Two Manhattanites say New York Sports Clubs is scamming gym buffs who shell out for pricey all-access memberships by barring them from their most “elite” facilities.
Carly Pisarri and Aubily Remus Jasmin, who both hold “Passport Memberships,” filed suit against parent company Town Sports International, which oversees NYSC, Boston Sports Clubs, Washington Sports Clubs and Philadelphia Sports Clubs.
The duo, who have been members since 2001 and 2009, say in the papers they opted to become “Passport members” after being assured they would have access to “any TSI club at any time,” says the Manhattan Supreme Court suit, which seeks class-action status.
Despite that promise, TSI has barred them from certain facilities considered “exclusive,” including the NYSC gyms located at Astor Place, Broad Street and East 23rd Street charge an extra fee for entrance, according to the complaint.
The gym “appears to have done this in an attempt to charge additional and/or premium fees for use of these ‘Elite’ locations,” the papers state.
Passport memberships cost anywhere from $79.99 to $89.99 a month.
While the NYSC website states that these plans don’t include access to the elite clubs, Pisarri and Jasmin claim they were lead to believe their memberships were all-inclusive.
“Town Sports International’s decision to brand certain clubs as ‘Elite,’ and deny entry to its Passport Members, shows complete disregard for the rights of its loyal, long-paying customers who were told they would have all-access to TSI’s gyms,” said lawyer David Gottlieb of firm Wigdor LLP.
The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, cites fraud and deceptive business practices.
TSI did not return a message.