Westwood Membership contract issue

u_mirin

Hi need some legal advice on a predicament,

I signed up for a membership in westwood Leopardstown on a student rate. I wasn't asked for a usit card just a student card. A few month later I noticed that I had been charged @ 75 full rate not 55 student rate. Upon querying this I had been told that I need a usit card for student rate and would be refunded when I brought it in. After obtaining a usit card they now have told me I'm back on student rate but won't be refunded my 7 months (140e) in excess pay.

Surely negligence is on their behalf and not mine?

moc8827

I've had issues with Westwood before regarding contract.

The best thing to do is just say you're cancelling your membership if they don't sort it out. Don't worry about your contract, or direct debit. Just tell them you're going to cancel it if they don't refund you immediately.

Forget about getting legal. As soon as you start giving them hassle, they'll sort it out immediately. There's loads of gyms out there crying out for business at the moment, they should be glad to have any customers.

ted1

As a student you should look at some of the cheaper clubs like Ben Dunne

onelessprob

Amazing. I was on off-peak membership (55e/month) for 15 months until last year in WW, at a different branch. I went one bank holiday morning as I was passing by, and asked if I could use the gym, even though it was technically on-peak hours. The girl at the desk chirpily informed me that I actually had full membership. I went back through my bank statements, and sure enough I had been upgraded from off-peak to on-peak after the initial 12 month period.

Upon asking why my contract had been changed without my consent to a more expensive plan, nobody knew. But I have never seen a plan metamorphose before, some someone changed it. When I requested the difference of 20e X3 for the months when I was charged for a benifit which i did not ask for, sign for or use, I was told that that would not be possible, but they would be happy to change my plan back to off peak.

I said I wanted to cancel my membership, and they said that I had to give one months notice. Direct debit cancelled, happy ex-member currently. I actually really regret not taking that further looking back... Such a poorly administered company. Needless to say I still get weekly circulars, the stamps alone could have refunded the 60e by now!

u_mirin

Alright so just to give everyone an update. I rang consumer rights group, and basically the most likely option is for me to launch a formal complaint in written format (so i have proof), if their response isn't satisfactory then I can bring it to the small claims court.

The main problem in the Westwood Leopardstown is a thuggish general manager with poor customer relations skills. My friend wrote on their facebook page complaining about the quality of some of their machines, after three requests to speak to a manager, and his membership was terminated. It wasn't abusive he just posted a picture of a broken machine which had been broken for some time. At the premium rate you pay in WW you really expect a better service.

u_mirin

onelessprob wrote: »

Amazing. I was on off-peak membership (55e/month) for 15 months until last year in WW, at a different branch. I went one bank holiday morning as I was passing by, and asked if I could use the gym, even though it was technically on-peak hours. The girl at the desk chirpily informed me that I actually had full membership. I went back through my bank statements, and sure enough I had been upgraded from off-peak to on-peak after the initial 12 month period.

Upon asking why my contract had been changed without my consent to a more expensive plan, nobody knew. But I have never seen a plan metamorphose before, some someone changed it. When I requested the difference of 20e X3 for the months when I was charged for a benifit which i did not ask for, sign for or use, I was told that that would not be possible, but they would be happy to change my plan back to off peak.

I said I wanted to cancel my membership, and they said that I had to give one months notice. Direct debit cancelled, happy ex-member currently. I actually really regret not taking that further looking back... Such a poorly administered company. Needless to say I still get weekly circulars, the stamps alone could have refunded the 60e by now!

Email them a complaint and threaten further action, its never too late and you have the moral satisfaction of it also

moc8827

u_mirin wrote: »

Alright so just to give everyone an update. I rang consumer rights group, and basically the most likely option is for me to launch a formal complaint in written format (so i have proof), if their response isn't satisfactory then I can bring it to the small claims court.

The main problem in the Westwood Leopardstown is a thuggish general manager with poor customer relations skills. My friend wrote on their facebook page complaining about the quality of some of their machines, after three requests to speak to a manager, and his membership was terminated. It wasn't abusive he just posted a picture of a broken machine which had been broken for some time. At the premium rate you pay in WW you really expect a better service.

Good to hear. Fair play for taking it further. After hearing onelessprobs story, I'm glad you didn't take my advice and take the easy route. There are better run gyms out there, with better value.