How to cancel gym contracts - please feedback your experiences

MSE_Jenny

This thread is to feedback on the How to cancel gym contracts section of our cheap gyms guide.

If you've tried the techniques mentioned in the guide, we'd love to hear if you were successful. Did your gym cancel your contract? Which gym was it? What tips do you have others who are trying to cancel?

Thanks for your help!

MSE Jenny

Angela_B

I've been a member at Virgin Active for years. First as a corporate member then changed to Platinum membership when my company stopped that scheme as it was cheaper than paying monthly DD. I've been going to gyms for years before that so knew I'd be OK for the 12 initial months. I was told it was rolling so had to commit to each 12 months - but never reminded as the year end/start approached

Several years later, and I have a new job that makes it difficult to get out during the day, the classes I love have changed time (actually the lunch time classes I loved are no more and the early evening classes now start at 5pm when they were 5:30pm starts) - I have never been an true evening gym goer. So I am hardly going these days and have not been regularly since the summer.

I decided it's time to cancel. I was ready to argue - I discovered my 12 months ran December to December - I've never once had a reminder that I was 'recommitting'. Some time ago my platinum membership changed to Diamond without me being informed so I lost a load of perks across the Virgin group - and they were good discounts too.

I went on line to cancel on Saturday - saw the standard 'tell us by 17th to stop the contract at the end of the month' clause. I took a screen dump of that - another possible argument ie they could not even get my membership details right.

But today I got an email to say all sorted and my membership will cease after 29th February.

Easy peasy! Looks like lessons have been learnt.:T

Pinkpegasus

A friend at work asked me what to do about cancelling his gym membership, though he was only four months into a twelve month contract. The reason was that he wasn't using the gym as much as hethought he would have.

I advised him to write a polite letter asking if they would consider allowing him out of the contract as he wasn't getting full use of his membership. A week later, he thanked me and said that the gym had been brilliant and allowed him to terminate the contract with no penalties.

jenniewb

I've read so many reports here of memberships not being cancelled when people asked but I have to say I've not had any problems myself.

My last cancellation which I clearly remember was with LA Fitness, I went to the desk on the 29th December, my membership ended the 30 Jan so I was well within my 30 day limit. I was told "we don't talk about cancellations here" in a very hushed tone, the assistant then gave me a card with a number on, said I'd need to call "those people" and they'd cancel for me. I had expected some sort of an attempt to keep me on when I called but aside from asking me why I wanted to leave (I had a few reasons !) I had no one forcing me to stay and they gave me a reference number.

I ended that contract without any problems and didn't seem to have any issues at all. I still get emails trying to lure me back with lower prices but really, i'm happier where I am at a different gym, at least where I am now they don't paint the walls black and attempt to turn off as many lights as possible!

botheredandbewildered

Hi I'm new here, I hope it's OK to post my comment/question here.

I've just cancelled my gym membership with GLL giving the required 30 days notice, however, they've said that the cancellation will run from the date of my next direct debit which is on 1 March; that is, my contract won't be cancelled until 31 March despite my giving notice on the 17th Feb (which is before their monthly cut off date for giving notice to cancel). Can anyone tell me if this is standard practice please?

Thanks.

Toddlertamer76

Hi, we are trying to cancel a membership with bannatynes at the moment. The membership expired in nov 11 and we sent a letter in dec informing them we wanted to cancel. They are now threatening us with a CCJ for the 3 month cancellation fee. I thought you could cancel at any time after the end of the 12 month period and you didn't have to pay the 3 months fee. We did this with another gym and they just cancelled the membership no problem. Help? Can they actually have a CCJ put on us?

duloch

I signed up to the gym few days ago stupidly (only went in for a form) and now working out my finances Im not going to be able to afford it after all. I also have an old foot injury which I worried about reoccuring. I paid joining fee and the remaining of this months money in cash. Direct debit not due to start till April 1st. I really need to cancel this. I am not wanting the to refund my intial money as I have wasted their time. I just dont want to start paying any dd. Any advice? Im phoning her at 230. Sent an email but didnt get any reply as yet but she not working til 230.

citylife

I took out a flexible membership with Virgin Active gym in 2011, paying £47.00 per month, I believe this membership is top range -above the diamond membership. I was told I can cancel this membership anytime because it is not tied to a 12 month contract. I paid monthly without a fail for nearly a year and attended gym regularly. Then this became a different story when I cancelled my direct debit this year after I was involved in a car accident and was unable to use the gym. I got a letter from Virgin Active asking me to fill out a new direct debit mandate form. When I called them to explain they said no problem, just write a letter to cancel before the 17th day of the month. Off I sent the letter. A week later I got a letter from them saying they couldn't cancel my membership with no explaintion why.... but instead they said they can move
my membership to for gifts vouchers etc...???I ignored the letter. Then I got bombard and hassled with calls day in and day out even at work, next I got a call from debt collecting agency ARC saying I have to pay them a whooping £177, (£242) if they take me to court to get a CCJ out against me any advice to deal with this dreadful gym, I fee like I have been mislaid After over year of being an excellent customer paying on time and when I can't use the gym because of an illness...bang I'm threatened to be taken to court

beatthesystem12

Not sure if anyone else has come across this one, but I'd be interested in advice.

My partner joined a gym and leisure centre. After the minimum contract period he decided to cancel because he wasn't using the services. He wrote them a cancellation letter, but forgot to cancel the direct debit. It turns out the company has a clause in the small print saying that if you cancel your membership but not the direct debit, they take the continuing payments as a sign that you intend to continue your membership and pocket the lot.

Does he have a leg to stand on?

Thanks for your help!

beatthesystem12

duloch wrote: »

I signed up to the gym few days ago stupidly (only went in for a form) and now working out my finances Im not going to be able to afford it after all. I also have an old foot injury which I worried about reoccuring. I paid joining fee and the remaining of this months money in cash. Direct debit not due to start till April 1st. I really need to cancel this. I am not wanting the to refund my intial money as I have wasted their time. I just dont want to start paying any dd. Any advice? Im phoning her at 230. Sent an email but didnt get any reply as yet but she not working til 230.

Duloch, you should surely be covered by the 7-day cooling off period? Just cancel the direct debit with your bank and I think they have no right to take any payments from you.

duloch

beatthesystem12 wrote: »

Duloch, you should surely be covered by the 7-day cooling off period? Just cancel the direct debit with your bank and I think they have no right to take any payments from you.

There wasnt a cooling off period, I asked. What happened was I had to give 3 months notice and then my contract will be terminated. Last payment on June and then I will send the bank a letter as well to cancel direct debit. It has been a very expensive mistake as I never used the gym in the 3 months as I couldnt face going in. Lesson well and truly learnt though!