MyGym Swords Closed Down

TheBigYin

Hi,
I went to the Gym tonight to find doors closed, lights off and members upset with talk of the Gym in Financial difficulty and has now closed. Their Facebook Page is now offline with no updates to members!

Anyone know anymore info?

baldbear

Did you pay by credit card fot membership? You might get money back if you did.

Dogtanian07

Same here. Apparantley went into liquidation and the owners/managers took all the equipment on sat night.

People who recently joined and paid the year up front wont be happy.

Pity the staff. Probably didnt get any notice.

And to think the owners were still taking cash for new members knowing that they were likely to go into liquidation.

Was such a handy gym

Claire de Lune

Same here

I just rang the Malahide branch and asked them if they were still open, and yes it is.

The lady on the phone said that Mi Gym Swords and Mi Gym Malahide were 2 different companies and that Swords is gone into liquidation, but Malahide remains open. Do you think that's possible? I find it hard to believe...

She also said that Swords members can use the Malahide gym or get refunds.

My husband was about to join in Malahide, but he might hold off now!!

Dogtanian07

A quick search for MiGym on the companies reg office reveals just one company called migym fitness. Company number 450698.

I wonder is it really in liquidation. They probably just closed swords because it wasn't bringing in the cash

TheBigYin

Pitty was a Handy Gym Alright!

At least they are saying members can use Malahide. But I wonder if that will last long.

Barry.Oglesby

I know a few guys who worked there. Sorry to hear that.

Beffy

There was no mention of transferring membership in the official email that went around confirming the closure. Doubtful it'll happen considering they're claiming they are different companies to MUgym.
So much for the "leak" that forced them to close.

The Situation86

It's a disgrace how this was dealt with. I went up tonight to find the clamp and chain on the door. The least they could do is transfer the membership nut that would just mean the place is going to be completely packed and this is not what I signed up to when joining.

I'm going contact the company's registration office to see if MU gym was registered under the same company as Migym. I'm one of the people paid up for another year. Following brief discussion with my a pal who works in a large law firm he said that if the Malahide branch continues trading and is found to be a related party in the same Group then they would have to cover the other entity's debts. They could be proved as being related parties in a number of ways, namely the fact that they shared a website, may have had a shared bank accounts and possibly paid employees that worked in both gyms using one payslip. I remember at Xmas the Malahide gym was made available to members as Swords closed on a half day, again if these are 'seperate entities' this would not be allowed due to lack of insurance.

Does anybody know the liquidator as I would be interested in asking these questions.

I think people should spread the word about this. It's not feasible that one gym has gone into liquidation with the other operating fine as a going concern. I reckon they may be running on borrowed time and hoping to get as many members signed up before they lock doors there too.

Barry.Oglesby

As far as I know, and I'm open to correction, MUGym in Malahide had something to do with Malahide United and I think might have been a cooperative venture with the council. That's just something I heard.

thelucozadekid

Mi-Gym has ceased business as per the email I received this evening. To be honest it had been coming for a while. For a start the water has not been working properly for about a year. There was always some excuse about waiting for a part and in the last few the water never worked properly. Also, the machines were starting to look a bit worn and nothing seemed to be replaced nor fixed. The tvs on the machines were always impossible to watch and most of the channels did not work. They also changed the name from Mi-Gym Swords to Mi Gym Select which is when I assume they split the two gym businesses into two separate entities so that the profitable gym Mu-Gym would be safe if the Swords one went into liquidation. It is a shame the gym went under because it was very handy. I assume that in terms of being paid back the members will be quite low down the list of creditors. People who paid by credit card may stand a better chance than those who paid cash.

On another point the email I received tonight (see below) gave the email address of every member of the gym which is totally unacceptable and I am sure in breach of Data Protection legislation. Note it says "Dear Swords Member"
Dear Swords Member,

I wish to advise you that it is with great regret that we are to cease the operation of MiGym Fitness. MiGym Fitness in Swords is to be liquidated and will close effective immediately.

Despite much effort on our part we have, like many companies before us, succumbed to the devastating force of the recession and can no longer operate as a viable business.

