Cancelling my gym membership - HELP URGENTLY

davefoley

Hello Guys I am trying to cancel my gym membership at LA FITNESS
- the gym is pretty crap and I am even more dumb to have joined the gym
I just wanted you guys to help me cos I've cancelled their name in the direct debit - so they are blocked to take any money from my account.
They got pretty mad about it and send me a letter telling me to pay otherwise they will take me to court . I sent them a letter telling them that I am going to move home soon and won't be able to attend the gym anymore (cos of the distance) - now I've just received a letter from TREVOR MUNN solicitors (instructed by ARC EUROPE) telling me that the documentation is being prepared for the issue of an application in the northampton county court. If I don't pay in 10 days , the action will be proceeded ;( Guys what should I do ? How bad is this threat ?


thanks guys!!
:money:

Louise22

I would take it very seriously if I were you buddy!

davefoley

The balance I have to pay is : 347 pounds. I don't even use the gym , these guys must be kidding me!!!

welshdent

Did you not look at their terms for cancellation? Did you look at what terms you had signed up under? I know that fitness first require something like 30 days notification when out of "contract" so to speak. David Lloyd what 3 months.

davefoley

Nah I just concluded that if I cancelled the direct debt, I'd not hear from the again. I think I will have to pay the outstanding balance

lucylucky

Is this a wind up?

You cannot simply walk away from a signed membership contract because you have decided not to use the gym.

Cancelling the DD was a big mistake

welshdent

I think you will have to pay it too! If it were that simple then that would be the standard way out for people!

Schwade

Dave, take this as a learning experience.

I hope you do come to MSE more often so that you educate yourself on finances.

All the best.

kai666

davefoley wrote: »

Nah I just concluded that if I cancelled the direct debt, I'd not hear from the again. I think I will have to pay the outstanding balance

So, you didn't do the obvious thing of actually reading the contract to make sure you agreed with and understood what you were signing?

Pink*Kitchen*Lady

Dave, perhaps you might consider speaking to your local CAB office. Cancelling the DD and ignoring the gym's letters wasn't the best way to go about ending your contract with them, but it has been done now. You'd want to speak to them to avoid a CCJ being entered against your name as this will really affect your credit rating.
Good Luck
~PKL

jenniewb

Dave: a few questions,

When did you begin the contract?
Were you pushed into signing up, threatened or made false promises by LA Fitness?
Do you have any medical reason (one which a hospital or medical expert can test for) that means you cannot use the gym?

And finally, why did you not cancel in the cooling off period?

Unfortunately, gym contracts are one of those that you cannot just cancel and thats it. Its like a mobile phone: you sign up, its yours for however long you signed up for. There are some get out clauses but they are rare and will normally require some form of legal backing (and this often costs you money to obtain.)

All I can advise is that you talk to the gym you signed up with, see if you can come to any sort of agreement but it will be done via their goodwill and you really need to bare that in mind, they need to want to help you, you need to remember its them doing you a favour- if they do agree to anything (tbh this is just a suggestion, I've never actually ever heard of this happening).

You could try the CAB but I don't know if they would be able to do anything other then write a letter. The gym is doing what is in their rights, they are not doing anything wrong, the contract you signed would be legally binding and they can make this very expensive for you: if it goes to court there will be court fees and lawyer fees as well as company time added. It is in your interest to settle this bill or reinstate your membership.