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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask a gym to provide the toddler creche they were advertising when I joined?

23 replies

tinkerbellsmummy · 01/05/2009 22:36

Hi there, I am afraid that I am new to this but here goes...

I thought I would join a gym to help me loose my baby weight as it hasn't gone too well so far DD is 2!

So I joined a gym with a toddler creche. The gym was expensive but as it only cost an extra £7 a month for the creche for up to 2 hours on on Sat and Sundays giving me time to try and get fit, it made up for it... it had been going for years with no changes. I wouldn't have joined otherwise.

Two months after I joined they stopped all of the sessions. To add insult to injury they offering me sessions in another creche for a further 4.75 per hour. I am now stuck with a membership which I really can't use and can't cancel til October.

Am I being unreasonable to be really cross?

OP posts:

Joolyjoolyjoo · 01/05/2009 22:40

Ouch! I would speak to someone about being able to cancel your membership early- after all- THEY changed the creche facility without giving you notice! I would definitely kick up about it- it's a fairly vital part of the whole deal

sagacious · 01/05/2009 22:42

YANBU if they've changed the creche facilities they should be offering at alternative for no extra cost at least (or offer a full refund for the remaining membership term)

StayFrosty · 01/05/2009 22:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

tinkerbellsmummy · 01/05/2009 22:48

I thought that too, so I complained, they ignored me, I sent a letter (registered), they ignored it, I sent another they sent a reply that said that they had just "changed the timetable" and that was in the contract.

I am just so very cross

OP posts:

EffieGadsby · 01/05/2009 22:50

YANBU at all. And don't let yourself get caught up in paying until October, if they say they won't release you. If they won't cooperate, write a formal letter (send it recorded) explaining that the reason you joined was because of their creche. As they have stopped this service, you will be forced to terminate your membership. Then tell you bank to cancel the direct debit immediately.

The gym are extremely unlikely to bother pursuing it.

monkeypinkmonkey · 01/05/2009 22:53

I Agree with Effie. Cancel that direct debit!!!

Original poster

tinkerbellsmummy · 01/05/2009 22:59

I was a bit worried about doing that as I am in the middle of buying a house at the mo.

In my very cross state I had considered going down there and having a rant/hysterical crying in reception (where they keep their new potential customers waiting) for a couple of sessions. I thought that may help them reconsider

OP posts:

TheCrackFox · 01/05/2009 23:02

YANBU

Please name and shame so we can avoid this crappy gym.

Either cancel your DD or go and rant at the receptionist - demand to see the manager.

happyjules · 01/05/2009 23:27

Speak to your local newspaper. The gym will not like the bad publicity at all if you continue to get this this awful treatment from them.

Yes, technically they have only changed the timetable but they are being bloody ureasonable. I to rely on on a (lovely) creche at my local club. I really feel for your situation. Go kick arse!

Original poster

tinkerbellsmummy · 01/05/2009 23:33

It is the David Lloyd, I had thought they were supposed to be ok, but I am pretty new here in Cardiff. An expensive mistake.

My DH said the helpful comment "well these gyms are all the same" and a few more comments making me feel a bit stupid for joining in the first place. grr

However I must thank you, I feel lots better already. I feel a visit will be on the cards. Thinking about it the manager has been pretty cowardly so far, he hasn't offered to speak to me ever, so it is probably worth a go.

OP posts:

angeloak · 01/05/2009 23:37

total fitness did a similar thing to us. they advertised childrens activities which were supposed to take place while we train, but when we got there, they just took the kids to a downstairs area and left them to run riot. none of the advertised organised activities at all.

Jaypickle · 03/05/2009 12:09

The exact same thing happened to me a few years ago, when DS1 was about 8 months. I signed up, started going 3 times a week and he was fine in the creche. Then after 2 months or so they just closed the creche, no warning, no alternative, nothing. I asked for a refund of my joinin fee and to cancel the contract, as there was no way I could go at all without the creche, it was useless to me.

