Gym Membership- How Many People Got Caught?

Pumpkin_rrr on 21/08/2015 - 10:54

Just wonder whether anyone in the same boat as me.

I am not really a gym person because I dont like working alone, let alone dealing with equipment in aircon room, full of muscles and sweat. However last year I signed up with my local gym club because I see that they have some classes, in particular Zumba, Yoga and Pilates. I paid some upfront payments and $20/week. I did attend the classes in the first two months, but they changed the instructors and timetable. The worst one was to change to a young male Zumba instructor. As much as I love watching our Firemen calendars, I just cant connect with him and other sexy "classmates". I stopped going and asked for leave (Paying $5/week for 4 weeks). I didnt want to cancel my membership because I will need to pay those upfront payment again if I want to sign up later.

Today I thought I had been paying $20/week for the past 10 months (which is very un-OzBargained to me) and rang them to cancel. Was told I need to give 30-day notice, ie I still need to pay another 4 weeks, and I cant get leave to pay $5. The person was cool and efficient. So all my investment down the drain. Well, maybe not. Perhaps from today on I shall go there twice a day for 4 weeks until my membership runs out! Aaarrrgh.

Ps. This is my second gym membership. Been to a all-female one and it's overly crowded.

Any sharing to alleviate my pain will be most appreciated.

Financial

Comments

  • GaelicAU on 21/08/2015 - 10:57

    I thought this was going to be about 'sharing' your membership with a few people. (i.e passing your swipe card around).

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 21/08/2015 - 10:58
      +1

      Haha that's a good idea. Send me a PM, and I'll meet you at the front of the Gym everyday.

  • KaTst3R on 21/08/2015 - 11:04
    +1

    Do you really have a firemen model calendar?

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 21/08/2015 - 11:09

      Yes, but dont expect discount :-)

      • ProjectZero on 21/08/2015 - 12:18

        Then can I get a discount for the calendars with firewomen model on them? or better yet… sexy nurses or teachers!

  • Cave Fire on 21/08/2015 - 11:34

    Is this aj's in Algester? And I'm just confirming, you wanted to go on hold but the gym charged you full price? And now they want 30 days notice? My last gym at least let me go on the on hold rate for the 30 days before quitting.

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 21/08/2015 - 15:48

      Not in Algester.
      Yes they let me go on leave by paying reduced fee for 4 weeks. But full fee during notice period.

  • AMLagonda on 21/08/2015 - 11:35
    +13

    What was the question?

    • [Deactivated] on 21/08/2015 - 21:13
      +2

      Do you even lift?

  • stargalaxy on 21/08/2015 - 11:48

    I was with Snap Fitness and they close the nearest outlet to my house since May 2015, after they closed, I have only been to the gym maybe 3 times because the other outlets is a bit further away. Used to go at least twice a week before and noticed my belly is getting fatten up nowdays.

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 21/08/2015 - 15:49

      I have the same problem. The one closer to me has timetable that doesnt quite suit me…

  • jzdhgkd on 21/08/2015 - 15:14

    It was probably all in the contract that you would've signed upon starting your membership.

    I don't imagine you'd be able to get out of it.

    But yes this sort of thing has been around for a long time and Fitness First was one company who were particularly known for their ridiculous cancellation policies.

  • enidan on 21/08/2015 - 15:55

    So the worst thing about the changes was that the Zumba instructor went from being (I presume) a sexy female to a sexy male?
    What does it say in the contract you signed about cancellation? It's something you should always find out before signing up for something- always make sure there's a way out.

  • na8an on 21/08/2015 - 18:37

    Just here to read comments :p

  • [Deactivated] on 21/08/2015 - 21:17

    and rang them to cancel. Was told I need to give 30-day notice, ie I still need to pay another 4 weeks

    Yep. Got stung with this policy when I went to cancel my membership. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/130759

    • Pumpkin_rrr on 22/08/2015 - 08:04

      Thanks for the link, a good read. ..

  • rbrb on 22/08/2015 - 09:45

    Cancel the payment. Move on.

    • kryptoz on 22/08/2015 - 23:43
      +1

      I've been caught with this problem before — if you sign a direct debit agreement, you can't cancel debits from their bank. Your bank can block payments sent to a particular business name, but if the business has multiple accounts they can retry with a different one and continue to receive debits from your account. The only lasting option you have is to use a credit card when you sign up, and then notify your card issuer it was lost — You have a new number and all debit arrangements will cease from that card.

      • rbrb on 23/08/2015 - 10:16

        That's what the pre-paid credit card was invented for ;)

      • Pumpkin_rrr on 24/08/2015 - 17:25

        Was contemplating doing that, but two risks: They might send a debt collector, and I have too many Direct Debit on my card. Would need to make too many changes… not worth it. Next time I'll use a prepaid-credit card. (if there is a next time)

  • nikey2k27 on 22/08/2015 - 10:46

    Snap Fitness you get $150 fine for bring in non member.

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