Harrassment at Gym

Sambucus_Nigra

DVardysShadow wrote: »

It is a fair point.

What has bothered me about this thread is the number of people who have said take it to the police on what is quite a balanced account of unreasonable behaviour There is no evidence here of any significant degree of violation and I think that the correct response is to firmly tell the trainer to stop and escalate to management. That should put sufficient distance between OP and trainer.

I think the point is - that IF there was reasonable evidence, then surely the OP would have done that already and actually, the OP is just saying this to get out of the contract.....;)

Equaliser123

magentalady wrote: »

Harrassment is a crime and it can be truly devastating, so you can't just dismiss it without further information about the context.

It is, but as you say there would have to be a campaign of harassment tantamount to stalking.

I don't think Plod will bother doing anything assuming that it has now stopped.

nexus2011

Contact the police and tell them of all this.See a no win no fee solicitor and tell them you have been suffering mental stress and anxiety due to the harrassment and the company insisting you honour the contract.They will get nailed for breaking the data protection act.The police will also do a sex offender check.The Police will most likely just warn him but it will be logged on record with the police which is the most important thing.

VfM4meplse

Thanks for the post Mrs C26, I have a great deal of sympathy with you, but it has highlighted the broader isssue of men trying to take advantage of women in the gym. I have lost count of the number of times gym bunny meatheads with SfB have tried it on with me.

Quite possibly the worst attempt at chatting me up came from a chancer on an adjacent treadmill. He asked me where I am from, not satisfied with the answer he asked me where my parents are from so I answered "Africa" - which is true, although I am clearly not of African descent either. To which the reply was "I love Naomi Campbell".

At which point I got off the treadmill before the conversaton could plummet further.

Mrs_C26

Thanks for all the replies, I just wanted to respond to a few issues that have been raised.

First of all, I have proof that he obtained my mobile number from the computer system as the first text he sent me said: “Hey it’s XXX from Fitness First, I got your number off the system as I have to reschedule your training session. Please call me on xxxxxx.” I called reception and rearranged the appointment through the (very young) receptionist who told me it was ‘company policy’ for trainers to access client’s mobile numbers in the event of having to reschedule sessions. I thought it was odd but had no other grounds to be unduly concerned at this stage.

After my first PT session the trainer sent a few texts along the lines of ‘hey how are you’ etc and I didn’t respond. In my second session I asked him NOT to text me and reiterated that I had a boyfriend to let him know that his messages were not welcome at all.

It was during my second session that he behaved really inappropriately. For example, we were in a private room where he was showing me how to use the weights and he took his top off and started leaning over me. He then kept touching my waist and said the my ‘breasts reminded him of his ex-girlfriend.’ I felt very uncomfortable and asked if we could go back into the main gym so we weren’t on our own. At the end of the session I had to go into his office so he could sign my attendance card and he launched into a racist tirade where he said he hated the Eastern European members as they “stink and can’t speak a word of English.” I then told him that I was half Slovakian and that his comments offended me. He apologised and I left very quickly.

In hindsight I should have complained to a manger straight away but I was very upset and just wanted to get out of there. When I got home I told my boyfriend everything and it was then that I received a text from the trainer saying: “Hello trouble hope you’re not going to be too sore tomorrow. Let me know if you want a massage ;-)” My boyfriend was livid and called the Gym Manager to complain – nothing was done. I then called up myself the next day to chase it up – again, no one seemed bothered.

I then received another text which asked if I wanted to meet up and not to tell my boyfriend. He also said: "you never know what might happen between us ;-)" so I replied to say: “Do NOT contact me again or I will take this further.” I didn’t hear from him again. My boyfriend made one further complaint and then I called Head Office to say I wanted to cancel my membership.

Sambucus Nigra – I appreciate your comment but in view of the above, I wouldn’t expect anyone to put up with this sort of behaviour and I DO have evidence (i.e. all the texts messages) hence why I am going to fight this to the very end. This is not just a ploy to get out of a contract – this guy is a pest and a bigot. He has ruined my experience of going to the gym and I refuse to waste anymore money on a service I will never use again.

I’ve spoken to the gym manager and have given him a letter of complaint stating my intent to take the matter further if they do not receive a satisfactory response.

Many thanks again for all replies!

