Gym chasing for money

koalabread

Signed up for a gym in July 2017, everything was fine for about 6 months, then they brought in a new system that uses a band to access gym and facilities (the previous system was just a keypad). I lost my band and was told I had to pay for a new one, I advised I wasn't happy with this because I would lose it again (travel about a lot using the gym chain all over the country). They said that was the rules and I wasn't allowed entry if I didn't replace the band. I requested to cancel, so they told me that I had to pay up for the 12 months or let it run and cancel it after the 12th payment. I did the latter, this year after the 12th payment I canceled the Direct Debit. I have since received letters stating I owe various amounts of money because I didn't "write in to tell them I was canceling".

I have tried explaining my reasons for why I don't feel I owe the money and how they refused me entry to the gym for 4 months, but they insist I pay it because of their terms and conditions. The terms and conditions were changed in November 2017 and April 2018, to reflect the new entry system but I wasn't aware nor did I sign anything to confirm it. The last letter was demanding £170, which is crazy considering I paid them up for the 12 months with 4 of that having no use.

What are my options?

System

Is this Bannatyne by any chance? I forgot my band twice on the trot and they said if I forget again they would make me go home to get it. I felt a little perturbed so to speak with the way I was being treated considering the price. Anyway, I spoke to a few people about what the 'real' policy was (the staff member in question at reception has in the past been a little indiscrete and frankly embarrassing with members and guests) and found out that it was the manager's discretion on bands ! I am very surprised that for the sake of a £5 band, they are letting a person go?? At our club, we lost hundreds of members during building problems, now they seem in trouble and desperate to recruit.

fatrab

It's a gym membership, not a finance agreement. Tell them to s*d off

sourcrates

Hi,

This crops up all the time, canceling the DD does not cancel the agreement, it only cancels the payment.

There will be a cancellation procedure to follow, thats what you should of done unfortunately.

koalabread

andydownes123 wrote: »

Is this Bannatyne by any chance? I forgot my band twice on the trot and they said if I forget again they would make me go home to get it. I felt a little perturbed so to speak with the way I was being treated considering the price. Anyway, I spoke to a few people about what the 'real' policy was (the staff member in question at reception has in the past been a little indiscrete and frankly embarrassing with members and guests) and found out that it was the manager's discretion on bands ! I am very surprised that for the sake of a £5 band, they are letting a person go?? At our club, we lost hundreds of members during building problems, now they seem in trouble and desperate to recruit.

Yes it is, the service has gone really shoddy since the new policy came into effect. We too have had issues with the staff and their attitude, considering it isnt the cheapest gym in and they pride them selves on their "service"

koalabread

sourcrates wrote: »

Hi,

This crops up all the time, canceling the DD does not cancel the agreement, it only cancels the payment.

There will be a cancellation procedure to follow, thats what you should of done unfortunately.

Does it mean anything that I told them I wanted to cancel at the time of dissatisfaction? it was their advice to wait until the last payment to cancel?

sourcrates

koalabread wrote: »

Does it mean anything that I told them I wanted to cancel at the time of dissatisfaction? it was their advice to wait until the last payment to cancel?

Different gyms have different policies, they tend to make cancellation as awkward as possible, all you can do is try and come to an amicable agreement with them.

They do tend to sell these debts on to bottom feeder debt collectors if not settled.

Caz3121

koalabread wrote: »

Does it mean anything that I told them I wanted to cancel at the time of dissatisfaction? it was their advice to wait until the last payment to cancel?

so did you cancel after the last payment? - I assume they ask for it in writing.