Fitness First - trying to end my membership according to signed terms and conditions?

fergyxx

I stupidly joined up Fitness First in July last year, and typically, like a lot of people who sign up to 12 month memberships, I am not using it enough to justify continuing with my membership.

Anyhow, I have been well aware, that come this month, I will have signed up (and paid) the whole 12 months of my minimum contract term, and thus am trying to cancel my membership.

I have a copy of the terms and conditions of the contract I have signed which states that -

"You must i) meet with the General Manager or Member Service Manager of your home club and complete a cancellation request form; OR ii) give written notice to your home club General Manager. We recommend you post your letter by recorded delivery to ensure notice of termination is received."

So, I posted a letter recorded 2nd class in May, in order to let them know that as of the end of June, I was cancelling my membership, and would subsequently be cancelling my direct debit.

I never heard from them until 9th July, when I received a phonecall asking me to contact them, and then I received a letter on 10th July saying that my membership was still active and my direct debit payment had been refused, so could I please contact them to bring my account up-to-date.

I phoned the club, and was told that the cancellation procedures had changed and I had signed a form to join the gym, and would therefore need to sign a form to un-join it. I challenged this, as they should have a letter signed by me, with my request to cancel my membership and was told that I would have to speak to a certain member of staff who deals with the memberships etc. Surely if these cancellation procedures had changed, they would be obliged to give me some written confirmation as I had not been attending? Also, I queried why no-one has been in touch sooner (i.e. when they received my letter) and not 2 months later, denying all knowledge of receipt.

Where do I stand here? I cannot afford for them to start chasing me for payments/saying that I have defaulted on my membership agreement etc as if my credit score is affected, it could have an effect on my employment.

As far as I am concerned, I have stuck to my contract throughout the term, despite not using their facilities, and have already paid over the odds for their services, due to the fact that I stopped attending. I don't want to give them another penny, but don't want them to catch me out with some loophole.


I joined up on the 14th July, and my membership start date was 16th July. I paid £35.22 when I joined, and then my first Direct Debit payment came off on 1/8/08. I am unclear as to whether I may in fact still owe them one month's payment, and if this is the case, then I don't mind paying my final month, but I've got a feeling it won't be as straight-forward as that.

allan2006

although the terms and conditions say you can cancel, being a member of fitnessfirst i know that they will want to discuss your membership and try to convince you to stay.

Its the same with lots of things these days, retention of customers.

From how i understand my contract with FF you pay the joining fee and a total of 12 months x £35(or watever you membership is).

on the 11 month you need to give a full callender months notice so before the 30th of the previous month.

If i was you, go in with your proof of posting from the post office and stick to your guns, say that your not well enough to excericise, taken up swimming if your club hasnt a pool, or your getting your excercise through tennis or some other sport they dont cater for.

That way they know your unlickly to stay a member, say that you have honored the original terms and conditions even though you havent been using the club.

i think the most they could make you pay is another month, but better that than the thought of being chased for 30quid.

tmg

I'm in the same boat - sent a letter on 11th May to give one months cancellation notice, stating final payment to be taken on 1st June and membership to expire on 31st June. (I have had the membership for over 12 months)

Got a letter to day saying that the membership is current and to bring my account up to date.

I didn't send it recorded delivery as every penny counts in this household - personally I think it is all a con to pretend they didn't get the letter to keep you in.

There's no way I can make a payment to them, and if I did surely I'd have to give notice again. I'd end up paying another 2-3 months membership:mad:

Takoda

D'ya know one day someone will post on here saying they are delighted with their gym, the facilities are great, they've lost 12 stone and gained a six pack and muscles like Swartzenegger and are now dating a supermodel girlfriend! They still go 7 days a week, can't imagine life without it and have actually moved house to be closer to their gym.

And we're all going to ruin our keyboards by spitting coffee all over them out of shock!!!

Seriously though, I know it isn't any help now but I went in 2 months before mine ended and filled in a form with a person. That way there could be no mistake. But I had joined training for a specific event and so I knew exactly when I needed to cancel.

OP I'm pretty sure from reading other posts that gyms do set debt collection agencies onto people who just cancel direct debits. You will probably end up paying another couple of months.

Next time I need a gym - probably October this year I'm going with local authority. Three month contract and then I'm off.

Englishrose765

Can anyone help with this my son joined ENERGI and has been trying to cancel his membership as he never uses it he did at first but then the novality wore off so he wrote to them telling he was moving out of the area which he is and they have said that he needs to be at least 15 miles out of the area to cancel and have prove of this ie address of work and utilitiy bill or a bill with the new address on it ,now I have worked out that from his new address to the gym is 20.2 miles away from work to home is 28.4 miles away but from work to gym its 14.4 miles any advise on how to cancel this before his 12 months are up would be really helpful

Thanks

Jada

Takoda wrote: »

D'ya know one day someone will post on here saying they are delighted with their gym, the facilities are great, they've lost 12 stone and gained a six pack and muscles like Swartzenegger and are now dating a supermodel girlfriend! They still go 7 days a week, can't imagine life without it and have actually moved house to be closer to their gym.

Ha ha *holds hand up* that's me, almost!

Ok, I've only lost three-stone in a year but have dropped two dress sizes, which I'm well chuffed about. The classes are wonderful (though the showers leave a lot to be desired in various clubs).

I have my flat tummy back and perky derriere. I do an hour or two of classes, four to six days a week, fitted around my full time job. It's the best investment I've ever made.

I really can't imagine life without it, it's my 'release' from everyday life. And yes, I'm in the processing of looking at flats to rent and one of my considerations is how close would the gym be. Some people smoke and some people drink to relax. I do exercise.

Only thing I'm missing is the filmstar boyfriend...but that might be because I spend too much time in the gym to meet him, hehe.

pinkshoes

Englishrose765 wrote: »

Can anyone help with this my son joined ENERGI and has been trying to cancel his membership as he never uses it he did at first but then the novality wore off so he wrote to them telling he was moving out of the area which he is and they have said that he needs to be at least 15 miles out of the area to cancel and have prove of this ie address of work and utilitiy bill or a bill with the new address on it ,now I have worked out that from his new address to the gym is 20.2 miles away from work to home is 28.4 miles away but from work to gym its 14.4 miles any advise on how to cancel this before his 12 months are up would be really helpful

Thanks

If his new address is 20.2 miles away, then just send them a recorded delivery letter stating he needs to cancel, with either a copy of the tenancy agreement if he's renting (showing new address with post code), or if he's bought a house then a copy of the purchase information (showing new address).

ALWAYS send recorded delivery, as otherwise they will "lose" it!