Virgin Gym Contracts Nightmare - Page 2

sazaboo · 26-09-2005, 14:14

calm yourself buffy! if you rock you are tasty in my book!!so that means you too!!!

i could go jogging around stocksbridge, im just trying to get my puppy used to walking!

rocketpig · 26-09-2005, 20:09

cancelling your direct debit and forgetting about it is a really bad idea, they credit checked you when you signed up and they will refer you to a debt collecter which will also mean bad credit for you.....and fees. not telling them your address obviously wouldn't work because otherwise we'd all be doing it.

As far as i'm aware, by law all contracts come with a 14day cooling off period and they must inform you of this, so your only chance is to claim they did not inform you "enough"!

In my opinion Virgin do not owe you any favours, yes...they are a massive company...well done them

my advice is to pay it and think of it as a very expensive lesson

rocketpig · 26-09-2005, 20:11

.....also, sorry to sound rude but why would you enter into a contract with a gym and make offers on houses at the other side of town?

Hels · 26-09-2005, 20:21

Have you read all the small print on the reverse of the contract paper you signed?

If you have not had an induction or had a photo done could you sell on the membership to a friend/colleague/family?

Try and speak to the manager, she, I am sure will be as helpful as she can be, particularly if you mention your access to 15k+ people on the Sheffield forum and she knows how effective word-of mouth can be, and you would love to let people know how wonderful they are ....

speenie · 26-09-2005, 20:36

advertise your membership & sell it. I used to work in a gym, and a contract's a contract! But they were ok with transferring memberships.

s10owl · 26-09-2005, 20:47

If you pm me - I may have a solution to this problem - Cant pm you as a new user

drp215 · 03-04-2008, 08:23

http://www.thestar.co.uk/action/Virg...for.3183326.jp

rainbow sky · 03-04-2008, 08:41

I used to be a member of Virgin and initially took out Diamond membership (1 year contract) but after the first year I changed over to monthly membership as there was only a difference of about £5 a month and it was a lot better, more flexible. I would never again get tied in to any contract even if it was the cheaper option, you just never know how your circumstances are going to change.

shuwarrior51 · 03-04-2008, 09:56

I had a similar experience with Sam Jones a couuple of years back - t'd moved away from the area and didn't wanna pay them £45 a month for the remaining 4 months of the contract - i just lied to them and told them that the contract terms were not clearly stated when i signed up and how they were so eager to sign me up they didn't fully explain what i was signing up to.

They eventually released me from the contract with a certain air of "but don't ever think of signing up here again"

Just recently signed up to Fitness First nr Farm Rd and it's ace! Nice and cheap and not too crowded!

mr_busdriver · 03-04-2008, 10:12

A question for the people knocking the gyms.

When you signed up, were you not aware that you had to pay monthly? If you were aware of this then why are you complaining?

When you buy a car, if you buy an exspensive one most people get it on credit. So for example, if I choose to purchase a car in January, and the paymeny terms were for 60 months, I would expect to pay a fee for 60 months.

If I chose to stop using the car after 2 months, do I then have the right to cancel the direct debit, simply because I don't use it? NO.... so what gives you the right to cancel your gym fees just because you suddenly decide you don't want to do it?

jowleywowley · 03-04-2008, 10:53

I've been a member at virgin gym 3 seperate times, every time I wanted out I just cancelled the direct debit as it was far easier than arguing my way out leaving. They sent me about 2 or 3 letters saying I was in breach of contract blah blah but then left it at that.

Twiglet · 03-04-2008, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_busdriver

A question for the people knocking the gyms.

When you signed up, were you not aware that you had to pay monthly? If you were aware of this then why are you complaining?

When you buy a car, if you buy an exspensive one most people get it on credit. So for example, if I choose to purchase a car in January, and the paymeny terms were for 60 months, I would expect to pay a fee for 60 months.

If I chose to stop using the car after 2 months, do I then have the right to cancel the direct debit, simply because I don't use it? NO.... so what gives you the right to cancel your gym fees just because you suddenly decide you don't want to do it?

The problem with Virgin Gyms is well documented and has been on Watchdog. Admittedly, those who try to cancel within the 12 months of their contract haven't got a leg to stand on, but if they do not cancel the membership in person at one of the gyms (where they are given the hard sell to stick with it) it automatically rolls over and they are tied into yet another 12 month contract.

toonarmani · 03-04-2008, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_busdriver

A question for the people knocking the gyms.

When you signed up, were you not aware that you had to pay monthly? If you were aware of this then why are you complaining?

When you buy a car, if you buy an exspensive one most people get it on credit. So for example, if I choose to purchase a car in January, and the paymeny terms were for 60 months, I would expect to pay a fee for 60 months.

If I chose to stop using the car after 2 months, do I then have the right to cancel the direct debit, simply because I don't use it? NO.... so what gives you the right to cancel your gym fees just because you suddenly decide you don't want to do it?

Sadly it just shows people always want the easy way out on their own terms.

A contract is a contract .. you signed up for it, you pay up for it.

Businesses only give in due to the legal costs they would be forced to pay in order to retrieve the funds owed (in general I guess it would probably cost them more to recover the debt than the actual debt itself).

The same goes for people with parking fines, speeding tickets etc. no-one takes responsibility for their actions. Like "Oooh I've been caught speeding, how do I wriggle out of this?" - you've been caught, just pay up.

If someone lost their job, then they shouldn't have entered into a contract without having the funds available to pay the debt (the same applies to other contracts such as mortgages, loans etc.) - people are too quick to take up offers, but want to back out when it suits them.

