Cancelling a Gym Membership

Lmezje on 09/09/2015 - 14:09

Hey!

Recently I had a terrible experience with cancelling a gym membership and my mate said his sister had a very similar interaction so I was wondering just how common this sort of stuff is…

Anyway my contract had expired and I wasn't going as much as I wanted anymore and felt it was no longer worth shelling out $55/month. When reviewing my contract it seems the only way to cancel a membership is to call or visit the gym you signed up at or your 'home' gym. So I called them 8 times across 2 weeks and left 2 voicemail all requesting the cancellation of my membership and how to best do so. None of these were ever returned and I was pretty disappointed, a few days before my direct debit date I decided just to cancel my card as in my opinion I had tried a reasonable amount to contact them and request the termination of my membership. Of course as soon as the payment failed though they began e-mailing me and calling me a few times a week asking for the money. I e-mail'd back asking them to stop and that I had tried numerous times to terminate my account to which they said please come in to the gym and discuss it with us, something I do not really want to do as the gym I signed up at is now a 30 min drive away and I don't really see why I should have to.

When I spoke with some friends and about this and even the dude at CBA when I cancelled the card they seemed to think this is common practice, just flat ignoring anything to do with terminating memberships. Anyone experienced similar?

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • Paul Atreides on 09/09/2015 - 15:00

    standard practice in cancelling gym memberships. the part where they arent returning your phone calls is more of a customer service issue rather than anything else. still your responsibility to cancel according to the terms of the contract, if its legal.

  • Falchoon on 09/09/2015 - 15:43

    Check your contract, you might be locked into a contract and if you break it yo could be up for cancellation fees or possibly even legal action by gym to recover the money.

    • mezje on 09/09/2015 - 15:45
      +1

      The contract ends on 28/04/15, I knew this fully well and the last time I went to the gym was 13/04/15 as I planned on cancelling. I made the last payment and have the records of it too!

      They confirmed this with me then said they found usage of my tab on 30/06, 01/07 and 02/07, which is BS, funny they came up with it after agreeing with me that the last time I went was 13/04/15 and then accused me of lending my tag out which is a breach of contract?

  • Falchoon on 09/09/2015 - 15:49

    Ask them to prove it (screen shot of their system?). Is the gym access normally by a swipe card of some sort? If so are you sure you didn't leave it lying around whee family or friends might of picked itup and used it? You really should of cut card up or sent it back to the gym when you decided you didn't want to go any more.

    • mezje on 09/09/2015 - 16:43

      They sent a screenshot of their system and it is recorded. I still have the tag sitting on my desk and know for sure I never went during those times, it is possible my sister took it from my room and this breached my contract however I made a reasonable (in my opinion) amount of requests to terminate my account before that happened.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2015 - 16:08
    +2

    tell them you're moving overseas for work, no hassle with them trying to retain the business and less confronting than getting someone to write on your behalf saying you're dead

    • mezje on 09/09/2015 - 16:42
      +1

      I could do that but they know I would just be trying to get out of it. My issue is they want me to pay for 2 months I did not use after my min term was up.

      I left it at 'I have contacted consumer affairs and will let you know what they say'. Hopefully they never contact me again.

  • ItsMeAgro on 09/09/2015 - 17:16
    +1

    $55 per month!? Did they do the exercise for you?

    Seriously, though, can we talk, OzBargain?

    Are any of you under the impression that there's ever a reason to get a gym membership? (Except in a few extremely rare cases?)

    They are generally a scam to trick overweight and unfit people into thinking they can buy a better body/health.

    The truth is, no gym will remove the willpower and effort from exercise. If you are not exercising regularly already (say, jogging around your neighbourhood, doing situps and pushups on your floor) and starting to think, "man, I'm at the point now where I could use some better equipment, I wonder what's the most expensive possible way to get access to it…" then gym memberships are not for you.

    • IHateFrasierCrane on 09/09/2015 - 17:48
      +1

      "Are any of you under the impression that there's ever a reason to get a gym membership?"

      Yes. You can only run/cardio so much. Lifting is where it's at. I go, I lift. I, my whole life, have had very broad shoulders and a large upper body. Therefore, I gym to enchance muscle. I can't do that without proper equipment.

      I understand what you're saying, why pay that much to run on a treadmill for half an hour? But there are legit uses for it.

      • mezje on 09/09/2015 - 19:27

        I enjoyed going to the gym a fair bit, sadly I lost my job when uni began and I just didn't have the money :( It was good because I could meet my mate, work a whole range of muscles, have a shower and go home.

        Once you are at the gym or plan to go with a friend it is a lot easier, I always found the hardest part was going, not the exercise.

  • spersephone on 10/09/2015 - 12:29
    +1

    Do they have an administrative head office address? Send them a written confirmation of your cancellation request. Mention that you left messages and the dates. Send it via registered mail and then wait and see what happens.

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