Cancelling a gym membership is not easy. Gyms rely on many members taking out a gym membership and losing interest. If gyms made it easy to cancel a membership, they would lose too much money.
If you are on a rolling monthly membership with no notice period, penalties, or cancellation fees, you can cancel it in writing.
But, if you want to cancel mid-contract, there are some options.
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This post is by Scott Dixon, a consumer rights and motoring expert who hosts the website thecomplaintsresolver.co.uk and offers advice on a wide range of consumer issues and motoring disputes.
Are gym contracts legally binding?
Yes. A gym membership is a legally binding agreement.
Unfair terms, such as mid-contract price rises that are not clearly stated in the agreement, are not legally binding.
These are classed as ‘key terms’ of a contract. Key terms need to be clear, prominent, fair, balanced and transparent – they cannot be buried in the small print.
Any term like that which is buried in the small print is months unfair and invalid.
The term may say you need to give 3 months’ notice to cancel if you wish to cancel your gym membership.
This cannot be upheld – you can cancel immediately without penalty.
Can I cancel my Direct Debit and refuse to pay?
No. You risk having outstanding payments and debts being passed to a Debt Collection agency.
This could result in a County Court Judgement (CCJ) lodged against you for non-payment. This will ruin your credit score and file and prevent you from obtaining mobile phone contacts, loans and mortgages for years to come.
What is a good excuse to cancel a gym membership?
Your gym should let you cancel your membership if you have a serious injury or illness that prevents you from exercising.
You will need to provide proof from a GP or medical professional to evidence it.
Can I cancel a gym membership if I am pregnant?
Pregnancy is not usually a good enough reason to cancel a gym membership. You would need to look at the terms and conditions of the agreement you have signed and entered into.
You may be able to freeze your membership for up to 12 months. It is a question worth asking.
You could ask your GP for a note to cancel, citing a legitimate reason that prevents you from continuing to use the gym’s facilities.
Can I cancel a gym membership because of a drop in income?
You should be able to cancel your contract if your circumstances significantly change, and you cannot afford the monthly payments.
You would need to provide proof of this to the gym.
Can I cancel if I have lost my job?
Yes.
A gym should be sympathetic to any significant change in your circumstances, like losing your job, and should allow you to cancel without penalty.
My gym has closed or removed a facility which formed a significant part of its offering. Can I cancel without penalty?
Yes, as this is a breach of contract by the gym.
Offering reduced facilities significantly differs from what you originally signed up for.
You can either negotiate a fee reduction or cancel your contract without penalty.
Can you get a free gym membership from my GP?
Your GP can refer you to your local Council gym as part of an Exercise Referral Scheme with a free pass to help you with long-term health conditions.
Long Covid and depression are covered by this (speaking from experience). There will likely be a waiting list, but it is worth knowing and asking for it if you need it.
The scheme aims to help people with long-term health conditions improve their health and increase physical activity under professional supervision.
How to find a cheaper gym
Look for zero-contract gym membership deals
Many gyms offer zero-contract rolling monthly contract deals with no joining fee, which is probably the best option for many people.
Try before you buy.
Local authorities also offer leisure and gym memberships which may be more cost-effective.
Exercise for free
Do what I do—walk as much as possible everywhere! It is a low-impact exercise, and by minimising your carbon footprint, you are also doing your bit for the environment.
There are plenty of free gym alternatives instead of paying for membership.
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thara ravishanker says
Find other ways in order to exercise. For example you can contact a local leisure center to see about the range of exercise classes on offer. Buy some cheap weights or use tins of food as well to try to develop your hands and arms. Take daily nature walks. Ask family members or friends to accompany you to open air exercise sessions.
Thara says
Heya. We had a family meeting about money saving options back in 2020. We made a entire list of recommendations in order to begin with. We discussed all sorts of ideas and effective ways in addition to cut down on our costs. For example we borrow stuff at libraries. And we tend to see if our closest friends and family members can lend us stuff instead. I switched energy and phone supplier to see if I could save us more money that way. I wash the car at home with a big watering can and plenty of old tea towels plus soap to make ends meet. I have a box of books.
We bake goodies and treats at home. We compare the costs. We look for cheaper alternative options when it comes to things like holidays and insurance. Rather than buy t shirts I now always prefer to make my own. We take advantage of nice weather and dry our wet clothes on a cheap heating rack in the kitchen. I also make full use of my own washing line and garden. You can dry wet clothes in a airing cupboard or use a portable heater to do so. I cook party food in a air fryer.
Thara says
Part Two
Hold a family meeting in order to discuss exercise. Find a exercise class that you can do that is fairly local in question here as well. Call a community centre to ask if they offer fun classes or look at their website too. The weekly schedule of activities may be on there. Alternatively see if you can buy some cheap stuff to use for a home exercise program instead. Good luck. I hope you have fun. Hotels have swimming pools. Exercise bands are fairly cheap.
Try your own luck on Amazon. Or visit a new gym in addition to inquire directly about finding out about the offered options to try out. Otherwise consider contacting a local leisure centre directly. Cast your net wide. Make up some brief summary notes each time. You can even order more stuff online to use. Exercise DVDs are a excellent option in any case. If you have friends this is a bonus. YouTube is your best friend on top of that. The very same applies to gyms in hotels. No lie either. Seriously. Be friendly. It will pay off in the long term in terms of getting decent results that are of sound quality.
Set goals. Be realistic and smart at the same time. Most colleges that offer exercise classes can help to answer your questions. Take a look online to find new classes that are worth trying out. Often times local colleges are your best bet in terms of options that are readily offered to us all. Call up, email them or check out their website for more details. Meet them halfway. This is always a good idea. No matter what. Be creative at home. You can get weights online. Personal trainers are a good bet. Hire one. Meet with one.
Read beyond the lines of the gym or pool. Ask about previous customers and look around the place. Trust your own gut feeling. Talk to some other folks who use a gym about their opinions. Play detective. Learn all about the place. This includes what to offer. Visit all of the areas. Feel the gym equipment in addition. Remain positive. Ask around for fitness trainer recommendations. You don’t need to spend loads however.
Explore.
Mike says
My wife got conned by LA Fitness. She took out membership, arranged the Bank details and then started getting messages from LA that they could not get the standing order set up. She went back to the Bank and they said they had not received any paperwork from La. She arranged it again with the Bank, but nothing had come through from LA. Despite my wife informing LA, and giving them the Bank details, LA had not given my wife the membership. We got fed up with this and as I worked in the Building that LA were renting, we went to the Manager and asked for the contract to be cancelled. They were ok and said its a problem with head office. I saw that the contract was cancelled on their computer and thought that was the end of it. About 3 months later we had two bailiffs at the door demanding £400. It turned out that LA Fitness had classed it as an unpaid debt and passed our details to a debt agency. I told them the details and they said it was nothing to do with LA as the debt recovery company had ” Bought ” the account. I was furious and despite contacting LA they said it was out of their hands. I was willing to go to court but my wife did not want to, and agreed to pay the debt off on a monthly basis. I do not trust any business now and will not sign anything until I have checked the legal details. If the writing is in small print, I walk away.