To think th gymnastics club are taking the mick?

[DonutCone]

DD and DS go to a gymnastics club. A family owned club, very much a for-profit business. You have to pay a term in advance, and often much earlier, so by October you need to pay for January - April.

Obviously term ended 2 weeks earlier than it was meant to in March, so we essentially paid for 10 hours of lessons we didn't get (8 hours a week for DD and 2 for DS). Now we've had an email saying they will be running lessons once a week for the next 3 weeks at £12 for 55 minutes. It has been asked if all the missed lessons can be used towards the cost of the new lessons, but they cannot.

AIBU to think we are now paying for the same thing twice. The 10 hours we missed equates to £65 of lessons and now for 2 children they want an additional £72 for 6 hours. I am so fed up of paying for things we aren't getting. One sports club made us pay for the entire summer term as we had signed a contract saying we were committed for a year, despite the leisure center being closed and saying they were not changing any clubs a penny.

[ritzbiscuits]

I think this situation has brought out the best and worst out in those running a business.

Our dance school is run by a wonderful lady. She moved classes to Zoom and didn't even charge us for a couple of months as she wanted the kids/teachers to acclimatise and get used to the new format. We are now paying slightly reduced fees (as she feels its' not personally the same as being in the studio). I couldn't ask for more.

At the other end of the scale, our nationwide swimming provider wanted to charge £15 per month retention fee, were threatening people with cancellation charges when they were contractually unable to offer a service. We also had the issue of March classes being cancelled and no monetary refunds. All at the same time as them cancelling contracts with all their staff and were not paying any fees for the leisure centres they use! The company eventually changed tack after a massive social media backlash, but the damage was done.

In short, I will not be going back to that swimming company and will be looking at leisure centre classes when we feel comfortable in returning.

I would be asking yourself if you really want to be continuing to use them or if there are easy alternatives you could switch to. I know with gymnastics providers facilities can be completely different at different venues e.g. a leisure centre may be a lot less favourable to a bespoke gymnastics club.

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

Lots of clubs do not employ the trainers, they are self employed so furlough may not work everywhere.

Fair point.

Re: Gymnastics Clubs - The DCs used to go to a gymnastics club, which was also a family run type club. They mostly employed young kids who may have been good at gymnastics, but were fairly dreadful at teaching, and controlling large classes. Sort of got the impression the club was more interested in the, 'elite,' gymnasts and the classes for those who were never really going to compete was more of a money spinner. DS once was shouted at for hitting a boy, which he absolutely didn't (as I was there), so after being at the club for 5 years, we walked out and they didn't even call us.

Agree about kids doing way too many activities.

[Abraid2]

@Evelefteden

I hear you.

Our dds go to a fee paying school. They still tried charging me for school lunches, flute lessons and dance.

I refused.

The flute and dance instructors may have been freelancers who are paid by you not by the school.

[HexagonsHecateAndHecuba]

Just shown this to DD who is a gym coach, she rolled her eyes!

Gym clubs are fighting to survive. Before they can reopen they have had to comply not only with any government requirements but also with BG recommendations and advice. Ask your head coach to look at the plethora of guidance that has been coming out. There had been huge amounts, all of which the coaches have to wade through and apply to their clubs situation.

Whilst I can understand you not wanting to lose £65, that money will have helped pay the rent on the premises during lockdown. It will have helped pay for a deep clean of the premises prior to reopening. And yes, reopening may be limited because BG insist on safety of gymnasts and coaches above all else. The size of the gym is immaterial. The gymnasts have to be able to see, hear and be able to communicate clearly with their coach. Not as easy when you're socially distanced and coaches are shouting to be heard (recreational classes in particular can be challenging due to the diverse nature and ability of children who attend. The elite classes less so as they are the highly able and disciplined groups)

Different clubs will have different approaches to repaying hours lost. And all the ones DD knows are repaying hours (or will be when they open). Talk to the head coach about why they're not repaying hours.....probably better to talk to the Treasurer though as they hold the purse strings! Most clubs are willing to work with parents to ensure there are no financial difficulties experienced (at the moment by either side). To be fair it sounds like you/your children aren't really into this activity so maybe cut yourself losses and find an activity (or a club, if they are development squad/elite gymnasts) you're happy with.

[DonutCone]

Sorry, I answer a few questions. Yes, it's a totally private business, not a charity or council run thing. They have their own building so no rent to be paid to anyone else. I think if they were happy (which they were) to make parents pay £30 for a special leotard for the Xmas show, then they should have reserves. They indeed do have a captive audience as its a small ish town and no where else has any of the boy sepecific equipment.

I have written off money for other clubs because they are run by volunteers and are not profit making. I want them still to be there so I was happy to do it. This is a private business, so I don't feel the same about it at all as they have been notoriously money focuses.

[DonutCone]

Jesus, sorry, horrendous amount of typos in that!