roughly $ 42/​month, which (if you attend a few classes a month) is a pretty good deal.
About the classes: They are very well structured and well attended. Even off hours, I always have about 8 to15 people. The whole room is really set up for class, with huge bags hanging everywhere. You warm up, and do a constant stream of intense cardio, which I guess is designed to help you be a better boxer. I don’t care to hit anyone, but I love the workout. Every single class is different, but similar, so you are never bored, but don’t feel lost.
The instructors: So far I have attended classes by George, Marc, and Hameed. All are different, and all are very good teachers. They are so friendly and competent and I never feel like I am inept (even though I am «that girl» in the back that looks silly).
And if you ever find you prefer one instructor over another, the great thing is there are tons of classes all day and all evening, so you can always find a time and an instructor. (Hurray for crazy work schedules!)
So the only flaw is that I really, really need to go more. Because I love it when I am finished!
Oh, also, side note: I have been in evening classes with young pre-​teen students. Wow, way to rock the positive self esteem boosting physical activities for young impressionable kids! They are treated like adults. And the gym seems to really dig them coming. Love this.