Comments for Bally Sends Fake Past Due Bills To Ex-Members To Get Them To Rejoin

Bally Sends Fake Past Due Bills To Ex-Members To Get Them To Rejoin

2009-09-23T00:28:03Z

Reader Jordan writes in to share a past due "bill" that he received from Bally Total Fitness, where he had previously been a member. It turns out that the letter, which specified the amount Jordan owed and threatened to report Jordan to a collection agency if he didn't pay, was actually a sneaky solicitation to get him to renew his contract.

]]> Jordan writes:

Hello,

Writing to let you know about an interesting letter two friends and I received from Bally's. Hope I'm not duplicating something you've seen, although I checked your site and didn't see this.

Put simply: After quitting Bally's and being assured by customer service that we were paid up and no longer obligated, all three of us received "bills" in the mail for $48 about a month later. The bill includes a CURRENT and PAST DUE amount. It includes a PLEASE RESPOND BY date, our Membership Numbers, and a bill voucher on the bottom to mail in.

On the back of the bill, there's a paragraph that reads in part:
Past Due/Adverse Credit Reports: If your account is past due, we have included a message about that on the front of the statement. This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information will be used for that purpose. A negative credit report reflecting on your credit may be submitted to a credit reporting agency if you fail to fulfill the terms of your credit obligations.

Here's the rub: we called and found out this was not a bill. Our account had been closed. Needless to say, any phone call to Bally's is a 30 minute search for the truth. What we assumed was a bill was actually a way to reinstate our membership. I'm a careful reader. My job is to read peer-reviewed science journals for a major research university and turn them into press releases that make sense to the lay public. I don't always succeed, but I always read every word and this Bally's letter is, in my opinion, deliberately made to look like a bill that must be paid. I wonder how many folks, in this recession, are freaked out by any overdue bills and would just send in the money?

After contacting customer support, Jordan received this message:

The offer you received is another type of monthly statement for members who do wish to continue their membership. Therefore, the past due mentioned on this, reflects the amount the member must pay to continue their membership. This does not apply to you, as you don't want to continue your membership.

Yeah, this is pretty sneaky. Jordan said he is sending this to his local representatives, and hopefully it will get their attention, but we'd suggest notifying the FTC and your state's attorney general, too. Also, we're not experts in mail fraud, but this seems like a pretty clear willful misrepresentation in an attempt to deceive Jordan and his friends.

Below are scans of the letter Jordan received. We especially like that Bally, after trying to trick ex-members into rejoining, would also sell their names to junk mailers in the process. Well done!

(Photo: os_las)

Comment from consumerwise on 2009-09-24

2009-09-24T21:07:20Z

Bally's used to send similar invoices to me years ago after I had quit. I couldn't get the notices to stop until I filed a stop mail order against them. Finally, it stopped, but it took years of trying everything else to get them off my back.

Bally's is a lot like AOL. I'm surprised they're still in business.

Comment from feckingmorons on 2009-09-24

2009-09-24T06:29:40Z

Your AGO should be interested, as should the USPostal Inspection Service.

Comment from Mobius on 2009-09-23

2009-09-24T02:55:13Z

@hansn: Yes. Postal inspectors! Woe be to anyone who attempts to cross those guys. Seriously. They don't mess around.

Comment from cuchanu on 2009-09-23

2009-09-24T00:35:02Z

@I_have_something_to_say: Bally's is a fucking scam. Plain and simple. I tried to cancel a membership (because the salesman was dishonest) within the 30 days allowed and it was virtually impossible. They even called me to confirm that they got my request for cancellation but they kept charging me anyways. It's a long story but I was never able to cancel so I just kept going there until my contract was up. I'm kind of ashamed to admit that.

Comment from Tranquillado on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T23:14:38Z

Oh, Bally, will you ever learn?

Imagine the horror a Bally/Cash4Gold union would wreak.

Comment from mazzic1083 on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T19:53:54Z

@TheWillow: Running is only one part of fitness, I hope you're doing some caveman training for your weight lifting portion.

