Better swimming lessons

fmww

Hi, I am feeling frustrated as I was told in June They would be able to freeze My membership when they re opened, I requested & no reply, lessons had not yet stated. Lessons start tomorrow & I have sent another request and a complaint & no reply.
as I paid for a month when I set up and they took a month in advance on direct debit 3 days Later I effectively pay 2 Months in Advance. If I cancel this is all lost. 

So I have been asking to freeze, as I would love them to swim again, when I feel it is safer to do so. 

The set up of the lessons is now totally different they are working to a new scheme so anything that was signed off before now isn’t. They look like they have 3 or 4 levels of swimmers all swimming in one session, so I struggle to see how they will learn as well. 

Finally I got an email to say not to worry on the 20th March as all memberships had been frozen, so we didn’t need to do anything. On the 23rd March our 2 children’s swimming payments were taken.
they say this is ok as I will get ‘free’ lessons when they start back... not if I don’t feel it’s safe & not free I PAID for them! Is there any way I can claim this payment back as they said it had already been frozen?
Its not the ideal time to miss out on 2 moths of swimming payments but this is 4 moths worth of lessons as I have 2 children. 

I admit as I am dyslexic I rang them up to ask questions so didn’t read the details so I had been surprised they took the direct debit so fast after first payment, my understanding was I would pay a month in advance, not 2 months. I am not allowed in the building with my eldest child now as she is over 8, yet last year she was not allowed in the pool without me (when not in lessons) it all just feels so scary, I am so upset.
I do understand they are a business & have to pay staff. 

I would be grateful for any advice or suggestions 

poppy12345

You paid in March and then it was frozen. It's now September so lesson's are now back on. Lessons wouldn't start if it wasn't safe for them to do so. You can cancel but be aware that you could lose all the money you've already paid if you do this.

gettingtheresometime

I don't know what area you live in but I live in an area which is under lockdown measures & I've  been going swimming throughout.
The council is operating a booking system, have split the pool into lanes with one person per lane. You go 'beach' ready, strip off at the side of the pool, & if you want you can use a cubicle to change afterwards but can't have a shower or use the hairdryer. 

I feel very safe.

If the pool your daughter goes to operates a similar policy then I'd give her a towel & a cheap towelling dressing gown & a pair of flip flops tell her to towel dry keeping her costume on & just put the dressing gown & flip flops on to come out. You can dry her properly when you get home.

I know it's hard to know whether an activity is risky when you've got Covid to consider but surely it's better your children can swim.