Fernwood Women's Health Clubs Questions & Answers

From looking through the Q&A section it looks as if Fernwood aren't monitoring product review since there have been no replies from them. This speaks volumes!

Surely there is no fee. Fingers crossed tho. I’d get out before it’s too late!

There is actually. I will find out today. i feel like i have been scammed :(

Just as an FYI i signed a contract on Monday afternoon for the Flexi Membership and just signed a '48 Hour cooling off period Cancellation Form" less than 3 days later which cost me $50 plus they had already taken out a fortnights membership payment of $35.90 (which they say they will refund)

Hey AB C! We're now selling Foundation memberships for our soon-to-open Fernwood Gladesville gym! You can find out more and get in touch with their team here: external link 

I have been looking into this myself as there is a special price for teen kids, think its is $20 a week and no join fee, but this may be for members teenagers. I think they said they have to be 13 but I found out today that they cant do the weights until aged 16. Also they cant go in on their own until they are 16.

Thank you Sass!

Don't join Melton Club - horrible place - crazy contracts with outrageous cancellation fees. Poor staff communication and limited classes.

Why are people so daft?! Every gym has contracts, cancellation and late payment fees... I just dont understand why people come here and log one star reviews because there unhappy that they had to pay a cancellation or late payment fee. And all this negativity because of these people didnt have the funds in THEIR account- shame on them, not Fernwood! Ive been going to Fernwood for years now, and find them to be a great gym, very accommodating too!

Daft? Sounds to me like you need to do your research as well as learn a little something about customer service or basic human interaction. They are people, not just a bank account. If Fernwood improved on their customer service skills such as advising upfront about their cancellation policies there would be no problem. If they showed a bit more empathy to the fact that these bank accounts are linked to people with actual human lives that matter. It isn't a cancellation payment they want you to pay out the contract. I went to Fernwood for years and I had to leave because I was moving 40mins out and was charged a ridiculous amount to end that years contract. I later had a baby moved closer to an Epping outlet and joined thinking now I have the knowledge of the contract deets from the former outlet I won't have a problem. They shut down!!!! As a customer, I was not at a $$$ amount loss but I was let down. As a customer, we don't charge for their circumstantial changes we know they are human and take our business elsewhere we don't ask to be compensated for the disruption to our lives as they ask for money into contracts that cannot be fulfilled due to our life circumstances/changes. It should work both ways because life happens!! In my opinion, consumer affairs should take a look into their fees and charges as well as some other clubs as to the fairness of the contract and the amounts charged in conjunction with the circumstances. Otherwise, they will just have more cases to deal with. My two sisters-in-law who l convinced to join for 24 months in order to make it more affordable for them copped it harder than I did. To anyone else on here that felt they were treated poorly contacting consumer affairs would be a great start.

Shame on you for putting the $$$$ amount in your head or insufficient funds as an excuse for a company that should know better and do better after that many cases.

Sunjay Gupta you like it cos your as filthy as these scum bag clubs!

Dear Fern wood Waurn ponds gym Members and ex Fern wood Waurn ponds members, What is the gym culture like at Fern wood Waurm Ponds, in Geelong.? At the moment, I am doing a casual pay-by-cash as-you-go membership and wonder if they will truly accept that, or if I will be made to feel not welcome as I did not sign up to a committed membership. So I wonder, what are the cultural attitudes towards casual members at this gym?

With Thanks, Anonymous 762

You can go to other gyms, but it would need to be in the staffed hours.. I believe the 24 hour access cards can only be used at your home gym.

Love love love Fernwood Ferntree Gully, all of the staff are wonderful and super supportive, fantastic group fitness classes very clean gym. Always adding new pieces of equipment...i would highly recommend and yes you can use other Fernwoods

I was able to train at any location, but best to check if they honour this in your area just too be sure.

I believe you can go to a sister gym within their staffed hours. I signed up for the chermside gym today and that’s what I was told

Just check because there was a fee to use another gym in my contract.

If you choose to go to another location be aware that they charge you for this. From memory the fee is $50 every time.

It is free! you just need to attend during the staff hours :)

No, sorry I’m not familiar with that club.

Fernwood Castle hill is quite good. Was a member there for a short time only left because of my job re location became too far for me to travel to.

