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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask for a refund?

27 replies

RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 12:12

I'm 50-50 on emailing and asking and tbh, I'm veering on the side of not asking as A it's probably rude and B I'm not 'entitled' to one

So 2 and a half weeks ago I signed up to some fitness / fat loss group coaching thing. All sounded great and I need a push to start being healthier and more disciplined with myself. I've followed this woman on Instagram for months now and decided to take the plunge.

£199 for 6 weeks. You get access to a group of the other members and a couple of group check ins. Your calories and steps are set for you and there's workouts to follow.

Anyway, I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting but I've signed up and done ... precisely nothing. Posted once in the group. Not done an 'accountability' check in and well, not done a thing. Not logged in. No tracking. Zero

I did 'reach out' to my 'assigned coach' and said as much, said I was not in the right head space, said I hadn't done anything. She sent me back two sentences telling me to start small.

So there's another 4 weeks to go and I've basically wasted my money. I'm in a slump, I don't like the structure of it all much and it's just not for me

I'd written the money off tbh but chatting with a friend and she said 'you should email them tbh and no harm in asking, they'll be able to see your total lack of engagement'

So what would you do? Write it off? Email them and explain? Or something else?

And yes - I know this is all on me and my expectations and my lack of oomph so I probably will not do a thing - but a little part of me wonders if I should

OP posts:
fufulina · 08/11/2023 12:14

What were you expecting? Presumably you’ve paid for access to content, not a 24/7 personal trainer?

CesareBorgia · 08/11/2023 12:15

So have you received your assigned calories, steps and workouts?

sollenwir · 08/11/2023 12:15

Are you sure it's not a scam?
Surely if you're paying them then they should be much more proactive contacting you, motivating you, suggesting ideas etc?
Were you provided information/did you ask for information regarding what you were actually paying for?

xILikeJamx · 08/11/2023 12:15

You spent money on something you have to engage with to get the benefit of, and then failed to engage with it. I'd say that's your fault and you shouldn't get a refund.

However your friend is right in that you may as well ask - what's the worst that could happen?

It also sounds quite a lot like some kind of MLM so the benefits are probably questionable anyway

Original poster
RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 12:18

@xILikeJamx that's it exactly in a nutshell!

I haven't engaged with the content so yep - it's on me

OP posts:
Original poster
RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 12:20

@sollenwir definitely not a scam. But this is a very busy person who coaches 1-1, in groups, other fitness professionals, she coaches with a 'minor' fitness celebrity with another business - and I didn't realise all this.

But it's on me as I'm just not engaging at all

OP posts:
Original poster
RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 12:20

@CesareBorgia yep - received everything I was supposed to. All emailed

OP posts:
SadlyACupOfTeaDoesNotSolveEverything · 08/11/2023 12:21

Unfortunately you signed up to do something you haven’t done. By the sounds of things they have fulfilled their side of the deal and you have failed to benefit through no fault of theirs.

ns87 · 08/11/2023 12:21

If you haven't engaged but they've provided materials and support, I doubt you will get any kinda of refund

Feisty1youare · 08/11/2023 12:21

Hi, first of all this sounds very expensive. I've done a similar fitness programme to this and it cost £65, but I am in North West England. Everything is done online and you have to be accountable to make it work. The trainers set the exercise challenges and nutrition, but you have to put in the work to get the results.

I don't feel it is fair for you to ask for a refund based on you not liking it or feeling engaged. Either use the remaining time to give it a shot so you don't lose your money, or just accept the money is lost. Also do some research as there are cheaper places offering what sounds like a similar service

Neodymium · 08/11/2023 12:23

You could ask to pause it and resume it later on, maybe in the new year when your headspace is better?

Original poster
RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 12:24

Yes, it's certainly not fair of me to request a refund purely because I haven't engaged

I don't think i expected quite so many people to have signed up and be in the group! I'm just one of what must be hundreds. So of course I'm not going to register with anyone at all and I'm able to just quietly 'drop out'

OP posts:
SiousieSoo · 08/11/2023 12:25

RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 12:18

@xILikeJamx that's it exactly in a nutshell!

