N.E.W. 24

Review: I attended an establishment I had not been to in 13 years. I spoke with the manager([redacted])because he said your wife needs to pay five dollars to watch you play in this recreational basketball game. I told him I am not a professional and I am not receiving any compensation and their is no benefit to my organization. I asked if he had a contract or this policy was in writing, he was unable to provide me with a contract or a policy in writing. I then told the manager I don't have any cash and he said," we need to swipe your credit card anyways because that is all we accept, we do not take cash." I then noticed that other patrons were able to enter the premises without charge specifically another woman and children. This process was completely unfair and nothing was done to rectify the situation. The fee was processed as a court entry fee and my wife watched our game and we left this establishment with her never actually stepping foot on the court. The whole experience was appalling. During our time there she did not lift any weights or use the facilities in any way shape or form with the exception of her using the bathroom which it was not explained to us their would be a fee to use the bathroom. As I said I spoke with the manager ([redacted])on duty and he had no explanation or documentation to verify the rules he was enforcing and his only explanation was,"I just enforce the rules I don't make them."Desired Settlement: Since this policy is not in writing or posted anywhere in the gym, I would like to receive a full refund. Additionally, it was insulting to find out other spectators were not charged to view the game. I think we were targeted because we were dressed nice, being that we had just attended our church service.

Business

Response:

Dear Revdex.com,

This is in response to the complaint we received about a customer being charged $5,00 to enter our center.

We are a Fitness and Basketball center We not only have members who pay us every month to use the center we also rent our basketball courts out to different teams or leagues to use on an hourly basis. With the court rental there are a maximum of 17 (players and coaches) included in that fee, ANY spectator that comes to watch must pay to enter the center, this is normal to most all inside events to cover the costs of the building and maintaining it. As a spectator you are only allowed to watch games and of course use the rest rooms, we do not allow spectators to use the fitness center that is a totally separate part of the center.

As for seeing others enter without paying I can only assume that they observed someone who had already paid and went out then reentered the center, or they were a paying member of our center.

As for a written contract ??, there would be no written contract stating that you must pay a spectator fee for contracts are to outline details of buying/leasing time or an object and details of how that would be paid for or used. With that said the person/persons that signed the agreement to rent the court would have a copy of an agreement that would state that anyone that comes to watch will be charge an entrances fee. We feel that the issue of non-communication here relies on the person/persons that rented the courts to inform the spectators coming of any entrance fees that are required.

Our center is not here to provide free services to the community we are a professionally run center that provides a safe environment to hold sporting events. If someone is not happy with paying an entrance fee then they right to decline to pay and not enter facility and simply leave.

As for having to use a credit card, yes we do not accept cash here and it is clearly posted at the entrance and again that would have been discussed and stated with the person/persons renting the courts.

Thank you in advance for your time and help in resolving this issue.