Personal trainer - No sessions or refund!

[AndStilliRise]

I am guessing I already know the answer to this!

Transferred money into a personal trainers account about a month ago and she is now not returning phone calls or text messages.

Can the BiB do anything?
I was wondering if they could phone her.

[AndStilliRise]

TooMany2cvs said:

Is there any more to it than you transferred money to a semi-random person? Any kind of contract? Any kind of proof of anything?

Afraid not.

Its not a massive amount, however enough to be annoyed with.

No contract. There are people we both know, so I am trying to get them to have a word. There is a lesson to be learned here.......should have paid cash as instincts were telling me. F wkers.

[AndStilliRise]

JustinP1 said:

If it's enough to annoy you, and you feel like investing a bit of time, you could end up being quite persuasive.


What I've done before is creating a 'chance meeting' with the person, and instead of embarrassing them, pretended that I've not cottoned on that I've been scammed.

So, for example:

"Oh, Ian, great to see you! I've been trying to get in touch with you for ages about booking in my first session, but I've had terrible problems with my phone - can we do tomorrow?"

Starting on a friendly basis might just get them to treat you the same - even admit that they can't fit you in and give your money back.

If you go in down the 'why have you scammed me' route, they'll immediately become defensive and you'll be back to square one.

Now that's a plan.

I will give it a few days to cool off and then hopefully catch her at the gym one evening.

I just have to try and be nice!

[AndStilliRise]

Du1point8 said:

Does the PT work out of a gym? If so can you not contact them and find out more information?

She does yes. But I don't want to be seen stalking her or anything. Things like this, there are fine lines between harassment/bullying/stalking.

Think I would prefer to let it go than be on the wrong side of the BiB.

From what I can see she owes me either 4 sessions or £160 - what do you think worth chasing? Or shall i just put it down as a lesson well learnt.

[AndStilliRise]

JustinP1 said:

You have to be super-nice. Smile more than you ever have done.

Scamsters, or shysters, or people that a bit slack justify their actions to themselves internally as making out their actions as legitimate and convincing themselves the other party deserved it. Or, what can happen is they feel guilty, and hide from that guilt by avoiding you.

When you see them, if you pretend that nothing's wrong, and even indeed don't imply that they've been wrong so far, and be super, super nice and smily, something called reciprocity kicks in. Humans are programmed to mimic gestures, and to be nice to people that are nice to them.

I am going with this Justin - Thanks. Finally some PH advice I can actually use!

I can wait. Lets be patient and see how this unfolds.

Just remembered a quote from a film:
When you think you are F them, they are F you.

[AndStilliRise]

TooMany2cvs said:

Very true, but if they decide to deny having any such conversation with you...

There are a number of txt messages. From trying to get someone on behalf to ask her to return the money, the response is that she has now deemed the money belongs to her due to the non-refund policy(?).

However would anyone want to through them for such an amount?

There is also the case of when she did turn up for the sessions (6/10) that she was either 0.5 or 1 hour late, again when she did turn up. However because I rearranged the 7th appointment due to other commitments that I wasted a lot of her time.

Now I am in two minds, I can either try and visit the cop shop hopefully when it is empty and front desk is manned and see if they can do anything or I could just let it go. The fact that it is stressing me out a little knowing she got away with my cash makes my blood boil but the other side of me is telling to not let it go so easily.

Not that rich, however not that poor.
There is probably a reason why she is unemployed and comes up with a new business idea every other week. To be fair a decent track athlete.

[AndStilliRise]

Originally it was for 10 sessions = £400.

Trying to be smart about it I said I would pay £200 for the first 5. She was frequently late or the session rolled over because she did not attend.

So when the first 5 were completed and prompts were made, the subsequent £200 was paid. Finally managing to get the one session three weeks ago and the breakdown trying to book session 7.

...I am sure karma will pay her back...

All I have to do is to beat her on the track. 400m - 61 seconds. Which will be enough of a victory.

[AndStilliRise]

JustinP1 said:

What happened in the 'breakdown'?

Legally you have a difficult position. You have a contract for 5 sessions at £200. You've had one. You would have to demonstrate that her actions in the 'breakdown' were so dire that she 'repudiated' the contract and prevented the contract from being completed.

I agree.
And of course she could counter the argument.

Lesson learned. Never trust anyone who can run faster than me!

