Gym dispute

[Gymnogo]

I signed up for the gym before finding out I was pregnant. As I have high risk pregnancy, am experiencing bleeding and have low blood pressure it’s not advisable for me to exercise or be in hot environments (such as the pool area) as I’ve been feeling very dizzy etc. I notified my personal trainer who I paid for a package with and who has been unavailable for sessions to fulfil the package and he took a week to respond saying I couldn’t have a refund as he has spoken to the manager and that was managements decision. I called the gym today to speak to a manager and told them I would be exercising my right to cancel under a medical reason and that I would like a refund for my unused personal training sessions. They said I had to give 30 days notice so I said well I’ve already given one week via the personal trainer and since a monthly debit has just come out and I won’t be using the gym this covers the 30 days before my next payment is due. They refused stating I will be in arrears and need to pay for the whole of next month too. I said well if the 30 days take me past the next debit date I will pay for the pro rata amount for that day/those couple of days. I said I will also be raising a card so price in reference to the service I’ve not been provided with. They left me in tears and said another manager would call me. Who is being unreasonable? I was never provided with a copy of the terms and conditions she refers to and since I’ve never been in debt before in my life, have a baby on the way and my mortgage due for renewal next year I’m terrified they will give me bad credit or something?

Dispute not so price, sorry typo

Tbh I would write a letter of complaint to the head office if it is a chain. And also just pay it so you don’t have an adverse information on your credit report if applying for a mortgage

Is it a chain? Why didn't you get T&Cs?

What do your terms and conditions actually state about contract cancellation? Are the contracts for the gym and the PT separate? It’s probably a good idea to repost in Legal: what matters is the contract position and right of cancellation, not whether people think you’re being unreasonable or deserve to be able to cancel because you’re pregnant.

I would cancel the direct debit and tell them to whistle for the next payment if you don't ever want to go back there. If you want to keep their goodwill then just make the next payment then cancel it.

Check correspondence carefully. If you haven't been provided with (even a link to) terms and conditions and things like cancellation clauses, costs and notice periods haven't been directly pointed out to you, then they don't have a leg to stand on in terms of enforcing any adverse terms and conditions against you with regard to cancellation.

This also may be helpful:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/changed-your-mind/cancelling-a-gym-membership/#:~:text=Your%20gym%20should%20let%20you,the%20manager%20at%20your%20gym.

What do you want OP to actually respond to the second part of your question with? Would you like her to say “because I’m an idiot”? Honestly. What a stupid question.

As jellyfish posted and I would pay the next month (to avoid aggravation and it being sent to collections) but would complain bitterly to the head office or gym owner and ask for it to be refunded. DH and I recently joined our local chain gym and the terms and conditions had to be read and agreed to when signing up and they were sent in an email afterwards. If they haven't sent them to you it's a pretty big screw up on their part.

They are very silly because at some point you will want to use a gym again and obviously it won't be this one.

I used to work in a gym. No one ever got chased for simply stopping their direct debit.
The contract is bullshit.

Thanks everyone.

I guess I am an idiot for not reading the terms and conditions but I was never offered them. I’ve since googled them and found that you have to give 30 calendar days notice of cancellation and then the membership will come to an end at the end of the month you’ve last paid for. That takes me through to the end of March despite the fact I can’t use it at all!

I had already cancelled my direct debit today. I guess for the avoidance of stress to me I’ll have to just pay next fee via my card 😔 I’m really cross because I’ve been treated terribly on the phone, been mocked and am feeling stressed now. Its extra annoying because when I joined the gym the same “manager” who spoke to me on the phone today pushed me to sign up for the year even tho I wanted to do pay as you go and said oh you just have to come in to cancel or speak to us. She even said she tells people to sign up for the year even if they have every intention of cancelling early and tells them to temporarily change their address in their banking app so she can put “relocation” down as the reason. Bizarre.

Thanks, I’m too scared to take the risk as I’ve never been in arrears with anything in my life

I agree, I’ll never use it again and nor would anyone I know I’m sure. Unfortunately they are owned by Frasers Group who don’t have a contact number that works, the manager of the gym told me if I complained to head office they’d just bounce it back to them, so it wouldn’t work. And let’s face it the owner of Fraser group i don’t believe had the best press when it comes to treatment of women.

I had a bailiff letter!

Ugh you’re joking

My gym the membership agreement is with a finance company on behalf of of the gym

THEY DO pursue payments and like you it has a clear 30 day notice period so if a direct debit has just come out you are part way through a month so your notice wouldn’t start till the beginning of the next month in effect it would be 7 weeks
these companies pay the gym themselves then they manage and collect the payment and contract side of things

as for the personal trainer it’s pretty standard they are non refundable it’s there livelihood and wages

don’t just stop paying

a lot of gyms don’t manage the contract and finance side of things it’s outsourced to finance companies it’s a proper financial contract with implications as another poster said they received a bailiffs letter . The finance company will pursue payment as they have already paid the gym for your membership