Yahoo Finance Cancelling your gym membership: How to navigate the complicated contracts
“I try to go four times a week but I’ve missed the last 1200 times!”
For any ‘Friends’ fan, the episode where Chandler tries to quit the gym is a classic. Ross encourages Chandler to quit the gym so he no longer is forced to pay monthly membership fees. And Chandler and Ross both ended up with gym memberships and even a joint chequeing account.
It isn’t easy to stay motivated towards your fitness goals. And when the going gets tough, it can leave some gym patrons feeling like they no longer wish to keep the gym membership they had anticipated using all the time just a few months prior. But getting out of that contract isn’t always as easy as one may think.
Former gym user Adam Hudson felt that sting when he tried to leave a local gym because he was planning to move to an area that did not have a facility nearby. Hudson was told that unless he was injured, there was no way to cancel his membership without receiving a hefty cancellation fee.
“I decided to inform the gym that I was dissatisfied and wanted to seek council,” said Hudson. “The next email I received was a notice saying they had taken the liberty of cancelling my membership and my cancellation fee was still outstanding. I stuck with my ‘desire to seek council with my lawyer’ response and never heard from them again.”
For many people, it’s the difficulty of leaving a gym that makes them reluctant to join their local fitness centres in the first place. There’s often a fear of signing never-ending contracts and paying monstrous cancellation fees if you decide you no longer wish to use the gym a few months down the road. Many people join a gym with the best intentions, only to feel frustrated by the processes and regulations if they decide to cancel.
But there are various protections put in place by provincial governments to ensure that gym memberships and contracts are fair to new patrons. As per the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), pre-paid memberships at gyms, sports clubs and fitness classes are personal development and any contracts that require a consumer to pay $50 or more in advance are protected by law.
Under this act users to are entitled to 10-day cooling-off periods for cancellations, options for monthly payment plans and membership limitations that prevent them from being locked in for more than a one-year time period, just to name a few of its protections. Should you feel your gym isn’t playing a fair game there are various non-governmental independent agencies for each province that help govern consumer contracts under their provincial law and regulate gym facilities.
For those that are still keen to join their local gyms, there are many things to consider when signing up for a membership. By far the most important is to read before you sign. It’s important to consider that when signing up for the gym you are entering into a contract and members are held to the agreements.
Tammy MacDonald, General Manager of Health, Fitness and Recreation at YMCA Greater Toronto believes they do their part to ensure new patrons are informed.
“The YMCA encourages its members to always read Terms and Conditions before signing up for a membership,” says MacDonald.
There are many things to keep in mind before signing up in order to protect yourself and your bank account down the line. Here are some tips of what to consider before you make the commitment:
Shop Around
When deciding on what gym that you’re going to join, it’s important to check out the different options in your community. Gyms will often offer potential clients the opportunity to take a tour of the gym and ask questions about their facilities and additional services they provide. It’s also important to take note of the state of the facility. If it appears to be unsanitary or dirty it may be a sign that the gym is in financial trouble and doesn’t provide proper upkeep. Also take note of any broken gym equipment and be sure to ask questions about the length of time equipment goes without repair. If repairs take longer than a few months, consider going elsewhere.
Don’t feel pressured
It’s easy to fall off track or lose focus when your working towards a fitness goal so make sure you are making the right decision for you. Keep in mind that the people giving you the tours and talking to you about memberships also have a goal in mind; to sell you a membership. Make sure you are signing up for the membership that you want and discuss any additional add-ons that the sales agent may have in mind. Many find upon closing the deal there are often additional add-ons such as personal trainers or private classes offered up. Make sure you’re getting the package deal you want and not just what the gym is selling.
Cancellation Policy
You may have some pep in your step when you first walk through the doors but what if you’re feeling not quite as excited six months down the road? It’s important to review the contract before you sign up and see what the cancelation policy entails. Some gyms may require that you pay a cancelation fee, opt out at a certain time of the month or provide specific documentation. It’s important that you consider the steps that may need to be taken should you decide to cancel. Each company will have different policies and agreements in place so be sure to read the fine print.
Trial Periods
Many gyms and fitness centers will offer a trial period or cooling-off period when you first join. Users often don’t feel as inclined to use these options as they are excited about their new fitness venture, but the policies are in place for a reason. While a trial period may not entitle a user to all the perks of a full membership, it’s important to use the trial period to ensure you feel you’re in a comfortable space and it will be a worthy financial investment to take out a membership. Additionally, if your gym offers an extensive cooling-off period it’s important to note the date down in your calendar of when this period ends. That way, you can reassess closer to the date and see if you’re still enjoying your gym experience. Often gyms will not send out reminders that this period is coming to a close.
It’s also a good time to ask the person working out on the elliptical beside you what their thoughts of the facility are.
Automatic Membership Renewals
Take notice of how you make payment for the gym when you first sign up. Some gyms will ask you to pay with credit card and set up automatic payments in the hopes that this is will make it easier on both parties to ensure the membership is paid for. What can happen though if you slide away from your fitness plan, is that a few months go by and you’re left looking at your bank account wondering what those monthly payments were for. Ask when signing up if you’re able to make payments in a different way as there should be a variety of methods available to you.
Moving Fees
For many this isn’t a thought when joining their local gym but what if you move communities and you are no longer close to the gym you frequent? Many gyms will allow you to transfer to a closer branch or simply use a membership card to access any of their facilities. It’s important to address this before signing up for a membership as you may not be living close to that particular gym for the entire length of the contract.
