Gym promised to cancel membership and didn't

mjweedon

Hi guys,

I'm sure this is a familiar sounding tale.

I normally run outside, but was training for a specific event in the spring and didn't want to be held up by snow & ice, so signed up for a short health club membership as there was a 'one month free' offer.

I had been a member of the same club previously and had fallen foul of their tricky T&Cs when cancelling, so was clear during the phone call with the saleswoman that I wanted the shortest membership possible which was 3 months plus the free one. She assured me that she had put a 'stop notice' on the account for May.

I've just found out through checking my statements that the club took payments for June, July and August. I haven't used their facilities in this time, because I was under the impression that my membership had expired.

What's my next move?

Sambucus_Nigra

Not that old chestnut. Did you get T&C in the post for this sign up?

McKneff

Having fallen foul once as you say should have made you doubly careful and you should have got everything in writing.

Have you read the terms and conditions, more to the point, its obvios you didnt read them when you got them,

He said, she said doenst stand up in court.

Let us know how you get on

bebewoo

Your first move should be to cancel the direct debit.
Some gyms (i.e. VA) close memberships but then (accidentally!) don't stop the direct debit.
The ring up the gym and find out if they really did cancel your membership, and if so try to get the money back either from them or under the direct debit guarantee.

arcon5

Hands up if you think the gym 'won't have records of this conversation'?

Gyms are sly op which is why you should ALWAYS read the T&Cs your signing and get extra terms in writing. I also bet their terms have a strct cancellation policy which you now have to follow consequently meaning you have to pay another month of two in fees. And best of all they will have your signature confirming you agree with these terms so you do not have a leg to stand on.

DVardysShadow

McKneff wrote: »

Having fallen foul once as you say should have made you doubly careful and you should have got everything in writing.

Have you read the terms and conditions, more to the point, its obvios you didnt read them when you got them,

He said, she said doenst stand up in court.

Let us know how you get on

I agree, but I think this will be quite clear cut

• If OP did not sign a contract, but has been paying monthly, then he can cancel now - there is no record of the deal, but there is no refund unless the saleswoman backs up the OP's understanding
• If OP did sign a contract, the contract will be quite explicit and will either support 3 months or not. Whatever is written will be upheld.

mjweedon

I went for the compromise / easy solution in the end.

I am keeping my membership going but getting a three month payment holiday. This suits as I've had a foot injury and been unable to run, and the club has other facilities / machines.

Cheers all.

mjweedon

Just to add, thanks for the replies. I was initially hoping to get 3 monthly payments back, but from reading them I gleaned I'd be lucky to get anything at all and because of that, changed the way I was going to approach the conversation with the manager.