Paid for swim membership, now they want more...

CirqueJuggler

Hi folks, hopefully someone can offer some advice )

I'll keep this as short as possible...

- Purchased an annual swim membership at my local pool on 10th Feb 2010

- Membership expired on 10th Feb 2011

- Membership renewed and paid in full using credit card on 10th Feb 2011 for £219.60. Not prompted to complete any forms.

- Visit pool to use renewed membership on 12th Feb. Told membership invalid as staff member charged me incorrect amount (it was a discontinued membership type that they selected apparently) and failed to complete any forms.

- Requested I pay an additional £38.40. I declined and have been given a postal address for their head office.

- I still had a swim! Apparently this error will flash up each time I visit until the issue is resolved.


So obviously I don't want to pay the additional charge but not sure where I stand...

Any advice appreciated.

Sambucus_Nigra

What IS the price of a current year's membership?

CirqueJuggler

£258 for the annual membership.

Sambucus_Nigra

So pay the £258 then. Simples.

CirqueJuggler

Now that would be too simple!

paddyrg

Is it worth £258? If not, cancel (paying for your last swim!) or pay up! People make mistakes, accept it with a jovial smile and good grace :-)

rygon

I thought as soon as you have paid for something then that consitutes as a binding agreement. They accepted your money so they cant really say that they now want more because of their own mistake.

halibut2209

rygon, that's not necessarily true. For example when buying online, in the vast majority of cases the contract is made upon dispatch of the items, not on payment. However as this payment was made in person, I think that you may be right here. At the very least, the local pool should acknowledge their mistake and allow the OP the membership at the payment they agreed. £38 means a lot more to the customer than to the business. Common sense customer service should prevail.

pendulum

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

What IS the price of a current year's membership?

It was £219.60 on the 10th February 2011 when he went to renew. He accepted this price and paid. They accepted the payment. Job done, unless there are convincing T&C's to the contrary.

Optimist

pendulum wrote: »

It was £219.60 on the 10th February 2011 when he went to renew. He accepted this price and paid. They accepted the payment. Job done, unless there are convincing T&C's to the contrary.

Agreed,

OP I would write to head office and tell them that given they have accepted payment and indeed already allowed you access to use the pool you consider there to be a valid contract between yourselves.

CirqueJuggler

Thanks for the input, a letter is in the post. Although thinking about it, I'm sure the staff should be taking the responsibility to sort it out with head office rather than me doing it!

Anyways, will see what happens