Gym membership increase

[DisneyIsMyDrug]

My gym (local independent one) sent an email at the beginning of the week stating they were increasing the monthly membership from £20 to £27 on 1st September. I was planning on giving my notice at the end of the month anyways (several reasons, mostly because the owners have shown themselves to be arseholes) In the contract it states we need to give 2 months notice, but it says nothing about price increase. Obviously they have to do what they need to do, but can I just give them the payment for August only (comes out 1st of each month) due to them increasing the price? And can anyone help me word an email with words to that effect? They will most definitely come back with a snarky reply so I’d like to make sure I cover myself with any consumer acts I may be protected by (if any). Thanks.

Not a lawyer!

But I think you could argue they've changed the terms of your contract so it's null and void. Offer the £40 you would have paid anyway. Without prejudice.

If they are increasing the price they must let you cancel without penalty before the increase takes effect. Standard consumer law.

Thank you for your replies. My friend sent them an email giving notice of her membership cancellation & put that her last payment would be 1st of August & as expected they’ve replied back saying she needs to give 2 months as per contract.

If the contract really doesn't say anything about price increases they can't change them unilaterally. It would be surprising if they had forgotten to do this, it's pretty fundamental.

I'd ask your friend to rely to them saying she isn't terminating under the 2 month notice provision but in response to their material breach as they don't have the right unilaterally to change the price. Adm see what they come back with.

So I sent an email explaining due to the increased price I would be terminating the membership immediately as per the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which meant I should not be penalised due to the increased price. They’ve replied with due to the pandemic a lot of businesses have increased their fees with immediate effect & they feel we have plenty of notice. And that they would terminate it in 2 months time as per the contract I signed (which did not say anything about price increases).
Any advice on what to say next?

Tell them you are setting up a Facebook/nextdoor group to gauge interest for a combine legal challenge.

Just email them back and say that they are breaching consumer protection law and you will report them to the CMA.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you cannot unilaterally change the terms of the contract, and if you do, you have to allow the consumer the opportunity to cancel the contract before the new terms come into effect. It's very straight-forward, no wriggle room.

Remind them that misleading consumers about their legal rights is actually a criminal offence.

And cancel your direct debit.

Report a local independent gym to the CMA?