I signed up with Bally's Total Fitness for a three year long contract
in Chicago. I make monthly payments of about $30. Then in May, I
relocated from Chicago to Brooklyn. I found a much cheaper gym here,
and the Bally's facilities are too far away and crappy. Yet, Bally's
won't let me cancel my membership unless I pay in full the contract of
$1000 which I am not ready to do. I want to get out of my membership,
and Bally's contracts stipulates I must live at least 15 miles away
from the nearest club to do so. What should I do? Is there any way I
can finagle my way out of this contract? Bally's is the devil, I just
want to be set free.

Try telling Bally's that you are on the verge of filing Chapter 7
Bankruptcy, or make repeated complaints in writing that the Bally's
facilities near your new residence are shoddy; or you could claim that
you are under some type of physical and mental disability that
prohibits you from using the facilities - ask that they put your
membership on hold indefinitely - you will probably need a note from
some doctor (maybe a chiropractor) that states you can't work out or
even sit in the spa because of some disability - claim that you
accidentally sniffed some of that gas that the Russians pumped into
the building.......I will keep thinking, but you said you were open to
anything.  Good luck.
k.

I got away from the evil known as Bally's about a year ago!!!!  

Want to hear how? 

First, find a very good friend/relative living overseas/far away from
a Bally's.  Read your contract to find out how far is far enough. 
Take note that Bally's calulates distance as the crow flies and not by
the actual road mileage.

Second, change the address for two credit cards or other monthly bills
to your friends address.  After your friend recieves the statements
with the new address have him send the statement to you.

Third, write a letter to Bally's stating that you have moved and pay
the contract breaking fee stated in your contract.  Enclose the
statements with the new address in the letter and breath a sigh of
relief.  The monkey is off your back.

I know it is a bit of a hassle but have a new outlook on life now that
Bally's is gone.

Bally's seems to be the devil, indeed.  From what I've read, your only
real options are to sell your membership to someone else, but you'll
have to pay a fee of about $200.  Another person suggested not paying
and accepting the black mark on your credit report.  I suggest sucking
it up, but letting any and everyone know about your experience.

Good luck.  I hope you don't have to return here in four years and
post a question like this one:
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=90372

i haven't read the contract, but if they don't want you to come
anymore they might be willing to waive your contract in order to get
you to leave. what if it turns out you don't do well in public
settings and you scare the other customers? if you can't flaunt
leprosy or some other unfortunately communicable disease, there's
always the picket-sign bench press in the front of the club you belong
to, or, well, you get the idea... how far do your rights as a member
extend? what can you do as a member that would so disrupt their
operations that it would be worth more to them to have you out of
there than to keep the contract?

just remember it's bally's that's got you in the vice and not the
other customers inside...

Hi Mieszko,

You might want to give this fella a call:

Law Offices of  SHAWN KHORRAMI
http://www.khorrami.com/Cases%20Web/Bally/Intro%20Bally.htm

His office has filed a class action lawsuit against Bally's, and you
may be eligible to join that class.

Good luck!

--Missy