Boycott Gyms Using ABC Financial Billing Services

You’re entirely correct about the business model of ABC Financial. However, this is the norm rather than the exception with chain or franchised gym memberships, regardless of the billing contractor. You are also right in placing the pressure on the gym management. But it is not ABC specifically but rather out of state, hard to contact financial services companies that are the problem.
I support a campaign to end this practice. However, I still need exercise now. What I did when I joined Gold’s in Seattle was to give my Visa debit card number instead of a check. I NEVER allow EFT on my checking account. Then, after the first month, I changed my card (my bank doesn’t charge to reissue a debit card with a new number). I also set up recurring online bill paying about a week before the auto-draught would normally come through. It has worked like a charm for over two years. All of those extra fees have been waived when I called ABC and demanded they produce a copy of a contract I signed authorizing such fees. They rely on taking the money first and then asking you to prove you didn’t sign such a contract. They are not set up to prove an affirmative claim that you did. Most people give up on that $25 because it isn’t worth the trouble. Well, when the ball is in their court, it isn’t worth their trouble either.

Golds Gym and ABC Financial how do they sleep at night? I know they have no problem eating well with all the money they steal from their unsuspecting customers. I hope these snakes and their business model go down in flames. Boycott hell yes! I cant begin to express the level of anger I have towards them. Whatever happened to treating a customer with some simple common respect and dignity. Not just some ‘dupe’ who can be had for all he’s worth, or at least what the ‘contract’ allows to be extracted. Shame on you Golds and ABC Financial.

I can hardly wait to see the reaction from the FTC and my elected government officials to "Mr./Ms Anonymous’ " comment regarding the working general public.
It only validates my official submitted complaint of ABC’s criminal business tatics.

What Mr. Anonymous neglected to tell us, is that “ABC” solicits their clients by offering them an agreement to collect, say 10 cents on the dollar. After that contract is signed, Golds Gym has nothing to say or do with “how ABC collects fees”.
My manager has nothing to do with the fee process. He gave me ABC’s contact info, to handle any questions.

CC:
FTC (Federal Trade Commission)
BBB (Better Business Bureau)
Eva Galambos, Mayor of Sandy Springs (Elected Official in our Community)
John McDonough, City Manager of Sandy Springs (Business License Renewals)

http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/boycott-gyms-using-abc-financial-billing-services/discussion/topics/720?post_id=27472#discussion::posts-27472

Jim Bottin, CEO of ABC Financial, Owned by EMC Financial, who also makes contributions to senatorial candidates under EMC, ABC and Jim Bottin Enterprises for thousands of dollars.

Paul Schaller, President of ABC Financial, Owned by EMC Financial

The original request has been resubmitted at least 3 times. Each of my emails to you were sent including the original request/email. I have saved each resubmitted email in the original form. EVERY TIME YOU RESPONDED WITH THE SAME TACTIC, I REPLIED WITH ALL OF THE ORIGINAL REQUESTS!

If you will please refer to those emails and this time review them carefully from top to bottom,with your legal department, you will see the original request.
These are games of semantics and I am tired of being, pardon my French, screwed around with.

I am very familiar with the legal processes involved with collections! I work for attorneys. I am also closely related to the President, CEO and CFO of the 2nd largest collection agency in the US, headquartered here in Atlanta. It is this in house counsel I have consulted with to be sure of my rights and to substantiate that you and your company are in violation of state and federal law.

I am now requesting that you forward this and ALL my correspondences to “Your Supervisor”.
Inform she/he that I am now forwarding all documentation of my my attempts to follow your requests to the Georgia BBB ,the FTC, and my elected officials. They then can educate you on how you have violated the Laws protecting my rights, and the rules and procedures of business practices you are violating as we speak, established in the State of Georgia.

And make no mistake, just because this contract between you and Golds Gym of Sandy Springs, is handled out of your Arizona office, does not mean you are exempt from laws protecting consumers in the State of Georgia.
All Collection Agencies have offices in Arizona because their laws are more favorable to crooks such as yourselves.
This nonsense of you "not being able to find my name for the last 4 months, which has been provided to you by not only me (3 or 4 times), but also by your client (Gold’s Gym), from whom your company obviously has a contract with which enabled you to send me threatening letters in the mail! Do you think that the working general public is stupid?

Go back to your database, ask your Production Manager to show you where he/she got my mailing address, and I bet you “your job” that you will also find my account/ID#, and anything else you keep using as an excuse to delay termination “in your mind”!
Ask your Legal Department, because believe me, I already have asked our in-house counsel, and they will explain to you how difficult it will be to convince a judge, that you couldn’t terminate as per my original request, based on the fact that you could not “Locate my information in your database!???”

However; you were able to send me numerous threatening letters, simultaneously to my current and correct address.

This tactic, and that is exactly what this is, is illegal. This is my last attempt to try and handle this without involving the State Agencies afore mentioned.

Kimberly Collins

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Subject: 9999-99999
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:46:39 -0600
From: memberservices@abcfinancial.com
To: kimmy1026@live.com
CC: docuware@abcfinancial.com

Kimberly –

We were unable to locate your account in our billing system. Please resend your original request along with your full name, primary phone number, address, and/or 9 digit agreement number.

Meagan Kunert

CS Offline Processor

ABC Financial Services, Inc.

P.O. Box 6800

Sherwood, AR 72124

fax :: 501.992.0802

toll free :: 888.827.9262

email :: memberservices@abcfinancial.com

Visit www.abcfinancial.com to make changes to your account at your convenience!