jcee Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 Nationwide gym chain Fitness First is facing the wrath of thousands of members after hiking costs by up to an inflation busting 32% for the new year.MoneySavers have not only expressed their anger at the rise but many report the company has made it impossible to cancel their membership before the 1 January increase due to a quirk in its rules (see the Cheap Gyms guide).Fitness First refused to comment officially on the hikes but when MoneySavingExpert.com rang its customer services department this afternoon an agent said every member would see a rise, though some by more than others.He said: "Those who pay higher prices already will see a small rise. Those who pay lower prices may see larger hikes to bring them in line with everyone else."The gym chain sent a batch of letters last week, dated 30 November, to notify members of the jump, and the call centre agent said another batch is due to be sent this week.'False promises'Users have already vented their disappointment on our forum.One member, greezmonkey, says his costs will rise by 32% from £24.95 a month to £32.95 a month, meaning a £96 a year hike to £395.40.He adds: "When I joined six months ago on a promotional rate I queried the contract item where it states membership fees may increase at the club's discretion. I was told this wouldn't happen as I was on a promotional rate."Now I've got a letter telling me the membership would increase. Since nobody at the club wanted to deal with this I ended up calling the head office and got the 'don't care' attitude."Don't get caught out like myself and others on false promises."In one letter sent to an MSE team member, he has been given a 24% rise from £42 per month to £51.95. Over a year he would pay £623.40 under the new regime instead of £502 – £119.40 more.The letter puts the increase down to the VAT rise from 17.5% to 20% in January and "rising costs". The official Consumer Prices Index inflation measure currently stands at 3.2%.Cancellation problemsTo make matters worse, many users who choose to terminate their membership will still have to pay the higher costs until 30 January even though they are under the impression they can cancel by giving 30 days' notice.However, Fitness First says the 30 days starts at the beginning of the month after you give notice.Those whose letters are dated 30 November cannot possibly cancel in time given they could only have got their letters on 1 December, at the earliest.What can you do about it?If you want to remain with Fitness First, threaten to cancel to try to haggle a better deal.When the MSE team member haggled with customer services, he was offered a £6.95 drop in monthly costs to £45 but on the proviso he only has access to one gym. His current membership allows him to use multiple Fitness First centres.One MoneySaver has also reported getting 15 months for the price of 12 by paying for a year up-front.If you're still unhappy or want to switch anyway, see our Cheap Gyms guide to help cut costs. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/family/2010/12/fitness-first-to-hike-costs-by-up-to-a-third Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lemons Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 Free back pack though. Holla.(I don't go to the gym) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Bit Better Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 Woah woah... They can't put up prices AGAIN. They just put up the price on me like a couple months ago. 32 percent!? That puts me over £50!! No way I'm paying over £50. They do that and I'm gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest M12 Part 2 Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 men shouldnt be training in FF tbh. Gym for pansies and fat people 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lieutenant Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 Got the letter yesterday, i was ANGRY!!£30.95 to £40.95HELL NOWas speaking to the manager of my one today and she's angry as well. Said to write an email to Jon Gamble which I shall be doing tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skenghis Khan Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 men shouldnt be training in FF tbh. Gym for pansies and fat people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rorschach Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 Lol at going to fitness first anywaynot a serious gym Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YFSD Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 Left there last month for Esporta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Bit Better Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 Esporta in my area is £60 a month. 'Llow it. Lol at me paying almost £50 and not even being able to use the other gyms coz I have "home membership".The killer is I was gonna join some next gym for something stupid like £20 a month a few months back coz they had an offer. But I missed the deadline while I decided if the equipment was still useable or likely to kill me at some point. Now I feel stupid coz gonna have to go there and pay whatever the f*ck they're charging. FF can f*ck off. About £50. You mad!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Bit Better Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 f*ck, just realised I go same gym as Lewis. KMT. I'm done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lieutenant Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 what does that mean?/I might join LDG/One chick has just started working at Virgin Active and has offered me her free membership. The closest is Chigwell hmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquaman Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 lol you women are f*cked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skenghis Khan Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 u man in london shud be supporting sum of these smaller gyms tbh.better atmosphere aswell usually 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Waka Flocka Dave Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 However, Fitness First says the 30 days starts at the beginning of the month after you give notice.LMFAO thats f*ckedimma see if i can extend my free membership at my gym still think it runs out in 2 months, had it one month n ive been twice dnt even know how much they gonna charge me after that runs out, im sure its a discounted rate though 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black. Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 yeah its f*cked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Bit Better Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 what does that mean?/I might join LDGIt means that even if I haven't got a letter yet, it's coming. I thought maybe they weren't doing the increase but obviously they are.Yeah LDG is the gym I meant above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Bit Better Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 The dude at FF said it's unlikely mine will go up. Said it's for the people that have been with the gym for years and are paying like £25. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lieutenant Posted December 11, 2010 Report Share Posted December 11, 2010 Hmm I've been with them for like 2 and a half years and mines gone up £10. My boy joined in Jan and his has gone up £5./From Jan the Romford branch is gonna be upgraded to a 'platinum' gym so I think your membership is automaticlly upgraded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Bit Better Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 A platinum gym? The ROMFORD gym is going to become platinum!?Don't piss me off.I thought platinum was just for the f*ck*ng central London ones?! IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A f*ck*ng SWIMMING POOL! IT'S ANY BASIC GYM! WHAT THE f*ck ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT!!!??!?!?!?!?I still haven't got a letter informing me of any of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Bit Better Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 Lewis, have two gyms now. One in Chadwell Heath and one in Romford, near the station. They're also doing an offer for £25 a month and you get the first 2 months free. Have to join in December. I'm almost definitely joining. Gonna check out the Romford one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojo Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 A platinum gym? The ROMFORD gym is going to become platinum!?Don't piss me off.I thought platinum was just for the f*ck*ng central London ones?! IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A f*ck*ng SWIMMING POOL! IT'S ANY BASIC GYM! WHAT THE f*ck ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT!!!??!?!?!?!?I still haven't got a letter informing me of any of this.lmfao the rage.FF are full of sh*t, learnt this a couple years back.£50 a month for gym is madness, I pay £20 at mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taurus Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 I pay £30 at LA Fitness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imhim Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 BEST GYM IVE BEEN TO WAS DAVID LLOYD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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