David Lloyd Contract

Caphen

DE_612183 said:

I had issues with DL and cancellation, in the end some emails to their ceo were fruitful - I did lay it on a bit thick and their were medical grounds rather than just financial but it could be worth a shot.

If you physically can't pay - perhaps ask them what they would suggest?

I have asked them that question repeatedly - they ignore it

Caphen

DE_612183 said:

I had issues with DL and cancellation, in the end some emails to their ceo were fruitful - I did lay it on a bit thick and their were medical grounds rather than just financial but it could be worth a shot.

If you physically can't pay - perhaps ask them what they would suggest?

I have asked them that question repeatedly - they ignore it

Brie

Caphen said:

I have asked them that question repeatedly - they ignore it

set up a standing order for £1 a month or something.  ensure it has a suitable membership reference on it.  they may not like it but are unlikely to send the money back to you.  And it shows you are willing to work towards a solution.

Caphen

Brie said:

you said - I gave notice to DL which they didn't acknowledge and a month later (after the most recent payment) I cancelled my direct debit as I fundamentally can't pay for it.
I've spent the last month arguing with DL that this consitutes a change in circumstances - but beyond showing them the bills I don't have any other evidence.

What specifically did you tell DL when you "gave notice"?  That you were quitting?  And what does the contract with them say?  As I recall when we got into a bun fight with them we had already gone beyond 12 months so were on a rolling contract.  We needed to give them notice that we were stopping the contract but I can't remember precisely what the lag period was.  It may have been 3 months.  So check the T&Cs to see when precisely you can quit and no longer need to pay. 

Don't forget that during the interim period because you are still a member you still have full rights to use the club.  If they refuse you entrance that's because they say you are  not a member and non members do not have to pay.  Being in arrears doesn't automatically make you a non member.

As for proof of change in circumstances I would say a cut in 33% in pay is a significant one.  Does your partner have anything from his employer to state something about the shift change and thereby losing the shift allowance?  

I submitted a notice request(twice) via the app, as per the T&Cs - when i got nothing back on that (their app is crap), I submitted an email - as did my partner.

unfortunately we don't have anything in writing from my partners employer, though have previously asked.
Its within their T&Cs to take people off shift at no notice (even though he should have been on for 2 years) so we can't fault them for it.

Olinda99

They don't reply to app requests - well at least they didn't to me...

have you tried calling central membership services on 01707 283500

Exodi

Brie said:

As for proof of change in circumstances I would say a cut in 33% in pay is a significant one.  Does your partner have anything from his employer to state something about the shift change and thereby losing the shift allowance?  

This keeps being touched upon, especially with the OP's citation of "The Competition and Markets Authority advises that a gym contract is unfair if it doesn’t let a member cancel because they’ve had a change in circumstances which means they can’t afford the membership.”.

I hold similar views to that of Aylesbury_Duck, in that I expect a 'change in circumstances' refers to redundancy or special circumstance (e.g. an accident that stops you from working) and this seems to be DL's view hence the request for this evidence. I do not think it is reasonable to consider fluctuating income, otherwise it turns into a dutch auction of what magic number qualifies as a change in circumstance and DL might as well tear up any membership agreement they hold with people who work on zero hour contracts.

It will be challenging to argue that increased energy bills are also a reasonable justification, especially with a December monthly usage figure of £828 (seperately, the OP really needs to head the energy board and work with them on this, that usage is totally out of control for anything short of a mansion or hotel). It could be viewed pretty plainly that they could afford the £160 a month gym membership if they just reduced their last eye-watering energy bill by 20%.

Brie said:

Caphen said:

I have asked them that question repeatedly - they ignore it

set up a standing order for £1 a month or something.  ensure it has a suitable membership reference on it.  they may not like it but are unlikely to send the money back to you.  And it shows you are willing to work towards a solution.

Does that show willingness to work towards a solution?

The OP has not provided the evidence that would substantiate a change in circumstances, cancelled the direct debit without their knowledge or consent and potentially setting up a standing order for £1 a month against a £160 monthly payment, without their agreement. If anything that's the opposite of working towards a solution, and just doing whatever they want.

DL offers two types of memberships, Standard (12 month term - best value) or Flexible (3 month term - worse value). It's understandable that they're not happy giving the price of the standard membership with the convenience of the flexible membership.

Caphen

Exodi said:

It will be challenging to argue that increased energy bills are also a reasonable justification, especially with a December monthly usage figure of £828 (seperately, the OP really needs to head the energy board and work with them on this, that usage is totally out of control for anything short of a mansion or hotel). It could be viewed pretty plainly that they could afford the £160 a month gym membership if they just reduced their last eye-watering energy bill by 20%.

Does that show willingness to work towards a solution?

