Why won't Virgin Active let me cancel my membership?

Indestructor

Can anyone help. My girlfriend was a member of Virgin Active gyms, and wanted to cancel her membership as she was leaving the country to study in Thailand. She had signed up to the 12 month contract, and it was due to end in February. After a long wild goose chase that involved personal visits to the local gym, letters, emails and countless phone calls, lasting the best part of a month, she finally managed to cancel her membership, and also canceled her direct debit as instructed by the representative over the phone. 2 weeks ago, she received a bill for february and march. As she is no longer living in this country, i personally phoned them up, and was told that her membership cancelation had been declined, and she would have to be a member for the next 12 month.
Can anyone tell me if this is legal, and offer any advice on a course of action i could take, because i have no idea what to do.

pinkshoes

What did her contract say? They often have clauses in where the member has to give 3 months notice to cancel, so if she didn't cancel at least 3 months before the end of her membership, then she'll have to pay for another year.

You'll have to find her contract and see what it says, and perhaps there's a clause for people who have moved abroad.

At the very least, they should freeze her contract for when she returns so she can then complete the 12 months membership.

Blacksheep1979

Just write back to them saying that their refusal to cancel the contract has been declined.