My wife joined a gym at a rate of X dollars per month. We paid for a year in advance as a lump sum.
At the time she joined, the gym had free child care for up to two hours. This was basically what decided us that this would be the gym to join.
Now, about a month later, the gym has decided to start charging for child care. The amount charged, for our two kids, is over half of X. So now, a month in, she’s effectively going to have to pay over 150% of X.
Now the contract we signed said nothing about child care. And the sales rep never promised they’d never start charging for it. (And the contract had one of those clauses to the effect that no verbal promise made by the sales rep is valid anyway.)
But this just sucks. We were intending to pay one amount of money, and now will have to pay a different amount of money. (Not that the gym will require us to pay for child care, it will just require us to pay if she brings a child… which, to be clear, is, for practical purposes, a requirement, as things stand this year.)
Cancellation of contract costs about two fifths of what we paid for the entire year.
I have no legal case here, (though I am thinking about calmly and logically throwing around a few loaded terms like “bait and switch”) but I really want them to–and think they should–either comp our child care for some longish period of time or else refund the rest of the year.
As the title says, this will probably not work. But I’m going to try it anyway.
Good luck. As mentioned the words “false advertising” help, as does “I have a lot of friends, and an online blog.” I would give them the option of giving me a refund or free child care until the end of my contract. Let us know how it works out for you.
When I read your title, I thought you were being pessimistic to think that it wouldn’t work. After I read your post, I’m thinking that you’re being optimistic to even try.
It might be worth a phone call to the Consumer Protection division of your state Attorney General’s office. They may give you some advice, or allow you to file a complaint that they would then investigate.
Sorry to jump in so very late on this currently inactive thread, but I didn’t notice it until now. Frylock, I don’t suppose you paid with a credit card? If so, that usually gains you a little extra clout if you complain to the credit card company and dispute the charge. I know some time has gone by, but it can’t hurt, especially if you are a gold or platinum card member.
By the way, the free babysitting at the local YMCA is why I started going there more often, even though it was much more expensive than the cheap-ass Planet Fitness that’s nearer me. So $10/month vs. $60/month with free babysitting is a no-brainer, even when I don’t include the rock-climbing…
which, to be clear, is, for practical purposes, a requirement, as things stand this year.)