Totalfitness Reviews 297

Wakefield Total Fitness had been promoted earlier this year as having been through a full refurbishment, which I have now discovered at my cost to be a complete fabrication.

I joined the gym a couple of days ago, and when I enquired over the phone about a monthly ongoing membership, I asked if it was possible to avoid the usual £25 joining fee which I felt was excessive. I was told that my timing was very fortunate because head office had earlier that same day introduced an offer which meant there was no joining fee up until the end of October.

I therefore travelled to the gym and we then completed an online registration because the membership team said their in house system wasn't responding, but when it came to the card payment I was asked for the £25 fee. I queried this and was told that the offer didn't include the monthly membership package, which was not what I had been told over the phone. Rather than feel embarrassed by the circumstances, I felt that I had no option other than to continue and pay this extra charge. So a total of £79 for one month.

I have now subsequently attended the gym on 2 occasions, and I am extremely shocked and very disappointed with the condition of the gym as a whole. Almost without exception, all the machines are extremely rusty and the free weights racking system is also terribly rusty. There is no excuse for this. Even budget gyms are presented in a much better state. The equipment must all be in excess of 20 yrs old and certainly not to the standard I would expect from a national group such as Total Fitness. This is certainly not the standard that I was led to believe. Maybe the cardio equipment was replaced earlier in the year, but I don't know how they can possibly refer to this as an extensive refit.

Additionally, I am not happy with the standard of the men's changing rooms and shower areas. Once again this is all very dated and urgently in need of a professional refit. I have spent the last 20+ yrs as a member of their various competitors gyms, and all of these have been far superior in both standards and value for money.

I feel cheated by the whole process from start to finish , and have sent an email to their head office with my comments, to which there has been no reply.

I could not recommend this gym to anyone, and I just wish I'd looked at all the very damning reviews before I gave this terrible business my hard earned money.

This gym is completely outdated and not worth the high membership cost. The equipment looks like it hasn’t been replaced or properly maintained in twenty years. Many machines are broken, handles are torn, resistance bands snapped — it’s a mess. The place feels like time stopped decades ago while gyms around the world have moved on.

Everywhere else you go — Poland, Germany, France — fitness clubs are modern, clean, and automated. You just scan your wristband and go. Here? Still using old-school padlocks and worn-out lockers. The facilities are crowded, you wait forever for equipment, and it’s almost impossible to complete a proper workout.

Honestly, it’s embarrassing how far behind gyms in the UK have fallen. Total Fitness should be investing in upgrades, not just collecting membership fees. One star, and that’s only because zero isn’t an option.

I have been a member of Total Fitness for 20 years. They are incompetent with no respect whatsoever for their members.
I was involved in a serious accident which caused life changing injuries in 2021. I have been unable to use the gym since this time. Despite this I continued to pay my membership fees.
I finally agreed a 6 month freeze on my account. Despite this Total Fitness took payment from my account anyway which caused problems.
I sent the same emails to Sophie Lawler the Chief Executive and The Membership Team about this error. The Membership Team were too incompetent to realise I had even emailed them! They replied the quickest way to get a response was to email them rather than their Chief Executive. I HAD emailed them the same emails I'd sent Sophie Lawler. They were just too incompetent to realise it.
Their error has now caused problems with my payment method. I've emailed them to ask how to set this up when my membership freeze ends. Unsurprisingly I've received no response.
A friend of mine left Total Fitness to join David Lloyd due to similar errors and no response from the Membership Team.
Their client service is none existent.

I would urge caution when dealing with this company. They have taken money from my son on multiple occasions and repeatedly blamed “staff training errors.” They once promised to credit him a couple of days but failed to follow through.

When we explained that my son would be moving to a new college in a few months, we were advised to take a non-contractual membership. We followed this advice, but when we later froze the membership, we were told it could only be frozen for one month. Then, to cancel, we were informed he would still need to pay an additional month upfront.