Comment from NatalieErin on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T18:25:43Z

@SadSam: The YWCA in Minneapolis actually offers a small discount for paying 6 months or a year up front. If I knew I was going to use the gym for a year, it would be a great deal. No contract, no bills, plus discount.

Comment from SadSam on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T17:35:13Z

People, stop joining gyms for a monthly fee. What I did, and almost any gym will do so, is pay for a 6 month membership in cash, paid in advance, no renewal. Yes the fee is a bit higher to pay in advance, but it is worth it since you are not locked into a contract.

Comment from Traveshamockery on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T16:42:47Z

@vastrightwing: I've yet to find a nationwide gym chain that isn't a total scam. Trying to get membership pricing information at Gold's is like trying to buy a used car.

Comment from mianne on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T12:55:29Z

I'm not defending Bally's here, not in the least. I posted a while back about being on the receiving end of dozens of horror stories about them 20 years ago!

What I believe is that this is in fact a genuine collections notice, and that adverse credit reporting is likely to follow if action isn't taken.

In other words, I doubt Bally's is quite so incompetent as to send out fake collection notices which almost certainly would have them sued for every penny they've ever taken in times ten, but rather two other activities which come very close or cross the line into actual fraud:

1) The OP says he canceled, and he probably did, or at least did as much as humanly possible to cancel from that hellhole of a company. However the CSR he was lucky to contact in the first place either didn't properly enter the cancellation information, or somewhere in the process it got garbled, so according to the account department, the OP is still an active member and is behind on his dues.

2) Evidently this is a common enough occurrence, and there's a lack of adequate training in this among their CSRs, so that a notation in their file that they have canceled is not equivalent to to having properly terminated the membership.

This, again, does not put any blame on the OP, nor does it absolve Bally's of responsibility. I just believe it means that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, and the OP is likely to find his credit dinged unless he happens to find a way to get them to realize their error and drop the billing and properly close the account.

Calling the number on the bill, 866-402-2559 and explaining the situation would be a good start. And yes, Bally's needs their corporate asses handed to them via the AG, the BBB, and the FTC anyway as their practices are criminally deceptive. But I would advise strongly against regarding that letter as a phony outright.

Comment from hansn on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T11:20:11Z

@rhys1882: Mail fraud complaints should go to the US Postal Inspectors.

[postalinspectors.uspis.gov]

They even have a listing for false invoices on their drop-down menu of fraud options.

Comment from Kevin8503 on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T09:24:15Z

Dear Bally's,

I would like the offer my services in your Marketing Department. I promise to do a better job than your current staff - a.k.a. I'll make sure you don't make the front page of a leading consumer advocate blog.

Let me know!

Sincerely,

Kevin

Comment from Myotheralt on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T09:14:30Z

@Alex Chasick: Hey, it is commerce over state lines, tell the FBI!

Comment from jamar0303 on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T08:07:43Z

@Chumas: And I'm sure California's (where they're based) would love it even more.

Comment from jamar0303 on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T07:57:52Z

@floraposte: Not to mention that California certainly needs the money that would come from slapping down a fine on this company.

Comment from catastrophegirl on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T07:55:42Z

@craptastico: there's also fine print on the back that says
"Additionally, you are authorizing us to increase our charges/withdrawals for monthly dues and taxes in accordance with your Contract. You understand that you are entitled to notices of all varying charges/withdrawals and you waive the right to receive prior notice for increased charges/withdrawls made in accordance with your Contract."

Comment from West Coast Secessionist on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T07:48:08Z

@floraposte: dude, nice job to somebody at the PA AG's office for snagging the sweet "attorneygeneral.gov" domain name! Not even the US attorney general ( [www.usdoj.gov] ) has an address that cool.

Comment from RecordStoreToughGuy_KnowsThreeChords on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T07:21:24Z

@RogerTheAlien: Well, since it's sent through the mail, that's what makes it mail fraud. It's just a more specific type of fraud. But yeah, I don't see anything on there that indicates it's a solicitation. It looks like a bill to me. The kicker is the bit where it says "charge my amount due." That makes it seem like it's an overdue bill.

