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

paddedjohn

The Total Fitness near me quoted me £28/month for membership, started off at £40 but i haggled and got it down.

the_insider

How do you think the staff that have been laid off feel? I was made redundant (not a gym mind) when the company I worked for went into administration in Jan 09 and we're still waiting for our payments. Join a new gym, ask for a refund, job done.

aheaton46

the_insider wrote: »

How do you think the staff that have been laid off feel? I was made redundant (not a gym mind) when the company I worked for went into administration in Jan 09 and we're still waiting for our payments. Join a new gym, ask for a refund, job done.

The problem there is that there is always someone worse off. If you posted asking for advice on redundancy someone else could say "well what about those people in Japan..." etc and no-one gets anywhere.

The OP asked for advice on getting their money back, given the situation they are in. When people may have lost their jobs it's extremely regrettable, but to be honest it isn't the OPs problem.

Nine_Lives

Agreed. I feel sorry for the staff who got potted & knew nothing about it - they have mortgages to pay for, holidays they will have had planned etc etc etc. But what am i supposed to do? Try and help them? Their fight isn't my fight & vice-versa. Everyone needs to look after themselves as best they can

Why would i not pay monthly? Because paying monthly costs more. Ok not massively (if taking a membership out today, it would've been an extra £45) but at the time of signing up, i had no reason to think that i wouldn't get 12 months out of it.

How do you mean, "send them a bill"? Just a letter asking for a refund?

I'm quite sure i paid via Halifax debit card, but as Halifax have screwed up the online statements, i have no statement proving this.

Nine_Lives

Just to say i have found my statement online now - and i did pay via debit card (Halifax). £348. 31st Aug 2010.

Also, the local branch has been stripped from the main Total Fitness website. If you call the branch, you get re-directed to head office (who worryingly had my address wrong). It's most definitely shut down for good.

the_insider

aheaton46 wrote: »

The problem there is that there is always someone worse off. If you posted asking for advice on redundancy someone else could say "well what about those people in Japan..." etc and no-one gets anywhere.

Agreed but there seems to have been a slightly hysterical reaction to a relatively simple problem. Just trying to give the OP some perspective, especially as he has already been given advice on what he needs to do to get his money back!

HelsBelz_2

I've just received a text from Total Fitness reading

"Total Fitness Lancaster is now closed. A letter has been sent to your home address advising of ongoing gym membership at any other Total Fitness & VVV."

So it looks like i'm in the same boat as a lot of people. The nearest Total Fitness is Preston, so I wont be travelling all that way, i'll be calling them up this evening to cancel membership and see if I can get a refund on this month (I pay monthly).

It's a real shame, great gym, I really enjoy the classes there.

Nine_Lives

Yeah i received the same text tonight. I got a call from Total Fitness to offer Preston to me. I told them that this was unrealistic as it's a 40 mile round trip for me. They offered me DW & VVV. I'd only heard of VVV last night. It's further to travel for a start but according to autoroute, it's only marginally further, yet takes longer.

With TF, i jumped on at J33, straight down, off at J34 & i'm there. 8-10minutes, job done.
With VVV, i'd have to go through town, over greyhound bridge, up towards Carnforth & down.

I'll give it a trial run and see how long it takes. With fuel prices skyrocketing, it depends how much extra it'll cost as i'll no longer be able to sit at 60 (yes that's what i actually do) on the motorway in 5th gear - i'll be up & down the gears & therefore using more fuel.

Don't know what the size of VVV is like or how good it is. I suspect it's going to get absolutely rammed now though.

HelsBelz, please post back with info on your refund attempt.

Where will you be trying for a gym now then?

thelakedistrict

I've also been a casualty of Total Fitness in Lancaster and its closure. Thankfully my membership has nearly expired, with only a few weeks remaining.

I'm assuming that because they've offered members the option of using the facilities of VVV Health Club in Hest Bank, Total Fitness will probably avoid the legal requirement to re-pay membership fees.

After receiving a letter and email telling me about the option to use VVV, I visited and used the club - what a disappointment. As I approached the club from the coastal road and pulled into the car park I thought the place looked incredibly shoddy. The parking area was bordered with litter that looked like it had been there years. I thought the outside of the building looked incredibly shabby and run-down and not at all inviting. I'm not saying that Total Fitness Lancaster, where I had been a member since early 2010, was without fault, but hell what a difference - there's absolutely no comparison.

Stepping inside , the stark difference between the two clubs hits home yet again. Total Fitness being very large and spacious - that's not the case here. I largely use the free weights and I found the room at the far end of the building where the free weights are located, seriously lacking in equipment.

Lots of the windows were open to let in some of the lovely fresh sea air! Unfortunately that was NOT the case because outside, and just next to the building, is what looked, sounded and smelt like a generator (a very large generator) and that's all I could smell and taste during my one hour visit.

It won't come as a surprise after reading this to hear that I will NOT be taking up the option of VVV. This is of course my own opinion and review of VVV Hest Bank. You will have to visit and make your own opinion. Good luck!

Nine_Lives

Thanks very much for your view. I'll need to get down and have a see as you say. I never used the free weight section at TF, although I know it was a popular area & can sympathise if VVV don't cut the mustard.

I only really used the cardio machines & the machines for legs - leg press, calf raise, hamstring curl, leg extension. This is because I have a weak knee & all-round weak left leg.

I loved it (TF). It was spacious & I never had issue getting on a machine. This was stark contrast to St Martins where I came from - 2 rowers, 2 treadmills, 2 steppers & 2 bikes while you're limited to 10mins & terrible parking.

As you've been to VVV - how would you say it'd accommodate MY needs? I'm not an overly fussy guy. So long as it has the machines I want, they work & I can use them for as long as I want (no 10min cap) then I'll be happy. A littered car park will only bother me if I get a puncture. Dirty machines won't bother me a great deal, although I can appreciate other peoples 'standards' if that's the correct word to use.

Alternatively, have you not considered DW near morrisons, which will apparently honour memberships for 6weeka?