Cancelling my gym membership

BADPENNY_2

janay wrote: »

Hi everyone, basically I joined the gym on August 5th, upon signing the contractual agreement, I was not given my own copy to take away with me and so I am unaware of the terms of the contract. Due to the catalogue of errors on the administration's part, I no longer want to be a member of the gym and so wish to cancel. This is where the problem lies, as they are telling me that I am bound by the 12 month contract. Isn't the fact that i didn't receive a copy of the contract relevant in my not being able to cancel? Please I would appreciate any advice you may have regarding this however small.
Thanks a lot.

when i cancelled my gym membership i just stopped the direct debit at my bank and cut them off at the source. they did hound me for a bit saying i owed them 2 months membership money but i havn't heard anything else for ages. go to the citizans advice beuro an ask them if you didnt get a contract from them then thats their fault.

TOTALLY_SKINT_MARE

I WAS A GYM MEMBER AND I MISSED ONE PAYMENT ONLY TO THE GYM DUE TO JOB REDUNDANCY AND I EVEN WROTE TO THEM TO TELL THEM IT WOULDNT BE TAKEN THAT MONTH!! THEY SET THE DEBT COLLECTION AGENCY ON ME!!! AND AFTER A LOAD OF HASTLE OFF THEM SAYING THEY HADNT RECEIVED PAYMENT WHEN i HAD THE PROOF IN FRONT OF ME... IN THE END I HAD HAD ENOUGH....I STOOD MY GROUND WITH THE DEBT COLLECTION AGENT OVER THE PHONE, TACKLED HER OVER THE FACT SHE WAS CALLING ME A LIAR AND DEMANDED THAT THE FITNESS PEOPLE TAKE THE DEBT COLLECTORS OFF MY CASE! I ACTUALLY WON. SO STAND YOUR GROUND, ITS TOO EASY FOR THEM TO SAY YOUR TIED IN TO A CONTRACT.

P.S I ALSO TRIED TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT 3O MINS AFTER SIGNING AND THEY WOULDNT LET ME OUT OF IT!!! A RIGHT SWIZZ IF YOU ASK ME..... LIFESTYLE FITNESS SHAME ON YOU!

artha

If you sign up for 12 months, stay 12 months and then decide to leave how much notice are you legally required to give. If the contract says that 3 months is required regardless of whether you are in or out of contract can this be enforced?

Beckymarshall07

My understanding is that if you get a doctors note saying you are not medically fit to exercise (make a reason up for doc - bad back or whatever) they legally cant expect you to maintain contract. This is what someone at fitness first told me.

artha

artha wrote: »

If you sign up for 12 months, stay 12 months and then decide to leave how much notice are you legally required to give. If the contract says that 3 months is required regardless of whether you are in or out of contract can this be enforced?

anyone with a legal eye got a response to this?

SandC

Not sure about that artha. If you signed the agreement and that's what it says then 3 months it is.

I would always recommend talking to the management at a gym if you have circumstances which make things difficult for you. For instance a friend of mine was sent overseas for 6 months with work. Rather than continue to pay £50 per month at the gym or whatever it was he spoke to them and negotiated £10 per month whilst he was away, to resume back to normal on his return. Similarly if you are ill and cannot exercise they will probably be able to work something out for you, but going in all guns blazing, cancelling DDs etc. will probably not have the desired effect.

Paul1969

I joined Bannatyne's in June 2004 and paid monthly by DD. I have just informed them I am leaving and have canceled my DD. I can't see how a contract still exists as I am several years now past the 12 month period (I didn't agree to a life time membership) and I certainly am not paying for something I am not using. 3 months is unreasonable and I think the OFT are aware of this(http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/consumer-regulations/traders/1794/1/).

What's the problem? They are not lossing anything other than my custom but that's life and I can choose what club I wish to be a member of. What is the reason behind 3 months notice?

If you are tied in after the 12 month period it should clearly state that and be made aware of when you sign up.

aardvark65

Paul1969 wrote: »

I joined Bannatyne's in June 2004 and paid monthly by DD. I have just informed them I am leaving and have canceled my DD. I can't see how a contract still exists as I am several years now past the 12 month period (I didn't agree to a life time membership) and I certainly am not paying for something I am not using. 3 months is unreasonable and I think the OFT are aware of this(http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/consumer-regulations/traders/1794/1/).

What's the problem? They are not lossing anything other than my custom but that's life and I can choose what club I wish to be a member of. What is the reason behind 3 months notice?

If you are tied in after the 12 month period it should clearly state that and be made aware of when you sign up.

Please will you post to say how you get on/ what Bannatynes response is. I am in similar situation. Not wanting to cancel yet but would like to be forewarned! Thanks

KittyBoo_2

Beckymarshall07 wrote: »

My understanding is that if you get a doctors note saying you are not medically fit to exercise (make a reason up for doc - bad back or whatever) they legally cant expect you to maintain contract. This is what someone at fitness first told me.

I joined Cannons last April and have been off work since July.
I am still off work now but before Christmas, I wrote to them and gave them a copy of my sick note and said I was unable to use the gym.
They have deferred my payments until June but then they stated that the remaining 10 months of the contract are still due to them.
I don't know what happens if you stop the Direct Debit.
I would imagine they pass the debt to the recovery agents which will probably incur more charges.
Think I can either pay it and not go or pay it and use the facilities even if it is just for a swim and a sauna.

bargainhunter90

KittyBoo wrote: »

I joined Cannons last April and have been off work since July.
I am still off work now but before Christmas, I wrote to them and gave them a copy of my sick note and said I was unable to use the gym.
They have deferred my payments until June but then they stated that the remaining 10 months of the contract are still due to them.
I don't know what happens if you stop the Direct Debit.
I would imagine they pass the debt to the recovery agents which will probably incur more charges.
Think I can either pay it and not go or pay it and use the facilities even if it is just for a swim and a sauna.

I had problems with my gym and was medically unfit to go anymore. I had evidence of an operation and hospital letters. I wrote to the gym, recorded delivery to cancel my membership and quoted the small print hidden in their contract to cancel under that clause. I gave them a copy of my hospital letters and their own contract. I then cancelled the direct debit, they still passed it on to debt recovery (cretins). One quick copy letter faxed and sent recorded delivery to them stopped them in their tracks.

Read the small print in your contract and cancel in writing only sent recorded delivery. Then cancel the direct debit, maybe give them 7 days. You can't then legally be pursued for the contract and debt as you have followed and terminated both the contract and the CCA.