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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I should be able to cancel my gym membership

41 replies

Orangeandbluefish · 21/03/2021 09:58

Maybe this should be in legal but not sure if I’m being unreasonable or not.

I have been a member of this particular gym since 2018. Renewed my membership in January 2020 for 12 months. I got pregnant in March 2020, and so I froze my membership when the gyms opened and since then it’s been lockdown. Obviously not their fault but not mine either.

Part time request has been rejected and in any case I feel I get enough exercise with endless pram/sling walks and I don’t want to spend the precious free time we have at the gym when I go back to work. So I want to cancel my membership.

The gym say I haven’t been a member for 12 months.

I say I have - it just hadn’t been open.

AIBU?

OP posts:
AyyMacarena · 21/03/2021 11:21

@Orangeandbluefish

Yes but only because the gyms were closed.

Put it this way - if I’d known I’d still be paying for a 12 month membership in 2022 I would never have taken it out. I fully accept that is not the gyms fault but as I say it isn’t mine either.

Bit of a silly thing to say. No one knew you would still be paying in 2022. Covid was a shock to us all. Just ring them and ask. Nothing is stopping you freezing it for longer or working out a payment plan with them.

Ultimately, you signed a contract and are bound by it.

Original poster
Orangeandbluefish · 21/03/2021 11:31

Why is it a silly thing to say?

I took out a membership on the understanding that I’d be using the gym between January 2020 and December 2020 and I haven’t been able to do that.

100% not the fault of the gym. But nor is it mine.

OP posts:
Dutch1e · 21/03/2021 11:32

I know it feels a bit shit to pay this but I think you have the obligation. If you had bought the entire 12 month product up-front would you be chasing them for a partial refund right now? If not, then refusing to honour the payments is a bit off.

ElderMillennial · 21/03/2021 11:34

But you also took out the membership on the understand you would pay for 12 months' membership...

I can see why this is frustrating but I think you need to accept you might have to pay them and then if you can agree a reduction or get out of paying then that's a bonus.

Original poster
Orangeandbluefish · 21/03/2021 11:35

No but that’s the point really dutch - it would be over and done with whereas now it’s dragging on throughout maternity leave.

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangeandbluefish · 21/03/2021 11:36

I haven’t been able to though elder. I know as I keep saying the gym can’t help that but neither can I.

It’s a bit like DCs nursery charging me for twelve months when they closed and he started school.

OP posts:
ElderMillennial · 21/03/2021 11:43

It’s a bit like DCs nursery charging me for twelve months when they closed and he started school.

No I don't think it is because in that case you wouldn't have use for the nursery any more but if there is a reason why you can't use the gym eg health reasons or injury then their contracts usually allow you to suspend or end your membership.

I'm honestly not having a go but I don't think it's helpful to stand firm in this position that you are right and shouldn't have to pay as it's clearly not as black and white as that. Argue your case by all means but you will end up very frustrated if you don't win the argument.

If you can't speak to them, can you email them or write to them? At least that way you have evidence that you have challenged the fees if they were to take debt recovery action against you.

What stage are you at with the dispute? What do you mean by "part time request rejected"? How have they asked you to pay / told you that you can't leave?

Original poster
Orangeandbluefish · 21/03/2021 11:48

No I know you’re not, don’t worry! And I hope I’m not coming across as argumentative - I’m just thinking out loud!

I just mean I asked work to go back PT and they said no. If I was working three days a week I probably would use the gym but as it is with only two days off a week I doubt I’ll use it much if at all to be honest.

OP posts:
CovidCorvid · 21/03/2021 11:54

They’re right in that you need to pay for 12 months. I’m a member of a quite expensive gym chain and numerous people have argued this recently and none have been allowed to leave. The gym send debt collectors after anyone who cancels the direct debit.

However saying that gyms are supposed to allow anyone to break their contract where circumstances have changed.....either health or finances. So if you’ve now gone part time and your wage has dropped then you could try from that angle....say you can no longer afford it.

ElderMillennial · 21/03/2021 11:56

Oh I see what you mean, I didn't know whether you meant going to the gym part time / off peak or something!

I think in the circumstances they may be understanding and allow you to cancel but they don't have to. I was just trying to work out what has happened so I can help you (I am a lawyer). If you can't speak to them, write to them.

Belladonna12 · 21/03/2021 12:18

@Orangeandbluefish

Why is it a silly thing to say?

I took out a membership on the understanding that I’d be using the gym between January 2020 and December 2020 and I haven’t been able to do that.

100% not the fault of the gym. But nor is it mine.

What you understood is irrelevant. The wording of the contract is what counts. No doubt it will state that if the membership is frozen for any reason then the contract will continue from when it is unfrozen (or words to that effect).
Belladonna12 · 21/03/2021 12:23

Thousands of people are in the same position. There's no way gyms are going to let people out of the contract at the moment if they don't have to. I don't think it's worth the stress and hassle of arguing (I am in a similar position).

Ohdoleavemealone · 21/03/2021 14:31

Tell you have moved more than 10 miles away. They HAVE to let you cancel. Don't know why but they do and it has always worked for us.

CovidCorvid · 21/03/2021 14:40

@Ohdoleavemealone

Tell you have moved more than 10 miles away. They HAVE to let you cancel. Don't know why but they do and it has always worked for us.
My gym would ask for evidence of a utility bill at the new address.
ichundich · 21/03/2021 14:49

So you have paid for 4 months of the 12 you have signed up to. You need to pay for the remaining 8 months or pay the early release fee (which is usually just as high). Pacta sunt servanda.

Dutch1e · 21/03/2021 20:32

No but that’s the point really dutch - it would be over and done with whereas now it’s dragging on throughout maternity leave.

It sort of is the point though. You didn't pay for it upfront, you agreed on a payment plan. If I buy a pair of shoes I don't like 4 months later then tough luck, I've bought them. If I buy a pair of shoes on a 12 month payment plan and don't like them 4 months later then tough luck, I've got to keep going until I've bought them.

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