I haven't engaged with the content so yep - it's on me

Oh God I did the same thing with Richie Howie fitness on Facebook. Signed up for it but just could not get on with the whole thing... I think these things are sold to us as being so enticing but the reality is the service/content that is offered can be quite flat and not suitable for whatever reason. You could say that you are experiencing some health issues so are unable to commit and would appreciate a refund or partial refund and they might be willing to do this?

SMTWTFS · 08/11/2023 12:26

I mean they should be reaching out to you etc, But absolutely no way would I ask for a refund because I signed up then couldn't be arsed doing it.

Original poster
RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 12:26

@SiousieSoo sympathies. I get it. You have expectations and just can't 'gel' with the content one bit.

OP posts:
Thedm · 08/11/2023 12:27

The group might be big, but if they’re emailing you out the calorie count and step count suggestions, exercise plans or whatever else they promised then they’ve provided what you paid for. You also have the coach you can email and they will get back to you. They can’t do anything if you don’t engage though, so she told you to start small and let her know how that goes.

You can’t get a refund. You knew what you were signing up for. They provided everything they said they would.

I don’t really agree with these online ones, as you can pay a little bit more to have a personal trainer meet you once a week for a 6 week block, get you started, give you meal plan ideas and then off you go but they meet you again the next week so it keeps you going. I know the online stuff does help some people but I’d rather have an in-person trainer.

Anyway, no, don’t ask for a refund. This is on you.

Abouttimemum · 08/11/2023 12:34

I think you might be better matched to in person fitness classes or a personal trainer if motivation is your biggest block.

Feisty1youare · 08/11/2023 12:36

RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 12:26

@SiousieSoo sympathies. I get it. You have expectations and just can't 'gel' with the content one bit.

What don't you like about it, is the group too big and you don't feel supported? Or are you just genuinely not motivated? If it is the first, i have linked the one I did a few years ago and lost 2 stone. It was a much smaller group and the coach was supportive, but to work you have to be accountable. If you put the work in you will see results

https://www.kickstarthealthandfitness.com/?fbclid=IwAR2qy4E61Ajp5RErxtRUuDOiNMLuj28cPINIV64e9r6Qo6cR_ymMgIYsJHg#/

Coffeerum · 08/11/2023 12:37

RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 12:18

@xILikeJamx that's it exactly in a nutshell!

I haven't engaged with the content so yep - it's on me

So why do you think you would be entitled to a refund?

Secondguess · 08/11/2023 12:52

You won't be the first or last person in this situation- they'll have seen this before. You could contact them to say that unfortunately you're not currently able to engage with the plan and all whether it's possible to freeze your membership and restart later, or get a partial refund.

These things happen. Maybe it's not the right time or it's not the right thing, but rather than spending the next few weeks feeling worse about signing up, contact them today and at least you'll have taken positive action. Good luck.

Dacadactyl · 08/11/2023 12:54

I think it's on you and you shouldn't ask for a refund. Tbh, it's probably part of their business plan that people sign up and don't engage. But that's on the people not engaging, not them.

Picklewicklepickle · 08/11/2023 13:08

There’s no harm asking I suppose but I think it’s on you for not engaging unfortunately. Is there any way you can make the best of the remaining time to get something out of it?

I’ve had some good results with a 1:1 online PT but they could have been much better because I didn’t engage when I was struggling and that’s all on me. I’m joining a group coaching programme shortly because I think I need that community support and additional sense of accountability but it’s not the right approach for everyone.

Catza · 08/11/2023 13:14

Think of it this way - if you bought a loaf of bread and let in go mouldy, would you ask the supermarket for a refund? You are not entitled to a refund but what you may be able to ask for is to re-enter the programme with another cohort at a later date.
Unfortunately, lack of engagement/motivation isn't really something they are required to do anything about but I would make the most out of your coached emails and indeed try to start small and continue emailing them asking for further tips on how to increase motivation to go through the challenge.

Original poster
RandomUserName11 · 08/11/2023 13:58

@Coffeerum maybe read my opening post again re your question...

OP posts:
TheOccupier · 08/11/2023 14:16

YABU - @Catza has a good analogy with the loaf of bread. If you're upset about wasting the money - well, you only have yourself to blame and you still have the option of following the programme.