Sambucus_Nigra

Mrs_C26 wrote: »

Sambucus Nigra – I appreciate your comment but in view of the above, I wouldn’t expect anyone to put up with this sort of behaviour and I DO have evidence (i.e. all the texts messages) hence why I am going to fight this to the very end. This is not just a ploy to get out of a contract – this guy is a pest and a bigot. He has ruined my experience of going to the gym and I refuse to waste anymore money on a service I will never use again.

I’ve spoken to the gym manager and have given him a letter of complaint stating my intent to take the matter further if they do not receive a satisfactory response.

Doesn't sound too forceful of you - I suspect you will be back later saying that they have not responded.

Why not get yourself up there and refuse to leave until it is sorted?

blue_monkey_2

I think you are being way too harsh. I'd not be wanting to go up there either.

OP, send a letter to the Gym Manager as someone else said asking what they are going to do about his behaviour. At the bottom mark it CC and add the names of the MD and CEO of FF. From their website, they'll probably be based at Head Office

CEO: Colin Waggett
CFO: Duncan Tatton Brown
UK MD: John Gamble

Send them copies of the letter and tell them you want the matter addressing within 14 days and you want your contract cancelled. Send all letters Recorded Delivery. On the letter list the dates and times of all the texts and comments and tell them you have the texts on your phone as evidence of his inappropriate behaviour. Maybe you can photocopy the screen of your phone and include these too.

Then you need to send a copy of this to the people at Head Office who deal with the contracts and attach a copy of the letter sent to the Gym Manager and tell them that due to your employees gross misconduct you are cancelling the contract and you want a full refund for all monies paid within 21 days. If they refuse to repay your money you will take legal action to recover the money. This in itself is very easy to do and you can do it yourself so worry about this later.

I'd certainly not be going back there either. I'd feel too intimidated.

Regardless, tt would not be for the gym manager to sort and cancel the contract anyway, it is Head Office that deal with the finances and contracts, all FF do is sell their products and take the details. If she wants to cancel she will have to go to Head Office to do that. Your contract should tell you what their address is OP.

Just what is it you all expect the gym manager to do? Apologise and then what? Expect her to carry on going again? I'd not be wanting to go back there every again and not everyone is forceful like others. His behaviour is totally unacceptable and verges on sexual deviency.

magentalady

Mrs C26, having seen the texts I'm now in no doubt about this man's behaviour. You need to go straight over the gym manager's head and do as blue_monkey has suggested. Seriously, be brave and stand up for yourself, and don't just sit back waiting for them to do something about it.

I'm not surprised that you don't want to go back there. Some people here clearly don't realise how intimidating a situation like this can be. If I had been alone with a personal trainer who took his shirt off and made comments about my breasts I would be walking out of there in tears!

Good luck.

Valli

I think you need to take Blue Monkeys advice too. No phone calls, but letters you keep a copy of. send everyone the same letter and mark it, after your sig, CC and the list of all the people you're sending it to.

Like this

Yours sincerely




Harrassed Gym Member aka Op of this thread

CC Colin Wagget,
Duncan Tatton Brown,
Manager of Fitness First Gym of which you are a member

then each will know.

Include in your letter a paragraph along these lines...

'Since I have been unable to use the gym since (date) I would like a refund of monies paid since that date being £xx and to cancel my membership and contract with immediate effect.'

Because the only thing you can expect them to do for you is that. Ideally they could refund all money paid. How they deal with their 'randy' employee is, unfortunately, up to them, really, unless you press charges.

hollydays

It would also be helpful,if you knew the names of the people who you had reported this to so far.From a procedural point of view there have been many errors here,which do not reflect well on them at all.
I am really impressed by how correctly you handled each approach to you by him,almost text-book,but at the first mention of your breasts, a formal complaint should have been lodged , it must have been shocking to have to experience.

This really IS very simple to handle by phone.Some complaints are about telling,not "asking"
Phone Head Office again.Ask to speak to a Manager,a female if you prefer. .Tell them,you have been waiting for them to ask you for a written account of what happened,or at least for someone senior to contact you,and politely insist they give you an answer to "why hasn't this happened?"
Tell them to get back to you by phone within 2 days by say 2pm friday,as a matter of urgency to update you.You also ask for the name of the Managers senior.If you find writing easier ,do so.
After the investigation,your contract will be cancelled.You cannot put the cart before the horse,but they should have taken this seriously.
It sounds like a horrible experience.