What is the best way to go about getting a refund?

[godson112]

I'm a bit miffed as during my first year of university, when I applied for accommodation, apparantly I ticked a box that also signed me up for a £100 gym membership for the year.

The whole year at university, I never once used this facility, booked an induction or so much as looked at a treadmill. I e-mailed the university asking if I am entitled to a refund as I can't understand on what planet is it fair that I should pay £100 for something I never used.

They wrote back with a silly excuse about how when I applied for accommodation, I was shown twice during the application process that I had opted in for gym membership, and that suffices as a warning. I still don't agree that I should have to pay the money.

What would be the best way to go about handling this do you guys think? I don't want to seem too rude but obviously I want to seem firm. Suggestions?

 

[blackbeltninja]

^Not sure you can.

I suppose their logic is "you're at varsity now; you must be bright enough to be admitted here to know what you're ticking on this form."

-d-

 

[rareboy]

Oh for God's sakes. Stop whining.

You checked the box.

Take responsibility.

And pay more careful attention to what you check off in the future.

It is all part of growing up.

 

[Beachguyj]

There is nothing you can do. You signed the contract. You should have read it closer. If you felt you were tricked and it was hidden you should make it known to everyone, posting online if you can, not to check that box off. They probably make a nice profit from it, jut chalk it off to a learning experience.

And 100 pounds a year is a great deal for a gym membership. To bad they didn't send you reminders to use it. Maybe you can write a letter to the head of the university or find out which branch governs it in relation to your rights (regulatory commission if there is one) and send them a letter to. If you raise enough of a stink you may get your money back.

 

[GaGaloo]

Sorry but if you sign a contract then legally you've agreed to all the terms and are bound by them.

 

[gsdx]

Life Lessons 101 - Read The Fine Print

 

[mbamike]

In my opinion, I think you are shit out of luck. You signed a contract, was warned twice about it, proceeded to sign up for a gym membership anyway. Now, you want out after the fact. You have no foundation to stand upon.

Take this down as a life lesson to pay attention to details when dealing with money.

 

[racer2438]

There is nothing you can do,

1. You checked the box
2. it is your respondsibility to make sure it is done right
3. they told you 2x's it was checked
4. you waited all this time to ask about it- it is to late
5. does this old saying ring a bell--->

dont cry over spilled milk.

you can kiss that money long gone and you should have just gone to the GYM..

your in a University and you dont double check you paperwork...


does wanker ring a bell.....

 

[cockbrain]

Oh for God's sakes. Stop whining.

You checked the box.

Take responsibility.

And pay more careful attention to what you check off in the future.

It is all part of growing up.

Yeah, take responsibility...just like rareboy's mom did when she fed him that bowl of lead when he was young making him completely retarded.

 

[Seasoned]

It just might have to be £100 towards what I call tuition in the school of life. I think it would be worth trying to meet with the person who is ultimately in charge of gym memberships. If they record who uses the gym there would be no record of your attendance. I would politely askfor the refund and if that doesn't work a discount on membership next year.

 

[cockbrain]

I would pursue a refund. It seems like a scam that nets the University a quick 100 pounds. And it sounds utterly unfair. You did not actively ask for this membership. And this checking of the box method is clearly easily done and could just as easily be a mistake. They should give you the money back.

I would go directly to the President of the University or the Vice President and no one in between and state my case. Be careful how you do it and aware of all the aspects of your side.

Let us know how you make out.

 

[cockbrain]

It just might have to be £100 towards what I call tuition in the school of life. I think it would be worth trying to meet with the person who is ultimately in charge of gym memberships. If they record who uses the gym there would be no record of your attendance. I would politely askfor the refund and if that doesn't work a discount on membership next year.

You just beat me soreknees in posting and I wholeheartedly agree with you!

 

[bankside]

You didn't miss the money at the time, did you? At least not enough to question why the fees were £100 more than you expected.

After ticking the box and waiting a year, they're entitled to believe you were serious about giving them the money. It isn't their fault you were mistaken and they shouldn't have to pay now.

 

[gsdx]

Yeah, take responsibility...just like rareboy's mom did when she fed him that bowl of lead when he was young making him completely retarded.

Name-calling isn't pretty.

 

[gsdx]

They wrote back with a silly excuse about how when I applied for accommodation, I was shown twice during the application process that I had opted in for gym membership, and that suffices as a warning. I still don't agree that I should have to pay the money.

Sure, they could be dicks about it...but ask nicely and I have a sneaking suspicion they won't.

He already asked, as you can see from his original post, and got their response. Being warned twice that he was signing up for it wasn't enough warning? What was he expecting?

