Escaping the gym membership!

DanielleR

Hiya,

I wonder if anybody can help me. I signed up to the gym last year (July I believe) and I signed a contract for 12 months. I was told, at the time, that I could only cancel after the year was up and I would have to put it in writing three months in advance.

I've been quite good and used the gym a fair old bit. I'm doing Slimming World as well at the moment have so far lost 1 stone 4.5lbs.

At the moment I'm working long hours and today I've been told I am going to be (awaiting a few crossed t's and dotted i's) promoted! However this means more workload and less time to spend at the gym.

I want to cancel it but the wording and jargon seems to make it impossible. I'd rather throw an extra £51.01 (Yes, I know random amount!) at my debts and get them cleared a month or two quicker.

Has anybody got some good tactics on how to "quit the gym" (keep thinking of that Friends episode!)? They seem to go out of their way to keep you!

Thanks in advance

bottleofred

Hi Danielle,

I suppose it depends on the terms and wording of the contract, but from what you've said, it seems fairly conclusive that you'll have to pay until July. If you can't get out of the contract, is there possibly a friend or family member who could use the gym on your behalf and pay you something towards it? Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me will be along soon with better advice.

Red

Nottoobadyet

Some gyms will let you sell on the last few months of your membership on to someone else - maybe ask if they'll let you do that?

My gym will let you get out of your contract early if you move abroad (as I am doing in the coming months), but I can't think of a way for you to use that to your advantage without being dishonest so it probably isnt relevant.

kentjojo29

I just cancelled the payments, my gym never said anything, didnt phone or anything.. nice to know i was a valued member :j

RedTulip

kentjojo29 wrote: »

I just cancelled the payments, my gym never said anything, didnt phone or anything:j

My friend did the same thing. Dca letters started last week.....

Melmoneysaver

I wouldn't recommend just cancelling the payments generally, fair play if that worked for you but my friends had hells game with David Lloyd recently, she gave them three months notice and cancelled her direct debit 2 months into the notice period, they charged her for 4 months instead of three as there was a clause about notice being taken from the 1st of the following month and when she disputed it they sent it to their solicitor and charged her a £70 fee, she just paid as she was worried about getting taken to court, £!?!holes!!

MrsTinks

Sorry but gyms are renowned for not letting you out of your agreement early... In order to ensure you don't pay past July I would give them notice in writing NOW by recorded mail and ask them to confirm the date of your last payment in writing. That way you know exactly where you stand and you have it in writing to fall back on if they get difficult...

DanielleR

Thanks gets some great advice there. I'll send a letter off on Monday and just use as much I can in the meantime xxx