Planet Fitness Member “Booted Out The Door”……Accused of Running Organized Boot Camp.

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WILMINGTON – Dottie Larffarello of Wilmington received the phone call a few weeks ago from the Manager at Planet Fitness that her membership was being terminated.  Larffarello, taken aback by this couldn’t believe her ears.  When she inquired as to why her membership was being cancelled she was told by facility manager Kathy Healy that she had been running a boot camp which was against company policy.planet fitness lunk alarm , lunk alarm planet fitness,health club news,la fitness logo,healthclubnews.org ,lunk alarm,terry fasy,anytime fitness india ,north castle partners curves  , lunk alarm at planet fitness   ,giscombe gym jamaica  , north castle partners and curves,  planet fitness rules,cybex international lawsuit ,  www.healthclubnews.com ,  planet fitness lunk, healthclub news , bally fitness,health club, giscombe gym, what is planet fitness lunk alarm,  lifetime fitness tulsa ,  north castle partners and curves international, planet fitness,   equinox rockefeller center, pure fitness for women, health club industry news, synergy fitness owner , synergy fitness corporate office, xercise4less,la fitness,anytime fitness in india   ,lifetime fitness birmingham al   ,premier fitness financial problems , what is the lunk alarm at planet fitness ,planet fitness alarm lunk ,gold\’s gym ,what is a lunk alarm at planet fitness ,planet fitness promotions 2012 ,planet fitness alarm   ,what is the planet fitness lunk alarm ,sport and fitness center projects,curves new ceo ,blast fitness buys ballys  , planet fitness lunk rules, health clubnews.org  ,

According to Larffarello no such thing had taken place.  She was just simply getting together with friends to work out.  “There was never any exchange of money or any organized boot camp,” advised Larffarello, “it was just myself and a couple of friends working out together.”  Prior to receiving this phone call she had no knowledge that she was doing anything that was against Planet Fitness corporate policy.

“I just like to motivate people and help people get healthy,” stated Larffarello, who has been an exercise enthusiast for many years.  Larffarello has been helping people get in shape out of the kindness in her heart for a few years because she likes to exercise so she figures she can help herself and help others at the same time by working out together. 

Last spring and summer Larffarello would use the tennis courts at the High School to work out with some friends, but when it was no longer an option to go there due to construction she decided to join Planet Fitness to continue her workouts. 

“I never had any problems, we were just some friends getting together to work out and keep each other motivated.”  Larffarello was unaware that she was doing anything to breach her contract by choosing to exercise together with her friends at the gym.  According to Larffarello, she was never approached by any Planet Fitness employee, except for the personal trainer who advised her that he liked her routine, before having her membership abruptly cancelled.

Kathy Healy, the Planet Fitness Manager told the Crier that Larffarello had been spoken to about using jump ropes and that the Assistant Manager had spoken to her about a month before cancelling her membership about her actions. 

Healy said that the decision to terminate Larffarello was made as a result of phone calls from people calling to inquire about what time Larffarello’s boot camp was held.  Healy stated that they were suspicious that she had been running a boot camp but it wasn’t until they got the phone call that they had evidence that she was.

Healy had not, however, attempted to contact Larffarello directly prior to calling her to notify her that her membership was being revoked and has not had any contact with her since.

Friends of Larffarello were outraged by the decision by Planet Fitness to cancel her membership and began a petition on Facebook.

One of Larfarello’s workout friends, Michele Collins, was quite surprised with the decision of Planet Fitness as there was no official boot camp or structured program being run by Larfarello and no exchange of money.  “She is just a nice person who enjoys working out and motivating people,” said Collins, who has been a long time member of Planet Fitness in Tewksbury. While she was happy with her membership in Tewksbury, Collins decided to cancel her membership and go elsewhere after Larffarello’s membership was cancelled from the Wilmington location, in order to continue working out with her friend.

According to Healy, she became aware of the petition when her corporate office brought it to her attention.  She says that her corporate office supports her decision and assured her that the situation was handled properly.

McCall Gosselin, Public Relations Director of Planet Fitness, was not aware of the situation and would not comment on the phone but later gave this statement by e-mail.

“Planet Fitness offers unlimited small group fitness training which is run by certified trainers. For liability reasons, members are not allowed to use Planet Fitness facilities to conduct their own trainings.”

Larffarello feels as though they owe her an apology and is hoping that Planet Fitness will change how they handle things in the future.