This is extremely disappointing, as my son wanted to continue his membership, but due to the misleading and inconsistent information we were given, we had no choice but to cancel.

Reading other reviews, it appears customer service is not a priority for this company. It’s a shame, as this approach shows little regard for current or future customers.

This company ruined my life, career, relationships and cost me thousands in therapy. PTSD, anxiety and further thousands in legal fees. Such a shame 😔

Disorganised and disappointing – especially for families

We were told in advance that the instructor for the kids’ activities would be on holiday this 2 weeks, so we asked staff directly if someone would be covering her sessions. They later called us back and confirmed that everything would run as usual.

I went to the gym with my two children, who were really looking forward to the activity – only to be told on arrival that it had been cancelled. No one had informed us in advance.

When I pointed out that the least they could have done was call to cancel, the staff member simply replied, “I know.”
No apology, no explanation – just an acknowledgment that they knew, but did nothing.

Our children were visibly upset, and as parents, we were left frustrated and disappointed. It’s unacceptable to treat families this way, especially after we made the effort to double-check in advance.

Unfortunately, we still have an active membership, so we’ll have to keep coming for now – but we truly hope that the management takes this seriously and improves their communication and customer care.

Total fitness, Whitefield. Pools are dirty, showers are filthy, changing rooms are the same. Swimsuit spinner has been broken for 3 weeks. It plugs in and hangs on a bracket, keep a spare one in a cupboard to use when the other breaks. It's not rocket science, just penny pinching. Sort it out, it's a disgrace.

Gonna resume it!
Had a situation with a female lifeguard and she corresponded looking at me even though I thought she was taking the piss.I am older than her but she is adult! I message her on social media as I saw her a suggestion!
Exactly what I messaged her!
I used to have a personal trainer in common on social media!she freaked out and asked a 7 feet guy come to me!
Then I saw the guy around myself in the gym ..thought the guy wanted trouble ..reported him,he came other day looking for trouble !
Reported to gym …I ignored the girl and manager called after 2 months .coincidence ,he just called after I say hello to her after so long!
Did not want expose it as I write to the responsible,did not saying names though I noticed manager let it be known to staffs and I felt so uncomfortable!
Let it clear to the manager I did not want she get fired or whatever !
many members looking at me as a trouble maker or whatever!I was just trying do not expose her and just protected myself!
Then after all of it I just expose all to the head office showing social media messages that guy sent to me being racist putting flag of the country I am originally from …leaving the gym !you can have all for you …just trying get better environment and stay away from trouble!
Just mention,never disrespect the girl or even chased her !
If some manager would have asked me to have a little chat I probably had said ask her come to talk or let fix it someway that would be good to all of us…
Had impression was on purpose let me so uncomfortable and then I would leave the gym by myself…
I am leaving but you should explain it to the head office now as I am good member and modesty a part good and friendly person!
Really look like management tried protect her but someway I was so uncomfortable!

Honestly a scam
I broke my leg and they still charge £50 a month, won’t let me cancel, the way they presented the contract was misleading, and there is litterally no point in getting the 12 month contract as it saves you no money. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE AND ALSO MAKE SURE NOT TO DO A 12 month as they will rip you off big time

I have been a member for just short of 12 months and during this time I have experienced that “ total “should not be a description allowed to be used by this gym.
From day one as I joined in September I noticed the hydro pool was cold and on approaching a member of staff I was informed that it was a problem influenced by the weather. I am convinced that this person has no idea what a thermostat is.
There have been a litany of problems since namely:- showers not working and shower area dirty with spent razors being left on the shelf, items of clothing discarded, empty shower shampoo containers not placed in the bin and shower soap dispensers empty.
The sauna, sanarium and steam room have been plagued with problems for as long as I’ve been a member and for the last two weeks up to present day all three of these spa facilities are out of action resulting in me not being able to enjoy the “ total fitness” experience that was promised me when I joined up.
As for the staff the only people that interact with me when I attend the gym are the personal trainers and you rarely see any staff member in the gym preferring in fact to congregate at the reception point instead of putting their what looks like their spare time to a more productive outcome and undertake cleaning the equipment down which are left regularly in need of attention. In fact I have only witnessed the machines being cleaned down on one occasion during my membership period.
With regards to the sauna, steam room and sanarium there is no indication as to when the so called repairs to these facilities may be complete which leads me to believe that it may well be an energy saving excuse but whatever I certainly will not be renewing my membership to this what I call just 50% fitness and not total fitness.

