Lancaster Total Fitness Shut Down - how do we get membership refunded?

Nine_Lives

There was talk of TF going under last year i believe. They were bought out IIRC.

Machines have been breaking at our local gym lately & simply not being fixed or replaced.
Turn up to the gym at 6pm tonight to find lights off & it closed. There were a few folk gathered outside the front door. Front door had a sign on saying gym closed due to urgent staff meeting. One of the chaps at the door said it closed at 5pm & members will be sent a letter.

One of my gf's workmates has a family member who cleans the pool & apparently she's not been paid for some time now.

Real funny goings on. Reading between the lines you'd assume (or i would) they're going under, or at least my local branch is set to be closed.

My membership expires at the end of August. If they do shut down, what do i do regarding my membership which i'd obviously be unable to use?

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wealdroam

K_P83 wrote: »

My membership expires at the end of August. If they do shut down, what do i do regarding my membership which i'd obviously be unable to use?

Consider yourself lucky that you didn't pay for the whole year upfront.

squeaky

If they go into administration the MSE article linked below will tell you where you stand.


Administration Help: Reclaim your cash from companies

Nine_Lives

It seems that only my local branch is being pulled. Bloody fantastic : http://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk:80/news/entertainment/shock_as_total_fitness_shuts_down_1_3181459

And no, i consider myself unlucky to have 5 months that i've paid for which i can't use.
Not only that but there's no other gym around here that's easy to get to for me.

As it's not going into administration, i would guess the above link doesn't apply to me? It seems that this branch only is getting pulled.

Where on earth do i stand now?

squeaky

So there's a Total Fitness company that you can get in touch with? Or are each of these places individual franchise type things?

Nine_Lives

Well there's the Total Fitness company which will own all the branches as far as i know. The article says they're pulling out of my local branch due to a dispute, which to me makes it sound like every other branch up & down the country will remain while mine ceases to exist.
I've sent an email to head office regarding compensation information, but i'm not holding my breath on them being very forthcoming with information.

I don't even know where to begin with regards compensation.

wealdroam

Work out exactly what you are owed and send them a bill.

Interesting to note that their T&Cs say...

If through circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Company the Centre is unable to provide the full range of services and facilities as advertised the member shall remain liable for all membership fees.

...which I imagine could easily be considered an unfair term.

Nine_Lives

So it's basically saying i'm screwed then, as are people in a worse situation than i - who have paid £500 for a full membership only last week.

I can't remember how i paid. I thought it was credit card, but it's not on my statements. I've tried checking Halifax statements, but they re-vamped the site & as such they seem to have deleted all my old statements.

I suppose this wont make any difference either? Just seems all so unreasonable to me - especially for those who've ONLY JUST paid out for a year membership.

Nine_Lives

Through facebook & people who work for this branch, i've found that this urgent meeting was basically to call all the employees in to tell them they're all out of a job with immediate effect. See you later.

The sign on the door (someone posted a photo up of it on facebook) says you can use your membership in the nearest total fitness ................ 20 miles away. It's unrealistic to expect members to make a 40 mile round trip, then they only needed to make a 13 mile round trip.

I just can't get my head round the possibility of people who have ONLY JUST paid, they may not get their money back. That's just wrong to me.

wealdroam

K_P83 wrote: »

Through facebook & people who work for this branch, i've found that this urgent meeting was basically to call all the employees in to tell them they're all out of a job with immediate effect. See you later.

The sign on the door (someone posted a photo up of it on facebook) says you can use your membership in the nearest total fitness ................ 20 miles away. It's unrealistic to expect members to make a 40 mile round trip, then they only needed to make a 13 mile round trip.

I just can't get my head round the possibility of people who have ONLY JUST paid, they may not get their money back. That's just wrong to me.

Of course you will get your money back.
But you will have to fight for it.

As I said earlier, work out what the company owe you. Should be easy. Just send them a bill to refund the amount due because they are no longer providing the service.

You must work out how you paid them.
If you paid by credit card, that may help later.

Do this in writing.
Give them (say) 14 days to receive a refund.

halibut2209

Why would you pay yearly for a gym when you can pay monthly? Is it like car insurance where it costs significantly more to pay monthly?