Personal Trainer - Issue with gym

IamtheWalrus

November 2012, I had a personal trainer at my gym (Virgin Active). I paid for 10 sessions and used up 8 before Xmas 2012. I regretfully signed my personal trainer's session form (saying I had effectively taken the session) because my PT said we could do them after Xmas. After Xmas, in 2013, I injured my wrist and my PT told me to get my wrist sorted and come back when done. I went to the doc/physio and my wrist healed. When I tried to arrange the remaining 2 session, my PT said he was busy, repeatedly. He suggested I go to my gym if I wanted a refund. I have.

I went back to the gym this January. The gym have said they will not give me a refund, but have offered to fulfil the remaining 2. I told them I'm not a member of the gym any more and not currently in an exercise regime (I am but with different gym) so 2 random PT sessions would be pointless; out of context as I'm not currently working out. I don't want to take the 2 session because my relationship with the gym has soured.

Yes, I was silly to sign the session sheet but am I being hard done by? If, from a legal standpoint, the gym are in the right, is there anyway I can guilt them? I've said I wanted to rejoin the gym but won'y until I get a satisfactory conclusion to my issue.

What do you think?

runawaybishop

I think you paid for 10 sessions and the gym are fulfilling their end of the bargain.

Oryx

You have changed your mind about taking the sessions, and in that situation, you are not entitled to a refund. The sessions are still available to you. In the same way as if you bought an actual item like a pair of shoes, you could not return them for a refund if you just decided you didn't want them.

If they have said no, I cant see how you can guilt them. The only leverage you would have is if you were going to be a customer of theirs again, and youve already said you wont be. So why would they bother to do something to keep you happy?

Alf Veedersane

If you paid the PT for the 10 sessions then the gym don't owe you.

He fobbed you off suggesting you should deal with the gym.

IamtheWalrus

Oryx wrote: »

You have changed your mind about taking the sessions, and in that situation, you are not entitled to a refund. The sessions are still available to you. In the same way as if you bought an actual item like a pair of shoes, you could not return them for a refund if you just decided you didn't want them.

If they have said no, I cant see how you can guilt them. The only leverage you would have is if you were going to be a customer of theirs again, and youve already said you wont be. So why would they bother to do something to keep you happy?

I agreed to do the extra sessions when my wrist was fixed. I went back and asked for them to be done. The PT said he was too busy, repeatedly. I then went to the gym to complain and they took months to sort it.

They don't know I wont be a member again. I might if this is sorted.

thegreatiam

looks like they have offered to give you the 2 outstanding sessions even tho you have signed a form saying that youve done them. Id say they are being pretty fair about it. its not their fault your circumstances have changed.

You should ask in the legal thread tho, they might know more about the legal situation vis-a-vis your consumer rights

btkm8unsl0w5r4

At this stage the trainer will just make you do Burpees for an hour, write bad reviews online, try get your money off them and forget about it.

IamtheWalrus

Ayla Teeny Rumba wrote: »

At this stage the trainer will just make you do Burpees for an hour, write bad reviews online, try get your money off them and forget about it.

Exactly. The trainer will just go through the motions, clock watching. I'll have paid 40 quid for the experience.

imnothim

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I went back to the gym this January. The gym have said they will not give me a refund, but have offered to fulfil the remaining 2. I told them I'm not a member of the gym any more and not currently in an exercise regime (I am but with different gym) so 2 random PT sessions would be pointless; out of context as I'm not currently working out. I don't want to take the 2 session because my relationship with the gym has soured.

whats the actual point in you pursuing this 14 months later, especially since your programmed and i assume somewhere else now?
is it so that you can try to damage the origianl gym / pt's reputation ?

on the wrist thing being the reason that you stopped training , have you not got legs or even more arms?

IamtheWalrus

imnothim wrote: »

whats the actual point in you pursuing this 14 months later, especially since your programmed and i assume somewhere else now?
is it so that you can try to damage the origianl gym / pt's reputation ?

on the wrist thing being the reason that you stopped training , have you not got legs or even more arms?

It was the PT's decision to postponed the sessions.

The point? I paid 10o quid for something I didn't get.

Mellor

I kinds confused as to what the issue is.
You paid to 10 sessions, you used 8. Then got injured.
12 months later, you are now better. And they've offered you the two sessions that you paid for. But you don't want them.
Is that correct?

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I then went to the gym to complain and they took months to sort it.

Months?

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

I went back to the gym this January. The gym have said they will not give me a refund, but have offered to fulfil the remaining 2.

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

The point? I paid 10o quid for something I didn't get.