This decision has not come lightly and I can assure you that we have spent the last number of months trying to find solutions that may keep us afloat including operational adjustments, internal restructuring and management reinvestments but to no avail. We have suffered particular pressure due to exorbitant rents, rates and utility prices, as well as labour market restraints and downward price pressure.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your custom and loyalty to MiGym over the years and once again express my deep regret that it has come to this.

Sincerely,

The Directors


Noel Cowman

Mark Devoy

Alan Fitzpatrick

DL Saint

I think Image Gym are offering some sort of a cheap rate membership deal to all those MyGym members that just lost a place to train, it may be worth looking into.

Barry.Oglesby

DL Saint wrote: »

I think Image Gym are offering some sort of a cheap rate membership deal to all those MyGym members that just lost a place to train, it may be worth looking into.

If anything comes out of this I hope it's continued success for Image- a great locally owned gym.

The Davestator

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

As far as I know, and I'm open to correction, MUGym in Malahide had something to do with Malahide United and I think might have been a cooperative venture with the council. That's just something I heard.

Thats correct. MU = Malahide United.

Pity to see another club closed. All the best to the staff etc.

simon.c

Yes such a pity it closed. Everyone from the owners and all the staff were lovely to deal with and i really enjoyed training there.
I wish the owners Noel, Mark & Mugym the very best in the future.

dario28

Probably wont be long before the Malahide one closes, as alot of members are getting fed up and leaving , the way they manage the gym is an absolute joke.

Telling members that they do too many classes and you can only do X amount per day, its totally over subscribed even though the managers promised it wouldnt be when TF shut down. Trying to pull a fast one on their "Free Month" offer etc etc etc.

TheBigYin

Does anyone Know what Image Gym is like?

What prices equipment is like etc?

The Situation86

simon.c wrote: »

Yes such a pity it closed. Everyone from the owners and all the staff were lovely to deal with and i really enjoyed training there.
I wish the owners Noel, Mark & Mugym the very best in the future.

As a paid up member for the next 10 months I wish them no such luck. I intend bringing this whole story to a more public forum and will be following up on getting back my money. I saw them signing up new members only last week which is pretty low.

I have no doubt that not all staff realised how bad the problem was or that closure was imminent. I always found staff to be very friendly and wish them the best in the future.

As for management I hope that MU gym suffers the same fate as Migym and would warn current members and staff that this is probably how it will end up with such poor management in place.

Dogtanian07

It appears that some (perhaps all) of the swords staff are now employed in malahide.

They were taking membership fees upfront in swords knowing well that they intended to close the place and remove the equipment. Thats just unethical whatever way you look at it

On paper migym swords and migym malahide may be separate companies but they have the same owners, same website and same staff. So in substance they are the same

King of Kings

TheBigYin wrote: »

Does anyone Know what Image Gym is like?

What prices equipment is like etc?

if you're into weights then it's the place to go.

I loved it there till work forced me to go elsewhere.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Image-gym-swords/311007808917245?sk=info

They're doing 270e for the year for miGYm members.

pinkypinky

DL Saint wrote: »

I think Image Gym are offering some sort of a cheap rate membership deal to all those MyGym members that just lost a place to train, it may be worth looking into.

I believe Energie is doing something similar.

Shame about Mi Gym. It was great for Swords to have competition in this area, and I'm sorry for the people who have lost out.

kennyb3

For those interested you can sign up to www.cid.ie (on rochford brady site) and do a directors search at a charge of €5, that will quickly tell you about the directors above and whether they are seperate companies.

Lou09

The awful thing is that they filed for bankruptcy nearly a whole month ago (because their creditors meeting is May 1st in the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley, creditors meetings are arranged 30 days after filing for bankruptcy) but yet continued to take customers full years fees up to last week! Was up by Mugym at the weekend and saw one of the directors (of both gyms) looking very guilty! it makes sense now.

Information about the company (and its odd company address) and the liquidation is available on the website
insolvencyjournal.ie/home_more.../MIGYM_Fitness_Limited.aspx

During the creditors meeting I think objections can be made towards declaring them officially bankrupt.....MUGYM might be in trouble then if someone can prove they are linked.
Has anyone actually gotten a refund at all? I heard of a few people using mugym with no problems yet, but that gym doesnt really suit me at all, surely they should be offering this option officially or would that prove that the two companies are connected?

eoinsie74

Beffy wrote: »

There was no mention of transferring membership in the official email that went around confirming the closure. Doubtful it'll happen considering they're claiming they are different companies to MUgym.
So much for the "leak" that forced them to close.

