Re: LA Fitness, Gym Advice Please

smartsaver2011

Hi There,

I've been offered a cracking rate by LA fitness for a 6mth gym option. My only query is they do payments by DD and say they have the right to increase at the end of 6 mths. Does anyone know or tried this. Ideally I only want it for 6mths so how do you ensure they don't continue as I'm wondering if it's a trap but to good to miss also!

Thanks

xxx

McKneff

Read all the terms and conditions twice, then read them again.

Take everything that any one says to you with a pinch of salt, verbal means nothing, its what you put your signature to that counts.

smartsaver2011

That's the problem there are no terms and conditions as such.

It states *Terms and conditions apply. Offer only available to above named member in communication. Offer available on a 6 month club peak direct debit membership only. Only available to purchase online. Offer ends Monday 15th August 2011. Subject to availability. £24.99 per month membership is available at LA fitness Salisbury. Prices may vary at other clubs, see website for more details. Selected clubs only. LA fitness reserves the right to increase the price at the end of the contract. £5 price increase effective from month 7's Direct Debit. Starter fee of £25.00 applicable on the membership

But nothing else anywhere on website. When it states 7mth payment do I assume you have to tell them in advance it's only 6mths you require and cancel??

smartsaver2011

Just come off the phone and the local club say you just have to call them on the 5th month to advise you will be cancelling on the 6th. So it's not a 6mth contract, its 6mths at a reduced price to tie you into a year unless you cancel??

McKneff

And they (as many other companies do) work on the principle that lots of people forget to cancel in the fifth month, precisely on the last day of the 5th month, not the 1st day of the 6th month which will be too late.

There must be some really devious people making these terms and conditions up.

jenniewb

I'd be wary of anything that you feel looks too good to be true. If it were me and I were worried about the t's and c's I'd go back to the club, ask to see the t's and c's. As far as I know, direct debits can be changed (ie upped) at any point, not just the contract legnth but that doesn't mean they will do. Its standing orders which are non variable AFAIK.

I'd want the phone number and any details on how to cancel and a cast iron statement or similar (all on paper) to say "*this* is what you will pay for 6 months, after 6 months it will be *this* amount". It probably sounds a bit OTT and IME LA fitness didn't mess me around with increasing payments nor did I have any issues with cancelling but that was a year and a half ago and I've no idea how they work with things now. To cancel I just phoned the number the front desk gave me, they gave me a receipt number for my cancellation, one phone call, job done and I had no further issues. Have to get in there within a month to cancelling but that tends to be the case with most contracts.

HTH.

thursdaynext

Presumably, it's a 6-month contract that then continues month by month. So your membership - and the direct debit - continue even after the contract period finishes, until you cancel.

I have just cancelled with LA Fitness (not in Salisbury) - it's a 1 month notice, from your next payment. Payment is 1st of month; I cancelled 20th July, my last payment was 1st August and my membership continues until end August.

So, if you only want to join for 6 months, then at some point in your 5th month ring & cancel. Your 6th payment is then your final one and you won't continue after the end of that month.

If you want to continue, you don't have to do anything. If you want, say, 8 months then ring & cancel during month 7.

The 6 month contract just means you can't cancel within that period (well you can but you still have to pay for it!).

manks

I've had a similar (albeit rather more pricy) 6 month offer for London's West India Quay club. Trouble is, you have to sign up online, but I'd hate to do it without reading full T&C, which are not available on the website. I emailed the branch but had no response (it's been a week), which is also somewhat of a concern.

jenniewb

manks wrote: »

I've had a similar (albeit rather more pricy) 6 month offer for London's West India Quay club. Trouble is, you have to sign up online, but I'd hate to do it without reading full T&C, which are not available on the website. I emailed the branch but had no response (it's been a week), which is also somewhat of a concern.

I'm not sure how the online thing works but maybe either phone or visit the place? I know LA tend to do freebie offers where you can try for a day or so before deciding if you like it and then sign up, maybe plan to go then when asked about signing up mention the online deal, see if they can offer you the same deal there and then (unless you've found some fantastic cashback deal or something!).

You get to see the t's and c's of the contract and time to read through before you have to sign when visiting to sign up and a chance to ask questions (they tend to be soooo wordy and most stuff IMO is badly written, needs to be asked to put into plain English!) I've had that same experience with all 5 of the past gyms I've joined.