Ice rink 12 month contract

Nofixtabode

Hello

I am looking for some advice, I have 2 children 10 and 13 who really enjoy Ice skating, so much so that they have asked for a membership pass for our local rink. Having read the terms and conditions I am worried about certain things in the contract and was wondering what other peoples oppinions are.
I personally think its a big ask to expect a 10 year old to commit to something for 12 months, (for the 2 children it works out at £140 per month), The whole contract seems to be in the favour of the ice rink and essentially says, we can change everything including the price and as long as we give you notice you have to comply, which seems unfair.
I've highlighted the parts that I'm uncomfortable with.
Thanks
Steven

[FONT= ]1. Membership
[FONT= ]1.1. Your membership will begin on the day you join.
[FONT= ]1.2. When paying by Direct Debit, an initial payment will be required to cover the [FONT= ]period up to your first DD payment.
[FONT= ]1.3. Your membership is personal to you. You cannot transfer it to another person.
1.4. If “[FONT= ]Silver Blades” [FONT= ]or the bank/building society makes a mistake with [FONT= ]our direct debit payment you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your
[FONT= ]bank/building society.
[FONT= ]2. Fees
[FONT= ]2.1. You must pay a monthly membership which will be determined by your chosen [FONT= ]membership package.
[FONT= ]2.2. Monthly instalments will be due on either the 1 [FONT= ]st[FONT= ], 8[FONT= ]th[FONT= ], 15[FONT= ]th [FONT= ]or 22[FONT= ]nd [FONT= ]of each [FONT= ]calendar month or the next available working day by Direct Debit.
[FONT= ]2.3. We may change the amount of your monthly payments. If we do we will write to [FONT= ]you at the address you have given us 14 days before the changes take place.
[FONT= ]2.4. Monthly fees are payable even if you do not use the centre.
[FONT= ]3. Cancelling Your Membership
[FONT= ]3.1. Memberships cannot be cancelled prior to the agreed contract length that you [FONT= ]have signed up for and the last payment has been made. A contract may be [FONT= ]cancelled once the final payment has been made; this requires 30 days notice in [FONT= ]writing to Debit Finance ([EMAIL="e-mailinfo@debitfinance.co.uk"]e-mail[FONT= ]info@debitfinance.co.uk[/EMAIL][FONT= ]). A confirmation letter will be
[FONT= ]sent back. Queries on cancelled memberships can only be dealt with when a copy of
[FONT= ]this letter is provided. Contact Debit Finance on 01908 422 007.
[FONT= ]4. Centre Rules.
[FONT= ]4.1. You must comply with the centre rules/etiquette which forms part of this
[FONT= ]agreement.
[FONT= ]4.2. We may change the rules/etiquette at any time. We will post notice of any
[FONT= ]changes at the centre.
[FONT= ]5. Changing the Agreement.
5.1. We can change the agreement at any time. We will give you 14 day’s notice of[FONT= ]this change in writing at the address you have given us.
[FONT= ]6. Facilities
[FONT= ]6.1. You are entitled to use the facilities available for your category of membership [FONT= ]package.
[FONT= ]6.2. You may have to pay additional charges to use certain other facilities/activities at [FONT= ]the Centre. You can get a list of these from our reception points. We can change [FONT= ]hese prices at any time.
[FONT= ]6.3. Before using the ice rink you must read and sign the Health Commitment
[FONT= ]Statement/Pre Activity Questionnaire. We can refuse access to the centres facilities if
[FONT= ]we consider your health maybe adversely affected by the use of such facilities. In
[FONT= ]such circumstances you will be referred to our GP referral team.
6.4. Centre’s may open/close earlier during public holiday periods. Facilities may also
[FONT= ]close for occasional special events. Notices will be displayed in the centre in advance
[FONT= ]notifying customers of any changes. No refunds will be available for these periods.
[FONT= ]6.5. We may change the centres opening times or withdraw any of the facilities at
[FONT= ]any time if we need them for events, tournaments, exhibitions or other special
[FONT= ]activities.
[FONT= ]6.6. We may need to close a facility or part of it for repair/refurbishment on the
[FONT= ]grounds of health and safety or improving customer service. In the above
[FONT= ]circumstance we will use our best endeavours to:
[FONT= ]6.6.1. Give as much notice as is reasonably practicable by displaying notices in the
[FONT= ]centre.
[FONT= ]6.7. Your membership does not give you priority over other users or guarantee the
[FONT= ]availability of facilities.
6.8. “[FONT= ]Silver Blades” [FONT= ]management reserve the right to change the activity
[FONT= ]programme. Prior notice will be given in the centre relating to activity cancellations or
[FONT= ]the introduction of new sessions.
[FONT= ]6.9. Promotions do not apply to existing members.
[FONT= ]7. Membership Cards.
[FONT= ]7.1. You must submit your membership card at respective reception points when
[FONT= ]accessing facilities; otherwise we will charge you the standard casual rate.
[FONT= ]7.2. All members must have their photograph taken for identification purposes; this
[FONT= ]will be stored on “[FONT= ]Silver Blades Widnes” [FONT= ]database. This information will solely be
used by “[FONT= ]Silver Blades Widnes” [FONT= ]and will not be released to any third parties.
[FONT= ]7.3. If you lose your membership card we will charge a fee of £5.00 to replace it.
[FONT= ]8. Junior / Children Members.
[FONT= ]8.1. If you are under 18 years old your parent or guardian must sign this agreement o[FONT= ]n your behalf. By signing this agreement your parent or guardian agrees to be [FONT= ]responsible for your behaviour and actions at all times and to pay us any amounts [FONT= ]that are due on your behalf.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ][FONT= ]
[FONT= ]8.2. When you reach 18 your junior membership will end and you will automatically [FONT= ]and immediately become a full adult member and sign a copy of this agreement.
[FONT= ]9. 12 Month Unlimited Skating (Including 8x Six-Week Learn to Skate Courses
[FONT= ]per year) – [FONT= ]Membership Plan
[FONT= ]This specific Membership Plan is Unlimited Skating, plus 8 x 6 week courses per [FONT= ]year and does not include the Learn to Skate in 5 days courses.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]