 

[cockbrain]

Name-calling isn't pretty.

You are right and I apologize. I didn't like the tone of the post that's why I said what I said. I'm a bad boy.

 

[godson112]

Oh for God's sakes. Stop whining.

You checked the box.

Take responsibility.

And pay more careful attention to what you check off in the future.

It is all part of growing up.

What the hell is with your attitude? I'm ony asking a simple question. No wonder people say this place is so unfriendly with people like you coming in with an attitude like that. It doesn't take any effort to be friendly, you know.

There is nothing you can do,

1. You checked the box
2. it is your respondsibility to make sure it is done right
3. they told you 2x's it was checked
4. you waited all this time to ask about it- it is to late
5. does this old saying ring a bell--->

dont cry over spilled milk.

you can kiss that money long gone and you should have just gone to the GYM..

your in a University and you dont double check you paperwork...


does wanker ring a bell.....

I'm a wanker because I didn't realise the gym membership was non-reundable. Firstly, as it was a year ago, I can't remember that clearly but I don't seem to remember reading anywhere during these two 'warnings' that the membership was non-refundable. I assumed that if I opted in and just decided I didn't want to do it, there would be no reason I couldn't get my money back?

You didn't miss the money at the time, did you? At least not enough to question why the fees were £100 more than you expected.

After ticking the box and waiting a year, they're entitled to believe you were serious about giving them the money. It isn't their fault you were mistaken and they shouldn't have to pay now.

I didn't miss the £100 earlier because I thought well at the end of the year, if I never used it, I don't see why they wouldn't return the money. I'm paying them £3.2k a year just to be educated there 14 hours a week which is extorionate enough as it is, so I don't see what their problem is refunding me £100 for something I DON'T actually use.

And to the people that gave geuine, helpful answers rather then telling me to grow up, stop whining and sit down and accept the fact I've lost £100, thankyou.

Something tells me most people here would be peeved if they were in the same situation.

So polite e-mails it is until they decide tor refund me or get so fed up of me they kick me out it is then

 

[rareboy]

What the hell is with your attitude?

And you didn't ask a simple question. You immediately made a case about why you shouldn't have to take responsibility for your own actions.

I'm only saying what 90% of adults wish they could say to someone who either didn't take the time or care to really read what they were checking off and who always are wanting take-backs and do-overs because ...it...just...isn't...fair.

If I say I'm going to use a service and pay for the privilege, no one is going to care if I turn up at the club once a week or once a year or once a day. This is my own choice.

How do they know, for instance that you never once used the gym?

They're probably all rolling their eyes and laughing when they have students turn up at the end of the year to ask for money back.

So. I'm not being unfriendly. I'm giving you the advice that your father or older brother or someone in your family should give you.

In fact it is only because I love each and every one of you that I want you to give your heads a shake and instead of becoming one of those perpetually whining, negotiating victims that no one wants to spend time with, you'll become the kind of man who realizes that some days you just chalk it all up to experience.

And Cockbrain. I guess it is all in a name. Isn't it?

 

[gsdx]

I didn't miss the £100 earlier because I thought well at the end of the year, if I never used it, I don't see why they wouldn't return the money.

You paid for a service. You opted not to take advantage of that service.

Try going to a fancy restaurant and ordering an extravagant meal which costs £100 and paying for it in advance. When the meal arrives, you decide not to eat it and leave the restaurant with the meal still on the table. A year later, with your paid bill in hand, you go back to the restaurant and ask for your money back because you didn't eat the meal you ordered a year earlier. Do you think you'd get your money back?

Or imagine installing either a cable or satellite system for your home and paying for that service all year long without ever once turning on your television set. Try asking the service for your money back.

Seriously, you ordered and paid for the service. It isn't the gym's fault that you didn't take advantage of it.

 

[godson112]

You paid for a service. You opted not to take advantage of that service.

Try going to a fancy restaurant and ordering an extravagant meal which costs £100 and paying for it in advance. When the meal arrives, you decide not to eat it and leave the restaurant with the meal still on the table. A year later, with your paid bill in hand, you go back to the restaurant and ask for your money back because you didn't eat the meal you ordered a year earlier. Do you think you'd get your money back?

Or imagine installing either a cable or satellite system for your home and paying for that service all year long without ever once turning on your television set. Try asking the service for your money back.

Seriously, you ordered and paid for the service. It isn't the gym's fault that you didn't take advantage of it.

That's not the same. If they made me a meal they've used stock and wasted it.
I haven't cost them a penny. Maybe about 20p of some receptionists wage for the amount of time it took her to type my name in a spreadsheet.