Shrewsbury Athletic Club (Headquarters)

We signed up for a family membership at then [redacted] & [redacted] in [redacted] 2014 so that my children could take swimming lessons and my older son could take tennis lesson. On [redacted] club membership changed, and the name changed to Shrewsbury Athletic Club. New membership immediately closed the pool and canceled all swim lessons. As soon as that happened, I requested that our family membership [redacted] a month) be downgraded to just a child tennis membership [redacted] a month). [redacted] (event coordinator at Sharc) contacted me by e-mail and assured me that membership will be downgraded starting from [redacted] (as [redacted] would have been paid for - in the initial contract, last month fees were paid upfront) and last day of family membership would be [redacted] I am attaching our e-mail exchange. Yet, I not only continue being charged [redacted] monthly for a family membership (both in [redacted] and [redacted] but starting from [redacted] I am also charged for a child tennis membership on top of that. The two charges are posted separately on my credit card.I have tried several times to clear this issue up with Sharc. On [redacted] I spoke to a person at a front desk. She asked me to explain what the problem was in writing and leave a note with my contact info for the owner. At the same time, I have requested cancellation of my son's tennis membership, which she has processed. She promised that owner would be in touch with me.On [redacted] I called the club. Again, person answering the phone said the owner needed to look into it. I left another message and the owner has not returned it. I have called back today and was put on hold for over 30 min at which point I couldn't wait any longer.Desired SettlementI would like a refund of family membership fees charged to my credit card in [redacted] and [redacted] for a total of [redacted]

I have been a member of the former Shrewsbury Health & Racquet Club; in mid January, the former owner, [redacted], emailed members she had sold the business to [redacted] When I went to the club the next day, the indoor swimming pool, for which I had paid an extra sum as part of my club membership, had been closed. When I spoke with Mr. [redacted] he had no plans to re-open the indoor pool. He also had no plans to compensate me the difference in what I paid for a membership including the use of the indoor pool. I also had a credit on account of nearly $30, acquired under the former owner's reward points program. It was usable for goods and services in the club. That suddenly disappeared and was no longer available to me. In the former owner's email, she stated the new owner would honor all memberships. Apparently, that was not entirely true. I would like Mr. Sorenson to compensate me the difference in what I paid for a full year's membership, including the swimming pool, for the 2-1/2 months that remained in my membership, since I had to locate another club where I could acquire low impact aerobic activity.Desired SettlementI would be satisfied if Mr. [redacted] would compensate me the sum of $130.Business Response Contact Name and Title: [redacted] business mContact Phone: XXXXXXXXXXContact Email: [redacted]The claimant is misinformed regarding the contract she signed with the previous owner. The claimant's contract is reflective of a full club membership not fitness plus pool as her complaint reads. The claimant was never charged a surcharge for the indoor pool but a rate reflective of full club access. In addition, in the membership rules and regulation language of the claimant's contract it is clearly stated "Change of Facilities" "SHARC reserves the right to change their facilities from time to time, to eliminate some of their facilities, services or classes or to add others. It is anticipated that from time to time a part of a club or the entire facility will be temporarily unavailable to members while repairs, renovations or special events take place. Management will make every effort to minimize any disruption to members during these periods." The former owner, Ms [redacted] was made aware the new owner would not be keeping the indoor pool as an amenity as Ms [redacted] refused to fix the mechanical problems and leaks which caused the indoor pool to be a financial hardship for the club. Further the former owner was contractually prohibited from taking payment in full for annual memberships as she was actively involved in selling the club. If the claimant requires a refund for her unused membership the former owner, [redacted] would be solely responsible as she did not prorate any membership dues which she collected in full, thus the claimant is asking for money from someone she never paid. We sincerely apologize for any unsatisfactory experience for which the claimant experienced, however it is our plan to renovate the facilities and make them more pleasurable for the membership. I will gladly provide the bureau with a copy of the claimants signed contract if requested.Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)I do not think the new owner is making accommodations for my "full membership" because I know from other club members they did not pay for "full memberships" and did not have access to the pool, so it may be a matter of symantics, but I will not further be aggravated by the business practices of either Ms. [redacted], who is targeted in the new manager's response, or by the present owner. I will simply say I know many who have left the club since the new owner took over due to his business practices.Final Business Response Once again we are sorry for any inconvenience the claimant has experienced, however we can not possibly be held responsible for whatever the claimant was told by the previous owner or what bag of goods she was sold with regard to the membership. We have a contract signed by the claimant which spells out our obligations to her as a "full member adult" we have honored the contract to the fullest. We have honored the membership of the claimant without contribution from either the claimant or the previous owner in the form of any prorated membership dues. If the claimant wishes to pursue a refund she will need to do so from the previous owner who actually took her money. We have not collected a single dollar from the claimant with regard to the membership for which she paid in full nor did we take any money for any swim lessons or swim classes.