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Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Question. How much does each session cost and how many times do they go a month?

Answer. If DD cost is less, go to question two, if not, short arms deep pockets.

Question. Is this a fad because of an outside rink at Christmas?

Answer. If yes, short arms deep pockets.

In reality, are they going to be Torvil and Dean!

Country_Cousin

If it were me I would do a pay and go for the next 2-3 months to ensure that they were both really committed.

dacouch

I think you could be going round and round with this ice skating membership

Poppie68

It will be practically impossible to get out of one as these contracts...£140 per month is a large amount, I would be reluctant to commit. Kids loose interest very easily, maybe a trail run of a couple a months would be a good idea..

skateykatey

Another vote here for the trial run before committing to a contract.

I figure skate and can tell you now that it's a v expensive hobby. I do it for fun and can afford it so don't begrudge it for a moment but consider shelling out £140 PCM and then the cost of boots and blades. Pretty soon, your children will be fed up of using the hired rink skates...
On top of that, you've got coaching costs at about £35 an hour because pretty soon they will want to be learning tricks and need someone to teach them how to do them.

And that's all before they even muster up the enthusiasm for spending their days in what is essentially a massive fridge!

Every year around this time the rink is packed but, come April it's back to being blissfully empty again once the novelty wears off and the realisation that it hurts when you fall.

If they go religiously for a period of 3 to 4 months and they are showing serious talent then consider it (and then look at taking out a second mortgage to fund it!)

daytona0

Why are you bothered about that particular fact?!

It is unlikely that the price will rise in the next 12 months. If it does rise then it will likely be a small percentage like 10% or 20% at most. I'm fairly sure that you could dispute anything which was higher than a reasonable amount in a court of law, but I don't have the expertise to make a concrete comment on this.

You could do a bit of background research and try to find out what their prices have been for the past couple of years. That might help you to figure out your possible risk.

Also, you are talking about spending 140 pounds on (I'd hope!) a family pass to the ice rink.... That is either a leisure activity or an exercise one (or a combination of both). You have to be relatively well off to be able to afford that sort of outlay.... so in such a case I don't see why you'd be bothered too much about a clause in the T's and C's which covers the possibility of a small price increase (from a legitimate company, one would presume).

unholyangel

Their T&C's are off but those would likely be deemed unfair terms and unenforceable anyway.

For example they cannot forbid cancellation. They can say that you'd be liable for their losses for wrongful cancellation, but they cannot stop you cancelling.

Nor can they vary the agreement in a way that is detrimental to you without a) allowing you to cancel the contract without being worse off for having entered the contract and/or b)leaving themselves open to a claim for damages from you - for breach of contract. In practice such clauses are only fair when they were limited scope and for circumstances genuinely outside of their control.

bris

unholyangel wrote: »

Their T&C's are off but those would likely be deemed unfair terms and unenforceable anyway.

For example they cannot forbid cancellation. They can say that you'd be liable for their losses for wrongful cancellation, but they cannot stop you cancelling.

Nor can they vary the agreement in a way that is detrimental to you without a) allowing you to cancel the contract without being worse off for having entered the contract and/or b)leaving themselves open to a claim for damages from you - for breach of contract. In practice such clauses are only fair when they were limited scope and for circumstances genuinely outside of their control.

You don't half post some nonsense, that contract is perfectly reasonable and standard.

frugal_mike

bris wrote: »

You don't half post some nonsense, that contract is perfectly reasonable and standard.

It's reasonable to have terms that allow them to unilaterally change any term in the agreement and the price?

Hintza

daytona0 wrote: »

If it does rise then it will likely be a small percentage like 10% or 20% at most.

Do you call a rise of a fifth a small rise?

Anything over RPI or CPI would in my view be a large rise and would void the contract.