Bannatyne Gym - Membership overcharged

TravelJunkieGirl

Hello!
I mentioned in passing to my partner that my gym membership had gone up again and how high it was. It's gone up 4  times since 2022.  He checked his monthly fee for the same gym and it was considerably less than mine.  When I looked into it, I had been paying more than his current charge for the last three years.

I raised this with the gym manager and he looked into it and confirmed that I had been on the wrong tariff for as far back as they could see and said that they would probably stop taking money until I was 'caught up'. However when he raised this with Bannatyne Head office, apparently they are only willing to refund me the overpayment of the last three months (since I raised the query).

Had I not had the conversation with my partner, then I would have been none the wiser and they would still be overcharging me. 

I believe that as is was their mistake, they should backdate the refunds for as far back as an overpayment can be traced. I think the overpayment is somewhere in the region of £500. 

Do I have a case and what is the best way to pursue it?

MattMattMattUK

TravelJunkieGirl said:

Hello!
I mentioned in passing to my partner that my gym membership had gone up again and how high it was. It's gone up 4  times since 2022.  He checked his monthly fee for the same gym and it was considerably less than mine.  When I looked into it, I had been paying more than his current charge for the last three years.

I raised this with the gym manager and he looked into it and confirmed that I had been on the wrong tariff for as far back as they could see and said that they would probably stop taking money until I was 'caught up'. However when he raised this with Bannatyne Head office, apparently they are only willing to refund me the overpayment of the last three months (since I raised the query).

Had I not had the conversation with my partner, then I would have been none the wiser and they would still be overcharging me. 

I believe that as is was their mistake, they should backdate the refunds for as far back as an overpayment can be traced. I think the overpayment is somewhere in the region of £500. 

Do I have a case and what is the best way to pursue it?

What do you mean by wrong tariff, were you paying for services that you did not use (higher tier), or something else? Were the amounts that you had been charged different from the amount your membership plan showed as on your bills?

If your bills stated a price and that is what you were paying and had agreed to (including increases, either contractual, or "your monthly payments will increase by/to  £x/%x) then any reduced rate and refund would technically be a gesture of good will. 

TravelJunkieGirl

I've been a member of the gym for about 15 years, it used to be Virgin Active and moved over to Bannatyne a few years ago, so I haven't seen a contract for years. However, the GM explained to me that I was on the new members tariff rather than a rolling 12month contract, which a new member's tariff should automatically roll over to after the first year.  

They have now put me on the rolling 12-month contract and reduced my monthly payment accordingly.

Alderbank

TravelJunkieGirl said:

Hello!
I mentioned in passing to my partner that my gym membership had gone up again and how high it was. It's gone up 4  times since 2022.  He checked his monthly fee for the same gym and it was considerably less than mine.  When I looked into it, I had been paying more than his current charge for the last three years.

I raised this with the gym manager and he looked into it and confirmed that I had been on the wrong tariff for as far back as they could see and said that they would probably stop taking money until I was 'caught up'. However when he raised this with Bannatyne Head office, apparently they are only willing to refund me the overpayment of the last three months (since I raised the query).

Had I not had the conversation with my partner, then I would have been none the wiser and they would still be overcharging me. 

I believe that as is was their mistake, they should backdate the refunds for as far back as an overpayment can be traced. I think the overpayment is somewhere in the region of £500. 

Do I have a case and what is the best way to pursue it?

Welcome to the forum.

From what you have told us, you have a very straightforward claim. You originally agreed the monthly payments for the sum agreed and agreed subsequent annual increments. You have now calculated what is due to date and you have also calculated what you have paid, so you have paid in advance. Tell Head Office you expect them to suspend taking payments until you have caught up, which will be [calculate date].

This assumes there are not some special terms in the contract such as 'payments made more than 3 months in advance will be forfeit.' However if such terms exist they would probably be considered legally unfair and will not count.

Grumpy_chap

It is not unusual for gym membership to have several rates for the same level of service, or small differences.

It seems as though the OP was on rate "A" and their partner on rate "B".  Both are now on the cheaper rate "B".  

As an aside, is a joint membership available for couples that would save even more?