Gym - accident - advice required

wiesel

Hello
I have a joint membership with my partner for a gym.. we pay a lot of money for it a month and we regret joining up to it for 12 months. The contract runs out at end of January 2010.

We have been disappointed with the gym since the beginning as it is filthy and complained to the manager who told us how he is going to try to improve it bla bla.

Anyway last Sunday my partner went to gym and went into the Sauna and lied down and felt something burning her back she got up and noticed a screw head sticking out of the wood. At the same time a member of staff came in to check the heat and she reported the screw to him who advised he will sort it out.

My partner told me a few days later when I noticed the mark on her back.

I have called the manager and complained to him and told him we want out of our contract as we are paying for gym and they cannot guarantee our safety etc. He said "You want to cancel over a screw?" I told him we have complained to him previously about the gym and its disgrace and he is now trying to fob us off and is not bothered about my partners back been hurt/scarred.

My partner now wants to tell him to cancel the contract or she will report him to the appropriate authorities. I am not sure this is a wise move as it seems like we are threatening/bribing him and I am not sure who we could report it to.

Any ideas on what we should do next? I have left a lot of details out about the state of the gym as I could write a novel but wanted to keep it brief as possible.

Thanks,
wiesel

pendulum

Your post sounds like you're looking for any excuse to get out of the contract. Your partner didn't even mention the screw incident for two days because she didn't think it was important, but you jumped on it once you realised you might be able to use it to escape the contract.

A contract is a contract. Think next time before you sign.

RadoJo

To be honest, I would agree with Pendulum - I think the issues of wanting to get out of your contract, and the raised screw are separate, and by trying to resolve one with the other, you run the risk of ending up with neither sorted out. If you are unhappy with the quality of the gym generally, then this is a fair point and one which you should pursue.

If however you expect the gym to 'guarantee your safety' then you're on a hiding to nothing as I'm pretty sure no gym would guarantee anyone's safety completely. The case of the raised screw, I would have thought a reasonable response to that would have been to fix the screw and maybe offer some small token of apology - you don't mention how much you will be paying them for the completion of the contract, but I suspect it is disproportionate to the incident your wife had. Either way, I would expect any gesture of apology to be made to your wife and concern her contract - I don't think you can use your wife's injury to get out of your contract too.
Who is your wife thinking of reporting him to - you mention 'appropriate authorities'?

I can see how this incident seems like a good opportunity to gain leverage over your contracts, but unfortunately I don't think the incident warrants as much compensation as you seem to be after.

absolutelynomoney

I was just about to post a similar question, so thought I would save space and threads by posting it here if that is ok?

Basically, I signed up for a gym membership in April when I had a full job and lived close by. However my landlord decided to sell the flat I was renting, so a few months later I had to move out. The new place is more expensive and not nearby, plus my job finished so I am now considerably less off and making money with a job 9 hours a week and doing Mystery Shopping to keep my head above water - Gym membership is not a priority on my list of money problems and bills I have to pay. I really did not anticipate that my circumstances would change and did have every intention of honouring the contract when I took it out, as I was in a much better position at the time!

So my question is - does anyone know if there is a way to cancel a gym membership contract, if it is for 12 months and only 5 months has passed?

Pssst

It seems like it is you who is trying to screw the gym !

Batchy

absolutelynomoney wrote: »

I was just about to post a similar question, so thought I would save space and threads by posting it here if that is ok?

Basically, I signed up for a gym membership in April when I had a full job and lived close by. However my landlord decided to sell the flat I was renting, so a few months later I had to move out. The new place is more expensive and not nearby, plus my job finished so I am now considerably less off and making money with a job 9 hours a week and doing Mystery Shopping to keep my head above water - Gym membership is not a priority on my list of money problems and bills I have to pay. I really did not anticipate that my circumstances would change and did have every intention of honouring the contract when I took it out, as I was in a much better position at the time!

So my question is - does anyone know if there is a way to cancel a gym membership contract, if it is for 12 months and only 5 months has passed?

you can cancel if your moving address... they dont tend to check it too vigorously, just say ur renting out your house, etc. moving in with friend 50 miles away... can't afford to make journey...

this is reasonable... although not fail safe... :-)

wiesel

I am not trying to screw anybody. The incident did occur and we are dissatisfied. I appreciate the earlier responses by pendulum and radojo. We did think before signing the contract but as we are not getting what we expected from the gym due to its cleanliness and maintenance issues. After reflecting on the situation and reading pendulum and radojo responses I agree with what they wrote. I cannot resolve both the issues together. Thanks for the advice

McKneff

If you have signed a contract - no.
Unless of course the gym burns down:rolleyes:

absolutelynomoney

Batchy wrote: »

you can cancel if your moving address... they dont tend to check it too vigorously, just say ur renting out your house, etc. moving in with friend 50 miles away... can't afford to make journey...

this is reasonable... although not fail safe... :-)

Thank you for that - I'll have to write to them and try it.

McKneff

absolutelynomoney wrote: »

Thank you for that - I'll have to write to them and try it.

I wouldnt hold your breath, its not their problem.
You are still legally liable so .............

absolutelynomoney

McKneff wrote: »

I wouldnt hold your breath, its not their problem.
You are still legally liable so .............

But it can't hurt to try - what's the worst that can happen? ..... they say no and i'm no worse off than I was before I tried.