How does SW work?

[Valentinesxdayideasxx]

Hi, I went to my first slimming world meeting a week ago, and asked whether I could do pay as you go as im a nurse on shift work and was told yes. I text the leader a couple of days ago to say i couldnt make it and he replied he would list it as holiday as i would be charged otherwise. Does anyone know how this works as i now feel pressured and don't know whether i'm tied to going back. Does anyone know how this works?

OP, I'm a target member, so don't need to pay now, but before reaching target, there were weeks when I couldn't make it to group due to shift work (nurse,too), and I didn't have to pay, as long as I let the Consultant know that I was a shift worker.
I don't think your Consultant should be charging you back fees.
Don't forget that you can attend any SW group, so maybe if you can't attend your usual meeting, there may be another group nearby that you can get to, to help you keep on track.

That's not true as it is pay as you go. If you buy 12 weeks you have to give them holidays /notice if you can't make it and don't want to be charged.

If you are paying every week you just pay for the weeks you attend

If you just don't turn up, they will charge you for the missed session next time. By letting them know you won't be charged as, as they said, they are marking as holiday

They only charge a maximum of 2 weeks anyway I think

Hmmm. I've only just joined and was definitely told on pay as you go you just pay for the weeks you attend. That's why buying 12 weeks upfront makes sense - you save money but you have to commit.

I’ve been doing it for a while and always paid for missed weeks.

You have to pay for missed weeks unless you book it as holiday - you can have 6 weeks holiday a year.

You can visit any SW group in a week though so if you can’t do one you can often do another.

If you never go back you obviously won’t be charged! And if you miss more than two weeks (maybe 3?) it’s cheaper to just rejoin than pay the back fees and that’s allowed too. Although you lose all your weigh in history if you do that.

Check if she's ticked the box on your form for shift worker. Unless it's changed, that's your ticket to flexibility.

You need to book working weeks off as shift work just turning up when you feel like it won't work so you need to commit either to attending this group, booking shifts off or attending another group every week. Any weeks you don't turn up for or fail to book off will be charged for to protect your weight losses.

I stand corrected, my apologies!

Also wow, I had not realised that, and that makes me feel a bit trapped too!

You get 6 weeks a year holidays but as a shift worker you need to inform them that you won't be attending. My friend goes to different classes round her shifts.

Several years ago now, but I told them I could only do alternate weeks as that was my shift pattern and they didn't charge for the missed weeks. If I hadn't said that I'd have had to pay for every week even when I didn't go.

Did you text back and say, no, it's not holiday it's my shift work.