Gym Membership Cancellation

deethebee

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

Correct, but we're only hearing half of the story and not from the customer herself. If indeed there is literally nothing to show she agreed to the membership and to the contract and direct debit, you are right, but I would be surprised if that were the case.

The gym haven't been able to provide any proof though, have they? It sounds very dodgy that they have sent a blank contract and if that's all they can produce she has no legal obligations to them at all.

Manxman_in_exile

I'm pretty sure I've set up direct debits for council tax and utilities etc over the 'phone and without signing anything - or is my memory playing tricks?

davidmcn

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

I'm pretty sure I've set up direct debits for council tax and utilities etc over the 'phone and without signing anything - or is my memory playing tricks?

Yes, paperless direct debits exist.

deethebee

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

I'm pretty sure I've set up direct debits for council tax and utilities etc over the 'phone and without signing anything - or is my memory playing tricks?

Paperless Direct Debits do exist yes, but phone calls can be recorded. Face to face paperless Direct Debits can be subject to fraud so without signing a direct debit that is done in person, someone could easily claim they did not agree to it that's why they're pretty rare and I think there are extra stipulations and security over them.

bigsid19

I've asked her a bunch of times in as many different ways I can think of and she is adamant she did not sign anything, write anything down other than her mobile number (she gave them this in case they needed to contact her to rearrange her induction meeting) touch a computer mouse or keyboard or a tablet, tick any box etc. etc.

I think this is a case of the gym being unscrupulous. I originally found the place and popped in just after I moved near by to ask for some details. Guy at the desk said the person who deals with memberships was out and took my phone number so he could call me later.

I had a convo with the guy the next day when he phoned. Looking back now he seemed quite evasive, he just kept saying it X amount per week for this but for an extra X you get personal training sessions etc. etc. Sounded quite reasonable value and he was implying it was a pay weekly deal, although I never explicitly asked him.

Mentioned it to my girlfriend later, she decided she would join and soon after off she went. I on the other hand decided not to at that point as I wasn't getting much free time.

Long story short, I think they're a bunch of disengeuous scumbags trying it on and finding some people just rollover and pay up.

Thanks again for your inputs.

deethebee

Well good luck with it, they don't sound very reputable and I'm pretty shocked that they would not ask members to sign anything to join. They must know that they can't hold people to a contract that isn't signed? That's more than likely going to be your best defence. If they can't produce a signed contract then they can't demand money when there are terms involved. I don't see how they can even use the CCTV as a way to enforce sign ups, unless they can show her reading the Terms and Conditions and agreeing to them.

bigsid19

We think that the guy who "signed" her up messed it up somehow, as he was the same person replying to her emails and getting quite aggressive when she asked to see a signed contract. Thanks again all. Hopefully it'll just go away without any hassle.