Cancel Gym Membership Advice

smartdoodle

Hey,

Hope this is in the right place, if not please move and I apologise.

I signed up with Bannatynes a few years ago for a 12month contract, went past the 12 months and my circumstances chagned so gave my 3 months notice and left.
Fast forward a year or so and I was able to rejoin, so went in to chat about it. I was told that as I'd been a member before I wouldn't be tied into a 12 month contract and as long as I stayed for at least 3 months it would only be a month notice period. I've been with them well over 12 months this time and had an operation a few months ago and now found out that I am pregnant so sent in a letter to give my months notice.

Just received a letter from the today stating that I would have to give 3 months notice and so will have to pay until July.

I've rung the gym but the manager has left for the day, so going to ring back tomorrow, is there anything I can do about this? Or do I just have to pay and get on with it? It's not what I was told when signing up but do I have a leg to stand on.

On a side note the letter was obviously a standardised letter and even mentioned that they have returned my membership card with the letter as I'd still be able to use the gym, but I didn't send the card back to them so there was justthe letter in the envelope!! As for using the gym, I can barley keep awake during the working day so having energy to go to the gym seem impossible.

Thanks for your advice in advance.

Ariadna

Not really any advice to give, but I had this exact same problem.

I rejoined Bannatynes and was verbally told that, as a re-joiner I would be able to leave on a month notice, but when I wanted to leave I had to give three months. I tried arguing the toss with them but they said the agreement I had signed said three months (which was true) and that was that. I can't prove that the woman I saw when I rejoined actually said it so I didn't really have much of a leg to stand on. I certainly won't join a third time. :mad:

You could try cancelling your direct debit, but I'm really not sure how aggressively they would pursue you. :cool:

Fire_Fox

Don't cancel your direct debit, you are in a legally binding contract and they can put a black mark on your credit file. Read the contract you signed, that is what you are bound by. You *may* be able to freeze your final months membership and pay a vastly reduced rate given you have health issues.

smartdoodle

Thanks for both your replies and sorry I haven't been back on sooner. Don;t know where the days go!

So to update, I emailed the manager, as I thought something in writing would probably be better than a phone conversation that I couldn't prove. The next day he tried ringing, it came up as bannatynes on my phone so I let it ring (I was actualy out and busy so wouldn't have been able to talk anyway) and straight after the phone call received an email from him asking if he had the correct number as he'd tried to ring.

I replied saying yes but wasn't going to discuss on the phone as verbal communication is why this was happening in the first place. After a couple more email exchanges he gave me the meberships@bannatynes email and said to email them to see if they could help. I did so, nearly 2 weeks ago now and not had any sort of reply, sent a polite follow up email last week (a week after sending first) and still not got a reply.

Not really sure where to go from here, do I wait it out and see if they reply. DD is still set up so on the 1st the next payment will go out.

I deffinately won't be going back to Bannatynes gym again. My husband and I chose it a few years go as it was on the way to work and opened early enough for us to be able to go before work. (He cancelled his the first time we cancelled after giving 3 months notice, just incase anybodys wondering so has nothing to do with this re-join)

smartdoodle

Just actually had a reply! Only took 2 weeks.

Basically they are saying tough pay up, the 12 month contract wasn't applicable as I re-joined but the notice period was still 3 months as per terms and conditions.
They sent me the terms through, so I've just read through them again and it states in the terms and conditions that 12 months minimum contract applies. So How was I supposed to know that when the advisor at the gym told e it would be no minimum contract and 1 month notice that I would have no leg to stand on.

Anyway I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll just pay it and never use any Bannatyne facility again, maybe a tweet to Duncan too.

The email also stated that they would give me a reduced discount if paid within 14 days of £100.80. However my last payment to them (if I continue with the 3 month notice) would be July 1st, so I've paid Mays payment, which means theres just June and July to go at £42, which I make to be a a total of £84. So wh would I just ring them/send cheque etc for £100.80 now.

It's a mistake I will learn by and will make sure I get anybody to right on the contract anything they have stated to be true before I sign it for anything in future.

parking_question_chap

Sales people will say black is white to get a sale

" So How was I supposed to know that when the advisor at the gym told e it would be no minimum contract and 1 month notice that I would have no leg to stand on."

Sorry to be blunt, but you read the paperwork before signing, ALWAYS read the paperwork.