£400 Cheaper Gym Loophole: Works for Cannons/JJB Gyms Article Discussion

teoanne

lucylou32 wrote: »

Hi (this is my first post, so please forgive if it's in the wrong place)
I sell Private Medical Insurance to small companies and I’ve just been notified of a new deal offered by Pru Health and I thought I’d share the information. I don’t know all the ins and outs, but might be able to find out if you want me to. Otherwise, call Pru Health or check their website if you want to know anything else.

They have recently signed a 5 year contract with Virgin Active/Holmes Place & Cannons & JJB and LA Fitness. It appears that from July: If you pay £25 joining fee, and £25 per month for the first quarter, Pru Health monitor your gym usage. If you use the gym a minimum of twice a week (averaged over a quarter) you then get the gym membership for FREE for as long as you’re with Pru Health.

I’m a current Pru Health member myself and can assure you that though their customer service isn’t very good, there are lots of good benefits to be had. I pay £35 a month for my policy, I receive £350 cash/cheque back every March (my renewal date is January) simply by spending a few minutes a month to build up my vitality points (this is how Pru Health rate your fitness) but seriously, you don’t have to be fit to claim the maximum cash back – even if you do nothing (including claim) you get £50 cash back ever year. These cash back’s are doubled if you add a partner.

I recently had a full healthscreen at Nuffield (my choice) should have cost £460, but I paid nothing !! Pru offered it to me for £25, and then re-imbursed me £25 from my Personal Health Fund. Which is a pot of money that can be used towards a list of benefits not covered under PMI. If you want to know more, feel free to ask.

is the gym deal expressly stated anywhere?

sjeffrey

Im about to join my local cannons with my girlfriend, as its only just down the road. But im a little begrudged at paying the £120-140 a month for the both of us.

I'm looking for the best deal around, at the moment they are offering July for free if you take the annual membership, I also think that if i were to join then my gf joins as me recommending her then we can save another month for one of us.

Does any one know of any descent deals that are on now, for cannons, or can anyone confirm what luncyloo says?

If i take out a pru policy now, will i be entitled to free or £25 pm membership?

Thanks Stu

fruitcake_2

teoanne wrote: »

is the gym deal expressly stated anywhere?

I've been googling and found this about the £25 month deal
http://www.pruhealth.co.uk/medical_insurance/vitality/partners/exercise/cannons.jhtml
and
http://www.gym-membership.co.uk/cannons_gym_membership.php

but cant find any info on the five year deal...if it's true, it would be fantastic!

p1an0player

Based on what lucylou wrote, I think the 5 years relates to the agreement between pru and the gyms, not contracts between pru/the gyms and the customer.

Beaded_Lady

Can anyone help me out...

I am just completing my 6 month LAF membership through AXA, but when i called them they saidi could not cancel.

Are they right? Martin seems to think not in his mutterings from way back.

If they refuse can i just stop the payment?

Save4ArainyDay

LA Fitness, Cannons and Virgin gyms - none in Wales so no good to me

teoanne

i managed to cancel my insurance policy (and together with that, my gym membership) by giving them 30 days' notice. no hassle. just a confirmation letter telling me my last direct debit date. no mention was made about penalty fees or any outstanding gym fees owed.

Little_Em

:mad:

Signed up for this in October, but busted my foot and had to cancel in December. No correspondance to or from Pru since confirmation til, lo and behold, a letter early in Aug thanking me for taking out £50 per month "Vitality Benefits" and confirming my DD details! My sub was only £22 when I had it! Called to see what the hell they were on about, and they had NO RECORD of the letter. Statement later that week shows that £50 was taken BEFORE the letter arrived.

:mad:

I toddle off to the bank to make sure this is cancelled, and they inform me that PruHealth had also set up Direct Debits on my account in Jan and Feb - after I cancelled! - but hadn't claimed on those.

:mad:

I wouldn't touch them again.

Nyota

Im wondering if anyone has any advice on how i can go about cancelling my DW (formerly known as JJB) membership. I joined them in October 2009 and in Septmeber i spoke to their manage who let me put my account on hold for a 2 month period (until Dec) because I was travelling abroad for a funeral. Then i received a letter last week from their debt collecter say that I have roughly £78 outstanding in payments for not paying the gym back. I called them and they advised that i take it up with the gym. I spoke to the manager who then told me that I shouldnt have been allowed to have a 2 month hold as it is only avalilable after a 6 month period memebership. She aslo said that because the manager that dealt with me is no longer working there, she will speak to the debt collecters and cancel it as long as I can continue with my membership whis is £20 a month. The problem is that I am in alot of financial difficulty because I was made redundant to the point they I had to go on benefits and I receive about £82 every 2 weeks therefore making it impossible for me to pay them the £20 a month. Is there a way I can get out of this 6 month minimu contract? I have other debts that I need to take care of such as my car payments which I cannot even meet. Pliz help as i'm in such a dillema.

Thanks in advance.