fittness first

aka666

hi all, started with these in march 2006 just phoned them up to say i wont to cancel, they said i need to give them 1 month notice, i thought now the 12 months were up that would be it,so if i got to give them 1 month does that mean i got to pay another payment

Sea78

I think it does- probably somewhere hidden in the smallest print will be the info that you have to give a month's notcie after the year contract - I know in my gym they are quite upfront about it.

Sea xxx

oops_a_daisy

when I cancelled I had to give 1 months notice and had to pay for it too. It is in the contract and also when I actually signed up I asked them why they noted my debit/credit card details on the application form, they told me it was because some people cancel their direct debits so they charge your debit/credit card instead.

All the best - OOPS

SunderlandBlackCat

It used to be even worse they used to try & insist on you going in for a leaving interview & wouldn't start the notice period until you had.

I'm probably one of the reasons for them taking the debit card details as when they refused to start my notice period without an interview I cancelled my direct debit

Of course someone about to cancel a direct debit could also contact the bank & say they thought the debit card number was about to be abused & ask for a new number

papito

hold one second please.
A 12 months contract is a 12 months comtract only, after the 12 months you should not pay or give 30 days notice. please talk to them again and if another money saver knows better this, please advice. same as mobile contracts and other services.

LookingAhead

I cancelled Fitness First in 2004 after my year's contract.

I'd stopped going but they continued to take the monthly direct debit so I called to find out why seems I hadn't renewed and they said I was supposed to write to tell them to cancel it.

So I did and I *think* they didn't take the next month's because I made a fuss as soon as I realised.

But it was a while ago and I have been asleep (and drunk) since then.....

Sea78

Hmm...but even with mobile companies on, say, an 18 month contract, you still have to give a months notice don't you? I could be wrong, but that's what Ive had to do. Even with a gym 12 month contract, it will probably have in the small print that you have to give a months notice.

But I'd definitely agree with questionning and looking at the contract again etc.

GingerSte

You can actually give your month's notice after 11 months, which means you meet the requirement of 12 months min contract and 1 month's notice.

BTW No I don't work for them.

papito

I still insist, that a Contract for 12 months ends automatically in 12 months, now, Yes you have to give 30 days notice, but that is if you are within your 12 month contract and there should be a clause where you may probably pay extra for ending a contract before the 12 months ends, this should be in the Contract on "cancel Policy", but no one should be force to give notice to end a contract that has already expired, hence no longer exist ??!!??? unless probably it says that the 12 months contract will automatically be renew if a 30 days notice has not been received on the 11th month and this is not the way contracts are made up....I remember calling 3G when my 12m contract expired and they insisted I have to give 1 month Notice, I did not accepted it and they ended up accepting I was right. Please remember that many times staff do not know legal stuff very well, and they say what they are told to and as I can see most of other MS think they have to give the 1m notice even when the 12 month expired; So complaing and insist on this, SAY : NO.
I am right??? this is a good point to be discussed? any MS experienced in law somewhere?

lynsayjane

hi folks, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but as a receptionist in a similar health club I can give you the full and final details on this one...


You'll find the 12 month contract is a minimum period and that your membership carries on month by month until cancelled. It's basically a minimum term rather than a contract period. There is usually a minimum notice period, in my club it's also a month. If during that time a dd is due then you are obliged to pay it.

Say for example you came to me today to cancel, what would happen is that your april dd would come out on the first as normal, you'd have access to the club till the end of april as normal and your membership would be cancelled as of first may.

As for cancelling your dd, some clubs have gone so far as to take members to court over this as you have signed a contract and are obliged as such to pay it.

Once again apologies if this is not what you wanted to hear but just wanted to give you the facts
xx

aka666

well i cancelled and had to give 1 month notice,,i was looking through paperwork and noticed that my directdebits were 35 pound,went to the manger and said that i told them i worked for the health authority and my directdebits should have been less,all she turned round and said it was to late and should have been brought to there attension earller,bloody cheek should i write to head office and what kind of letter should i write, its not a lot of money but its mine and i worked hard for it.