Misleading, Unsympathetic and Bad Service - Please Never Join Virgin Active

<p>I joined Virgin Active Health the Newmarket Branch in Alberton, Gauteng in August 2015. At the time I was working as a Warehouse Administrator for a company in Robertsham, Gauteng. Upon registering, the staff was very friendly as it was the opening of the Newmarket branch. As an opening special, I signed a contract for 2 years with a discount price of R360 per month. During my application to join, I was not made aware of the cancelation terms and cancelation fee. It felt as if the whole contract signing was rushed to get it over with. I was also told that I would receive an email within the following week with a copy of my signed contract. Up to today, I have still not received my copy of the contract.</p> <p> </p> <p>I made use of the gym's services on a daily basis for the following 2 - 3 months. At the end of October 2015, I was retrenched at the company I worked for. Knowing that I cannot afford my gym membership anymore, I sent an email to the Virgin Active Health Club Customer Care explaining my situation on the same day I was retrenched. I received an email stating that my email was received and I will be contacted by them. A month or two later I was still waiting to hear from Virgin Active concerning my email and my situation. I sent another mail early in 2016. Again I received a mail stating that I will be contacted. In February 2016 I received a mail from the Newmarket Branch Club General Manager stating that the cancelation fee of about R2200 is effident and he asked if I have any other options. At that stage of time I did not have the money to cancel my membership as I was still unemployed. I rep**** to his email telling him that I have no other way of paying and I have proof of my retrenchment. For a month or two later I still have not received a reply to my last mail. I received a call from a lady working at the Newmarket branch a few days later. She said I must bring my retrenchment documents to the branch. The following day I did as she asked and I took all my retrenchment documents to her. She made copies of my documents and promised to send it to head office to see if they can do anything for me. </p> <p> </p> <p>By April 2016 I still have not heard anything from Virgin Active. In the beginning of April 2016, I sent a mail to Virgin Active stating how pathetic their service was and how unhappy I am about Virgin Active. Every month since I registered the debit order went off on my bank account. By the time my bank account was already in the negative from the debit order fees. A day or two later I received an email from the general branch manager stating that it was the first time he heard of this case. He also asked who the person was that I went to see concerning the retrenchment documents. . I gave him the name of the lady that helped me and the same day, I received a call from the lady stating that she has not heard from head office yet. She also promised to call them and give me an answer within a week's time.</p> <p> </p> <p>A few days later I received a call from the lady at Virgin Active. She said that she spoke to head office and they are prepared o freeze my membership for the following 4 months at no cost and also to wright off my previously outstanding membership fees. I sent her a mail, asking her to send me an email which I can use as proof or reference if I have any questions or problems. I also sent an email to the general manager explaining what she said is going to happen. </p> <p> </p> <p>The 4 months passed and in the beginning of September 2016 my freeze period was over. By that time I was still looking for a job. I was still unemployed and due to no income, I was forced to move back to my parents in KZN. Beginning of September the debit order went off on my bank account. There was no money in my account and the debit order didn't go through again. A few days later I was contacted by Virgin Active asking why the debit order didn't go through. I explained everything that happened and also that I were still unemployed. The person said it was my problem and I have to pay. In the middle of September 2016 I sent an email to the lady that helped me freeze my membership. I explained to her that I was still unemployed and because of my situation I had to move back to KZN. I also informed her about the phone call I received from Virgin Active a few days earlier. </p> <p> </p> <p>I never received a reply from her. The debit order went off at the end of every month and each time I would receive a call from Virgin Active wanting to know why they haven't received payment. And every time I explained the whole story. It went on like that up to the end of November 2016. After that the debit order didn't go off again and I never received any calls or mail from Virgin Active again. It is January 2017 now and I am still looking for work. I am also still living at my parent's expense.</p> <p> </p> <p>This morning I received a sms from Virgin Active stating that my account was handed over to MBD INC and that I must re-activate a debit order on my account. On the sms there is also a contact number and an account number. This is so unfair. Now they want to take me to court because of money I do not have. They have proof of my retrenchment but they are still refusing to cancel my membership. They will not rest till I am on the street. After all the bad service and the struggle it took for them to try and help me, I am still in the same situation with lawyers handling my case now.</p> <p> </p> <p>I am tired of everything and I would highly recommend everyone to stay as far away as Virgin Active as possible. They do not care about their clients but only your money.</p>