[AndStilliRise]

RB Will said:

Not that fast. My 50+ year old father in law does the 400 hurdles in 56. You are looking at 50 secs or less for a female in her prime for the flat 400

400 Hurdles in 56? BS.
This is a time from one from an international athlete I know. So your FIL who is twice as old as this guy and is only 2 sec slower over 400m?


Dist Time Pos Event Venue Event

---

----- --- ----- ----- -----
400H 54.13 6 h4 Birmingham Aviva Olympic Trials & UK Championships 22 Jun 12

[AndStilliRise]

Mk3Spitfire said:

Davel said:

At last and photos please?

The question is being ignored and instead being favoured by some irrelevant, unimpressive rubbish about jumping over things on a running track.

Not about to publicly disdain someone based a transaction. And besides which her dad is built like a brick!

[AndStilliRise]

RB Will said:

Not that we need to go back to this but just to answer the FIL is the current world record holder in the M50 group (56.56 sec), British record, M40 M45 M50 and has been world champ more than once so not your average oldie.
I did say a woman at her peak but I see I was aiming a bit too peaky. (I took the record and added a few sec, didnt realise the norm was so far off the pace. I do xcountry so am a bit out of touch with track stuff.

Anyway back to thread.

Impressive FIL!

Would he be willing to help a fat old bloke break 60?

Do you know what his name is so I search for his PB's? You can PM if you like.

Edited by AndStilliRise on Wednesday 15th October 17:51

[AndStilliRise]

Not rich, drive a Honda Jazz and E39 M5.

£40 per hour is standard charge from what I can see.

[Perhaps I am being fleeced!]

[AndStilliRise]

Mk3Spitfire said:

spikeyhead said:

That depends just how good she looks in gym gear. ...

I tried going down this route but apparently her old man is a bit of a unit.

I'd rather not upset!

[AndStilliRise]

HDM said:

I assume that she is not employed by the gym, but just works there, and maybe other places? Maybe, a quiet word to gym management, (carefully worded to not put yourself at risk of any future problems) to explain the situation? I can't image the gym will be happy to learn about this, in case it looks bad for them?

Are there any other gym users who have used her as a trainer?

Edited by HDM on Wednesday 15th October 18:15

There are people who know the pair of and know whats going on. She has not been to the gym for the last couple of nights so looks like she is trying to avoid me. Nevertheless I see every point in ruining any ideas of potential clients.

Here is something that's funny, before all this she wanted me to find her some more track wannabe athletes (like me) that she could coach! Something even funnier was that she wanted me to help her with her business by investing in property.

[AndStilliRise]

Red Devil said:

Google is your friend
World Record Run
Stats

Edited by Red Devil on Friday 17th October 02:52

Awesome athlete.

[AndStilliRise]

RB Will said:

Sorry for slow reply. Thats the one. He does do coaching but you will have to come and join one of the regular sessions.

I am hoping that he can do London?

[AndStilliRise]

RB Will said:

LOL he would appreciate free cash.
He doesnt travel except on rare occasions. He provides all his coaching for free, love of the sport type thing. Does 3-5 sessions a week (entrance fee for track and circuits but its only £1-2 as he just likes to cover his costs, usually gets a bottle of wine/ box of chocs from each coachee at Xmas) in Swindon mixed between Circuit training, hill training and training at the track.

You would be welcome to come down and join any session. I'm at circuits every week and sometimes the track. The rest of the time I'm busy falling over in the mud running with my dog.

I have attempted the 'make friend' thing on FB, lets hope he responds!

Cheers RB.

[AndStilliRise]

walm said:

AndStilliRise said:

RB Will said:

Sorry for slow reply. Thats the one. He does do coaching but you will have to come and join one of the regular sessions.

I am hoping that he can do London?

Just send him the cash.

We all know you won't bother to arrange any actual training!

Thanks for this. Really helps.

[AndStilliRise]

walm said:

Sorry. I didn't mean to offend. I couldn't help myself.

[AndStilliRise]

FYI,

I raised a MCOL claim for this a little while ago and although stated that she would defend herself - did not submit a defense in time.

I have asked the court to now raise a judgement against this.

Would anyone know if she can appeal or respond to the judgement?

Is it possible to perform a credit check on her? I may have asked before, but can not fathom why anyone would want a CCJ against their name for such a low amount of cash. Unless of course she has been through the process before and further credit embellishments wont make any difference.