Credit Card Insurance - Advice on whether gym membership be covered please

IBM01

Hi,

A friend is just about to renew her gym membership, but the gym itself has started to look very run down. They are awaiting another management company coming in to run the gym, but the rumours are that the new company has no money to spend on the place either. Hence the following question:

If she pays her annual membership (which is well over £100) and she would like to do this because she gets a big discount i.e. 12 months for price of 8, will she be covered by the credit card insurance should the gym close down?

I am aware of section 75 but I am unsure as to whether it applies to a service as opposed to a physical purchase.

Also what happens if the gym stays open but just continues into disrepair with machines being out of order, cold showers etc? This is already starting to happen. Will paying by credit card help protect her in this instance and allow her to cancel membership and get a refund for the amount owing? The reason I ask is that she has been told that once she pays the full 12 months fee in advance, in order to qualify for the 12 months for 8 offer, there is no refund?

Any advice would be welcome please.

Thanks

grumbler

IBM01 wrote: »

If she pays her annual membership (which is well over £100) and she would like to do this because she gets a big discount i.e. 12 months for price of 8, will she be covered by the credit card insurance should the gym close down?

I don't see why not.

I am aware of section 75 but I am unsure as to whether it applies to a service as opposed to a physical purchase.

Gym membership is not much different from, say, flight tickets. Both are services.

Also what happens if the gym stays open but just continues into disrepair with machines being out of order, cold showers etc?

IMHO, it's pretty unrealistic to rely on s.75 in this case.

miketaff1408

errmm...

If the gym is looking shabby, equipment out of order, cold showers, then isn't it time to get the hell out of Dodge????

Why take the risk of continuing problems, and the unlikely chance of getting a s75 refund.

She has to weigh up the pros/cons of staying with a gym in disrepair which may/may not improve with the new owners (but which is cheap) or paying more to find a different gym with better standards.

She needs to address her concerns with the staff and see if they will put in writing that standards will improve or you can cancel and get a refund. (unlikely to happen though)

opinions4u

12 months money up front buying a big discount. Falling into disrepair. Cold showers.

Sounds like a cash flow issue for the business.

My prediction is that they will cease trading, another gym nearby owned by the same people as a different company will take on the customer base, thus continuing the membership and making S75 protection irrelevant, and the mix of location and facilities won't be up to the standard your friend wants and there will be naff all that can be done about it.

IBM01

Thanks to all who responded.

I should have added that the other rival gym closed a few weeks back, hence the lack of competition wasn't actually helping the situation.

However, following on from the advice offered she has decided to look at a local squash club. She gets to learn a new sport, they have a gym with equipment that whilst basic does actually work and there are hot showers. And all for a fraction of the original gym membership - Result!

Thanks again.