Cheap gyms deals discussion

lancscat

I just signed up to my local gym (hotel gym as no others close by where I live) and am having a similar issue. I signed up because I wanted to train after work each day (I'm a professional athlete with a strict regime), but whenever I go the place is full, and changing rooms are disgusting - always dirty, only one member of staff, so no gym machines available and pool full to capacity. It isn't a big gym in the first place. I had hoped to work with a personal trainer but the guy who did the induction for the gym (also the personal trainer) knew nothing, didn't even show me how the machines worked, and had no knowledge of medical or fitness needs, not even basic things. I tried to cancel membership within 31 days of signing up, but Harlands who deal with the direct debit are not letting me and say I have to continue paying for the next twelve months. I don't want to pay out for a gym I can't actually use.

Feel like the direct debit has taken away my rights to get a reply from the gym, or any kind of response or resolution to my initial concerns. Fed up of arriving to train, only to then have to go home without training because the place was full. They haven't replied to any correspondence during that 31 day period, or since. It was only when I cancelled the direct debit through my bank that I finally got a letter from Harlands, who have now emailed the gym and replied this morning to say the gym think it's not overly busy and therefore won't let me cancel membership.

anyone had any similar issues, how did you resolve them? Have written one last time and prepared to go to court with evidence if it comes to it, as I strongly feel that there are issues of health and safety. And it isn't right for them to keep signing up new members if they then turn them away because it is too busy.

anewman

I am looking at Xercise4Less and have a question about off-peak hours. It says off-peak hours are 10am to 4pm. Does this mean so long as I can get past the barrier just before 4pm I am ok? Or would I get turfed out when it turns 4pm?

lesshaste

I really would like to have off peak swimming at our local Banatyne health club. Unfortunately it starts at 500 quid for the year. Are there any clever tricks to drive the price down?

I don’t need any of the other facilities and am happy to wait if there is a time of year when special offers normally appears

MariaSanchez

I workout home.

How can I post my workout program?

Smouthy

I just wanted to say thankyou so much money savings expert I very nearly tied myself up in knots with gym memberships before I realised no contract monthly passes were a thing. I used your payasugym free day pass (thanks for that!) To try my local gym out. I just need to train for one month for a work related fitness test so don't need all these glorious contracts. Just a running machine basically! Following on from my day pass I bought a standard month pass that included a gym near my home and work. No probs, came and went as I pleased no pressure from any gym to sign up for more. Spent £22.... Nearly spent £92 some outlandish gym quote had I not found your site!! £70 up !

JazzH

Hi all,

Just posting my experience of using Pay as U Gym.

My gym in Darlington (Lifestyle Fitness) was bought over by The Gym Group and had to go through a refurb, closing it for around 9 days. One of my colleagues who attends the same gym found an offer by Pay as U Gym (which I believe is still going) where you recommend a friend and they get 50% off their first purchase. You also get £10 credit for every recommendation.

I signed up to Bannatynes for a month at half price (£29.70 instead of £59.40) and have been using it every weekday since.

Since then, my in-laws came up for a weekend, so I recommended my wife and her family (four in total), who all enjoyed a day pass there for £4.75 instead of £9.50 each. My £10 recommendation per person wasn't credited until I used the online chat facility. It turns out it had flagged up as a duplicate transaction and needed checking. Didn't take long for them to sort it out and apply the four £10 vouchers to my account.

The offer is great at the moment, considering you'd have to pay about £35/month direct with Bannatynes if you lock in for a year.

The Pay as U Gym cancellation policy is clever, so watch out for that. If you sign up for the month pass, you need to make sure you don't cancel within 14 days. If you do cancel within 14 days you get your month pass refunded but you are charged the day pass rate for every day you used the gym.
Wait at least 14 days, then you get no refund but access to the gym remains until the end of the month period you signed up for.

This is all clearly stated when you try to cancel.

The website is really easy to use and they're very helpful. I'd use again if it was cost-effective.

Jazz

dekkard

For Pay As U Gym, MSE say they have a code for a free pass but I can't see anywhere to enter the code when registering. Does anyone have experience of that?

The_Miser

The current months offer of £333 for a full year includes free entry to the gym, pool, squash, and a number of other facilities. At the end of the year you will pay the same amount for the following year, whatever the "new" annual rate is then (unless the policy is changed). I think there are special prices for fire service, ambulance personnel etc. A £10 one-off gym introduction charge. "Events" such as the concerts are extra.

TomJ

Just in case people didn't realise, most of the council gyms in Birmingham have free sessions for Brum residents. You can find out when by looking for the Be Active link on the individual site's website or by going here and following one of the view timetable links. The latter method allows you to quickly filter sites according to which activities are free there, which is handy.