The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I would like to know how you would handle the following problem:
I joined an expensive gym and paid for one month. After a few days I figured out that I do not like the gym and I do not want to go there anymore. According to the rules I submit a notice letter, giving notice until the end of the month.
The gym acknowledges my letter, but instead of allowing me use the gym for the remaining days until the end of the month, it cancels my membership right away.
Although I do not want to use the gym, I feel angry and helpless. I somehow want to fight for my right to use the gym. I tried to call and also tried to plan another gym session, just for the sake of it.
I might be able to see this as a boundary issue. You say you don't like the gym so you want to cancel and they have a written policy about how to do so. I recognize you may not agree with their policy but unfortunately you can't change them or how they set it up.
I certainly don't see it as a huge issue, and you seem to be "mullling it through" well. I liked the idea of waiting until the last possible minute to submit the letter.
Maybe an expectations thing - expecting the business to run itself the way you prefer? And I agree with you that it's a crappy policy because if you paid for a month, you should have access for the paid time.
I would speak to a manager and kindly request a guest pass for the remaining days I paid for, or a pro-rated refund for the days I paid but was unable to use. This is using my assertiveness to advocate on my own behalf.
If the manager would not accommodate my request, which is his/her choice, I would share my experience of the gym on Yelp or file a complaint with the BBB if it really bugged me. These would be my options to help inform other consumers and keep me from feeling like a victim.
Gym memberships are notoriously sketchy. I know many military members who could not get their memberships suspended or canceled while they were unexpectedly deployed. Ask around and you will find a local gym that is a bit more reasonable with their customers.
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Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us. -from Pema Chödron's When Things Fall Apart
thanks so much for the responses. Later this week when I am in the area I will try to book a Pilates class and if the gym is sticking to its practice and therefore breaching the contract, there are still head offices to talk to and social networks and internet review sites to post in. I can imagine some employee had a bad day, but this is no reason to change the rules as they like.
I used to be quite harsh with businesses and my favourite reaction used to be avoiding conversation and posting horrible internet reviews. Sometimes I think through Al-Anon I should be happy and content all the time. This goes well as long as things go well, but when I get into conflicts, the real challenge is arising. My gut feeling also tells me to tackle this problem now instead of waiting until the month is over.