Well they refused and were very rude and patronising, obviously thinking that a l'il fat lady with a baby wasn't going to do anything about it. A week later after I stood in reception for a few hours over a few days telling every single person who came in how the gym treated their customers, I got a FULL refund of everything and an apology!

Do not mess with hormonal new mothers with plenty of time on their hands!

kidowner · 03/05/2009 12:43

Outrageous.

Cancel your direct debit.

Ring your local newspaper or email them cc to the Leisure centre

coolma · 03/05/2009 15:19

David Lloyd are pretty useless full stop. we were members there when they were next generation, paid an absolute fortune and half the time, the kids groups were cancelled, run by morose teenagers or just not very good. They constantly turned a blind eye to the expensive sports cars parked in the P&T spaces, until I went (politely) mental in reception after which passes were introduced. To top it off they cancelled our membership 'by mistake' but refused to let us in when we told them it was quite clearly a month early. Pah. It was fabulous on the whole facilities wise , but if your car aint posh enough or you're not quite grand eneough, you really won't get treated very well. Sorry this isn't really helping is it>? Just wanted a rant!

nikkid21 · 03/05/2009 15:23

YANBU - Do you have a virgin gym that you could go to (once you have sorted out the David Lloyd muppets)? Their facilities are great with 2 Saturday morning and a Sunday morning creche session at my Farnborough one. Once kids are over 3 you just pay £10 a month for them and it includes unlimited 2 hour creche sessions.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 03/05/2009 15:28

Ooo this makes me mad. Defintely pursue it - a contract works both ways and I don't think that it can be justified under a 'change in timetable'.

Gorionine · 03/05/2009 15:38

I am not sure i understood corrrectly. Have youo already payer the extra £7 for the crech that does not existe anymore and are asking you another £4.50 on the top because they "reopened" the creche in a differente location?

If that is the case I would certainly complain very loudly. They are not providing you with what was adverised (creche)you should be allowed to cancel the membership on this ground, surely?

oh and BTW, YANBU!

PuppyMonkey · 03/05/2009 15:38

Yes, closing down the crech is imho something entirely different to "changing the timetable."

Gorionine · 03/05/2009 15:39

[typos] I will read before I post next time, promise!

MrsKitty · 03/05/2009 15:44

YANBU - contact the South Wales Echo (local rag)- They love this kind of stuff.

Afraid I can't recommend anywhere else as had similar problems finding anywhere suitable with childcare facilities, gave up in the end (perhaps that's just a reflection on my dedication to joining a gym? ) Best one I found was at the Village hotel, but is pretty expensive (don't know price at DLloyd?), and in Whitchurch, so probably not very local to you?

Longtalljosie · 04/05/2009 10:15

I think you're right to hold off on cancelling the Direct Debit until after your house sale goes through though - particularly in the current jittery credit market.

Gyms are total bastards at pulling out all the stops to pursue stopped direct debits and the last thing you want is a black mark on your credit file at this delicate stage.

Do contact the local paper though. And also Toby Levene in the Guardian. Somehow when he calls up, these sort of problems just seem to melt away...

vjg13 · 04/05/2009 10:34

We had problems with DL. In the past they provided a carer card to let a carer take my daughter who has SN (and pays a membership). We went to get a new one for a new person and they were very job's worth. My husband kicked off complained in reception asked for the manager and hey presto! Worth a try!

Original poster

tinkerbellsmummy · 04/05/2009 20:13

I went down today and had a "chat" with the reception staff about speaking to the manager( he wasn't there). After half an hour of expressing my disappointment, (no ranting) but a clear expression of how inadequate their management was, she was fed up with me. She promised faithfully that I would be made an appointment with the manager. I promised to call if I didn't hear the next day. Hopefully she won't be keen for me to visit to express my disappointment again.

Local paper is a good idea too but I will give the manager the option of being helpful first. Maybe I just feel the need to look him in the eye and tell him about where the gym is failing in its customer service.

I am moving near Whitchurch so that may be a better option and will look up to see if there is a virgin gym nearby.

OP posts:

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