Can I cancel gym membership within 14 days cooling off period?

svislik2023

Hi. Bought a pay as you go gym membership last Saturday. The only option was to pay annual membership fee. Tried to cancel within 14 days and gym days it’s non-refundable. Don’t I have 14 days to cancel as a consumer? Thanks 

tripled

How did you buy the gym membership, was it in person at the gym or a distance sale (Internet or phone)? Have you used the gym?

Penguin_

Im confused why you'd pay an annual fee if you're buying a pay as you go membership.

Aylesbury_Duck

Penguin_ said:

Im confused why you'd pay an annual fee if you're buying a pay as you go membership.

Possibly a low annual fee and then a pay-as-you-use charge for each visit?

tripled

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Penguin_ said:

Im confused why you'd pay an annual fee if you're buying a pay as you go membership.

Possibly a low annual fee and then a pay-as-you-use charge for each visit?

It could be a one-off upfront payment for 365 days access, with no automatic renewal, so no monthly payment? PureGym offer something similar, although for only up to 30 days, not for a year.

jon81uk

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Penguin_ said:

Im confused why you'd pay an annual fee if you're buying a pay as you go membership.

Possibly a low annual fee and then a pay-as-you-use charge for each visit?

This is the way many council-run gyms operate, the one-off covers induction and set-up and then you pay a fee each visit.

So it depends if they actually used it and the terms they agreed to I expect.

DullGreyGuy

svislik2023 said:

Hi. Bought a pay as you go gym membership last Saturday. The only option was to pay annual membership fee. Tried to cancel within 14 days and gym days it’s non-refundable. Don’t I have 14 days to cancel as a consumer? Thanks 

Statutory cooling off periods, other than for some regulated products like insurance, only apply to things bought away from the business' address (eg on the internet, at your home etc). If you went to the gym and signed up there is no statutory cooling off period and you are down to the T&Cs you agreed to re cancellations. 

svislik2023

Understood. Thanks all. I just need to make sure they didn’t set up a direct debit to prevent them charging me next year

born_again

svislik2023 said:

Understood. Thanks all. I just need to make sure they didn’t set up a direct debit to prevent them charging me next year

How did you pay?
If it was via card, then unless you gave them your sort/acc It will be a recuring payment. If that is what they do. Which will not show on your account as a DD or other regular payment.

macman

svislik2023 said:

Understood. Thanks all. I just need to make sure they didn’t set up a direct debit to prevent them charging me next year

Only you can authorise a DD. providing your bank account details doesn't enable them to create a DD.

DullGreyGuy

svislik2023 said:

Understood. Thanks all. I just need to make sure they didn’t set up a direct debit to prevent them charging me next year

Preventing charging doesnt prevent renewal... it can just add debt collection costs when you dont pay. You need to follow the cancellation process to avoid any auto renewal you've agreed to