Have you ever paid for a lifetime membership in anything, and later it defunct? If you did, did you feel violated because there is nothing you could do, or is it?

honi, I haven't personally mostly because of the fact that I hate to "plan" that far ahead...I don't want to pay for something that I might not be able to use...for instance a gym membership...what if I get sick and can't use it?

My sister-in-law paid a lot for a 5 year membership at an all womens gym...similar to Curves (a copycat of) and it went under six months after she bought it...they didn't warn anyone...she showed up there one day and it was closed...apparently even the employees showed up to a locked door...she never did get her money back.

I think these things are good for the the organization's lifetime, not yours!

With many of these 'memberships", you may also find that, though you purchased it on time or with a credit card, a provision of the contract allows the gym, health club, etc., to sell the contract to a third party. This means that, even if they (the gym) go under, you legally must continue making payments.

My sister-in-law had a lifetime membership at a gym. She paid the $1000.00 and they went out of business. They didn't sell the business, they just went bankrupt.

I just signed up for powerhouse gym. It was $100 for 100 days. I'm gonna make sure I don't get suckered into any lifetime memberships anywhere!

As for myself, I had a gift certificate for Crowley's and one month after it was purchased they were going out of business. They wouldn't accept the gift certificate. They said I had to be part of the class action suit against them. Crowley's later became Value City Crowley's and I was still out the $100.00. (not a membership but I still lost out) When I complained at the desk they threatened security on me. Not a good place to do business with! I'm very leery of gift certificates. If the place goes out of business, the gift certificate is usually void. (same goes for a membership somewhere) If you do try to sue, you have to become part of a class action and the company pays out their creditors first so you will probably end up with nothing anyway. I use gift certificates right away and I stay away from "lifetime" memberships anywhere.

Thanks all of you, and Fuse, I guess that's the trick.

I once paid for a lifetime membership in a furniture club, where I would always get discounts on famous brand furniture. It closed about a year later. Well, that was dumb of me because when I joined, I had just bought new furniture. How often did I think I'd buy new furniture!!!

I think it was that good-looking salesman with a slick sales pitch.

Once when my husband (fiancé at the time) came to visit me in college we went to the porn store and had to pay a one-time membership fee to rent there. The next time he visited, it was closed. I was a little upset, but it was only, like, five bucks. I wouldn't have done it if it was more.