| Author |
Comment
|
Julian Moore
Aug 27, 05 - 1:13 PM |
David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
I have currently trying to leave a David Lloyd gym and the experience isn't pleasant.
My financial circumstances have changed and I needed to cancel my membership. I assumed like every other gym I have been a member of that a months notice would be sufficient. It was a real shock to get a letter from David Lloyd to the effect that my membership would not finish until the three month notice was over, billed at the full price.
I know I have signed this agreement with them, but it was news to me, and I don't think this clause was sufficiently made clear when I had my induction.
I have heard some other similar stories on the internet and I just wondered if any of you had had problems when leaving David Lloyd clubs.
Please sign the petition, and share your experience of leaving a David Lloyd club. It's very hard to find ex-members of a club!
I am trying to fight paying this three month fee as it's going to make an already bad financial situation worse. There doesn't seem to be any way out of this and from what I can gather from other stories I've heard on the net, Whitbread/David Lloyd have an extremely efficient debt-collection system in place similar to those used by credit card companies and banks.
I joined the gym in good faith and certainly didn't see my personal financial situation changing, but what can you do if it does?
Deperately
Julian Moore
PS Sorry for this being my first post, I just don't know who to talk to about this and would like to see if anyone here has managed to get out of a similar mess!
_____________________________
http://www.petitiononline.com/shaftedl/
|
Trainer Lynn
Aug 29th, 2005 - 6:50 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
Hi, Julian.
I used to work for a gym in the US. Our members had to sign a contract for a year term (unless they went with a one-month term).
The only way we would allow those on-year members to terminate their membership prematurely was if they moved over 25 miles away and could provide proof of that, or if a doctor had written a note saying this person was unable to exercise indefintely.
Good luck on your journey.
Lynn
strength-training-woman.com
|
Guy Farrish
Aug 29th, 2005 - 10:05 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
Julian, Sorry to hear about your troubles.
When is a contract not a contract? When it is unfair. Have a look at http://www.oft.gov.uk where there should be a section on Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations (UTCCRs. This unfortunately doesn't necessarily mean a three month notice period is unfair in law (although morally it is ********* However, if they didn't draw your attention to it properly or if you could successfully show that they won't have a problem filling the space you leave, you may have an argument. Citizens' Advice may also be able to help. Whatever the outcome, and please don't think I'm intending to be a smart a***, the best lesson for the future is to be stroppy when signing a contract, ask loads of questions, listen to the answers and if the person trying to sell you something says "Oh, don't worry about that!" - Worry about it! Best wishes in your struggle with DL and hoping the rest of the situation sorts itself out quickly.
Guy.
|
Julian Moore
Aug 30th, 2005 - 12:44 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
Hi guys thanks for your advice
I have started a blog
Wish me luck!
http://shaftedbydavidlloyd.blogspot.com
|
Matt
Aug 30th, 2005 - 12:44 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
Hi Julian,
Morally it is wrong, but I don't know where you'd stand legally. I've had two friends suffer similar fates. One, recently, who resigned himself to just paying it over the three months. The other, a young lady, felt really agrieved so didn't leave it at that. I'm not definate it was David Lloyd she was with as it was some time ago but it was a similar 3 month policy for termination of membership. If I remember rightly she'd been bought the membership as a present. The gym in Bristol didn't work out very practical as she cancelled her membership within a few months. The circumstances are different, but a well written letter to the right person meant that she did not pay the 3 months. There's always someone who can over rule the official line and so I'd advise finding out who's the Manager of your David Lloyd and appealing to their good nature, assuming they have one.
MATT
---
http://www.equipmentforfitness.co.uk
http://www.gymratz.co.uk
|
Matt
Aug 30th, 2005 - 5:38 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
I'm sure urb won't mind me copying this thread posted last wk, see below.
MATT
P.S. Post your message on the urb under this thread as I'm sure you'll get a lot more signatures.
Hi, I would appreciate advice on gym/club membership and consumer
rights.
My friend has been an idiot and let herself get talked into joining a
club which isn't such good value for money after all.