>_<

Comment from TechnoDestructo on 2009-09-23

2009-09-23T06:09:19Z

If corporations are people, there should be a death penalty.

Comment from RogerTheAlien on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T04:34:16Z

@I_have_something_to_say: I don't think it's "mail" fraud as much as it just plain, ol' fashioned fraud. I mean, like crymson777 said, it's stealing. Plain and simple it is defrauding people of money by making them believe they owe money they do not. After reading the "bill," I didn't see ANYTHING that states or even implies that this is a "membership reinstatement notice." So, yep, basically theft.

Comment from ChristineR on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T04:06:27Z

It is my theory that magazines do the same thing. Unfortunately, I've got a few mags for life since they've sent me several past due notices which turned out to be renewals in disguise.

Comment from UCLAri on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T03:52:28Z

@matthorn: Better yet, mail back the envelope (if it's postage paid by the company) with a bunch of FREE COUPONS from the stupid ValuPak people. About 3 pounds of them.

Comment from twophrasebark on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T03:46:19Z

If they sent that to thousands of members it might even be racketeering and mail fraud.

Yes, Bally's, you've actually crossed the line into potential criminal charges.

OP, contact your state attorney general's office.

Comment from That's Consumer007 to you on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T03:38:41Z

Jordan (OP): This is the dictionary definition of mail fraud. Contact the postmaster general at once to have the responsible executive at Bally Total Sickness investigated and arrested. Also report them to the Attorney General of your state and ask them to investigate for fraud. Also report them to the Illinois Attorney General's office demanding action as they are headquartered there:

Bally Total Fitness Corporation
8700 West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Chicago, IL 60631
(773) 380-3000

Comment from MumblesFumbles on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T03:29:15Z

I guess such thoughts as "mail fraud" didn't occur to them. You stay classy Ballys

Comment from Klaus_Kinsky on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T03:29:03Z

You can send this to various AG offices, but you should also file a complaint with the Post Master General for mail fraud.

Comment from crymson777 on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T03:25:07Z

@qwickone: That was what I was thinking. While it may not be grand, it could fall under larceny as well. It would be grand larceny, and a nasty little bit of bad for them, if they actually had many people respond with money.

Comment from loueloui on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T03:00:25Z

I've seen stuff like this before, strangely the source of it was non other than Better Homes and Gardens magazine. My mother had a subscription to their rag, and no longer read it, so she did a change of address to my house.

What followed was an absolute deluge of junk mail and fake 'official' letters. I was amazed. FHA -Federal HOMES Authority, and Department of Consumer Trust to name a few. I used to get about 6 pieces of junk mail per week. After that I was getting at least twice that per day. Every day.

It was also quite clear that these letters were designed to confuse old folks.

Watch out for your parents. Please! They wouldn't be sending out this garbage if it didn't suck people in.

Comment from Saboth on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:47:39Z

@jpdanzig:

Perhaps that is their plan to get America in shape if enough people run away from Ballys, then we will improve their cardiovascular conditioning.

Comment from Saboth on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:46:41Z

I got something like this in the mail once, not from Ballys, but it was the same ploy. "Past Due" on it, and whatnot. After reading it, I was like "hmmm that seems kind of illegal. They aren't representing themselves in an accurate light.".

Comment from pwillow1 on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:45:46Z

That is just so, so wrong. I hope the OP pursues this with the appropriate regulatory agency. Bally should not be able to get away with this.

Comment from valthun on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:30:45Z

I see one place that may have an indication that this is for a renewed membership. There is a sentence on the back that states you need to call for a new membership ID. but other than that, there is nothing on it that states you are renewing an old membership to start up fresh. This should go to the post office inspector as well.

Comment from TheWillow on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:27:51Z

@The Porkchop Express: I prefer the gym of "running around outside."

