Fitness First Reviews

Fitness First
★☆☆☆☆
1.2
10.0% of users recommend this
  • Value For Money

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“Fitness First is a friendly environment, it's just a...”

★★★★☆

written by Purple Moon on 03/04/2006

Fitness First is a friendly environment, it's just a shame about the cleaners.

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“I've found Fitness First in St.Albans the worst gym...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by RMac on 14/03/2006

I've found Fitness First in St.Albans the worst gym which I have been a member of and I have been a member of quite a few over the last few years.
Facilities are very basic - machines, weights and studio - no pool - although you can see that before you sign up.
Too many members don't seem to like gym towels - machines are often left sweaty, hygiene of changing facilities is similarly poor.
Narrow corridors linking main areas which are each quite small instead of being together and a bit more airy - all feels a bit dingy for a private gym.
Some of the equipment is quite good but nothing special I assume members are paying a big premium for the location as it does not have much else to offer. Before you join make sure you check out other gyms in the area because once you join it is made a pain to leave.

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“What can I say apart from don't join you'll be wasting...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by stev01961 on 17/02/2006

What can I say apart from don't join you'll be wasting your money. My experience is based around the Fitness First Luton branch, others maybe better.

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“Fitness First are going to charge me 2 months to...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by tomdearman on 13/02/2006

Fitness First are going to charge me 2 months to cancel. I was told that I could cancel by giving 1 month notice, I cancelled on the 3rd Jan, now they say it is one calendar month starting on the first day of the next month i.e. in my case 2 months. Since I was told 1 month verbally I am disputing this, but their attitude is going to be 'we have your credit card details ha ha'

Silverriver's Response to tomdearman's Review

Written on: 23/02/2006

I found the above reviews very interesting and I'd be interested in speaking with the people who've wrote these reviews. At the moment I'm working on a new consumer programme for the BBC and we'd like to speak with people who've got something to say.
<br><br>
<br><br>Should anyone be interested in discussing the show further with me it would be great if you could get in touch by e-mailing me at [email protected]

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“Due to health problems I wanted to try a health club...”

☆☆☆☆☆

written by pendelton on 18/01/2006

Due to health problems I wanted to try a health club to see if it was suitable for me. Fitness First offered me a 3 month contract. I was given a brief induction and showed how to use a small selection of equipment. I was offered a personal trainer at an extra cost for three sessions, but when my daughter came home from her personal session unable to walk and I really mean unable to walk, in fact she was unable to lift her baby for two days because of the pain, I declined.

I started well and was enjoying my sessions, although sometimes it would be busy and I would find it difficult to find the equipment I used free, especially as there were several broken ones, which were broken from my first session to my last. I received an injury which took three weeks to recover from, so decided that this form of exercise is not suitable for me.
After the three months I cancelled the direct debit. They then took the money from my credit card. When I phoned to complain, although it is a three month contract, apparently their term of a three month contract means: An ongoing contract with a minimum of three months after which you have to give one months notice to cancel the membership.

At no time was this pointed out to me by the manager who signed me up. Even though she knew I had potential health issues. I was told I should have read the small print. When I signed up I was told it was a three month contract sign here now, I was not given time to even read the contract.

Tomdearman's Response to pendelton's Review

Written on: 13/02/2006

I am having a similar problem with fitness first. I was told of the 1 month cancellation and I cancelled on the 3rd Jan, now they say it is one calendar month starting on the first day of the next month i.e. in my case 2 months. Since I was told 1 month verbally I am disputing this, but their attitude is going to be 'we have your credit card details ha ha'

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“This Fitness First Gym has good parking at the rear,...”

★☆☆☆☆

written by PLUMBER1 on 18/10/2005

This Fitness First Gym has good parking at the rear, and it is good for your average office worker.

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“Overall the Fitness First branch in Leicester is OK. ...”

★★★☆☆

written by guzzy on 22/09/2005

Overall the Fitness First branch in Leicester is OK. Every now and again the showers need a really good clean as mould does tend to build up. The air conditioning in the downstairs gym has apparently been broken for the past 3 months at least - although we do suspect that it is not turned on to save money, therefore, the heat that accumulates is stifling and becomes unbearable to work out in. Just recently it appears that the shampoo is being withdrawn - another money saving idea?

When we first joined, the one thing that clinched it was that you could take your children with you at certain times, and this was a real plus... that was also withdrawn for no apparent reason. All these small things build up, and when you are given no explanation it makes things worse.

