How to Get Out of a Fitness Club Membership
Thinking of dropping your gym membership? Maybe you're just not going enough, or you're realizing that the pricey membership is starting to take a toll on your wallet. If you've signed a long-term contract, it can be difficult to end your membership without paying a cancellation fee. Some states allow consumers to break their contracts under certain conditions, and some gyms let you quit if you are persistent about it. The key is to do your homework and know your rights before you quit.
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Instructions
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Carefully comb through your membership agreement. "You want to read over your contract. You want to know what you signed," Brooke Correia, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, told MSN Money. Health club contracts must clearly state the steps required to break a contract, and whether or not an exit fee must be paid.
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See if the law is on your side. Many states have a cooling-off period, a time frame shortly after signing when users are allowed to drop their memberships. "It's typically three days," Correia said. Many states also have laws that allow people to quit their memberships without penalty if they become sick or incapacitated, have a work transfer or need to move out of town, or if their gym relocates.
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Put your cancellation in writing. Some gyms allow you to verbally quit at the front desk, but take the extra step and type up a letter clearly stating the date you plan to end your membership. Have the person who processes your account termination sign the document, and keep a copy for yourself.
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Follow up with your bank and monitor your account for ongoing charges. If the gym continues to withdraw funds from your account, contact management and arrange for a refund. If the gym refuses to reimburse you, talk to your bank about disputing the charges and blocking future transactions.
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Tips & Warnings
If the membership department insists you pay a cancellation fee, it might be time to have a talk with the club's management. Be ready to give a very compelling reason why you should get an exemption and remind management that you are an important consumer in your community. Perhaps you write a blog, use social networking sites or write reviews on sites like Yelp. And next time, consider taking a month-to-month membership. This type might cost you more in the long run, but it helps alleviate headaches for people who move around or get bored after a few months in the same place.
Don't cancel your credit cards or bank accounts to stave off an aggressive gym and hope the problem goes away. That just invites debt agencies to your door and can hurt your credit in the long term. Deal with the problem up front and work with the gym, your bank and, if necessary, a third-party consumer agency to resolve the issue.