The OP has not provided the evidence that would substantiate a change in circumstances, cancelled the direct debit without their knowledge or consent and potentially setting up a standing order for £1 a month against a £160 monthly payment, without their agreement. If anything that's the opposite of working towards a solution, and just doing whatever they want.

DL offers two types of memberships, Standard (12 month term - best value) or Flexible (3 month term - worse value). It's understandable that they're not happy giving the price of the standard membership with the convenience of the flexible membership.

On the first - you assume I paid the £828.. which i didn't - i merely paid my standard DD - i absolutely could not afford to pay that bill, and am hoping it balances out over the year (the estimate says it will)

On the second - I did not cancel the DD without their knowledge, I gave them also 2 months of notice and told them I would cancel the DD - for that entire 2 months I was unacknowledged.

Olinda99 said:

They don't reply to app requests - well at least they didn't to me...

have you tried calling central membership services on 01707 283500

I spoke to them last month, they were actually pretty relaxed and helpful but couldn't do anything and directed me to my local (largely unresponsive) gym.



Thanks to all those who have offered help.

DE_612183

Mr Russell Barnes	Chief Executive
Email	russell.barnes@davidlloyd.co.uk

Aylesbury_Duck

Caphen said:

Exodi said:

It will be challenging to argue that increased energy bills are also a reasonable justification, especially with a December monthly usage figure of £828 (seperately, the OP really needs to head the energy board and work with them on this, that usage is totally out of control for anything short of a mansion or hotel). It could be viewed pretty plainly that they could afford the £160 a month gym membership if they just reduced their last eye-watering energy bill by 20%.

Does that show willingness to work towards a solution?

The OP has not provided the evidence that would substantiate a change in circumstances, cancelled the direct debit without their knowledge or consent and potentially setting up a standing order for £1 a month against a £160 monthly payment, without their agreement. If anything that's the opposite of working towards a solution, and just doing whatever they want.

DL offers two types of memberships, Standard (12 month term - best value) or Flexible (3 month term - worse value). It's understandable that they're not happy giving the price of the standard membership with the convenience of the flexible membership.

On the first - you assume I paid the £828.. which i didn't - i merely paid my standard DD - i absolutely could not afford to pay that bill, and am hoping it balances out over the year (the estimate says it will)

On the second - I did not cancel the DD without their knowledge, I gave them also 2 months of notice and told them I would cancel the DD - for that entire 2 months I was unacknowledged.

Olinda99 said:

They don't reply to app requests - well at least they didn't to me...

have you tried calling central membership services on 01707 283500

I spoke to them last month, they were actually pretty relaxed and helpful but couldn't do anything and directed me to my local (largely unresponsive) gym.



Thanks to all those who have offered help.

I'm sorry to say that it doesn't matter.  If the required notice is six months (is it?) then cancelling the direct debit, even two months after telling them, is technically a breach of contract which might carry administrative charges.  Check your contract to see if that's the case.

Acknowledgement of cancellation isn't strictly required, anyway.  You gave notice in the correct manner, so the clock started ticking on the notice period as soon as you cancelled, whether or not they acknowledged it.

Exodi

Caphen said:

Exodi said:

It will be challenging to argue that increased energy bills are also a reasonable justification, especially with a December monthly usage figure of £828 (seperately, the OP really needs to head the energy board and work with them on this, that usage is totally out of control for anything short of a mansion or hotel). It could be viewed pretty plainly that they could afford the £160 a month gym membership if they just reduced their last eye-watering energy bill by 20%.

Does that show willingness to work towards a solution?

The OP has not provided the evidence that would substantiate a change in circumstances, cancelled the direct debit without their knowledge or consent and potentially setting up a standing order for £1 a month against a £160 monthly payment, without their agreement. If anything that's the opposite of working towards a solution, and just doing whatever they want.

DL offers two types of memberships, Standard (12 month term - best value) or Flexible (3 month term - worse value). It's understandable that they're not happy giving the price of the standard membership with the convenience of the flexible membership.

On the first - you assume I paid the £828.. which i didn't - i merely paid my standard DD - i absolutely could not afford to pay that bill, and am hoping it balances out over the year (the estimate says it will)

On the second - I did not cancel the DD without their knowledge, I gave them also 2 months of notice and told them I would cancel the DD - for that entire 2 months I was unacknowledged.

Olinda99 said:

They don't reply to app requests - well at least they didn't to me...

have you tried calling central membership services on 01707 283500

I spoke to them last month, they were actually pretty relaxed and helpful but couldn't do anything and directed me to my local (largely unresponsive) gym.

Thanks to all those who have offered help.

I'm sorry if you didn't like what I said. I still don't understand the point of the 2 months notice but wish you the best of luck.

Emailing the CEO or senior directors may bear fruit. I managed to resolve a dispute with a big gym company last year (in which the gym insisted there was nothing that could be done) pretty quickly through the senior team - albeit it was parking related.