The Gym Group No refunds Policy!

Thedustbuster

I sent an email to the Gym Group yesterday regarding a possible mistake with a debit which had been taken even though I cancelled the membership.
This is the reply I got - Surely this is affects my consumer rights?

"We thank you for your e-mail. We can confirm that you cancelled your direct debit on the 28th June 2011, which cancelled your membership with immediate effect.

However, your first payment was due to be taken on the 30th June 2011, so the cancellation of the direct debit was not in enough time for the bank to process this instruction. The bank requires at least 4 working days to amend payments.

All payments are non refundable under any circumstances, as clearly stated in the terms and conditions.

We hope this has clarified the situation.

Kind regards,

The Gym Group"

Fortunately I sorted it out with the bank and the money had not gone out after all, but if it had then how unhelpful to state that a refund will not be given in ANY circumstances!

PZH

Thedustbuster wrote: »

Fortunately I sorted it out with the bank and the money had not gone out after all, but if it had then how unhelpful to state that a refund will not be given in ANY circumstances!

Yes - very unhelpful indeed. And also incorrect (as your bank proved)

You would have been covered under the DD Guarantee Scheme...

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by (insert your organisation name) or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society.

Thedustbuster

I am tempted to write to this outfit and let them have a piece of my mind. Companies should not be allowed to disregard any consumer rights whatsoever to a refund because of a clause in their T&C's!
Gym's are a rip off - I will stick to my bike from now on!

Thedustbuster

Please can someone tell me if Gyms or any other companies for that matter are allowed to state that "All payments are non refundable under any circumstances, as clearly stated in the terms and conditions."?

Surely this goes against my rights as a consumer?

derrick

Thedustbuster wrote: »

Please can someone tell me if Gyms or any other companies for that matter are allowed to state that "All payments are non refundable under any circumstances, as clearly stated in the terms and conditions."?

Surely this goes against my rights as a consumer?

They can state what they want,(within reason), but they cannot take away your statutory rights, these will always outweigh T&Cs, although they usually add the rider along the lines of;- "your statutory rights are not affected".

.

ditzyknit

I do hope that everyone here knows that the company can always set up a new DD under the original contract that you signed with them, and the bank has no control over this?

i.e. if you have signed up for a 12-month gym contract and decided against it, and just cancelled the DD, the gym can set up a new DD for the same amount for the same account because YOU signed a contract.

It would have been the company that you need to cancel the payments with, not the bank.

DVardysShadow

ditzyknit wrote: »

I do hope that everyone here knows that the company can always set up a new DD under the original contract that you signed with them, and the bank has no control over this?

i.e. if you have signed up for a 12-month gym contract and decided against it, and just cancelled the DD, the gym can set up a new DD for the same amount for the same account because YOU signed a contract.

It would have been the company that you need to cancel the payments with, not the bank.

This would be fairly pointless, because you can always claim it back under the Direct Debit Guarantee.