GYMBOX - unreasonable cancellation fees

Leqwerty

I recently moved to london, and went to gymbox to look around while looking for a new gym. The place looked great and I made it clear to the sale executive that my only reason for joining would be because of the classes, he reassured me that it's a reputable company with some of the top instructors. When he found out I was also going to visit other gyms, he said I could have an 'exclusive' offer that was only available today so I joined as I thought it looked good(I later found out this was a lie).

I then go to a number of classes and they have been awful.
1. One class the PT gave us a course to do and while we were doing that instead of watching he chose to talk to one girl for the whole time completely uninterested in the class. When it came to the next round of exercises instead of getting up he asked someone that was what I assume a regular to train us and help out, albeit kind of this man but he's not the one being paid to run the classes!
2. The second constituted of three exercises on repeat by a very disinterested instructor - row, squat, row, sit ups. I join classes to feel inspired and this was far from it.
3. A spin class the lady decided to spend it complaining that she wasn't invited to some staff Christmas party and then during the class didn't even spin

I then complained to the manager who was very understanding but one of his excuses was that it could be because it was close to Christmas (not an excuse, I can't slack before Christmas at work!). He then said he would book me on classes that he thought I would join, but then as I left said he would be notifying the pt tomorrow to do a good job.

I then messaged the manager and said while I appreciate him taking the effort but I think that if management are having to specifically tell their instructors that somebody is coming and to do a good job there is something very wrong with that. It’s time consuming for everyone involved, for me having to ask him which classes are the best and which ones to avoid. I then get a reply from the manager that said he was sad the classes affected my decision to leave and that he didn't end up telling the pt to do a good job (feel like again another lie to cover his back).

Essentially, I am being forced to leave because the classes are inadequate but when I cancel my membership I receive an email saying that this is an inadequate reason because classes are only part of the benefit. And that I need to pay a total of the next months fees and a cancellation fee, totaling £120 as i'm in a 12 month contract.

I think this is completely unreasonable, does anyone have any suggestions with what I can do about this?! I haven't even been there for a month yet, do I have any consumer rights that would cover this unreasonable fee?

DoaM

Leqwerty wrote: »

When he found out I was also going to visit other gyms, he said I could have an 'exclusive' offer that was only available today so I joined as I thought it looked good(I later found out this was a lie).

I'm not 100% sure, but I think this pressure-selling technique may now be illegal.

unholyangel

DoaM wrote: »

I'm not 100% sure, but I think this pressure-selling technique may now be illegal.

You may not be 100% sure, but you are 100% right

6.1 Schedule 1 to the CPRs lists 31 commercial practices
which are considered unfair in all circumstances and which
are prohibited.

<snip>

7) Falsely stating that a product will only be available for
a very limited time, or that it will only be available on
particular terms for a very limited time, in order to elicit an
immediate decision and deprive consumers of sufficient
opportunity or time to make an informed choice.

OP, is credit/finance involved in the contract?