Comment from typetive on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:25:55Z

Yes, that's exactly what mail fraud looks like.

It's known as a solicitation in the guise of an invoice. (This doesn't even seem very guise-y.)

There's a really easy process to submit a claim online at the FTC.gov site:
[www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov]

(I've used it before and it does get results but it helps if more than one person sends in their complaint.)

Comment from brokebackwallet on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:24:19Z

@sirwired: And sue to force Bally's to change it's name to "Ballsy".

I'll get my coat, where's the door?

Comment from sirwired on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:13:11Z

This is completely, totally, illegal. They have sent was is definitely a properly formatted bill that is not set up as a solicitation of any kind. It contains some of the required legal language that appears on an attempt to collect a debt. Part of the amount requested is marked "Past Due", and the back of the bill says that Past Due amounts will be reported.

If I was the OP, I would notify the FTC (and they never do anything useful), so also notify the AG of the state the OP resides in. (They are a bit more useful.)

Comment from taney71 on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:08:35Z

God, I hate Bally's. I actually got out of my 3-year contract with them but it took many phone calls to corporate and a few fillings with the BBB.

Comment from Burning pakalolo not even noticing the weather on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:05:51Z

@jpdanzig: I love NYSC, I have been a member off and on for almost 10 years. I love the cleanliness, the amount of machines, the large network of gyms (especially the fact that I can workout in Philly, Boston and DC and not pay extra) and the personal tv's at each cardio station. Yeah if you are in NYC you can join Equinox and Crunch but I feel they are too overpriced for what you get. NYSC all the way.

Comment from brandihendrix on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T02:05:17Z

@RoosterCockburn: I guess anything is really available online, but it's kind of a jerk move to go to the trouble of looking it up and then posting it here. They obviously blocked out their information because they didn't want their home address given away. Somehow you still felt the need to post it for them?

You could have just made a comment about how they should have blocked out the zip+4 as well. That would have been just as effective and not nearly as douchey.

Comment from julaun on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:59:17Z

This happened to me too last spring. My wife signed both of us and a friend up on a month to month deal, we eventually stopped going. The bill was the same, two payment cycles occurring after the last time any of us had set foot in the establishment. Not fun, having to waste your time calling customer service and being threatened with collections.

Comment from Real Cheese Flavor on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:55:55Z

@junip: I read the thing a few times over to find the tiny phrase that said it was not a real bill but in fact a re-enrollment offer but I could not find one.

Comment from The Porkchop Express on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:52:23Z

@SteveBMD: And there be pirates in there

Comment from larrymac thinks testing should have occurred on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:51:38Z

@Skipweasel: [www.urbandictionary.com]

Comment from axiomatic on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:44:33Z

Yeah you lost me at "Bally".

That's all I need to know to want to avoid whatever it is.

Comment from RandomHookup on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:43:47Z

I wish being part of the "lay public" were as much fun as it sounds like.

Comment from floraposte on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:43:33Z

@floraposte: And what the hell, in case somebody's looking--

The consumer complaint page for the California AG:

[ag.ca.gov]

The consumer complaint page for the Pennsylvania AG:

[www.attorneygeneral.gov]

Comment from floraposte on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:40:32Z

@Alex Chasick: Agreed. My reporting policy on this would be "the more, the merrier." I would be quite surprised if this passed legal muster.

Comment from Skipweasel on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:39:38Z

@larrymac: Great word! Is that like when your head disappears up your own bum in despair?

Comment from halcyondays on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:38:57Z

This seems to be an attempt to defraud. I smell a class-action lawsuit.

Comment from RoosterCockburn on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:35:31Z

Come on people, when are you going to realize that the zip+4 is just about as good as giving out your exact address? If you're going to black it out, black it out right.

Hmmm, could this person possibly live on the 200 block of East Mount Pleasant Ave in Philadelphia?

Comment from Alex Chasick on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:28:46Z

@floraposte: Might be worth telling California too, as it appears Bally is headquartered there, and the mailing may have originated there.

