Gym cancellation!
Discussion
So the short of this is I cancelled my gym membership back in September. I was passed the minimum 12 months so no problem. Cancelled my direct debit. Couple of weeks later they phone to say that I have to give a months notice and that I still owe them for 1 months membership. Fair enough I cough up.
About a month ago a debt collector rang me to say the gym had passed my debt onto them. I asked what debt and they replied I havent paid for the last two months membership. I explained I had cancelled and they said "oh ok, well you should have a cancellation reference number?" So I gave them this as they said that was all they needed.
Didn't hear anything for about 3 weeks then today they contact me again saying they checked the cancellation number and it is invalid and that I have not cancelled my membership!
So by this point I am starting to get slightly annoyed by the incompetence. The guy on the phone said he was just following email instruction, and will email the gym back to check things over.
I have emailed all of this to consumers direct for advice, and after researching the gym online it is clear this is a very common problem with other people and that said gym apparently are useless.
Anyone else had any problem like this before? I'm unsure what to do next as it's just going to turn into my word against theirs about the cancellation!
About a month ago a debt collector rang me to say the gym had passed my debt onto them. I asked what debt and they replied I havent paid for the last two months membership. I explained I had cancelled and they said "oh ok, well you should have a cancellation reference number?" So I gave them this as they said that was all they needed.
Didn't hear anything for about 3 weeks then today they contact me again saying they checked the cancellation number and it is invalid and that I have not cancelled my membership!
So by this point I am starting to get slightly annoyed by the incompetence. The guy on the phone said he was just following email instruction, and will email the gym back to check things over.
I have emailed all of this to consumers direct for advice, and after researching the gym online it is clear this is a very common problem with other people and that said gym apparently are useless.
Anyone else had any problem like this before? I'm unsure what to do next as it's just going to turn into my word against theirs about the cancellation!
I had a similar thing happen.
I joined the local gym, part of a large chain before it was even built. They were selling advance "founding member" packages. Basically £30 up front but a guarantee of £26 per month for life.
All went well for a few years untill they wrote to me and informed me of a price increase
As I didnt use the gym any way i phoned up & cancelled the membership. They then continued to take payments from my bank. I then put my cancellation in writing and handed it to the gym manager as instructed, i also cancelled the direct debit.
Two months down the line i get a letter from a debt recovery agency for missed payements, i went f
king ballistic but payed up in the end to get them off my back.
I joined the local gym, part of a large chain before it was even built. They were selling advance "founding member" packages. Basically £30 up front but a guarantee of £26 per month for life.
All went well for a few years untill they wrote to me and informed me of a price increase
As I didnt use the gym any way i phoned up & cancelled the membership. They then continued to take payments from my bank. I then put my cancellation in writing and handed it to the gym manager as instructed, i also cancelled the direct debit. Two months down the line i get a letter from a debt recovery agency for missed payements, i went f
king ballistic but payed up in the end to get them off my back. Famous Graham said:
Do everything financial in writing.
I would have if I could, they won't give you any contact adress, or an email adress, the gym branch has absolubtly nothing to do with cancellations and it all has to go through head office apparently, ridiculous considering the membership was started in the gym!Had the same with the Branson one - tried to cancel after 3 years due to moving house. Long story short they wanted a years notice. A stern letter mentioning the unfair contract terms act (wasn't clear that you could only cancel on the anniversary of joining) and they let me leave. I am moving back to the area soon and would have happily joined again as I used to love going but another Gym will get my business now.
K87 said:
Famous Graham said:
Do everything financial in writing.
I would have if I could, they won't give you any contact adress, or an email adress, the gym branch has absolubtly nothing to do with cancellations and it all has to go through head office apparently, ridiculous considering the membership was started in the gym!The point is, even if it goes to the wrong department, you have a record of your correspondence.
Edited by Famous Graham on Tuesday 8th December 21:03
Famous Graham said:
K87 said:
Famous Graham said:
Do everything financial in writing.
I would have if I could, they won't give you any contact adress, or an email adress, the gym branch has absolubtly nothing to do with cancellations and it all has to go through head office apparently, ridiculous considering the membership was started in the gym!The point is, even if it goes to the wrong department, you have a record of your correspondence.
Edited by Famous Graham on Tuesday 8th December 21:03
I will be moving back to the area next summer and I can guarantee them they won't be getting my money this time. Plenty of other gyms local.
K87 said:
Famous Graham said:
K87 said:
Famous Graham said:
Do everything financial in writing.
I would have if I could, they won't give you any contact adress, or an email adress, the gym branch has absolubtly nothing to do with cancellations and it all has to go through head office apparently, ridiculous considering the membership was started in the gym!The point is, even if it goes to the wrong department, you have a record of your correspondence.
Edited by Famous Graham on Tuesday 8th December 21:03
Sorry, but it's not that difficult to stop someone taking money off you...
They haven't taken money off me, I have cancelled the direct debit. They just keep chasing me for money.
You'd think that if someone gives you a cancellation refernece number it would be sufficient enough to assume that the membership was cancelled and I wouldn't have to send numerous letters just incase!
You'd think that if someone gives you a cancellation refernece number it would be sufficient enough to assume that the membership was cancelled and I wouldn't have to send numerous letters just incase!
K87 said:
They haven't taken money off me, I have cancelled the direct debit. They just keep chasing me for money.
Good point, well made.Any way, point still stands - if you'd done it writing, you could wave the copies of the letters at the collection company and told them it's disputed, thus referred back to the original client (ie the gym).
Famous Graham said:
K87 said:
They haven't taken money off me, I have cancelled the direct debit. They just keep chasing me for money.
Good point, well made.Any way, point still stands - if you'd done it writing, you could wave the copies of the letters at the collection company and told them it's disputed, thus referred back to the original client (ie the gym).
K87 said:
Famous Graham said:
K87 said:
They haven't taken money off me, I have cancelled the direct debit. They just keep chasing me for money.
Good point, well made.Any way, point still stands - if you'd done it writing, you could wave the copies of the letters at the collection company and told them it's disputed, thus referred back to the original client (ie the gym).
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