Did you ever join, I'm also thinking of joining

AVOID all they care about is your $

Hi There, The answer to your question, they are just another Fernwood. They are mostly franchised. I wouldnt waste your money. They are not the same as they use to be. They are fine when you sign up, promise you the world and then give it not long after you join you will see the true gym. Im getting out personally but i will be taking my issue to local tribunal first. Hope this helps.

Agree with Hersey. Avoid like the plague! I've taken my complaints to their head office and fair trading.

Hi did you have any luck with local tribunal I believe they sold me a produce I was not physically able to do then charge me a fee even though I cancelled within 3 days.

gail

Gail that is totally unacceptable business practices. The law is there to protect you as a consumer. Hornsby only cares about money even the staff said that. Put a review on Hornsby Facebook page to warn others then lodge a complaint online like I did with the the office of fair trading NSW. They will sort your issue quickly. From my conversations with them they are already well aware of the poor business practices that go on in this Hornsby gym. Find a gym that actually cares about you. Fitness First are amazing. Goodluck

If you like giving money away then by all means join Tash. Otherwise I would steer clear of this gym. It ain’t what it used to be. They only care about signing up new members now & don’t care about feedback from members that have been paying their premiums for 2 years

Avoid money hungry

They regularly make unauthorised withdrawls and get very defensive when you bring it to their attention. Staff are rude and condescending- its a nightmare to get out of your contract too and the Assistant Manager Krystal lies and pretends like she cant help you. STAY AWAY!!!

Not a great place. Uninspiring and very money hungry. There are cheaper gyms and better catered ones than them.

The Preston one isn't a great place. Uninspiring and very money hungry. There are cheaper gyms and better catered ones than them.

Fernwood Carlton is a shocker. I would strongly encourage people never to go to this club. They installed weight machines designed for men, when this is a women’s gym. Yes, some women can manage very heavy weights, and all power to them, but that is not catering for your clientele. After I complained, and pointed out that I could no longer use almost all of the machines, I was bullied relentlessly by the owners. They then deliberately cancelled my membership, even though I had suggested a perfectly reasonable compromise in which I would use a nearby Fernwood for weight exercises. Don’t be fooled by the glossy promotion that makes it seem like they support women. There are much better gyms around.

Hi Sue,

Unfortunately I haven't been to the Fernwood at Sydenham Victoria. I am from QLD.

Thank you. I visited Fernwood at Sydenham last Saturday and Jemma was kind enough to let me participate in their body balance session. We then discussed the membership which she reduced from $24 to $22 per week and when I asked her if that is all I need to pay, she said yes. I then requested for an email from her to confirm what we discussed and never got one. Instead I sent an email requesting for confirmation of what was discussed and another lady replied confirming $22 per week and $149 for an activation kit and also $4 per week if I am away travelling even though Jemma said they will not charged if I need to travel and she never mentioned an activation kid for $149! So just be careful with any membership you take up - asked for confirmation in writing! I ended up joining Goodlife Gym because they were straightforward with all charges.

Yes it’s terrible . Management is non existent and disrespectful and so are the staff. Not only that but the equipment is almost always in need of repair and when I put a complaint about this I was given some poor excuse about them needing months to bring in a maintenance man (like that’s my problem) I certainly don’t get the courtesy of having months to pay my fees . They’re more expensive than virgin gyms and they are SO much worse in terms of quality of staff (non existent), quality of equipment and the club itself. They have a handful of machines on the floor, the rooms are small and cramped and ventilation is poor. Honestly go to any other gym than Fernwood Sydenham!

Hi there Lara, what does your contract say? I would double check that & also ask at the club! Hope that helps :)

I was charged $69 for the same thing. It was written in very small print on one of their notices. When I saw the money come out of my bank account I protested and it was refunded fairly quickly. Although the receptionist said it was really my fault because it was an "opt out" thing!

So the answer to your question is- they can do that if they can get away with it- but if you protest you should get your money back.

Same thing happened to me but they couldn't say that they had told me about it because the fessed up that they didn't have my address on file so they couldn't have sent my a letter. This is despite my address being on my contract with Fernwood. So much for their efficient administration.

They refunded my money also but I am still thinking about making a notification to the relevant consumer affairs/trade practices organisation depending on jurisdiction. Their conduct has been underhanded at best and unconscionable at worst!

$50 is cheap. Liverpool are charging $99 or $150 after 4th November and changing staffed hours which forces members to buy it if they want to continue to do early morning/late evening and weekend classes.