Gym Membership Leaving Fees

Gymworry25

I am currently in a 3 year gym membership i want to leave as they close an area of the gym I want to use for private session (which cost more). When I signed up this was not the case. I feel like I should not have to pay the full amount of cancellation fees as they have changed what is available to me. 
They are also saying as I dont go regularly they are not in breech of contract. 

Any advice on how to proceed would be welcome.

MyRealNameToo

Gymworry25 said:

I am currently in a 3 year gym membership i want to leave as they close an area of the gym I want to use for private session (which cost more). When I signed up this was not the case. I feel like I should not have to pay the full amount of cancellation fees as they have changed what is available to me. 
They are also saying as I dont go regularly they are not in breech of contract. 

Any advice on how to proceed would be welcome.

Read the terms of the contract you agreed to

Brie

how much notice did they give you of closing that area?  when similar happened at our gym we were allowed to cancel with less notice than on the T&Cs - so 1 month rather than 3.  Perhaps ask them for that?

Gymworry25

2. If we alter the operating hours of the services unreasonably resulting in you being subsequently being unable to access the services. 
Is in my contract and I believe they have breached this by closing an area of the gym for personal training, which did not happen when I signed up originally. 
They said I do not come to the gym enough in a monthly period for this to be a problem. 
Every time I go to the gym this section is closed so i dont bother going 

Gymworry25

Brie said:

how much notice did they give you of closing that area?  when similar happened at our gym we were allowed to cancel with less notice than on the T&Cs - so 1 month rather than 3.  Perhaps ask them for that?

No notice, I just went one day and they had closed it off for private sessions and then I went again and it was closed again. Every time ive been its been closed for private sessions. 

Brie

sounds like they're having their cake and eating it too!  you want to go occasionally, you can't go because the bit you want to use is closed so you can go even less and that's giving them a reason why it shouldn't bother you.  

Quote the T&Cs, tell them you're paying up to X date and then stop paying.  They will get shirty and talk about debt collection but then refer them back to the T&Cs.

Gymworry25

Brie said:

sounds like they're having their cake and eating it too!  you want to go occasionally, you can't go because the bit you want to use is closed so you can go even less and that's giving them a reason why it shouldn't bother you.  

Quote the T&Cs, tell them you're paying up to X date and then stop paying.  They will get shirty and talk about debt collection but then refer them back to the T&Cs.

Thank you! I'll send an email

saajan_12

Gymworry25 said:

2. If we alter the operating hours of the services unreasonably resulting in you being subsequently being unable to access the services. 

That's only half a clause.. is the rest of that sentence at the top or bottom of that broader section? 
If they alter xyz then what happens? 

Gymworry25

saajan_12 said:

Gymworry25 said:

2. If we alter the operating hours of the services unreasonably resulting in you being subsequently being unable to access the services. 

That's only half a clause.. is the rest of that sentence at the top or bottom of that broader section? 
If they alter xyz then what happens? 

During the Minimum Period you may cancel the contract only: 1. If we fail to maintain the services offered at the point of joining the health club to a reasonable level we may, at our discretion, cancel your membership 2. If we alter the operating hours of the services unreasonably resulting in you being subsequently being unable to access the services. 3. If you develop a medical condition which prevents you from using the services on an ongoing basis. An appropriate medical practitioner must provide written evidence that this is so. 4. If you move away from your current home address by a distance of 5 miles. We shall require evidence that such a move has taken place. If you already live more than 5 miles from the club and joined due to working nearby you may cancel if your place of work changes by more than 5 miles. 5. If you lose your employment and are subsequently unable to keep up your repayments under this contract. You must produce documentary evidence and we may, at our discretion, suspend your payments for two months. 6. If you become pregnant. You must produce documentary evidence and we may, at our discretion, suspend payments for six months. We will then review your situation with you. 

This is the whole section

Grumpy_chap

I initially read that the OP was having Private Training Sessions, but I now think the OP is saying part of the gym floor is closed off for Private Training Sessions (which others participate in but not the OP).

If the later is the case, what equipment is solely available in the area that is reserved for customers paying for Private Training?  If, for example, there are 10 treadmills and only 2 are in the reserved area, that leaves 8 treadmills that the OP can access and use.
What, specifically, is the OP losing out on by the area being prioritised for customers taking Private Training Sessions?

Is there any truth to the statement from the gym staff that the OP does not attend frequently?
Is there any element of this that the OP signed up for a 3-year discounted membership contract with all the best intentions but does not use the facility that often which makes it expensive and the OP is really looking for any excuse to be the basis to avoid paying the remaining membership for the term?
The way gyms work as a business model depends on the individuals that sign up for a long term discounted rate and then never actually attend the gym.  

Gymworry25

Grumpy_chap said:

I initially read that the OP was having Private Training Sessions, but I now think the OP is saying part of the gym floor is closed off for Private Training Sessions (which others participate in but not the OP).

If the later is the case, what equipment is solely available in the area that is reserved for customers paying for Private Training?  If, for example, there are 10 treadmills and only 2 are in the reserved area, that leaves 8 treadmills that the OP can access and use.
What, specifically, is the OP losing out on by the area being prioritised for customers taking Private Training Sessions?

Is there any truth to the statement from the gym staff that the OP does not attend frequently?
Is there any element of this that the OP signed up for a 3-year discounted membership contract with all the best intentions but does not use the facility that often which makes it expensive and the OP is really looking for any excuse to be the basis to avoid paying the remaining membership for the term?
The way gyms work as a business model depends on the individuals that sign up for a long term discounted rate and then never actually attend the gym.  

I signed up and went regularly (at least once if not 2-3 times a weekl then they started closing this area, 4 squat racks (there is only 5 in the gym) the hyrox track (the only one in the gym) and the weights relating to hyrox such as sand bags and wall balls. My issue is I signed up for this area in particular and now everytime I go this is closed. I dont go regularly any more but i did up until about 4 months ago due to this area being closed I dont see the point as the work outs i want and need to do are hyrox specific so I need access to this equipment. 

6 months ago I could access this equipment and now they are saying I could sign up for these private, small group classes (and pay more!) I want to be able to go to the gym straight from work and do my workout in this area and at the moment this is not possible