Snap Fitness gym cancellation policy…where do I stand?

Adam_

I contacted my gym (Snap Fitness) today to cancel. I was told I needed to give 30 days notice (so i’ll be charged for next month on the 1st) even though I won’t be able to use the gym due to moving. I told them this but they refused and said I need to pay.

I’m seeing numerous reviews on trust pilot of 1 star for this very reason and for excess charges even months after they cancelled their membership.

I’ve contacted my bank to put a block on the transactions as sneakily they setup the payment by recurring payment and not a direct debit.

Just wanted to know where I stand in a sense of can they legally make me pay or is it not worth the hassle and just pay the months membership notice? 

Their cancellation policy is here:

 CANCELLATION. After my right to cancel period noted earlier (if any), I may cancel my membership by giving notice by filling out a cancellation form at my home club. The notice will be effective on the last day of the month which is at least 30 days from the date of my notice, and I will be required to pay all fees up until that date and any outstanding fees for other services already supplied to me, regardless of whether or not I use the club after the date of my notice. If collection or legal services are needed to collect any unpaid amount, I am responsible for all costs of collection, including solicitor’s fees of Club Owner and/or Licensor. If I die or become totally or permanently disabled, upon reasonable written notice to the Club with proof of the death or disability, either I or my estate may cancel this Agreement and receive a prorated refund of the unused portion of membership fees incurred.

TELLIT01

The gym is only implementing what you signed up to. 

Undervalued

Adam_ said:

I contacted my gym (Snap Fitness) today to cancel. I was told I needed to give 30 days notice (so i’ll be charged for next month on the 1st) even though I won’t be able to use the gym due to moving. I told them this but they refused and said I need to pay.

I’m seeing numerous reviews on trust pilot of 1 star for this very reason and for excess charges even months after they cancelled their membership.

I’ve contacted my bank to put a block on the transactions as sneakily they setup the payment by recurring payment and not a direct debit.

Just wanted to know where I stand in a sense of can they legally make me pay or is it not worth the hassle and just pay the months membership notice? 

Their cancellation policy is here:

 CANCELLATION. After my right to cancel period noted earlier (if any), I may cancel my membership by giving notice by filling out a cancellation form at my home club. The notice will be effective on the last day of the month which is at least 30 days from the date of my notice, and I will be required to pay all fees up until that date and any outstanding fees for other services already supplied to me, regardless of whether or not I use the club after the date of my notice. If collection or legal services are needed to collect any unpaid amount, I am responsible for all costs of collection, including solicitor’s fees of Club Owner and/or Licensor. If I die or become totally or permanently disabled, upon reasonable written notice to the Club with proof of the death or disability, either I or my estate may cancel this Agreement and receive a prorated refund of the unused portion of membership fees incurred.

Almost certainly they can. Whether they will or not is another question but quite a lot of sports (and other membership based "clubs") clubs do take a firm line.

The terms and conditions seem clear, even if they are not what you hoped they are what you signed up to. The fact that you are moving away is your choice, not theirs.

Ergates

"I contacted my gym (Snap Fitness) today to cancel. I was told I needed to give 30 days notice (so i’ll be charged for next month on the 1st) even though I won’t be able to use the gym due to moving. I told them this but they refused and said I need to pay."

When did you discover/decide that you'd be moving?  Presumably earlier than today?  If so, *that* would have been the time to tell them.

The_Unready

Just pay, and make a mental note to actually read the T&C's of the next gym (or whatever) you sign up to before you sign up.

MattMattMattUK

Adam_ said:

I’ve contacted my bank to put a block on the transactions as sneakily they setup the payment by recurring payment and not a direct debit.

They will likely place a default marker on your credit report and may take more aggressive action to recover the payment due.

Adam_ said:

Just wanted to know where I stand in a sense of can they legally make me pay or is it not worth the hassle and just pay the months membership notice? 

They can legally make you pay by taking you to court and obtaining a CCJ. Should you still refuse to pay they can then have that enforced by the High Court. Would they do that? Possibly yes, some of these companies are very aggressive in recovering funds due. You signed up to the contract, you agreed to the one month cancellation period, you chose to move and did not cancel your membership in time, that is entirely on you. You can take the risk of refusing to pay and hope that they do not enforce the debt, or you can pay what you owe and not have to worry about it, the choice is yours. 

Adam_

Ergates said:

"I contacted my gym (Snap Fitness) today to cancel. I was told I needed to give 30 days notice (so i’ll be charged for next month on the 1st) even though I won’t be able to use the gym due to moving. I told them this but they refused and said I need to pay."

When did you discover/decide that you'd be moving?  Presumably earlier than today?  If so, *that* would have been the time to tell them.

I say moving, its more I won’t be working in the area anymore so it makes no sense to be a member there now.

Its only been the past 2 weeks I found out to be honest.

Its definitely not something they make you aware of when signing up and i’ve seen a number of reviews on TrustPilot comaining that they keep taking payments after the membership was cancelled. You can only cancel by completing a form and signing to say you agree to the 30 days

eskbanker

Adam_ said:

Its definitely not something they make you aware of when signing up

It's a prominent clause in their published terms and conditions and appears to have been that way for at least two years:

https://www.snapfitness.com/uk/membership-terms-and-conditions/

https://web.archive.org/web/20200701200218/https://www.snapfitness.com/uk/membership-terms-and-conditions/

Adam_ said:
i’ve seen a number of reviews on TrustPilot comaining that they keep taking payments after the membership was cancelled

If they do that beyond the end of the advised notice period then they'd be in breach of those terms, but that would be a separate issue from their right to take payment up until then.

Edit: so if they'll take one final payment on August 1st (i.e. a week on Monday) to cover the last month of membership, confirm with them after that that the account is fully settled and then cancel the payment authority with your bank, or if it's already too late then make a one-off debit card payment for your final month.

user1977

eskbanker said:

Adam_ said:

Its definitely not something they make you aware of when signing up

It's a prominent clause in their published terms and conditions and appears to have been that way for at least two years:

And (from my experience) is pretty standard for gym membership.

Or to put it another way, how much notice did you think you would need to give them, and why did you think that?

Adam_

Ok thanks to everyone for replying. Its the first instance i’ve had really of this kind of thing so wasn’t sure where I stood.

Thanks for clarifying to the people that did 👍🏻 will accept its on me and remember for next time 😅

Ergates

Adam_ said:

Ergates said:

"I contacted my gym (Snap Fitness) today to cancel. I was told I needed to give 30 days notice (so i’ll be charged for next month on the 1st) even though I won’t be able to use the gym due to moving. I told them this but they refused and said I need to pay."

When did you discover/decide that you'd be moving?  Presumably earlier than today?  If so, *that* would have been the time to tell them.

I say moving, its more I won’t be working in the area anymore so it makes no sense to be a member there now.

Its only been the past 2 weeks I found out to be honest.

Its definitely not something they make you aware of when signing up and i’ve seen a number of reviews on TrustPilot comaining that they keep taking payments after the membership was cancelled. You can only cancel by completing a form and signing to say you agree to the 30 days

A 30 day cancellation notice period for a rolling contract is *very* common - I think pretty much all the contracts I have include it.

Continuing to take un-owed monies after the cancellation is a different matter - cross that bridge if/when you come to it (but maybe be prepared - forewarned is forearmed)