Gym won't allow me to cancel membership, unhappy with services

joocyglutes

Signed up to a local gym for 12 months, it's the most expensive gym in the area at £45 per month and offered a sauna, steam room facilities. The main reason for joining was the promise of a new gym opening in the franchise.

Sauna etc is no longer available for use due to covid, yet the gym owner has increased the price without notifying members. 

-The entrance to the gym carpark has still not been finished after 4 months, it's rubble and basically will damage a car

- there was no toilet seat on the toilets, though this has been resolved

-there is no lock on the toilet cubicle door

- no toilet roll

- air con not used (been told by staff that management said they cannot turn it on)
- equipment still faulty after months and more pieces broken. A handrail broke off in my hand this week as I was working out.

I'm generally unhappy with the service as this gym is more than twice the price of all other competitors. I have asked to cancel and been refused. Is there anyway I can cancel this membership legally?

starrybee

What contract length did you sign up to?

Did they "extend" the contract because of lockdown?

This may help https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/changed-your-mind/cancelling-a-gym-membership/

joocyglutes

starrybee said:

What contract length did you sign up to?

Did they "extend" the contract because of lockdown?

This may help https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/changed-your-mind/cancelling-a-gym-membership/

Thanks for your reply. 

I signed up for 12 months. However, most of that has been lockdown.

The cost of the gym is £20-30 more expensive than local competitors and the gym itself is no better than those. The additional cost was justified by the sauna facilities, but they are out of use. 

So i just feel its unfair to continue paying the same inflated price for a product I can't use. 

That's without the air con being turned off to save money, no maintenance of equipment, no toilet rolls etc.

Jeffaroo

Sounds pretty shady that you can't cancel, but like starrybee said it may depend on the contract you signed. I'm surprised they'd be able to keep you locked in and raise the rates during COVID. Can you contact the company or bank of the card you use and see if they offer any consumer protection? That at least puts some of the legal liability on them I would think. If the contract is legally binding, I would them not meeting their end of things would put them on the hook for continuing to charge you (and increase the price) of services you can't use. 

penners324

You could always cancel thevDD with the bank then argue your case in court.