To sack my personal trainer

[CourseTheyWere]

I know this is a very first world problem and I apologise in advance if I come across as entitled and privileged.

I hired a personal trainer last year and had really good results. Then lockdown happened. I continued to pay him as the gym was closed. I asked him to provide me with some workouts I could do at home. This was sporadic - I think I’ve had three since March.

The gym has now opened but I haven’t yet returned, as I’m not 100% comfortable with being in a confined space at the minute.

I was happy to help him out when the gym was closed and most people stopped paying but I just don’t think I’m getting value for money now. I won’t be in the gym for a while yet and he hasn’t replied to my last text.

WIBU to cancel my membership? It’s a really good gym and I would like to rejoin in the longer term so don’t want to make it awkward.

Complain!

Normally I would give benefit of the doubt but our excellent classes went onto live classes via zoom very early doors so there is no excuse for a pt to not to do likewise.

Ditch him. In fact I’d be trying to get the money you paid him over lockdown back. Doesn’t sound like he cares about his clients at all. My pt set up 3 zoom classes a day with different focuses al his clients could join. He gave me those “free” and we did zoom pt until he could come to my house. Now we train in his new gym And we are making up the missed sessions with an extra a week plus he has always scheduled me additional workouts for the days we aren’t together. Good PTs are like gold dust, they get complacent and stop caring I find. When they stop working for you sack them and move onto another.

I was paying my trainer during lockdown. As soon as it was permitted to meet up with one other person outside, we met up to train in a park - a very big park! He was a bit embarrassed that I'd kept paying him, so we agreed that I would have 2 sessions a week. I enjoy this so much that I now pay for 2 sessions a week (I saved quite a bit of money during lockdown - no commuting, no going out, no idle shopping for fun).

My PT did 45 minute zoom sessions with me. She had adapted the program to use mainly body weight and the weights I had at home and the work out changed each week. She did the same for every client.

Get rid and complain to gym about him/her

Yes I would stop.

That's terrible! My PT is putting on daily zoom workouts mon - fri for a very small group (2/3) with different time options. She's grateful for her clients who kept paying and has gone over and above to give value for money.

Definitely sack him. He clearly doesn't care about his job, reputation or clients. Most PTs I know went online, broadcast free and paid for Live sessions and set up live Video PT (WhatsApp Calls / Skype) for the clients that were able and wanted to train at home, at reduced rates and helped clients to adapt to not having full array of gym equipment at home. I'd be demanding a refund for the sessions not given during lockdown - there were plenty of ways he could have found to train you remotely (that wouldn't have cost him a penny).

I think it would be perfectly acceptable to tell him the stuff he’s sent you just isn’t working for you at the moment and you’d like to cancel but will be back in touch at a later date (when you feel comfortable going back) to give yourself the option. He’s probably a good personal trainer but not very good at the online stuff.
He must know what he has sent you isn’t up to scratch so I doubt he’ll contest this.

Your PT is taking the piss big time! My PT has continued with Zoom workouts 3 times a week throughout all this (at a reduced rate too!). Get rid.

What an absolute joker! I would ask for your money back (cancel the cheque??).

Similar to several pp, my PT trained me remotely, and at only £15 /session twice a week for the duration of lockdown. To be honest, I think she kept me bloody sane! Since lockdown eased she took her cue from me as to when I felt comfortable training in person in a safe, socially distanced environment. That's what a decent PT should do.

I think we know who wins CF of the week award...

Ds's PT has a small independent gym, we pay £20/month membership and £25 for a 1-1 session.

We had paid 10 sessions in advance. During lockdown he did 2x45min live sessions a week with ds. Once lockdown was over he told me the 2x45min sessions were to make up for the £20/month gym not being open I still had the 10 prepaid 1-1 sessions to use.

We are in Scotland so gyms not open yet. To catch up on sessions he has been coming to my house twice a week and doing sessions with ds in the garden.

Your PT is taking the piss a bit, taking money and not providing the service. Be straight up with him and tell him he owes you sessions.

I pay my PT in advance for a block of four 121 training sessions. I'd paid a block and managed to use just one of the four sessions before lockdown. Throughout lockdown the PT has continued to check in with me and has also given me training plans to let me continue training. I've not had any online 121 sessions - I've got gym equipment, weights etc at home so just needed the plan rather than supervision. I've not been charged anything for the plans or advice and I'm also still due my three sessions paid for before lockdown once gyms reopen (I'm in Scotland). Some other PTs at the gym have also been offering free zoom classes and they're really well attended so must be of decent quality. Think you could definitely do better OP! Find a PT that works for you. It's too expensive not to.

Another one saying he's shit. I've been seeing my PT 3x a week via zoom at a vastly reduced price (price his decision, not mine) and I have progressed loads.