Northern Kentucky Fitness Club Shuts Down

Reported by: John Matarese

A Northern Kentucky fitness club has shut down without warning, and its surprise closing provides a lesson to anyone joining a gym.

Imagine paying hundreds of dollars to join a fitness club....then one day finding the place locked tight! That's what happened to Mary Ann Laue and Gail Farwick, when they discovered the doors locked tight at Beat Personal Training of Florence, Ky. 

Mary Ann Laue told me "I have at least six months of training I have prepaid for...And I will be out that money."

Privately Owned Franchise Closes

According to the parent company, Beat Cincinnati, the Kentucky franchise owner couldn't make his location work. The main company is healthy.

But then came the worst news: The hundreds of dollars the women had prepaid for a year of sessions was no good at the company's other locations.

Gail Farwick told me "our money was received by the franchise owner, who has filed for bankruptcy. So we have learned our funds are not available to the other locations."

9 News Gets Involved

But hold on: Their contract was with the parent company, not the local franchise. So I called the corporate office, explained the contract, and they agreed to honor the women's remaining sessions at their Cincinnati location on Redbank Road.

Mary Ann and Gail thanked me for helping... but also said they learned a lesson.

Gail says"to pay that money up front, have it in their hands and not in our own, I feel in retrospect it was a bad decision."

The Bottom Line

My advice: Think long and hard before prepaying for a year at a gym. Ask what happens if you lose interest.. sprain an ankle....lose your job...or the club shuts down.

You may decide against paying for a full year up front, so you don't waste your money. I'm John Matarese.

UPDATE:  Town and Country Fitness in Northern Kentucky says Beat Florence members can contact their club, for free gym sessions and other activities.