But you were offered the sessions very recently. If you want them, you can have them.

IamtheWalrus

Mellor wrote: »

I kinds confused as to what the issue is.
You paid to 10 sessions, you used 8. Then got injured.
12 months later, you are now better. And they've offered you the two sessions that you paid for. But you don't want them.
Is that correct?


Months?



But you were offered the sessions very recently. If you want them, you can have them.

My issue is that the sessions were relevant when I was in a long term regime with my PT. We worked out a diet, plan and had a long term goal. This is what made paying the PT worth it. 2 random PT sessions with a PT who doesn't know me from Adam, who will most likely not want to be there, who does know my history.. pointless. And I'm paying for that experience. It'll be going through the, expensive, motions.

Transform

thats a lot of donkey work for 80 euro

i might add that a good trainer could pick up on what you need to work on in 10mins let alone an hour.

Oryx

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

My issue is that the sessions were relevant when I was in a long term regime with my PT. We worked out a diet, plan and had a long term goal. This is what made paying the PT worth it. 2 random PT sessions with a PT who doesn't know me from Adam, who will most likely not want to be there, who does know my history.. pointless. And I'm paying for that experience. It'll be going through the, expensive, motions.

But it is not their fault that there was a gap in your training.

thegreatiam

I think you are assuming a lot here.

I had a "Random" once of session for an hour with a good trainer I had never met before and he assessed the majority of my issues and set me on the right path going forward.

Within 10 minutes he knows enough of my history and can see enough of my mobility and strength to assess and create a plan. In an hour we can go into depth and I have no idea what he might have been able to do in 2 sessions as I was satisfied that we had done enough in one.

This is a training session you're going to and not a full medical scan. If you have previous conditions tell them when you meet them, if not then they won't need more than 10/15 minutes to assess you. Stop exaggerating the issue and take the last 2 sessions like you have been offered.

You've paid for 10, had 8 and they are trying to give you the last 2 and you're the one being stubborn.

IamtheWalrus

thegreatiam wrote: »

I think you are assuming a lot here.

I had a "Random" once of session for an hour with a good trainer I had never met before and he assessed the majority of my issues and set me on the right path going forward.

Within 10 minutes he knows enough of my history and can see enough of my mobility and strength to assess and create a plan. In an hour we can go into depth and I have no idea what he might have been able to do in 2 sessions as I was satisfied that we had done enough in one.

This is a training session you're going to and not a full medical scan. If you have previous conditions tell them when you meet them, if not then they won't need more than 10/15 minutes to assess you. Stop exaggerating the issue and take the last 2 sessions like you have been offered.

You've paid for 10, had 8 and they are trying to give you the last 2 and you're the one being stubborn.

I'm not being stubborn - I genuinely didn't think the 2 sessions would be any benefit. But maybe a good personal trainer can have a look at my needs and give me enough advice in 2 session.

Thud

even if you had your original PT he'd probably have to reassess you and your wrist after a long lay off.

Make use of the 2 sessions as best you and the PT can or put it down as an €80 life lesson

Mellor

Are your goals drastically different now than they were 15 months ago?
If not then you don't need a new diet plan.
Injuries aside, training history is largely irrelevant. Where you are now and where you want to go matters and it's easy to assess.
What's your current program like?
1 or 2 sessions with a good PT focus on technical aspects, would probably serve you better than 10 sessions being aimlessly told to run, jump, squat, press, etc

IamtheWalrus

The gym have changed their offer. They have said that if I sign up for a 12 month contract, they'll give me a month free.

I have let them know that I find the offer insulting as it's obviously an attempt to get money out of me and that I'll accept the original offer of getting my 2 sessions that I paid for. No response yet.

runawaybishop

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

The gym have changed their offer. They have said that if I sign up for a 12 month contract, they'll give me a month free.

I have let them know that I find the offer insulting as it's obviously an attempt to get money out of me and that I'll accept the original offer of getting my 2 sessions that I paid for. No response yet.

Maybe they will tell you to feck off.

Alf Veedersane

Am I right in saying this is a summary of what happened with the gym:

They offered you 2 sessions with a PT. You said no.

They offered you a 12-month membership at the cost of 11-months. You said no but you said you'd have the 2 sessions with the PT instead.?

Am I missing anything in there?

IamtheWalrus

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

They offered you 2 sessions with a PT. You said no.

No.

They offered. When they offered I reminded them that I was not currently a member of their gym. The representative said she 'has gotten flustered', and confused at what the offer actually was. I told her to find out what the offer is and to come back to me. She came back with the free month offer.