Comment from tylerk4 on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:25:08Z

This is unfair and deceptive within the meaning of California's Business & Professions Code section 17200, et seq. Jordan should also notify the CA AG's office... they've been on a lawsuit kick lately.

Comment from cvpsmith on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:20:33Z

This should ABSOLUTELY be illegal. I would definitely contact the FTC about this! They have been cracking down on these sort of scams, and I have a feeling they will be very interested in this case. Whoever came up with this idea at Bally's is a complete moron.

Comment from craptastico on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:14:34Z

the first paragraph mentions that in an effort to "go green" they can automatically "update" your membership using your credit card without a written notice. is this a nice way of saying they can raise your dues without having to notify you? while hiding behind the pretense of going green?

Comment from sleze69 on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:14:28Z

@floraposte: My wife canceled her account with Bally's a few months ago. I really hope she didn't fall for this scam and just not tell me (thinking she was just tyeing up lose ends).

I just forwarded the article to her. (crosses fingers)

Comment from Al Swearengen on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:13:08Z

I hate Ballys. I signed up for the 3 year plan in 1998. It was paid off by 2001, and I was charged like $10 a month after that. I then moved to the boondocks which had no Ballys so I went into the "inactive" status. I subsequently moved back to an area with a Bally's, turned it back "active", went to the gym for something like a month, then got a job where I never have time to get to the gym, so I called to cancel. After going through their ridiculous phone system, which never gives you an option of actually speaking to someone, I finally got someone on the phone, told him I wanted to cancel, and he talked me into putting it into "suspended" status for $48 a year. If I ever wanted to activate it again, I would just pay the difference between the $48 and what I should have paid all those months. (I thought I might go back to the gym at some point, so why pay to get a brand new membership?) After a year of that I never felt the need to get to a ballys so I didn't want to waste my $48. I called Ballys and this time could never get through to speak with someone to cancel the account fully. I sent them emails and a letter asking them to cancel my account. I have never received a response acknowledging anything or saying the account has been cancelled. I keep getting these bills saying I need to pay $180+ to make sure my account does not expire. WTF.

Comment from jpdanzig on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:12:27Z

Bally has long had one of the most unsavory reputations of any gym chain, but this latest fake past-due notice to a former member takes the cake!

Consumerist readers: if you ever hear of a friend or relative looking to join a gym, advise them to run -- not walk -- away from any Bally's.

Here in NYC, I've been more than satisfied with the New York Sports Club, and I assume that their affiliates in other cities work in an above-board fashion as well.

Comment from Burning pakalolo not even noticing the weather on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:09:00Z

Wow, how is that even legal? They don't even mention anywhere on the statement that this is for rejoining. Bally's needs to disapear fast.

Comment from adamczar on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:07:05Z

This happened to me!!!

My contract with them expired in March, and starting in April I'd get these. I was concerned and called, and was assured these were "courtesy renewal" letters and not bills, and so I asked for them to stop. The next month another came, showing not only the "current month dues" but also last month's with a late fee and warning about the credit agency thing.

What stopped it was a neatly typed letter sent to their corporate office with a photocopy of the original contract I signed. I highlighted the parts on the contract that said as soon as the contract was over, I was under no obligation to pay any more. I reminded them of this and demanded to be removed from any and all correspondence with them. I then sent the letter via certified mail with delivery confirmation and haven't heard anything since, and it's been 4 or 5 months.

Sad that we have to do this, because I don't take their word for it that it isn't a real bill as they blatantly lied to me when I signed the original contract, anyway. But by having some proof that I followed the contract to the bill in terms of ending the relationship, I feel like I have some kind of legal defense if something ever happens with my credit.

Comment from ExtraCelestial on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:04:11Z

I received this letter as well. I have two accounts with them. One was an old account that I was doing a ridiculously expensive month to month plan on that I cancelled. The second is my current year plan that was payed for by my employer. When I forgot my card they looked up my name and I guess admitted me under the wrong account. A few days later I received this exact letter in the mail. Not nearly as alarming as I'm sure this one was since it seemingly came out of nowhere, but a surprise $1,500 bill is never fun.

