Jill and her team at the New Tampa YMCA are just great people to know and interact with. Everyone that I have dealt with (Jill, Steven, Nick, Amber, Jordan, Lisa, and other names I don't remember right now) are just superb professionals. My two children also do spring and summer camps there, they love it absolutely! A special thanks to Jill and Steven for their empathetic support regarding my childcare needs. This YMCA has a great family atmosphere that fosters a great sense of belonging, I feel like family when I am there. My girls are always happy to greet their counselors on and off camp seasons. I get to work out and maintain good health while my kids have fun and adventure, while learning good morals and values.

This morning I found there were two $25 charges posted to my BA credit card account on 7/4/14 for supposedly the membership fee of $25 due by 7/1/14. On the account statement it said the first $25 was a re-draft fee. Feeling suspicious, I went into the front office to inquire but was told that my credit card was probably declined on 7/1/14 so the third party had to do a re-draft on 7/4/14 so the re-draft fee $25 plus $25 July membership fee. I called my credit card bank immediately afterward and they told me there was no such thing as declined charge - my account was in perfect status at the time of the first charge. The credit card company filed a dispute against the YMCA contractor so that was settled. The things that was not settled: 1) YMCA should send me an email notification every time they charge my account; they don't. And they will continue this no-notice practice so long there are not enough complaints filed. So be watch out - this re-draft fee they sneaked in by the 3rd party might be their profit making scheme, especially for people who do not closely watch their financial accounts. 2) When I disputed about the re-draft fee charge, the staff was very bluntly telling me that it was because that the 3rd party tried to charge and the charge did not go through first time so they did it again 3 days later and it went through; but because of that, they charged $25 re-draft fee according to YMCA policy. But as I said earlier, I contacted my bank and there was enough credit in my account and there was no reason for decline. This led me to think, what about the 3rd party intentionally entered the wrong numbers and got declined; and 3 days later, there was $25 extra to collect - how profitable was that? How could YMCA allow this to happen to its royal members? I am wondering how many such so-called re-draft fees they have collected and about to collect? 3) So at that point, I asked for a supervisor and was told there was not manager on duty and even there was, I would get the same answer because it was not in their control. I lost my temper at that point and I do owe my apology to the poor girl tending the desk who was indeed just carrying out the YMCA policy. 4) The bigger question is, why can YMCA afford to be so arrogance? Is because of monopoly? Remember as of last summer, they were still using the big camp books to sign up camper every morning, which had been a topic of complaints from numerous people including myself. It is encouraging that they finally switch to using IPad for sign-in this year, albeit years behind the technology curve. So I am doing my share of complaining and see if they will do something next on their billing practice and other technology related issues.

WOW! When I arrived at the gym this morning I did not recognize the place. The mirrors along the free weight wall were all new. The floors shine and the windows are so clean that they appear to have disappeared. For the first time since I can remember all of the lights in the room were working. Move over LA Fitness, the Y is the place to be. Hats off to the maintenance director for doing a great job.

South Tampa Y - WORST weight room in south Tampa. For the money and membership base they could stand to improve this area. Caltas has the room and so does cheap $10 a month Youfit. If it wasn't for my kids I would never visit this Y! member since 95 and still no improvements in the hottest location ... Every time I turn around I have grandma or grandpa squeezing into my space.

Its so nice to find a great game of volleyball every Tuesday and Thursday. For as long as they continue to have volleyball they will continue to have my membership. Thank You JIM Hayes