Gym 'un-froze' my membership and started taking payments without my permission!

[Username6210]

I asked my gym to freeze my membership in March.
In July they sent an email saying they were going to re-open in August.
I didn't read the full email because I had no intention of returning.
The email text said they would unfreeze my membership in August which they did. I've only just noticed and have cancelled my membership as they wanted £5 per month to keep it frozen!
They are refusing to return my money and are actually planning to take one more months payment as per their 'cancellation' policy!
Surely this is taking the piss!
I might have returned at some stage in the new year ... But now just feel really angry and annoyed at their behaviour!
Has anyone else had this problem?

It’s £5, I’d let it go.

If you didn't read the email, you didn't read the email. They could have made it clearer though. My gym automatically froze membership until a month or two ago but said they would unfreeze when they reopened and although I'm not going I'm still paying so hopefully it will still be open when I can return, seeing as it's not much money.

Sounds standard to me. You can’t freeze it indefinitely. Just cancel 🤷‍♀️

It sounds like pretty standard cancellation fees. If their usual policy is that freezing your membership rather than cancelling costs £5 per month, the only reason they haven't been charging you that all along will be because they were forced to close.

I can't really see the issue here. Most gyms have a policy of reduced/minimal payments whilst freezing an account and you were contacted and given notice that payments would resume. Cancellation policies would be outlined in the t&c's that you agreed to when you joined.

I read the email from my gym. They will start taking payments 5th October. If you don't want to return you cancel membership before that date.

You froze it, but didn't cancel it. You didn't read the email saying they were unfreezing it. You're now cancelling, and having to pay the cancellation fee.
Read your terms and conditions, but if it covers it in there, then you'll need to pay.

You’re angry and annoyed with the Gym because you couldn’t be arsed to read an email through properly?

Grow up and start acting responsibly and stop blaming others for your mistakes.

You froze it , they said they were unfreezing it, they did it and you're moaning?!

Standard, your error.

You should be annoyed at yourself for not reading the email and cancellation policy because it sounds like the gym acted fairly.

I don’t see the problem. If you wanted to end your contract you should have cancelled.

Yes. I had exactly this scenario happen to me. I managed to get them to refund everything and now I just pay a fee per month to keep it frozen. I had to send about 5 emails and speak very politely to the “manager” though!

I also didn’t read the email which said that unless they heard from me they’d start taking payments again.

You asked them to freeze it.
They sent you notice they were unfreezing.
They unfroze.
You want to cancel.
Your membership is being cancelled in line with your contract. What's the issue?

YABVU and need to pay more attention to your emails / what you've signed up to.

Your error I'm afraid, you should have read the email and acted on it.

Seems like common sense to assume they would unfreeze memberships when they reopened