Concerns have been raised about refunds for gym members at the Eight Acres in Elgin after it closed with some currently hundreds of pounds out of pocket.
The hotel closed to the public at the weekend as part of a Home Office contract to house asylum seekers.
The move also includes shutting its leisure club, which includes a gym and swimming pool, to members – some of whom had already paid annual fees.
Eight Acres management has stressed that all refunds for gym members will be processed.
However, some users have been left furious about the handling of the sudden closure.
‘To be treated in this way is woeful’
One Eight Acres gym member who is awaiting a refund told the Press & Journal he only learned of the closure through local media.
After visiting the hotel on Sunday they had a refund processed. However, concerns grew when the fee for the outstanding £280 annual membership wasn’t back in their account by Wednesday.
Following inquiries with their credit card company they contacted the hotel’s head office and was advised to go back to the Eight Acres to speak to staff.
However, when he visited later that day he was told he should not be at the hotel and was told to leave immediately.
It is understood other members are also yet to receive refunds from the Eight Acres.
One member told the P&J: “I realise the hotel is in a sensitive position at the moment, but they relied on the community’s support when they reopened six or seven months ago.
“And now to be treated in this way is, I think, absolutely woeful.
“I think it has been handled horrendously. I didn’t even receive an e-mail or phone call to say they were closing, I only found out from the local press.”
The Eight Acres has told the Press & Journal that members will receive refunds, but did not comment on why they were not informed of the closure.
Meanwhile, the hotel’s website still has a banner across the top of its homepage advertising that its pool is now open.
Manager Lisa Clarkson said: “We can confirm all refunds have been processed and, dependent on receiving banks, refunds take between three to seven working days to reach the recipient’s account
“All leisure members will receive a complete refund.”
Eight Acres festival bookings cancelled
Concerns about gym membership refunds are not the first to emerge since the sudden closure of the 52-bedroom Eight Acres.
Last week it was revealed that bookings for the MacMoray festival in Elgin were cancelled at the last minute.
Thousands travelled to the town to enjoy two days of music in Cooper Park with many wanting to stay overnight.
However, the hotel closed suddenly on the day of the festival, blaming reasons “outside of our control”.
Festival organiser Andy Macdonald described the move as “absolutely disgusting”.
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