02/08/06 -- RALEIGH) - Eyewitness News has new information in our months-long Troubleshooter investigation of a local chain of health clubs.
We showed you mold, broken equipment and angry customers at Beyond Fitness locations. We now have new proof of broken promises.
If you think you've been ripped off, call the Troubleshooter Hotline:
688-HELP (4357)
Our Tuesday report showed undercover video of broken machines, no cleaning supplies and mold all over a front window frame at the Spring Forest Beyond Fitness location.
Owner Randall Rohm told Eyewitness News that as of Monday, 100 percent of the equipment had been maintained and repaired. When we went back Tuesday night, our cameras captured mold still there, even though it looked like someone tried to clean it off.
As for broken equipment, we found it again - - at six different Triangle locations. Some had "out of order" signs. Some didn't. Our undercover producer again asked an employee at the Buck Jones Road club about it.
"I've been wanting to get those replaced," the man said. "They've been done for like six months."
The employee said money might be the reason for the delay.
"They've been very strict on the budget," he said. "We're lucky to have paper towels."
The employee also said we're not the only ones asking.
"I get these questions every day, and I don't want to lie to people," he said. "I'm not going to say, 'By tomorrow.' It should be soon. By the 15th."
That was a much different story from the one that Beyond Fitness owner Randall Rohm told us just two days ago that "100 percent of the equipment had been maintained and repaired."
Rohm declined an on-camera interview Wednesday, but did clarify his statement late this afternoon. He said, "The equipment is being repaired and maintained. Some of the pieces are waiting for parts and others are in the process of being repaired."
The statement goes on to say, "We have at least 1,800 pieces of equipment in the health clubs, and most likely, we will have some 5 percent that needs repaired."
Rohm said he anticipates that the malfunctioning equipment will be repaired within 10 business days. |