If you signed a contract and don't want to pay up then tough - have some balls and take your responsibilities seriously. It was your choice to move, so it's your fault for moving away from the gym IMO so just pay up and shut up.

mr_busdriver · 03-04-2008, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twiglet

The problem with Virgin Gyms is well documented and has been on Watchdog. Admittedly, those who try to cancel within the 12 months of their contract haven't got a leg to stand on, but if they do not cancel the membership in person at one of the gyms (where they are given the hard sell to stick with it) it automatically rolls over and they are tied into yet another 12 month contract.

So why does Virgin have to be dragged onto watchdog? what are they doing wrong?

Are people unaware they are signing up to a contract?

HOw many of you who are moaning would support you local circuuit training class/fitness class in your local church halls? not many.........thats what happens, the local clubs shut down, the big gyms spring up in their place, and the whack the prices up.

The fact is, most people decide to get fit over xmas, sign up to the gym in January and by mid february 80% of these people would stop training. Its a fact, if gyms did pay as you train most would be out of business by February.

So stop moaning about how Greens, Virgin etc.... are such bad businesses, you signed up to a contract (which you know full well will roll over after 12 months), stop blaming other people, stop claiming you been mis sold and accept YOU made the mistake.

Try supporting the local class in your church hall.

shuwarrior51 · 03-04-2008, 13:14

erm - after the initial 12 month contract - then it should trnasfer to a monthly contract unless they inform - it would be highly illegal of them to place you on another 12 month contract without your signature!

Leg-end · 03-04-2008, 13:17

www.bootshealthinsurance.com/

http://insurance.pruhealth.co.uk/uk/...ce_price.jhtml

Can't you just freeze it then cancel in writing, most accept written concelation and it takes 3 months!

onewheeldave · 03-04-2008, 15:09

The reason it ends up on Watchdog is because many people consider the hard-sell and 12 month 'roll-over' contracts to be unethical.

They find the notion of gym businesses which are financed, in large part, by people who aren't actually training there anymore, but are tied to paying by direct debit and threats of bailiffs, to be unethical.

Let's face it, few people would actually have signed the contract if they realised they would have, to cancell it, to appear in person at the gym in a years time from now.

If gyms don't like that, then I'd suggest they make their small-print a bit bigger and their contracts less confusing and, instead of hiring so many sales-people who specialise in deception, hire genuinely customer-focused staff whose priority is in ensuring that clients understand exactly what they're signing up to.

That's just my view- if you don't like it, then fair enough, but, evryone has a right to judge for themselves what is good business and what is a scam and, act accordingly (eg by contacting Watchdog).

onewheeldave · 03-04-2008, 15:17

sazaboo- good luck with sorting this out- it's good to see there are still people who don't just lie down and take this kind of crap from these scamsters.

I would suggest caution in cancelling your direct debit- there is a risk of bad credit and trouble with bailiffs.

I do recommend though, getting in touch with the Star and any other forms of publicity, if only to perform the useful public service of opening everyones eyes to the tactics of these gyms.

They survive only by taking advantage of the naive- spreading the word is a good way to help others being conned.

If, as someone has mentioned, Watchdog are already looking into this, why not contact them and add your voice- they may even be able to direct you to someone who can tell you if there's any way out of the contract.

Good luck.

toonarmani · 03-04-2008, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewheeldave

sazaboo- good luck with sorting this out- it's good to see there are still people who don't just lie down and take this kind of crap from these scamsters.
I would suggest caution in cancelling your direct debit- there is a risk of bad credit and trouble with bailiffs.

I do recommend though, getting in touch with the Star and any other forms of publicity, if only to perform the useful public service of opening everyones eyes to the tactics of these gyms.

They survive only by taking advantage of the naive- spreading the word is a good way to help others being conned.

If, as someone has mentioned, Watchdog are already looking into this, why not contact them and add your voice- they may even be able to direct you to someone who can tell you if there's any way out of the contract.

Good luck.

Just how are they 'scamsters' ?!

They offered a reduced price deal for gym membership for a 12 month period. The OP agreed to this offer and signed up. The OP now wants to back out, how is that Virgin's fault? it is certainly no 'scam', it was a contract, why should they be the ones to tear it up and allow the OP to go on their merry way? afterall, they've lost money if they do (they could have charged the OP the standard rate).

If the OP didn't want a 12 month contract, why sign up for it? ....... oh I know, because it was cheaper!!

As I've said before, people are quick to go for things when it suits them, but go off on one when it no longer suits them...!

Idiot.

onewheeldave · 03-04-2008, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by toonarmani

Just how are they 'scamsters' ?!

They offered a reduced price deal for gym membership for a 12 month period........quick to go for things when it suits them, but go off on one when it no longer suits them...!

Idiot.

I like your signature- rare to see such self-deprecating honesty on an internet forum

The reason I called them 'scamsters' are-

1. their clients are signing contracts which they don't seem to understand the consequences of- I think that will be due, in part, to the contracts being typically confusing, full of small print and virtually undecipherable by anyone but a lawyer with a couple of hours reading time on their hands

(I suspect as well, that the salesperson wouldn't have gone out of their way to clarify the consequences of the contract in a way the client could understand)

2. I don't think a gym offering good value and honest customer service needs to be employing professional 'salespeople' to explain their services to potential clients

3. I don't think a gym offering good value and honest customer service should be receiving a substantial portion of it's upkeep from clients who no longer train there, yet are obliged to keep paying due to a direct debit, threats of bailiffs and the fact they signed a contract they didn't understand

4. I like the term 'scamsters'- it sounds like hamsters and it could catch on

Scamster n a business person who, while not exactly breaking any laws, employs deception to elicit funds from the naive

(don't bother looking in the dictionary- I made it up)