Who is a member of Bannatynes gym? They are liars!

haylz247
haylz247 Posts: 435
in Chit-Chat
Me and my partner signed up last nov/dec. We were told that after the new year there would be a bigger free weights section. Now about 10 months later...and nothing. TOTAL LIE just to get us signed up. As well as it being a disgusting price (thought it was good but turns out it's not. The free weights is always jammed so my partner just ended up doing his workouts at home!) the staff are so cold. There are the odd few that are friendly, but the others seem like backstabbers.

Has anyone else had this problem with this gym?

I emailed them today saying we want to cancel and told them why. Also, is there anyone i can complain to as they lied about the free weights being expanded?

Thanks :)

Replies

  • ItsTheBeebs
    ItsTheBeebs Posts: 127
    never encountered this gym before!
    good luck with it all!

    The one thing i can say is if they were looking to expand the building to accommodate more free-weights then the planning permission may not have been accepted?

    other then that sounds like they are not a nice gym to be going to!
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    The cardio area is massive. There are at least 12 ellipticals, 16 treadmills, a massive stair machine i rarley see being used, about 6 step machines and 5 rowing machines randomly placed. They could rearrange it to make room for the free weights. I don't think they could expand because of the 2 car parks either side.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I used to go to Bannatynes years ago, but left mainly because it was too far from my flat, and I just joined the local council run gym instead.

    I didn't find the staff that helpful, and I filled in a thing requesting a call back about personal training sessions, and no-one ever called me.

    Remember you have to give 3 months notice too if you want to leave.
  • feast4thebeast
    feast4thebeast Posts: 210 Member
    I used to go to Bannatynes years ago, but left mainly because it was too far from my flat, and I just joined the local council run gym instead.

    I didn't find the staff that helpful, and I filled in a thing requesting a call back about personal training sessions, and no-one ever called me.

    Remember you have to give 3 months notice too if you want to leave.

    is that not providing they have honoured their side of the contract?? I'd read it through because it seems that they have not provided you with good service although that may not be what it says
  • Angellore
    Angellore Posts: 519 Member
    I always remember a few years ago Bannatynes were in the news because they had been given boxes and boxes of Kelloggs nutri grain bars (when they were new) to give away to members. They sold them for 50p each instead! Because of that I have never had a good view of them. Might only be a small thing, but I think it says alot about them.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I always remember a few years ago Bannatynes were in the news because they had been given boxes and boxes of Kelloggs nutri grain bars (when they were new) to give away to members. They sold them for 50p each instead! Because of that I have never had a good view of them. Might only be a small thing, but I think it says alot about them.

    That doesn't surprise me.

    I heard once that a woman wanted to cancel her contract as she had cancer, and they made her pay for the 3 months still.

    My mother-in-law went for a while (well, when i say went, she had a membership!) and she just left and cancelled her direct debit!
  • ladypenel
    ladypenel Posts: 88 Member
    This sounds the same thing that happened to me 4 years ago! They promised all sorts but never delivered and when I emailed them to cancel, giving 3 months notice, they tried to sue me when I stopped the DD saying I hasn't put it in writing! Lasted for 6 months with them emailing, waiting etc! Terrible people/organisation. I'm now a member of DW gyms- great staff, facilities etc etc,
  • Aequitas503
    Aequitas503 Posts: 62
    As far as I know, you should be able to obtain Duncan Bannatyne's email at the club and email him directly. However, I am Australian so have never been to a Bannatyne's, I only know this from reading about him.

    Or try contacting him through his personal website? http://www.bannatyne.co.uk/contact-duncan
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    I think you want to be careful about accusations of lying - unless that was a written condition of your membership, then any "intentions" or "plans" they mentioned won't form a legally binding contract. And an organisation like that would be able to field a strong legal team to defend their good name.

    However, it sounds like you are not getting satisfaction from that gym. What have you done so far to allow them to address your complaints? I'd put things in writing, including your intention to leave, as soon as possible.
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    I think you want to be careful about accusations of lying - unless that was a written condition of your membership, then any "intentions" or "plans" they mentioned won't form a legally binding contract. And an organisation like that would be able to field a strong legal team to defend their good name.

    However, it sounds like you are not getting satisfaction from that gym. What have you done so far to allow them to address your complaints? I'd put things in writing, including your intention to leave, as soon as possible.

    no the woman just said it to us. my parnter said to her weights are his thing so she told him they were going to have a bigger weights section. funnily enough, she doesn't work there anymore!
    that's why we signed up because it seemed like a great gym.
    i emailed them this week saying we were leaving and gave them the reasons why. it's not a friendly gym at all. neither are the people that go! all stuck up
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    As far as I know, you should be able to obtain Duncan Bannatyne's email at the club and email him directly. However, I am Australian so have never been to a Bannatyne's, I only know this from reading about him.

