Pruhealth gym loophole Article Discussion

burnoutbabe

QQuaver wrote: »

Make sure you count all the days in your quarter and divide by 3.5.
You can make up, but only 15/month will be counted to be careful!

is that definatly confirmed - the over 15 visits don't count for points, but i still haven't seen confirmation about if they count for average visits.

Lorne

I haven't read all of the posts on here so please accept my apologies if this has already been mentioned.

I took out the pru health gym membership for the 12 month contract in September last year, in October I fractured my jaw and have had surgery and difficulties since which meant my gym membership never got used and I got excellent surgery and treatment on NHS so didn't need to activate the private health part of the insurance. I contacted pru health to see if I could get out of the membership and they advised that it was a 12 month contract and if I handed in medical certificates they could reduce the monthly payments to the middle rate. He then told me that if I cancelled my pru health private medical cover (which you can do at any time) the gym membership also gets cancelled as you can only have the benefit while the health policy is running. I cancelled the cover, paid a final payment that month and a a final payment on the gym membership the following month.

I just wanted to let folk know if they want to cancel the gym membership and you are told it is a 12 month contract that you can cancel it as it is a perk of the health insurance so cancel them both. The chap in the call centre said that they wouldn't be able to guarantee offering it to me in the future at the same price but it is great not paying for a membership that I can't use.

Hope that helps someone. Lorna

nonvirgin

ianH wrote: »

I would not recommend virgin gyms to anyone. the facilities are great, but when we tried to leave they were a complete nightmare.
staff gave us wrong info about dates for ending our contract. would not accept that we were moving out of area and were extremely unhelpful. eventually they sent a debt agency after us to pay for not using the gym which we had tried to leave in accordance with the instructions given by the desk staff (it's a long story......)
Read the small print, read it again, this is all they will tell you..:mad::mad:

I totally agree with you!!! My son joined Virgin Active gym but after not using it for nine months, he rang them three times (the first two left answerphone messages) and eventually spoke to someone. He told them he didn't use the gym any more and said he was cancelling his contract at the time he thought was correct. He then cancelled his direct debit which unsurprisingly grabbed Virgin's attention. They told him he was just over the time limit on the ROLLING CONTRACT and that he was tied in for a further 12 months! They have pursued him relentlessly and have now handed the matter to a debt collection agency and told him it will cost him £575 to cancel the contract!!! Needless to say, we are consulting solicitors! It is tantamount to demanding money with menaces! Watch this space....and READ THE SMALL PRINT! VIRGIN have been extremely heavy handed to say the least.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.....

-Ad-

Hey, great offer.

I'm quite interested, as I'l probably be in the Canary wharf offices near westferry Virgin active. But on a Grad scheme so might not be there all the time. Virgin active is close by but I think that one is a tier 2, so insurance + ~£25 p/m (going +2 times a week) would still mean spending over £40 a month.

I live near balhma and can join a 'Kinetica' gym by the tube station for £41 with a small discount through my company, which seems better value and close to home. Only thing is I haven't heard anything about Kinetica gyms, best go have a looky.

But does anyone know what tier the LA fitness at West india key is in Canary wharf, as if it is less than the virgin I would be tempted to pay for that over the kinetica one in balham?

Cheers

hasil

Hey (soz if this has been mentioned before)

I am abt to join prhealth + Virgin (via quidco)

Is there any thing i should know abt wat date to activate membership, as i read few posts abt 16th-31st free, but could not get the concept.

Any replies appreciated.

leximus

Hi,

Could someone please confirm that this is the case;

I'm looking at joining the Didsbury Virgin Active Tier 2 gym.

My policy for year 1 will equate to £28.37 / month.

For gym membership at at least 2 uses / week will equate to £15 / month.

So, for months 1 - 3 I'll pay £28.37 + full membership (approx. £40) + 1 payment of £25 for app. (Total of £85.11 + £120 + £25 = £230.11)

From this point forth I'll pay £28.37 + £15 / month. (£43.37 / month)

Is anything rebated from the initial 3 month gym usage?

Many thanks for any advice anyone has to offer.

Lex

QQuaver

leximus wrote: »

So, for months 1 - 3 I'll pay £28.37 + full membership (approx. £40) + 1 payment of £25 for app. (Total of £85.11 + £120 + £25 = £230.11)

From this point forth I'll pay £28.37 + £15 / month. (£43.37 / month)

That sounds right. Make sure you count all the days in your quarter (+ extra days if you didn't start on the 1st of the month) and divide by 3.5 to get your total regular usage fee count.
eg If you start today, 19th Apr - 31st July divided by 3.5 = 30 visits this quarter.

PS. They count only 15 gym visit/month.
PPS. 19th Apr - 30th Apr is free.

leximus

Thanks for the confirmation

Is anything rebated from the initial 3 month gym usage for having paid full price?

Also, just to confirm, there's no 12 month tie in with this as you can cancel the health policy with a months notice?

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated,

Lex

QQuaver

leximus wrote: »

Thanks for the confirmation

Is anything rebated from the initial 3 month gym usage for having paid full price?

No:o

Also, just to confirm, there's no 12 month tie in with this as you can cancel the health policy with a months notice?

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated,

Lex

When you cancel your health policy, the gym get's cancelled as well. Can't just cancel gym and continue with health insurance - gym has 1 year contract.

maj09

Slightly O/T here

Apologies if this has already been addressed elsewhere. I've previously trained at an independent grunt n' sweat gym in east London, but now have PruHealth 'free' gym deal as a work perk (hurrah!).

Trouble is, I'm not that keen on mirrored loveliness and posing and am looking for a central London (west end/city) gym with the best selection of FREE WEIGHTS. The other facilities really don't bother me - any reco's from regular c. London users?

(ps as a new poster, a BIG thanks to :money: for help over the last few years)