Tomdickharry's Response to 211081_guzzy's Review

Written on: 16/11/2005

Sounds Familier, Taunton Fitness first opened, excellent at first for few mounths, then penny pinching came in, equipment not maintained, left broken for months, not clean, members including me left in droves.

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“I joined Fitness First about 18 months ago as I could...”

★★★★☆

written by Storman on 11/09/2005

I joined Fitness First about 18 months ago as I could get a corporate discount through my work. The actual branch I joined had just opened and the facilities were pretty impressive. Everything was brand new and to a good standard. However 18 months on the standards have deteriorated, the showers can sometimes be quite grubby and there is mould appearing in several places on the walls. Basically it just needs a good clean with some bleach but it never gets done. This is a shame really as the place was originally quite good. Also the numbers of staff seem to have gone down from when it opened.

Recently they also 'uprated' the lockers. These were originally with a standard key that you took with you and left in the locker on return. Now they have been changed to an electronic version that is operated with your membership card. However this means you have to carry your card with you in the gym which is more cumbersome than a tiny key which originally you could pin to your clothing. Several times the lock has not operated correctly for me and I've had to get them to open the locker.

I'm now ending my membership as I'm leaving the area but I'd advise anyone to really take a look at their branch before joining as I believe each branch can vary considerably.

Tomdickharry's Response to Storman's Review

Written on: 16/11/2005

Simular experiences in Taunton branch, good at first, then maintainance really down hill. Unfair to label all Fitness firsts as same, other companies gyms can deteriorate if not invested in after opened. Definitely worth not joining a gym until it has been open 6 mounths, then you can assess how well it is maintained

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“This has to be one of the dirtiest most unhygienic...”

☆☆☆☆☆

written by prodwell on 08/09/2004

This has to be one of the dirtiest most unhygienic places I have ever had the misfortune to have had to pay to use. I am totally serious when I say that the Gent's toilets at Paddington Station were a sight cleaner than the toilets changing rooms and showers at this sorry place. Invariably the showers smell very badly and on most occasions when I use the facilities (three times per week) nobody has bothered to refill shampoo and gel dispensers. When the dispensers are refilled then one finds that only a fraction of them actually work. Also there is mould all around the shower area. I usually use the same shower cubicle three times per week and today when showering there was a used sticking plaster wedged between some glass panels WHICH WAS THERE LAST MONDAY - indicating that yet again the shower area if cleaned at all which it did not look to me as if it had been - had not been cleaned properly.
Once when I complained to the General Manager about the filthy state of the shower / changing room area, he tried to take me to one side and asked me not to complain in front of other members. He then proceeded to tell me of his surprise at my complaint about the shower and changing rooms being filthy as "HE HAD CLEANED THEM HIMSELF THAT VERY DAY" - the General Manager cleaning showers and changing rooms - HELLO something is not right!!!!!!
The gym itself is in a VERY poor state of repair (although they do seem to be in the process of trying to update / repair some things at present - thereby hangs yet another sorry tale, since they did not even have the courtesy to inform members why the place they were paying good money to be members of was in such disarray - they just stuck tacky pieces of paper all over the place informing members of their apologies for the state of the place due to repairs). Wouldn't it have been better PR to have handed a note to each member as they arrived so apologising and being more informative as to what was being done to try and improve their, THE MEMBERS gym!!!!
When it rains which of course in the UK is rather often, there are more buckets on the floor per M2 than there are items of equipment. Also the air conditioning drips water everywhere. Again I believe things that are being addressed in the current repair programme BUT how are we to know if we the PAYING MEMBERS are not properly informed.
Also on many occasions when going to use the steam room this has been out of order and in the sad 5 months we have been members of this gym I think it has been out of order more than it has been in working order - do we get offered a rebate on our fees - OF COURSE NOT!!!
Well I could go on and on about so called "staff" lounging about all over the place chatting up the women and chewing gum constantly but hey as I have already discovered - complaints to this outfit seem to get you totally nowhere. There is another whole story here but I won't get into that. I don't want to bore you all.
I SERIOUSLY SUGGEST THAT BEFORE PARTING WITH YOUR HARD EARNED CASH YOU TRY AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE TO FITNESS FIRST, ASPECT CENTRE, LONGWELL GREEN, BRISTOL. I HAVE NOW CANCELLED MY MEMBERSHIP THANK GOODNESS.

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