Firstly, she was told by the receptionist that she would save £200 if
she signed up here and now by paying in full; however if she went away
and thought about it they would no longer be able to offer her that
deal. That is a high pressure sales tactic imho; in this case it worked
and suckered my silly mate into it.
After she spoke to her friends and realised even with the discounts,
the membership was still very much overpriced (and indeed found out bad
stories about the facilities and how it is ran etc). She then rang
within an hour of full payment asking for her money back, saying she
had made a mistake. Second major point, she hasn't even started the
course yet, which is a fixed term over which you can pick and choose
which lessons you attend.
I went down there with her when we asked for a refund, as I could over
hear what was going on in the meeting room I was getting more and more
****** off... his reason for not refunding is that "she is letting
herself down, she has signed up for this course so it is up to her to
see it through. This is the duty they owe to their students". grrrrrrr.
to me that is complete bull and these are a couple of sharks.
So to summarise, are there cool off periods by which she can change her
mind and receive a refund (possibly less some administration fee)?
Appreciate she should have read up before joining, i agree she been a
complete tool, however the fact remains she surely must have some
consumer rights?!
Cheers and thanks in advance,
Chris
|
JM
Aug 30th, 2005 - 5:49 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
Thanks for that info!
I'm collecting stories like that, I'll put them all on my blog in due course
Cheers
http://www.petitiononline.com/shaftedl/
http://shaftedbydavidlloyd.blogspot.com
|
JM
Sep 14th, 2005 - 10:55 AM |
David Lloyd
On it goes
http://shaftedbydavidlloyd.blogspot.com/?
|
JM
Sep 15th, 2005 - 12:21 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
David Lloyds lawyers are upset about my blog
Consequently I have changed the address
You can now find it here:
http://davidlloydgym.blogspot.com
I had to remove the word 'shafted'
Not sure how long I'll be able to keep the site open, so please drop by/do the poll/sign the petition/add a comment!
JM
|
Matt
Sep 15th, 2005 - 4:48 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
Did David Lloyd give you any other feedback?
MATT
---
Discount Exercise Equipment & Fitness Equipment for all
The Best Gym Equipment store in the WORLD
|
JM
Sep 15th, 2005 - 6:12 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
I'm still waiting
Read the blog, it's all there!
I wrote a grovelling letter to the manager of the local David Lloyd and I'm still awaiting a reply. I am in touch with the MD of David Lloyd Leisure so I've made enough noise I think. Well, enough to get on their nerves!
http://davidlloydgym.blogspot.com
|
JM
Sep 17th, 2005 - 11:01 AM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
SUCCESS!!!!!!!
I am a free man!
http://davidlloydgym.blogspot.com
|
Matt
Sep 21st, 2005 - 3:33 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
Free?
You mean the 3 months was up? or they released you from the contract early?
MATT
---
Discount Exercise Equipment & Fitness Equipment
Gym Equipment Store
|
JM
Sep 21st, 2005 - 3:49 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
Read the blog, it's all there
Yes, I managed to get my membership terminated
|
Matt
Sep 21st, 2005 - 4:07 PM |
Re: David Lloyd cancellation nightmare
Congratulations!
Julian's letter from David Lloyd is on a previous post on his homepage so I'm sure he won't mind me posting a copy here, see below.
MATT
---
Discount Exercise Equipment & Fitness Equipment
Gym Equipment Store
I received a letter today. It was in a handwritten envelope. It was from the General Manager of my local David Lloyd gym.
I quote:
"I have noted your comments and I have decided under the circumstances you have stated, that immediate termination of your membership is the best option. We do not normally waive the three month notice period unless there are exceptional circumstances and we will continue to judge every case on it's own merits. I do not believe that the waiving of your notice entitles all its members to exemption from the three-month notice period.
I hope that maybe one day in the future you will be able to join us again and I look forward to that.
Regards
General Manager"
|
BevvyB
Nov 15th, 2005 - 3:46 PM |
ITS NOT OVER YET
Oh my God
http://davidlloydgym.blogspot.com
Bev
|
bravenet.com
First
Prev
Reply
Forum
