Gym membership fee increase by 35.81%

Nebo_2

I've been a member of Fitness First gym chain for 15+ years. Recently, I received a notification email about a membership price increase. According to that email, a new price is still £10 lower that new members payments. My calculations show that it's 35.81% hike. 
The email was sent at 5pm on 5th October and the next direct debit is on 31st October.
Can I do anything about it?
It seems very unfair.
Thanks!

la531983

Hard for anyone to answer without knowing a) when your contract ends, and b) what your contract says about mid year price increases assuming you are still tied in

Emmia

You could cancel your membership. But, you would lose access to the gym...

Nebo_2

The contract was signed first in 2004 and and again on different conditions in 2007, so by now it's roll-on. Membership price had been increased a few times in the past, but never that drastically.

Nebo_2

Emmia said:

You could cancel your membership. But, you would lose access to the gym...

I know, I can cancel it, but I'd rather keep it. The question is about my consumer rights. Is it ok for any organisation, such as gym, to increase a monthly membership by 35.81%? Do they have to justify it?

la531983

If you arent in any form of contract, at all, they can do what they like

Are you currently tied into a 12 month or 18 month (or other period) contract at all?  That is the crux of the matter which given your answer above seems that you are in some form of rolling month by month agreement.

Nebo_2

la531983 said:

If you arent in any form of contract, at all, they can do what they like

Are you currently tied into a 12 month or 18 month (or other period) contract at all?  That is the crux of the matter which given your answer above seems that you are in some form of rolling month by month agreement.

I'm not tied up by a contract, can cancel my membership anytime, been a member of the gym chain for 15+ years.

Wonka_2

Nebo_2 said:

Emmia said:

You could cancel your membership. But, you would lose access to the gym...

I know, I can cancel it, but I'd rather keep it. The question is about my consumer rights. Is it ok for any organisation, such as gym, to increase a monthly membership by 35.81%? Do they have to justify it?

There's no law about increases - and the last 20yrs of minimal inflation gives no indication of what might happen now or in the future.

The only glimmer (and it would only buy you a month at the lower price) is that they gave you less than a months notice (and I'm assuming your notice to them is a month)

In this case I'd discuss with them and they might give you a few days free but I'm not seeing you have any rights to anything - other than the right to walk away if you don't like the new price (but if it's been convenient for the last 20yrs then you're probably unlikely to find anything better/cheaper)

Nebo_2

Wonka_2 said:

Nebo_2 said:

Emmia said:

You could cancel your membership. But, you would lose access to the gym...

I know, I can cancel it, but I'd rather keep it. The question is about my consumer rights. Is it ok for any organisation, such as gym, to increase a monthly membership by 35.81%? Do they have to justify it?

There's no law about increases - and the last 20yrs of minimal inflation gives no indication of what might happen now or in the future.

The only glimmer (and it would only buy you a month at the lower price) is that they gave you less than a months notice (and I'm assuming your notice to them is a month)

In this case I'd discuss with them and they might give you a few days free but I'm not seeing you have any rights to anything - other than the right to walk away if you don't like the new price (but if it's been convenient for the last 20yrs then you're probably unlikely to find anything better/cheaper)

Thanks for your advice! It'll try to reason with them )))

Tucosalamanca

It seems unfair but business has to be profitable to survive.

Increased energy costs, water, insurance, business rates revaluation, wage increases, increased taxation, possible fall in membership due to cost of living. There's just so many reasons why they can justify the increase.

You can always try to negotiate but are the alternatives as good and do they offer comparable or better value?

Brie

Second the vote to chat to them about it.  I think it most likely to be given some extra "free" perks like access to paid classes or an extra towel or something.  Gym I used to go to years back would buy off people with sun tanning tokens!!