Cancelling gym membership

BargainQueen

Hi.

I think gym's have us by the short and curly's a lot of the time.

I would have thought it would be pretty straight forward to cancel membership with the big names but obviously not. Me and my hubby are with a small gym and can only cancel if we move far enough away or pass our membership onto someone else. A friend even suggested getting letters from work to say we were moving abroad but my boss wouldn't sign it on company letterhead - I was gutted! You could try using one of those...

We now have to pay £15 each pm - which I know isn't a lot - until Dec 08. That's £270 which we could be putting in our baby fund!!!

Neither of us has the time to go as we have equipment at home but if anyone has any suggestions, it would be much appreciated here as well.

Optimist

BargainQueen wrote: »

Hi.

I think gym's have us by the short and curly's a lot of the time.

I would have thought it would be pretty straight forward to cancel membership with the big names but obviously not. Me and my hubby are with a small gym and can only cancel if we move far enough away or pass our membership onto someone else. A friend even suggested getting letters from work to say we were moving abroad but my boss wouldn't sign it on company letterhead - I was gutted! You could try using one of those...

We now have to pay £15 each pm - which I know isn't a lot - until Dec 08. That's £270 which we could be putting in our baby fund!!!

Neither of us has the time to go as we have equipment at home but if anyone has any suggestions, it would be much appreciated here as well.

I'm not surprised your boss wouldn't be a party to fraud
Why did you join? Did you not read the terms ?

I thanked instead of quoting !

stogiebear

Reading some of these posts always amazes me.

Just don't pay them. They are lying cheating snakes. Contract? So what. Challenge them to sue you for their dues...

How some people still fall for these scams amazes me, especially after all the awful press they get. I bet everyone here who is having trouble with these odious companies bought double glazing and time share...

It's time for consumers to protect themselves because NOONE ELSE will do it.

stogiebear

I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

Oh yeah? You'll put your life on the line so I can say what I want?

I doubt it.

Optimist

stogiebear wrote: »

Oh yeah? You'll put your life on the line so I can say what I want?

I doubt it.

I would probably make an exception in your case

Tricey

Hi, A friend of mine has moved and transferred her Virgin Active membership to a gym nearer her new address after only using 6 months of her membership where she used to live. As stated in the contract she had a 7 day cooling off period and cancelled the membership on the 5th day. Virgin Active are now chasing her for another 6 months membership as they say she broke the T&C's although there is nothing in them that says she could not cancel once she had transferred. They are now threatening her with debt collectors and the like. Does anyone have any advice? Tricey

Optimist

Tricey wrote: »

Hi, A friend of mine has moved and transferred her Virgin Active membership to a gym nearer her new address after only using 6 months of her membership where she used to live. As stated in the contract she had a 7 day cooling off period and cancelled the membership on the 5th day. Virgin Active are now chasing her for another 6 months membership as they say she broke the T&C's although there is nothing in them that says she could not cancel once she had transferred. They are now threatening her with debt collectors and the like. Does anyone have any advice? Tricey

As I read it from your post, she moved to another Virgin Active gym and then wanted to cancel her 12 month membership.

She signed a contract with the company Virgin active not a specific gym and from the point of initial signing had a 7 day cooling off period. She didn't then get another cooling off period when she transferred to another Virgin Active gym.

She should use up her membership or pay the amount owing.

Tozer

Absolutely. Transferring gym doesn't give another cooling off period as it is the same contract runnning.

Sunny_Donny

hi
Used to work at a gym and dealt with customers want ing to cancel
- Check your contract - if one year contract - will need calendar month's notice, send it recorded delivery 1-2 weeks before or personally hand it in at the gym (and get a receipt). If you want to finish contract early due to medical problems - you will need a letter from doctor to prove, if been made redundant - copy of letter stating that you are being made redundant.
Some gyms send a letter confirming last payment and end of membership. Please don't cancel Direct Debit til last payment has come out as if you don't pay last installment, they will keep chasing you for it.