The Gym Group - increase in direct Debit

jaselpool

Hi all - a little advice required please.

I joined The Gym Group over 12 months ago when they were running a promo in Liverpool. The Gym wasn't even built properly and the website was very basic. I joined on a £9.99 a month full membership tariff and nowhere did I see that this would change when doing so.

Last month I noticed they had taken £14.99 out of my account. Several strongly worded email later they sent me a cheque for £5.00 and assured me that further payments would be £9.99 again.

This month I've noticed they've gone and done the same thing again! After contacting their customer services The Harlands Customer services Group I've basically been told 'tough' that's what you're now paying and if you don't like it you can leave.

They never told me the payment would be increasing so where does this leave me other than walking away?

Jason

ian_h

The Direct Debit Guarantee means they have to give you notice before any rate changes apply. In the case of the gyn group its a not particularly useful or generous 3 days. If they didnt do this you can insist your bank give you a full refund of the payment that contravenes this rule.

My Email when I joined stated:

Please note that your membership payments for The Gym Ltd. will appear on your bank statements as The Gym Ltd. with the reference XXXXXXXX

Your Direct Debit payments are protected with a moneyback guarantee and you will receive 3 working days advance notice of any changes.

You have the right to cancel your Direct Debit Instruction at any time simply by writing to your Bank or Building Society, with a copy to us.

McKneff

You said yourslef there was a promo so presumably you would expect it to revert to normal price after the promo period.
Again, presumably this was 12 months. I would check the terms and conditions again, ask them to point it out if you still cant find it and then follow Ian-h's advice if you cant get any satisfaction.

jaselpool

Thanks guys - No there was no statement that the price would change when I signed up. Looking at their new sites it does now but didn't back then. I wasn't told about the change at all and have it in writing from them that it was a mistake and would revert back to 9.99 this month. They've gone back on that and charged me 14.99 again.

Just rang their customer services and was stonewalled. Told me that's the way it is and it was a descision made by The Gym to increase the prices. Total farce trying to talk with them and they just kept to the same lines. Gave me an address to write to but that's the same joke of customer services that I've been emailing.

Feeling very annoyed indeed!

Jason

PNPSUKNET

companys do have the right to increase, but even £14.99 thats cheap

johnmoney05

Call the police, write to your MP, protest in the street......well, that will help.

Mark_In_Hampshire

It's not a direct debit issue per se. Within a contract for services like this unless there's some specific clause in your contract which permits it, the payee has to inform you of a change in pricing. If you are still in a contract, and you do not agree to the pricing change, you can cancel that contract without penalty.

Additionally Direct debit means "please take unspecified amounts from me on unspecified dates". However if either the amount or date change you're supposed to be notified prior to the debit, though the amount of notice required varies according to how long the payee elects to give, there is supposed to be some notice.

If you do not want to remain with the gym, do the following:

1. Have the bank reverse the 14.99 direct debit and put the money back in your account
2. Have the bank cancel the direct debit mandate
3. Write to the gym enclosing payment of 9.99 and closing your account

Then

4. Check your bank account using online banking every few days for at least 2 months to make sure they don't simply set up the direct debit again and debit more money.

marianooc

wow and more wow I can’t believe it, actually when I went to join the gymthey said no contract no nothing all I they need was my bank details in orderto set up a direct debit and email address where the pin would be sent to andbeing ask that I did, the person who help me work for the gym group and I relaywith the information given as she said no contract to sing, well apparentlythis is going down like this

If you don’t pay your direct debit THEY WILL CHARGE YOU £20 ADMINISTRATIONFEE, I said whaaaaaaaaat.

If they CLOSE THE GYM DUE TO MAINTENANCE WORK OR REFURNISH well as long asthey want as long as they take YOU ARE STILL PAYING LIKE IF IT WAS OPEN AND YOUARE GOING LIKE USUAL, I said whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

If you call customer service YOU WILL GET A TOUFF ON YOU IF YOU DONT LIKECANCELLED IT, for every question that is what you will get A F*** OFFF, I saidwhaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

well very DISSAPOINTED with THE GYM GROUP and even if I would like to screwthen back I can’t, I cancelled my direct debit and they are still charging likeusual I have been like a bailiff to then with letter with telephone calls andbelieve me they just tell you to F*** OFFF, I said whaaaaaaaaaaat

Thank you for listening

Regards

A very disappointed user

rh41

marianooc wrote: »

wow and more wow I can’t believe it, actually when I went to join the gymthey said no contract no nothing all I they need was my bank details in orderto set up a direct debit and email address where the pin would be sent to andbeing ask that I did, the person who help me work for the gym group and I relaywith the information given as she said no contract to sing, well apparentlythis is going down like this

If you don’t pay your direct debit THEY WILL CHARGE YOU £20 ADMINISTRATIONFEE, I said whaaaaaaaaat.

If they CLOSE THE GYM DUE TO MAINTENANCE WORK OR REFURNISH well as long asthey want as long as they take YOU ARE STILL PAYING LIKE IF IT WAS OPEN AND YOUARE GOING LIKE USUAL, I said whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

If you call customer service YOU WILL GET A TOUFF ON YOU IF YOU DONT LIKECANCELLED IT, for every question that is what you will get A F*** OFFF, I saidwhaaaaaaaaaaaaaat

well very DISSAPOINTED with THE GYM GROUP and even if I would like to screwthen back I can’t, I cancelled my direct debit and they are still charging likeusual I have been like a bailiff to then with letter with telephone calls andbelieve me they just tell you to F*** OFFF, I said whaaaaaaaaaaat

Thank you for listening

Regards

A very disappointed user

That was a pleasure to read. My morning has been enhanced by this drivel.....
They have terms and conditions deal with it.

custardy

jaselpool wrote: »

Hi all - a little advice required please.

I joined The Gym Group over 12 months ago when they were running a promo in Liverpool. The Gym wasn't even built properly and the website was very basic. I joined on a £9.99 a month full membership tariff and nowhere did I see that this would change when doing so.

Last month I noticed they had taken £14.99 out of my account. Several strongly worded email later they sent me a cheque for £5.00 and assured me that further payments would be £9.99 again.

This month I've noticed they've gone and done the same thing again! After contacting their customer services The Harlands Customer services Group I've basically been told 'tough' that's what you're now paying and if you don't like it you can leave.

They never told me the payment would be increasing so where does this leave me other than walking away?

Jason

looks to me as the same group as Pure Gyms, who I use
with opening offers its a 12 month reduced rate,then the full rate

edit: !!!!!!,old thread

scott1358

Similar thing happened to me last year.... I joined for 9.99 and nowhere did it say this was for 12 months only.

I changed my bank details for the DD and the next payment was 14.99. When I called to speak to them they said it was because the 12 months was up - I argued that there was no time limit on the 9.99 per month offer and cancelled my membership with them. I didn't use it that often so wasn't such a big loss, but did feel as if they were trying it on.