Virgin Active sale of clubs to Nuffield

Manch

Hi All

I'm new to this but thought i would share my frustration to see if anyone else is in the same boat/ has any thoughts... I've been a member of virgin active for almost 2 years now and recently switched my membership to Manchester Printworks.

A few days ago I received an email saying the club and my membership had been sold to Nuffield Heath effective the following day. I would therefore no longer be able to use any other virgin active clubs. I immediately called them and was told the deadline had past to amend my membership before the transfer occurred (clever timing by them).

When I took out the contract I paid extra for a multi club membership as I mostly use other va clubs near my house. I have raised it with them that this is a massive reduction in the benefit of my contract and grounds for an early termination. Unsurprisingly they are arguing it isn't and insisting I remain with Nuffield for the remainder of my contract.

So it appears I am stuck in a membership for a club that I rarely if ever use as it is no longer convenient for me to get there.

Any advice?

Thanks

MissMonkeyMoo

If they didn't give you sufficient notice regarding the terms and conditions of your new contract you should be able to cancel your membership without penalty. I would dig out a copy of your OLD contact and have a look through that t&c's to see what it days about notification of changes to your membership and go from there. I would head into the gym, ask to see the manager (not the duty manager but the centre manager) and state your case. Do it politely and calmly and seed of they can resolve the matter. They may try and fob you off but remain firm. If they really won't budge,ask for the telephone number and postal address of their head office complaints department. They still have a chance at this stage to sort out your issue -if they don't and give you the complaints department details make sure you get in touch and log your complaint there.

MARTYM8`

I can report fellow issues - and quite concerning ones - about the transfer of the Virgin Club in Ilford in East London to Nuffield.

I have a friend - a long term Esporta/then VA member - who had multi club membership through the Ilford club.

She had not been informed about the transfer - despite the fact they have her home/email address - and was denied access today to my club which she could use previously - as the Virgin system said her membership was terminated. They eventually agreed to let her in - for the last time but that will be it.

Apparently this is a widespread issue as the staff at Ilford were apparently told not to tell people about the transfer - and the planned termination of their VA membership. They have been getting hundreds of members calling the club to ask what has happened as the club is in London so lots of members use other clubs on and off - and why there was no advance notice given.

According to the Nuffield website - there is nothing on the VA site to assist former members - they can now only use the Ilford club and are no longer VA members as of 1 August. VA will still collect their membership fee this month - but from September their direct debit will be changed to Nuffield.

While Virgin are perfectly within their rights to transfer their clubs - do they not have a legal duty to inform members of that club pre transfer well in advance (i.e. not the day before!) and allow them to transfer their membership to another Virgin club so they can keep their VA multi club access.

While this doesn't affect me now - they could do the same thing to me one day by transferring my club to another provider without advance notice.

I sympathise with the OP - what VA have done in respect of these clubs and their members is appalling! They have basically transferred their contracts to Nuffield and expelled them from VA without due notification. Is this legal?

hollydays

You could post this on the consumer or vent board

sheilanick

As the transfer of your membership is dependent on you accepting the new terms and conditions you will be able to cancel. We received a letter today from Nuffield Health with their new terms and conditions and following a visit to our club, declining the new terms, our membership has been cancelled.

MRMX9

sheilanick wrote: »

As the transfer of your membership is dependent on you accepting the new terms and conditions you will be able to cancel. We received a letter today from Nuffield Health with their new terms and conditions and following a visit to our club, declining the new terms, our membership has been cancelled.

That's perfectly fine.

The problem is however that people assumed they were members of Virgin Active not an individual VA club - and have lost their membership/multi club access benefits without advance warning or notice. Had they been given proper notice they could have transferred their VA membership to another VA club. But they were never given the chance.

If they wish to rejoin VA - presumably they will have to pay a joining fee and possibly a higher membership fee?

This maybe isn't an issue for most of the sold clubs - as there were no other VAs nearby - but could be for those who were members in Ilford, Manchester and Birmingham.

I have no issue with Nuffield at all - not their fault - the problem is with VA!

Ranting1

They're at it again with another round of transfers to Nuffield.

I received an email telling me my membership would be transferred to Nuffield - no other options on the table.

To stay part of VirginActive I have to rejoin again (full joining fee) plus a hike in fees (an additional £38 a month).

I'd have expected some small concession after many years of paying out to VirginActive. Customer loyalty and continuity seems to mean nothing for Virgin - only chasing after short term profit.

DCFC79

Ranting1 wrote: »

They're at it again with another round of transfers to Nuffield.

I received an email telling me my membership would be transferred to Nuffield - no other options on the table.

To stay part of VirginActive I have to rejoin again (full joining fee) plus a hike in fees (an additional £38 a month).

I'd have expected some small concession after many years of paying out to VirginActive. Customer loyalty and continuity seems to mean nothing for Virgin - only chasing after short term profit.

If your not happy then leave and join another gym.