Feel ripped off by Gym...

Benji13

Hi guys,

I'm a member of the De'Vere Hotels Gym chain and I'm pretty upset. I recently received a letter through the post stating that the price of mine and my girlfriends membership will be increasing from £76 to £82 a month for the both of us.

I know it doesn't sound very much, but in my area we could of joined LA fitness for the same cost of £82. We negotiated the deal to be lower than this of course, now after 3 months they're putting the prices up.

I'm very upset about this because the overall quality of the gym is shocking. Missing tiles in the locker rooms, bare nails (spiky bit) showing in the wood of the sauna, gym is always stupidly busy (can never get on a treadmill between 5:30-7:00). To be honest, its quality is less than £76 already.

Is there anything I can do too either get myself out of my contract, or stop them from increasing it?

pinkshoes

I'm quite sure they can't increase it whilst in a fixed term on your gym contract, so your monthly price should remain the same until the end of the agreed fixed period.

If you're not in a fixed period, then just write declining the price increase, and giving the correct notice to quit as per the contract you signed.

Benji13

The period is a 12 month contract so I'd imagine they can't increase my costs as they have, although in the contract it does say they reserve the right to increase their prices.

Does this mean they could just increase it too £100 if they fancied it? I'm really annoyed, it's such a stupid thing but I'd highly recommend anyone who read's this not to join a VILLAGE/De'Vere Gym.

McKneff

If its in your contract that they can increase your prices you dont have a leg to stand on.
If there are health and safety issues, like the nails you describe, these should be reported by you as soon as you can before someone is injured.

I know its the principal but an increase of £3 per person isnt that bad.

Benji13

The health and safety issues were reported... They fixed it with a tiny sign saying watch for the nails. Genuinely...

I'll have a talk to them tonight but if what you say is true then I'm really saddened. All negotiating etc gone to waste, I believe VILLAGE Gyms are terrible after this and I'd recommend not joining them.

Also too make you aware, the personal trainers use their phone's whilst training you! Great customer service.

halibut2209

McKneff wrote: »

If its in your contract that they can increase your prices you dont have a leg to stand on.

Not true. It could be deemed an unfair clause.

Gavin83

McKneff wrote: »

If its in your contract that they can increase your prices you dont have a leg to stand on.

So whats the limit on this? Could they decide to increase the price to £1000 a month if they wanted to with no comeback?