Swimming turnstile.

[WineIsTheAnswer]

Apologies for the lengthy post. It's something minor that's blown up and I'm not sure if IABU.

DD has swimming lessons at a private country club (We are not members but are allowed to have lessons there) last lesson (before christmas) DD (8) was less than 5 seconds down the corridor in front of me. I got to the turnstile to find a lady the other side claiming DD had swung the turnstile round after her husband had put the token in but before he had chance to go in. I was surprised as DD has SEN and avoids people (and time wise I'm surprised she had time to do it and then get to the place she was before I arrived) but I apologized and gave them one of our tokens.

Husband puts it in the machine and for some reason wife pushes the turnstile round from the inside before husband has chance to go in. (Which I now think happened the first time). Half way I realise and try to grap the partition to stop her so he can get in but husband, in the confusion, pushes on the partition and again he's shut out. Wife asks for our other (only) token, I refuse as we would be late for the lesson. She shouts through that husband should use our token with DD and I should make the 5 minute trip back to reception to get myself in as it "was DD fault in the first place" I respond I'm not sure about that but we gave a token to correct that and the new issue was a result of her. At no point does she blame me for the second time, everyone seems clear I trying to stop it.

DD and I go in using our one token, wife comes out and goes off to recpetion with husband. We don't see any more of husband and wife and forget about it.

Lesson again yesterday. Teacher tells parents about a complaint that children were playing with the turnstile and a parent forcibly refused to allow others to use the turnstile. They are saying I pushed on the turnstile the second time. I explain it was us and explained the situation. Teacher says she wants to give our details to club as it will go against the swim school if its left.

I've told her I would speak to swim school manager before they hand over my details. She then went on to say that unless it's dealt with DD won't be allowed to swim and I won't be refunded (for a full term I've just paid!)

I would prefer for swim school to put across my side and not give details as the club looks down on 'non-fee paying day members' and is likely to quickly ban us without listening.

To be honest if they talked about doing that I would complain in writing and say you'll take them to the small claims court for the fees.

Absolutely be looking for another swimming school. Awful way to treat their clients.

It's the only school with small class sizes/small pool that will take DD as she can't yet swim.

Write down what happened, making it clear that your child was not playing with the turnstile and that you certainly did not stop anybody using it. Say that the lady and her husband seemed confused about how the turnstile works (it sounds as though they were from what you have said). Speak to the swim school manager calmly about this as it sounds as though your swimming teacher is making more of a drama out of this than it deserves, give them your written explanation if necessary. Stop apologising and stop allowing people to blame you and your DD for things that it isn’t at all clear were your or her fault. An accidental turn of a gate is not grounds for banning anybody from the premises.