Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

dvs

sly_dog_jonah wrote: »

This topic got some coverage in the guardian today: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/dec/14/prudential-policyholders-gym-discounts

it included some interesting stats from PruHealth. Supposedly only 12% of pru's policyholders take advantage of gym membership. I bet the proportion of vitality policyholders who take advantage is much higher than that though. I'm guessing pruhealth would rather risk losing 12% of members than put up policy premiums across the board. Their marketing gimmik has run out of steam/budget and now they'll be hoping customer inertia will take hold. I for one won't be sticking around.

If only 12% of policyholders take advantage of the gym membership, surely the overall cost is relatively small?

psychy

My gym membership is going up from £15/month to £67.50. To say im not happy is an underestimation. GRRRR!!!!
What do i do? continue or not continue? Really dont fancy going to fitness first etc, as the facilities arent as good.

littlerose12345

Psychy that's a massive jump!!

I currently pay about £3 a month and have reached Platinum. How much do you think mine will be on renewal in March?

psychy

Tell me about it! £3/month? I think you mean the insurance premium....my premium is £3/month too.

I guess I have no choice but to cough up....i need the gym and i do use the facilities a lot. Just the thought of a 450% price rise is killing me.

littlerose12345

£3 a month for insurance premium and as i was on Platinum the gym membership was free!!

west12_2

Don't do it guys! If you're a Virgin Active member in London (as I guess you must be Psychy), the off-the-street price (per month) for annual 'Diamond' membership is about £59-£75, depending on club. You're tied into a dodgy annual contract, but it's still cheaper than the PruHealth £67.50 plus insurance which will also increase.

Some Virgin Actives are cheaper than others too. Eg Oxford Circus is cheaper than Hammersmith or Islington, although the access rights to other clubs are worse.

psychy

west12 wrote: »

Don't do it guys! If you're a Virgin Active member in London (as I guess you must be Psychy), the off-the-street price (per month) for annual 'Diamond' membership is about £59-£75, depending on club. You're tied into a dodgy annual contract, but it's still cheaper than the PruHealth £67.50 plus insurance which will also increase.

Some Virgin Actives are cheaper than others too. Eg Oxford Circus is cheaper than Hammersmith or Islington, although the access rights to other clubs are worse.

Thanks West12.
Well, I work on Savile Row so I usually go the Mayfair gym, although Ox Street one (The Plaza) is closer but not as nice.
Sometimes on the weekends, I go to the Cricklewood or Hendon one.

Do you know which would be cheapest to sign to? The majority of the time will be spent at Mayfair but would like access to others.

Thanks in advance.

west12_2

Haha! that's quite a co-incidence because Mayfair is my home gym. I go quite a lot so probably seen you in there, it's prob the nicest of them all I reckon.

As I understand, there's two tiers of Virgin Actives in the M25 (three if you count classic). The following are the more expensive tier. If you're a home member at any of these, you can visit pretty much any other VA as much as you please:

Barbican Chelsea Clapham Hammersmith Islington Marylebone Mayfair Moorgate Notting Hill Strand West London

They are all more expensive.

Others, like Cricklewood and Hendon, will be much cheaper per month, but you'll have restricted access to other clubs because they're cheaper. You will be limited to visit the clubs listed above only a max of 4 times a month if you signed up to these.

I think Diamond membership at Mayfair is about £70/£75 a month but if you go at the end of the month, they're keen to make targets so maybe you'll get a better deal - although I think the monthly price is fairly fixed. If you wanted to join a Classic gym, it's about £100 a month on diamond.

Hope that helps... seeya in the club!

psychy

Haha....quite a coincidence indeed!
I think it is the nicest one, it deffo has better looking girls than Strand, although they are quite pretty too. Haha.

Based on your figures, I guess staying with Pruhealth might be better afterall. At least for £67.50 I get to go to pretty much all the other gyms unlimited.

I'm actually toying with the idea of checking out Third Space in Picadilly. My colleagues go there and they say the facilities are second to none. But at £120/month it's a killer. They did manage to negotiate a £80/month rate a few years back so dunno if I can do the same.....

west12_2

The Third Space is meant to be amazing, apaz they have a hypoxic chamber, which I find amusing. Worth checking out the VA Classics too because they're generally really good altho less close to where you work!

Yep, you're right that there are some access rights headaches joining Virgin direct but, as a member of Mayfair, you would be entitled to go to almost any club as you please. I never really wanted the PruHealth insurance and as that's going up too (doh!) the £67.50+£25 or whatever it will be just means it isn't worth it for me, cheaper to join direct - but I guess you could see it as getting a gym membership and health insurance for a good price if you'd be buying both anyway