David Lloyd Membership Fee to increase 13.5%!

sheslookinhot

stuartp2000 said:

13.5% has the club changed bands?

Mine has gone you / will be going you by 3.4% I think the T&C is if they increase in contract at more than inflation (RPI July) + 1% then you can request a cancellation.

I will be cancelling mine in April when the 12 months is up, the fees really do not support the standard of the club.
Things are constantly closed, the place is always so busy that is uncomfortable and getting on equipment is a nightmare and dont even mention the car parking. 

That contributes to how they increase their prices. My monthly fee increased by 15%. 

Anyone know what the standard single person platinum fee is ?

Grumpy_chap

sheslookinhot said:

Anyone know what the standard single person platinum fee is ?

Is there such a thing?
DL keep all their membership rates hard to access and you can only get a quote by logging details and requesting a call back.
The final price might vary widely for the same thing.
This might lead to some of the steeper price changes.  If the price was "discounted" to lure an individual away from another local gym, the price might then rise more swiftly.  I don't know.  Only speculating, but it seems a distinct possibility.
Our local DL is a fantastic facility but clearly - judging from the car park - not concerned with customers who have a price sensitivity.

timothydavidnicholson

Looking for others in the same boat.

I'm a joint member at David Lloyd West End, Southampton. Joined April 2023 via GymFlex (BBC
salary sacrifice) on Club Plus at £163/month joint. Pool and spa were closed for about 8
months (Jun 2025 - Jan 2026) for refurbishment — we paid full fees throughout.

Come renewal in March 2026, David Lloyd have restructured the tiers. Club Plus no longer
includes spa access, multi-club access, or guest passes. The only way to keep our current
level of access is Platinum at £318/month — a 95% increase.

In October 2025, I emailed DL West End specifically asking whether I'd still have spa access
after my April 2026 renewal. They replied in writing: "Yes, this is correct." I even asked
a follow-up to confirm — again, "yes."

Their own T&Cs (clause A18a) cap annual fee increases at RPI+1% or 3%, whichever is higher.
A 95% increase plainly breaches this. They never sent the A18b notice required for increases
above the cap.

DL's response at every stage has been the same: "Your contract is with GymFlex, not us —
take it or leave it." But GymFlex's own T&Cs (clause 3.1.2) explicitly say DL's terms govern
the membership.

I've been through their full internal complaints process (Stage 1: Lee Chatwin, Stage 2:
escalated to Regional Manager). Also filed with Trading Standards and sent a Letter Before
Action for a small claims court action which starts at teh end of this month if its not resolved. Costs £125 so well worth having a go.

Has anyone else experienced this, particularly via GymFlex? Has anyone had success
challenging DL on pricing or tier restructures?

Aylesbury_Duck

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81934180#Comment_81934180

The challenge I see is that DL are correct - your contract is with a third party. And I think the other thing is that if the Club Plus price has risen in accordance with that allowed in the contract, they haven't done anything wrong there. You're comparing two different levels of membership.

What have you claimed for at small claims court? How much, and for what? On the face of it, I can't see what you'd win but the threat of it might generate a different response from DL if they want to keep you.

user1977

When you say "come renewal in March 2026" do you mean your previous contract is ending and you have the choice of whether or not to renew on the terms they're quoting? Or are you "tied in" in some other way?

Grumpy_chap

Why did you write to DL in October asking about what would happen at the renewal in March? That seems rather premature unless there is something else you know that has not been declared in the thread.

DL seem correct in that you are only a member via a third party so any queries you have need to follow that contractual chain. What do GymFlex say?