Luckily my contract is coming to its end with Total fitness Chester, Always something broke in the spa area, Winter time your guaranteed to have a cold Hydro pool obviously to save money on energy costs, On top of that the steam room never has steam & the sauna is always broke, Poor hygiene throughout the venue & shower area always rubbish left, Not worth the £50 off peak price because you very rarely get the full experience. Rubbish venue.

Total fitness Chester
The swimming pool is absolutely filthy

Have a serious injury that will not be going away quickly. Tried to cancel my membership with a proper note from a doctor regarding the injury. Got told the document was not good enough and they would not cancel my membership. It’s all about the money with Totalfitness! Beware they are not empathetic! Money, business and old tired equipment.

Tried to complain about an issue with equipment, gym staff intercepted me filling out the Ipad “feedback” form- which is the only way Total fitness let you submit feedback and what their website directs you to do. They didn’t let me finish my submission and were pushy and rude asking if I had just “had a bad day” and asking why I wasn’t “smiling” rather than taking on my genuine feedback regarding the recent movement of equipment. It was dismissive and sexist coming from a male attendant, who also made further comments as I left the building “are you feeling better now love?” Totally dismissive and reductive.

Tried to cancel my membership afterwards and they continued to take payments despite being well outside my contract- I have had to now raise a formal dispute with my bank.

Also whilst I understand the gym wants to close at closing time- but staff lie about time on the gym speakers “gym closing in 5 minutes” when it’s still quarter to, they’re on the speakers every 30 seconds harassing you out the door when it’s not yet closing time.

Showers totally fluctuate in temperature, freezing cold one minute, too hot the next.

Do not recommend at all.

Following separation and relocation, I am now responsible for two Total Fitness memberships, incurring a monthly cost of nearly £100. Despite my circumstances and the lack of a Total Fitness facility at my new location, as per terms and conditions, continued payment is required for both memberships. The customer service is greatly appreciated

This company has been completely unhelpful. Despite numerous visits, emails, and phone calls regarding a full refund for an auto-renewed gym membership for £1000 (which we canceled on the same day with no prior notice), they have provided no resolution.

I strongly advise against using this company. I am still trying to get a refund, but they continue to ignore all forms of communication.

Friendly staff, great gym facilities

Useless gym. You leave the gym with utter irritation and stress due to not being able to have a shower after your work out.
I like their equipments but their showers are COLD, no marer how much you complain, no one would listen to you.
They can not decide for every member how they like their shower, cold, warm or between. So they should use a system to let the customers decide for themselves how hot or cold shower they want.
One of their staff said its about hygiene but its just an excuse. They just saving money by not heating the water despite extortion membership prices of £62 per month. I have been fedup with total fitness for a while so I cancelled my membership and wont experience their cold shower anymore. Thank God for that.

Customer service is zero. They talk to you like you’re something they’ve stepped in. The place is far too expensive for what they offer. The machines are old. The hydro pool is freezing and the staff are vile. This is the Wilmslow Branch but upon reading the reviews it appears to be the same across the board. They’re a joke.

I was a member about 3 years ago and rejoined recently (which I've now cancelled). The place is dirty, machine's are broken and are too old. The showers have a mind of their own either red hot or freezing, other members are ignorant (staff don't challenge any of the dirty gets who don't wipe any machines down, I saw one member with a towel). The fire exit next to the hydrotherapy pool 3 years ago had 2 plastic containers with, I think armbands in them, they're still there.