Cancelling gym membership

Golden_Glow90

Just looking for some advice. I have been taking my baby to a local swimming pool for a few months. He loved it there so I decided 3 weeks ago to join as a member so I could use the gym too; however, the last 3 weeks we’ve been turned away as the pool has been at full capacity. Nothing on their Facebook page or live updates so I’ve travelled the 20 minutes there and had to go home again. I’ve tried on different days and times but it’s exactly the same, occasionally I’ve been able to wait 5-10 minutes for someone to come out but more often than not, I’m having to go home. Now what’s changed is, a few days after I joined they stopped the booking in advance for swimming so it became a free for all. Had I known this, I wouldn’t have joined. I’m a week away from paying for another month but have to give 30 days notice. My question is, am I within my rights to terminate without giving the 30 days since I’m not being given the service I signed up for?

TELLIT01

You need to speak to the management at the gym.  If you signed up on the basis of pre-booked slots and it is now a free for all you would seem to have a basis for cancelling.

Golden_Glow90

I signed up online and when I asked to speak to the manager today after being turned away from swimming again, I was told there wasn’t anyone who deals with membership there and I had to fill in a cancellation request form and someone will ring me. There’s nothing in their advertising about booking slots though so I that was an assumption on my part as I didn’t expect them to change their system but I wasn’t missold it on this basis is you see what I mean. I wouldn’t even have an issue with not booking if I could get in but it’s just too busy every time I go making it impossible to use 

Aylesbury_Duck

I suspect that when they get in touch, you giving them the 30 days' notice will elicit a discount or some other concession that you can then consider.  It sounds as if you don't have the right to an instant cancellation, but they're not going to want to lose you as a member, especially as a lot of gyms are struggling to rebuild memberships post-pandemic, so see what they offer.

Golden_Glow90

I don’t think they could offer me anything to make me stay as it’s no good if I can never get in the pool. I just begrudge having to pay for next month too when I still wont be able to use it. That’s why I was wondering if there was a way I could terminate. I think it’s a grey area really as there’s nothing in the contract saying I’d be guaranteed to use it whenever I please although that is what you expect as a customer 🤷‍♀️

sheramber

You said you joined so you could use the gym. Presumably, you can still use the gym. 

Golden_Glow90

Yes but I could have joined a regular 24 hour gym for half the price, I chose this one as I could take my son swimming too