Cancelling subscriptions

dandowftm

Hi all, first post so take it easy!

My other half took out a gym subscription 4 months ago, which was a 12 months contract paying £26 per month by direct debit.

She has since passed her driving test and wants to use a gym closer to home as she no longer needs to rely on getting a lift to work.

After speaking to the rude representitive at the gym, she was told she couldnt cancel the subscription.

The direct debit comes out of our joint bank account. I myself have not signed this direct debit agreement, does this give us grounds to cancel the subscription? If not does anyone have any other ideas on how we can get out of it?

Thanks in advance,

Dandowftm

Extant

You can cancel the Direct Debit as and when you please. It won't change anything, though - joint bank accounts are almost always either to sign, rather than both to sign. That means either one can make payments without the other agreeing. If you have a debit card, it is definitely either to sign.

The key thing, though, is the contract that she's signed up to with the gym. Even if she cancels the Direct Debit, they can still pursue her for payment under the terms of that contract.

She might be advised to read the contract and see under what terms it can be broken.

rb10

You cannot cancel the Direct Debit at the bank's end. Although it is a joint account, it is (presumably) 'one to sign', so that they only need instructions from either one of you to authorise transactions. As your other half authorised it, then that is fine.

If she has entered into a 12 month contract, then she is legally bound to continue paying for the entire term of the contract.

dandowftm

After reading through the agreement it appears that she has actually signed up to a "fixed term loan agreement" to finance the gym subscription. Seems a little bit more complicated than just a rolling monthly subscription payment

Extant

See?

This is why I just go running.

dandowftm

Seems like there is no chance in getting out of it then. thanks guys