Columbia Basin Racquet Club

Review: When I joined the Club I paid a prorated towel fee now that my wife and I have decided to stop our membership. I inquired about a rebate of our unused prepaid towel fee which by my calculations would be about $47.00. I was told they do not refund towel fees which I find absolutely crazy since I had to pay a prorated towel fee my first year there. Then I was forced to prepay my towel fee in January. Thank you for any help you can be in this manner.Desired Settlement: I would like my prorated towel fee back.

Business

Response:

Good afternoon [redacted],

Mr. [redacted] recently gave notice to terminate his membership on April 05, 2013. The membership agreement Mr. [redacted] signed and received a copy of states: I agree to abide by all Policies, Rules, and Procedures of the club....etc. Further, the membership agreement states: I further acknowledge that I have received a copy of (a) a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire ( PAR-Q), and (b) the Policies, Rules, and Procedures of the Club.

On the Rules and Regulations page Item # 9 states: Member understands and agrees thant fees paid to the Club are non-refundable. This includes but is not limited to, joining fees, towel fees, monthly dues, lesson fees, and purchases.

As a matter of internal policy, even though our written policy state we will not refund fees; CBRC does refund pro-rata towel fees if the member terminates within the first 60 days of the calendar year. After March 1st, no further refunds are given.

We rarely have an issue with this once the member is reminded of the policy and rules. It is unfortunate that Mr. [redacted] would not accept this as fact and chose to file a complaint.

We have a very good reputation in the community.

I can and will provide the documents signed upon request.

General Manager

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 9501187, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

While I have no doubt that someplace in the fine print of the contract that this response is accurate. I still take issue with the fact that this seems like a quite deceptive business practice in general. The idea that while coming in to get you to sign up that you only have to pay a prorated towel fee for the time you will actually be using it. On the back side they get to charge you for a service that you will not be partaking in is quite deceptive. I would totally agree with CBRC if there policy was we charge you this every year and that is that never prorated no exceptions. It seems at least from his response that while it is there policy to charge it without exception exceptions are made on a case by case basis if it fits certain circumstances that they deem ok. I find it quite irritating that I prepay for a service that can't be refunded even though I followed all of there cancellation policies. I know that I will never recommend this business to anybody. Which is sad because I enjoyed there facility and employee's I just think that there willingness to charge people for a service they can't and won't use even with proper notice given is sad.

Regards,