Cancelling LA Fitness membership

k8smith

Hi all,
My partner and i joined the gym several months ago and unfortunatly have quite a few months left of our gym contract, i believe until march 2011.
The gym has now not had air conditioning for a couple of weeks and we have been told it will be 2 months before it is likely to be fixed, it is unbearable to now use the gym and we no longer wish to go.
Any ideas on how to get out of the contract?? The whole reason we joined was to get in shape for september which is unlikely in these circumstances, help!

iamana1ias

k8smith wrote: »

Hi all,
My partner and i joined the gym several months ago and unfortunatly have quite a few months left of our gym contract, i believe until march 2011.
The gym has now not had air conditioning for a couple of weeks and we have been told it will be 2 months before it is likely to be fixed, it is unbearable to now use the gym and we no longer wish to go.
Any ideas on how to get out of the contract?? The whole reason we joined was to get in shape for september which is unlikely in these circumstances, help!

I had the same happen once. The gym refunded the membership costs while the AC was out of action - about 6 weeks worth I think.

I can't imagine you could get out of the contract completely though.

fozmcfc

My gym, currently has no working showers due to a problem caused by the landlord, no sign of refunds etc.

I think in most large gym contracts, there are clauses which basically say the gym can get away with things like this, something to do with facilities not always being provided. I know David Lloyds, got away with numerous things when I was a member, couldn't wait to leave.

rodders77

:mad: I'd love to tell you it will be ok, but it wont, i'm currently in dispute with LA Fitness and my wife and I cancelled our DD's due to various issues with the club and are now being chased by debt collectors and it looks like it will go to court!

I've tried to have a reasonable discussion, but the gym werent interested and neither were LA Fitness "Member Relations", so we were left with no option other than to cancel.

We've used the club less than 10 times between 1st Feb & mid June and feel missold. The £625,000 that they've allegedly invested in the club didnt manage to fix the aircon issues as they still have to leave the fire exits open when it's warm, it also hasnt fixed the showers which hardly ever work, which is a "frustration" according to the gym manager! Even more frustrating when you pay £50 a month and dont know if you can get showered or not!! There are various other issues with LA Fitness in Burnham e.g. inappropriate behaviour of members on the gym floor and minors of the opposite sex being allowed into communal showers!!

Anyway, to cut a long story short, unless you're dead, dying or jobless, you cant cancel, even then, they make it tough work!

My solicitor has said we can countersue LA Fitness for a full refund on our contracts as the gym team did not take the appropriate steps required by the Consumer Credit Act and consumer direct beleive they were in breach of the Goods & Services Act as they failed to describe the services correctly and for example with the showers the services are not "fit for purpose".

My advice is go to Consumer Direct, log a complaint and follow thier advice. Also write to Which & Watchdog about it. Google LA Fitness too and you'll see a link on the Guardian site on page 1, e-mail them with your issues too.

Good luck!!

fluffnutter

Is there anyone out there who's actually happy with their gym membership??! I see so many complaints about unreasonable contracts that I'm completely put off joining a gym. Pay per swim and walk a lot. That's me!

pimento

fluffnutter wrote: »

Is there anyone out there who's actually happy with their gym membership??! I see so many complaints about unreasonable contracts that I'm completely put off joining a gym. Pay per swim and walk a lot. That's me!

Me.

Our Virgin Active gym is actually a council gym run by Virgin Active. £41.50 a month buys everything and there's a 30 day cancellation policy which I have just tested by cancelling with no problem at all. I might join again in a few months.

http://www.clementshall.co.uk/

harvey.rainbow

Hi there,
A similar story for me and my wife as well. LA fitness have just transfered the rest of our money owed to a company called ARC (europe)ltd credit management. after many disscusions with LA fitness they were non respondent. however after getting a legal team to look over our documents we cant claim back any of our original 12 month contract even tho it was missold however as a warning to any unlucky people out there please please please always ask to speak to the member services and make sure your membership has been cancelled and you get written confirmation and follow it up every week until you have that document in your hands
good luck