I was passing migym at 2.30am into the Sunday morning and saw a couple of staff members with all of the equipment layed out on the ground outside the premises beside the carpark of the shoppIng centre. I thought "great they're getting new equipment in". Went up later on the Sunday to read a notice stuck to the locked front door stating that they were closed till the Tuesday because of water problems.

But of a sneaky one to allow them a few days to clear the place! Amateurs really.

c1979

I have been a member of image before it's ok but was wondering what Energie or Alsa is like?

Will miss migym it was a good gym

Hi Lads

I was also a member of Migym...been going for a few years now, big shame its gone.

Is anyone on here a member of Energie?

Firstly....what is the gym like, I've heard mixed reviews, not too bothered about the price, would more just be if its clean enough and if you don't have to wait for ages to use some of the machines.

Secondly...the changing rooms & showers, are they open or are there cubicles....sounds silly but big thing for me !

Any feedback most welcome!!

Beffy

I've been doing a tour of the local gyms lately.

I didn't like Energie because of the scumbags hanging around outside it. Don't wanna have to worry about my car getting broken into anytime I go to work out.

Anyone know why the weights area is so dark? I went with my partner for a tour, the staff member asked what we'd be interested in, we both said weights. We then had to ask to go over and look at the weights area as he'd shown us everywhere but that area. I didn't see the changing rooms/shower area. We won't be joining.

c1979

went up to energie last night, they had many sets of dumbells more than migym but I'd say it would be pretty packed between 5-8 pm. not many lights working in the free weights area and seems very small for such a huge gym. never got to see the changing room either.

Was up in ALSA also, tiny free weights area. Sports link in Santry is too expensive coz you have to pay 4 euros each time. Image down the village might be the only option. gonna miss migym it was the best gym in swords

Dogtanian07

I joined energie.

Good:
Open from 6 am to 10 pm Mon-Friday
Loads of classes
Staff seem friendly enough
Pool if your into that

Bad:
People just leave dumbells all over the floor
Guys training their shoulders all evening in the Squat Rack!!! Nooo its for legs
Its bust in the evening's as well but more members means they probably wont go bust

Dogtanian07

Oh and AlSAA is a good club if your looking for overall membership benefits and use of the pool, running track etc. Free weights area is awful though

Best gym for pure weights appears to be image but its a tiny gym

Dogtanian07

Sounds good Dogtanian, quick silly question, are the showers / changing rooms open plan or are there cubicles too?

Dogtanian07 wrote: »

I joined energie.

Good:
Open from 6 am to 10 pm Mon-Friday
Loads of classes
Staff seem friendly enough
Pool if your into that

Bad:
People just leave dumbells all over the floor
Guys training their shoulders all evening in the Squat Rack!!! Nooo its for legs
Its bust in the evening's as well but more members means they probably wont go bust

Also, how much was it for you? How much was the up front & monthly fee or did you pay a years membership?

Cheers

billyhead

I would join Image gym in Swords if I were you. It can get a little cramped when busy but it has a power cage, plenty of free weights, good atmosphere and plenty of members willing to spot for you when needed. The lad at the recption desk Enda is a sound chap too who is always willing to impart some friendly advice on training and diet etc. He has competed to so knows his stuff. The only downside is the shower and changin room area which needs a bit of an upgrade and the lockers aren't great

Sharker

I joined Energie.. €49 a month... they will waive the admin / joining fee if you show your MiGym swipe

Yea, I joined too on Monday, quite happy with it, better than I was expecting and not a busy or cramped as I was expecting.

It's still no migym, but it will do

mood

All those who are out of pocket should meet up and try to sort it out together. A solicitors letter or something won't cost very much if a lot of people chip in. The owners/managers sound like a nasty lot.

fishtank5

mu gym has since changed hands to platinum gym this feb

seems t=you can bring a horse to water but cant make him drink

cant get my head around how you loose two gyms in this day and age with the demand for fitness classes / membership


best of luck to platuinum, can only improve now