DW Fitness or Total Fitness or Neither

AmberStripes

Hi all,

I've recently changed jobs and move around the North West, mainly Manchester or Liverpool.

I need a gym membership which firstly has a swimming pool and secondly can fit in with my hectic schedule. Ideally I'd stick a gym bag in the car and go to the nearest gym for a workout or swim but this isn't always possible. Many chains like David Lloyd don't let you use other branches within your memberships.

Based on flexible membership and a pool I'm left with a shortlist of two, neither of which seem to be regarded favorably: DW Fitness and Total Fitness

DW fitness is lovely by all accounts... until you come to cancel membership. According to the mentions here and elsewhere this can often result in solicitors, debt collectors and bad feeling.

Total Fitness is low cost at first but often full of out of date equipment. I've was a member before they went bust and I know they will double the membership cost after the first year. They are also renowned for a complicated and often unsavory cancellation process.

So I don't know which one, if any, to pick.

Does anyone have any experience they could share with me to help me make up my mind?

Thanks

Kt8

I'm with DW.. No probs cancelling ..I cancelled after a year and ha no problems whatsoever then rejoined again sometime after.

heartbreak_star

Do you have a local council gym? My membership lets me use all gyms in my area.

HBS x

Misty_Blue

I left DW because of the appalling service and the lack of regard for Health & Safety in the gym. I went through all the correct steps, gave them plenty of notice, continued to pay in the cancellation period etc.

When I went to the bank to cancel my direct debit, the cashier actually laughed and said "You realise they'll claim you didn't tell them you were going to cancel?" And guess what, she was right!

I got a letter from the gym manager telling me I had not adhered to the cancellation policy. I called him and read him the riot act and he admitted there had been a mistake and confirmed that my cancellation had been done in accordance with DW's policy. All well and good. Until I got a letter from DW's debt collection agency a few weeks later...

I would avoid them like the plague.

SandC

I had no problem at all cancelling my DW membership.

I wouldn't make my choice based on that but on the location and facilities of the gyms and what your priorities are for when you are a member, not for when you leave!

Misty_Blue

My recommendation to avoid it is more linked to the reasons that prompted me to leave in the first place. But the cancellation hassle certainly didn't help!

AmberStripes

Thank you everyone.

I think I'll go with DW and be prepared to video my cancellation journey when the time comes to prevent them from trying it on!

jeddentad

if you can work your finances, you can pay upfront for DW fitness and so not have to worry about cancelling in a years time.

(the DW fitness I belong to has had a 14 months for the price of 12 deal for ages when you pay upfront as well)