Comment from SteveBMD on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T01:00:56Z

This is why you should go to Average Joe's, where you're perfect just the way you are.

Comment from qwickone on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:54:00Z

@I_have_something_to_say: Isn't this mail fraud? It says that there is an amount due and that's not actually the case.

Comment from starrion on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:53:57Z

File a complaint.

If that is not a bill, it is the most misleading soliciation I have ever seen.

Maybe A few large fines can finally drive them out of business.

Comment from Vandelay Import Export on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:53:00Z

Wouldn't this be considered mail fraud?
Time to call the postal inspector!

Comment from runchadrun on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:50:13Z

I joined Bally's right out of college in 1992 and signed up for one of those rip-off 3 year autodebit payment plans. I only went for about 3-4 months but still paid for it all that time. (That's what they count on you doing so they can make all that money off of you.)

Somehow they managed to follow me through several address changes and started sending me renewal notices after the original membership expired. In 2000 I rejoined for one year for a flat rate of about $100 for the year which was a good deal and I started going again regularly but then stopped when I got a better deal at the gym at work. Still, every 3-4 months I get another renewal notice from them. It's gotten to the point where if I see a letter from them, which i can identify by the return address in Norwalk, that it goes right into the shredder.

Comment from floraposte on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:48:51Z

@floraposte: Oh, sorry, he's in PA. I'd therefore report it to the PA Attorney General just because, but they're not one of the state AGs reputed to take action, unfortunately.

Comment from Chumas on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:48:51Z

Wow, your states Attorney General would love to get their hands on that letter.

Comment from floraposte on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:47:06Z

@rhys1882: Might also be worth a report to the California Attorney General's office--I'd certainly do that here in Illinois if I got one, as they're pretty active.

Comment from redrolla on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:46:03Z

OMG, that is one of the most horrible scams I have ever seen. I thought Fitness First was a bad gym when they tried to add an annual fee to members still under contract, but Bally takes the prize.

Comment from matthorn on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:40:56Z

I'd fill it out and send it back stuff with monopoly money.

Better yet, in 20-30 minutes you could easilysocially engineer the name and address of a Bally Marketing VP then 'sign' them up !

Comment from Zman723 on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:40:48Z

@I_have_something_to_say:
I agree 100%. I will never step foot in a Bally's now

Comment from larrymac thinks testing should have occurred on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:39:50Z

I tried to make sense of that explanation from the Bally's rep, but it just made my head asplode.

Comment from junip on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:39:30Z

this has gotta be illegal.. I don't see any mention anywhere of it being an offer/solicitation for membership re-enrollment or renewal.. gym memberships are always so shady. I'm sure they've tricked quite a few people with this "marketing"

Comment from nakkypoo on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:39:22Z

FWIW that copy on the back about credit reporting is federally required. My guess is that they use the same paper stock for the legitimate past-due collections and for the fraudulent scam ones as well.

Comment from travel_nut on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:38:12Z

That is truly underhanded. I wonder if there's some way Bally can get in legal trouble for something so grossly misrepresented like that? The article mentions the FTC, but I'm not sure if they'd have any interest in actually pursuing it.

Comment from rhys1882 on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:38:01Z

Wow. That is some Grade A BS. Definitely warrants a complaint to the FTC. You cannot label a "solicitation" as a past due invoice.

Comment from mikehager66 on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:37:45Z

That is the worst form of entrapment I have seen. The letters from car dealerships that appear to come from a law office can be thrown away once you open them, but this one really is sneaky. The past due amount clearly implies that you have an outstanding debt to them. Wow...hope something is done about this.

Comment from vastrightwing on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:37:33Z

Bally - "Total Scam"

Comment from I_have_something_to_say on 2009-09-22

2009-09-23T00:36:03Z

Bally's is always trying to pull crap like this. It's time for them to go out of business.