Gym Membership Fee Refund

[Malc.]

I have been a member of a local leisure centre for over three years now. I mostly used the facility to swim where I went daily and swam 64 lengths. However, this time last year I twisted my knee and subsequently damaged the maniscuss. Cutting a long story short, I then stopped swimming and eventually got into the habbit of not going.  Of course with every good intention of going back eventually.

However, I have since racked up almost a year of unused membership and wondered if I have any right to ask for a refund or at least recieve payment in kind for say a years free membership?

I asked the duty manager this very question as I thought I might be within my rights to ask for this. After he had approached the Centre Manager, the answer wasa resounding no.

Any thoughts on this?

[Razor]

Hi Axe,

Sign of the time I think mate.  Have you tried asking for your next years subscription to be discounted?

Failing that, could you not write to the gym group HQ (if it is a leisure chain) and plead your point with them?

If that don't work, you could always go back and slash in their pool : ;D

Ray ;D

[chriswg]

If that don't work, you could always go back and slash in their pool : ;D

I think a dump would be more appropriate! LOL

Seriously though, I dont think you stand a chance. I havent driven my car for 6 months, I wont be getting an insurance rebate. As Ray suggested they might discount your membership for next year if you write a nice letter to the head office (maybe you twisted your knee while tripping in a pot hole in the leisure centre carpark, or slipped on a wet floor with no sign?)

If you dont ask you wont get anything so worth a stab.

[Malc.]

In all honesty, I didn't think for one minute that they would. It did make me wonder though, if I really do have any right to claim a refund. I am going to speak to the ombudsman and get an idea. Its more the principal than anything else, but