Alf Veedersane

Did you pay the gym for the PT sessions or the PT?

IamtheWalrus

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Did you pay the gym for the PT sessions or the PT?

I paid the gym. The PT set up the direct debit. The PT was a bit dodgy I think. He offered to give me sessions on the QT for cheaper without Virgin knowing. The annoying thing is that the gym is under new ownership and not a Virgin gym any more.

thegreatiam

*looks for more popcorn*

1577

I think you are being a stubborn walrus

The_Gatsby

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

He suggested I go to my gym if I wanted a refund. I have.

I went back to the gym this January. The gym have said they will not give me a refund, but have offered to fulfil the remaining 2.

I paid 10o quid for something I didn't get

Don't see why they should give you a refund really. You've still had 8 sessions so unless you want a refund for the 2 individual sessions you didn't get then a refund makes no sense.

That being said, you paid for 10 sessions. They offered to give you the other 2 sessions, which is what you are entitled to. It seems to me that you're making a big deal over about €20 worth of missed sessions (if you paid €100 for 10) and causing the gym a lot of hassle.

It looks like you're just using this as an excuse to get your money back.

IamtheWalrus

This thread has progressed. I'm not looking a refund now. I want my session, that I paid for.

The_Gatsby wrote: »

It seems to me that you're making a big deal over about €20 worth of missed sessions (if you paid €100 for 10) and causing the gym a lot of hassle. .

I paid around 500 for the 10 sessions.

thegreatiam

you bought sessions through the gym, the trainer did some dodgy stuff to get you more than the original deal without the knowledge of the gym

You signed a paper saying that you completed 10 but only did 8.

now, some time later you want those last 2 sessions.

Im starting to think you dont have a leg to stand on here. Take what ever the gym give you.

From what I can tell, as far as the gym is concerned they have up head their part of the bargain, actually the previous owners held their part of the bargain and the new owners don't owe you a thing.

IamtheWalrus

thegreatiam wrote: »

From what I can tell, as far as the gym is concerned they have up head their part of the bargain, actually the previous owners held their part of the bargain and the new owners don't owe you a thing.

The gym is under new ownership. I am not dealing with the new owners. I'm dealing with the owners that I paid - Virgin.

thegreatiam

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

The gym is under new ownership. I am not dealing with the new owners. I'm dealing with the owners that I paid - Virgin.

but you did sign a form to say you had done the sessions. Even though you havent actually done them?

and if youre dealing with the old owners how can they offer anything such as 13 months membership?

Alf Veedersane

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

This thread has progressed. I'm not looking a refund now. I want my session, that I paid for

The sessions you refused?

Or the ones you said you signed off on getting?

Transform

ah here

IamtheWalrus

A deal has been agreed - I am to get the 2 sessions I have paid for. I would have preferred the money back but, since I've thought about what I can gain from the 2 session, I'm happy with the outcome.

Most of the replies on here come from a typical Irish attitude - let people walk over you, big company knows best, too embarrassed to complain. I'm glad I've stood up for myself.

Oryx

You got what you said they offered you in your first post. You actually wanted money back.

Alf Veedersane

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

A deal has been agreed - I am to get the 2 sessions I have paid for. I would have preferred the money back but, since I've thought about what I can gain from the 2 session, I'm happy with the outcome.

Most of the replies on here come from a typical Irish attitude - let people walk over you, big company knows best, too embarrassed to complain. I'm glad I've stood up for myself.

You got what the company offered in the first place despite the fact you signed off on getting the ten. Well done on really sticking it to The Man.

Mr. CooL ICE

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

A deal has been agreed - I am to get the 2 sessions I have paid for. I would have preferred the money back but, since I've thought about what I can gain from the 2 session, I'm happy with the outcome.

Most of the replies on here come from a typical Irish attitude - let people walk over you, big company knows best, too embarrassed to complain. I'm glad I've stood up for myself.

It wasn't an Irish attitude. Nobody agreed with you because you were wrong from the start and attempting to be an absolute chancer.

Mellor

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

A deal has been agreed - I am to get the 2 sessions I have paid for. I would have preferred the money back but, since I've thought about what I can gain from the 2 session, I'm happy with the outcome.

Most of the replies on here come from a typical Irish attitude - let people walk over you, big company knows best, too embarrassed to complain. I'm glad I've stood up for myself.

Lmfao
Most of the replies here said you should have taken the sessions. What exactly did you do differently?

I'm not sure that accepting their original offer counts as standing up for yourself.

Hanley

Most Irish thread ever on boards.

...and it's not the replies.