    Or try contacting him through his personal website? http://www.bannatyne.co.uk/contact-duncan

    haha awesome. i will do!
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    This sounds the same thing that happened to me 4 years ago! They promised all sorts but never delivered and when I emailed them to cancel, giving 3 months notice, they tried to sue me when I stopped the DD saying I hasn't put it in writing! Lasted for 6 months with them emailing, waiting etc! Terrible people/organisation. I'm now a member of DW gyms- great staff, facilities etc etc,

    that's terrible! i cancelled the DD because i couldn't afford to pay and still can't haha i wish i had spent that money on stuff i can use at home to workout but then again, i didn't have all that money at once. I'd have had to save.
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    I always remember a few years ago Bannatynes were in the news because they had been given boxes and boxes of Kelloggs nutri grain bars (when they were new) to give away to members. They sold them for 50p each instead! Because of that I have never had a good view of them. Might only be a small thing, but I think it says alot about them.

    That doesn't surprise me.

    I heard once that a woman wanted to cancel her contract as she had cancer, and they made her pay for the 3 months still.

    My mother-in-law went for a while (well, when i say went, she had a membership!) and she just left and cancelled her direct debit!

    that's disgusting! and it's not cheap either.
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    I always remember a few years ago Bannatynes were in the news because they had been given boxes and boxes of Kelloggs nutri grain bars (when they were new) to give away to members. They sold them for 50p each instead! Because of that I have never had a good view of them. Might only be a small thing, but I think it says alot about them.

    greedy. that's what i think of them! i hate duncan bannatyne haha
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Yeah, unfortunately, a verbal contract is only worth the paper it's written on.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    When my partner and I moved into our house 2 years ago we looked at Bannatynes as a gym to consider. I thought it looked good as it had everything, but at £90 for the both of us a month it was quite pricey! Also, my partner didn't like the lack of free weights and benches despite the massive range of cardio equipment.

    We ended up going to a different gym. £45 a month for both of us, no contact. Yes there is no swimming pool or classes or any of the other stuff, but it has a huuuugee free weight section and is a really great gym with great people. So glad I went there, even though I wasn't too keen at the beginning.
  • dcmat
    dcmat Posts: 1,723 Member
    You can't blame the staff, they only follow their leaders example of good customer service: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-15747840
  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    That is so unfortunate...one of the best things about my gym is the staff (Healthtrax) the service there is outstanding and soooo friendly.
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    When my partner and I moved into our house 2 years ago we looked at Bannatynes as a gym to consider. I thought it looked good as it had everything, but at £90 for the both of us a month it was quite pricey! Also, my partner didn't like the lack of free weights and benches despite the massive range of cardio equipment.

    We ended up going to a different gym. £45 a month for both of us, no contact. Yes there is no swimming pool or classes or any of the other stuff, but it has a huuuugee free weight section and is a really great gym with great people. So glad I went there, even though I wasn't too keen at the beginning.

    £90?! jeez. Ours is £58 a month. So it's the same everywhere then i take it? Stupid amount of cardio and hardly and free weights? People don't want to be flabby! lol and also, i get the feeling guys don't want women in that area or on the weight machines. Always got funny looks when i ventured over to the mats.

    We're thinking of joining the gym group. £10.99 a month if we sign up before opening. £15.99 if we join after. No contract either!
  • haylz247
    haylz247 Posts: 435
    You can't blame the staff, they only follow their leaders example of good customer service: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-15747840

    what a horrible man he is. poor woman.

    it bugs me that they lied to get us to sign up.
  • hooperkay
    hooperkay Posts: 463 Member
    Me and my partner signed up last nov/dec. We were told that after the new year there would be a bigger free weights section. Now about 10 months later...and nothing. TOTAL LIE just to get us signed up. As well as it being a disgusting price (thought it was good but turns out it's not. The free weights is always jammed so my partner just ended up doing his workouts at home!) the staff are so cold. There are the odd few that are friendly, but the others seem like backstabbers.

    Has anyone else had this problem with this gym?

    I emailed them today saying we want to cancel and told them why. Also, is there anyone i can complain to as they lied about the free weights being expanded?

    Thanks :)

    Better business bureau, Also can check and see if local TV station has segements, My channel 3 has a "on your side" segements where people complain/commend local businesses.

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