AIBU to expect more for my money?

[user1471430558]

Hello
I was hoping MN could give me perspective.
I joined a gym last year and signed up for a year (stupid me, I didn’t realise it was that long).
Today I have written to cancel my subscription which I have been informed lasts until October. I have also been informed that since two workouts are posted 5x per week that they are providing a suitable alternative service with no reduction to fees (£80 pm).
AIBU to think this is not what I signed up to and is it possible to get out of the contract?

Check Martin Lewis advice on Money Saving Expert but as they’re not open I believe you’re under no legal obligation to continue paying. You could always cancel the direct debit with your bank, I did this once and got a letter from the gym threatening legal action but they never bothered, I suspect it would cost more time and money than it would be worth.

Thats bad. Both the gyms dh and I are with have suspended the memberships while they have been closed. One of them has started a new online membership that you can sign up to separately to the normal membership for a lower price.

Sounds like David Lloyd to me!
Good luck! If it is, you will need it! 🤞🤞👍👍

You are definitely not being unreasonable! Even if they're posting workouts it might not be the sort of thing you can or want to do, or don't have the equipment / space to do at home. I'm guessing it's nothing compared to what you'd normally get for your £80 a month?
Mine are posting recorded classes online (mostly yoga, pilates, no equipment needed stuff) but they've suspended monthly membership payments and those who've paid a year up front they've said they will roll over the months so we only pay for 12 months that they're open.

I would say you are entitled at least to a partial refund, or reduction of future fees as the gym has been physically closed and therefore no costs of daily cleaning, lighting, heating/aircon, water, wear and tear / maintenance of equipment, plus anything else they offer like towels, soap, water... Have they been paying all of their staff 100% salaries throughout the closure period? If so, I think that's pretty noble, but if they haven't then they definitely need to refund members at least something! Good luck, OP!

My dh is with David Lloyd and they suspended his membership so he's not paying anything just now

Thank you for you responses.
This is a “one man band” set up, altho’ I think he must be paying a company to deal with email/ legal issues.
They state that they provide written & online classes and coaching calls!
Annoyed about this now and don’t want to back down!

I dunno. My gym just switched to online with 5 classes a week to do live or on catch up. There hasnt been a reduction in price. It's up to you whether to take it up or not.

£80 a month for 5 online workout a week is a joke.

Some of the posted classes requires equipment which I do not have or wish to purchase.

My gym has suspended membership and it is to resume when gym reopens. If you had subscription from Jan 1st unty Dec 31st. Pay Jan, Feb and March. 9 more months to pay once reopens. You should stop DD and write letter stating they are not providing service you signed up to. Which gym is it? We need to know to avoid.

David Lloyd has suspended payment for membership and indeed now has outside gym equipment avilable for use free of charge.

£80 a month for 5 online workout a week is a joke

People go to the gym more often than that? They must be machines

Equipment was loaned out with a deposit at the beginning of lockdown. It's the same shit, just at home online. Along with all PT attentions etc.

They're open in a couple of weeks. Just don't see what the big deal is.

Maybe some places were just better organised.

Our gym never loaned out anything. We've bought equipment and are doing workouts via zoom or YouTube.

what about people who don't have online access to the workouts?

(I'll send this by carrier pigeon)

£80??? Unless they're usually in there moving your limbs for you on the machines you are being ripped off regardless!

My Gym has suspended my membership. Ee can join David Mills for a reduced monthly fee via the member portal. They also have weekly online classes live or on demand -which are home videos from the instructors.
I'd stick to my guns, what your guy is providing is freely accessible via the internet.

That's rubbish. Ours - The Gym - cancelled our Direct Debits without even asking then started posting at least one live class a day on FB. After a couple of weeks of that they asked if people wanted to they could pay either full membership-£16.99 per month to keep them going or £10.00 per month. I opted for the latter as I figure there will be some reduction of costs at their end during this, but I do want the gym to still be in business.

That's a class act lesson on how gyms could do it - but to charge you full whack when it's shut - nah that's not on,

(I'll send this by carrier pigeon

Ours is one of the council run ones. They stopped the DD before we had to ask and haven’t asked for anything further despite posting bits and pieces on their site and Facebook.
You should stand your ground.

Like Gogo - I use a Council one. Pay £30 a month (so I wonder why you are paying £80 in the first place), and they e-mailed us to say they would be stopping taking the direct debit without anyone needing to ask. We've not been paying anything through April, May, June or July.

No way should you be paying 80 quid a month. Thieves!