I am so frustrated!!! I'm trying to cut expenses and so I decided to cut my gym membership and start working out at home. I really think that I could start getting a better workout from my Cathe tapes. The only think I will miss from the gym is the two main instructors and the friendships I've found there. So I go there last night to cancel my membership and "HELLO" I've evidently got 10 more months left on my 24 month contract that I can't get out of unless I can find someone who wants to buy it which is pretty much impossible. I've been working out at the gym since around 1999 and then towards the end of 2002 I got really burned out and quit my membership. Then in July of 2003 I rejoined thinking I only was signing a year contract. This is set up as a direct withdrawal from my bank account every month on the 3rd. One of the guys here at work told me to go to the bank and not authorize any withdrawals from my account from the gym. I don't want to make them mad - and I've seen people come in to the gym complaining about not being able to get out of their contract. Also, my boss gets his membership for free (I work for a painting contractor and whenever they need work done he basically swaps the work for his membership along with the girl's I work with. They can afford it - I can't. It just makes me so mad. I know that life isn't always fair but just once I'd like to get a break ya know? Sorry this has turned into such a b***h session but I had to get it out. Any suggestions? Should I still ask for my cathe tapes and equipment for christmas? Thanks for listening, Kimbra
Stuck in a gym contract. Advice??
- Thread starter KimDW
- Start date
Can you get out of it with a doctor's note? And do you know any doctor, chiro, etc. that would write it for you? Yes, that is cheating but if you absolutely cannot afford it, then you can't. I had to do that years ago and had a chiro sign the form for me. They were mad, but did release me from the contract.
Good luck!
Colleen
Good luck!
Colleen
I have no idea how you could get out of it other than taking them to small claims court. Need to get copy of paperwork you signed.
If you decide not to go to those lengths, my advice would be to take advantage of the last 10 months you've got and go to the gym as much as possible and be at peace.
Jen
If you decide not to go to those lengths, my advice would be to take advantage of the last 10 months you've got and go to the gym as much as possible and be at peace.
Jen
Check with your state Department of Consumer Affairs or whatever it is called where you live. The number 1 consumer complaint in CA is with fitness club contracts. It's possible that your contract violates state law but if you've signed with a big chain, they probably crossed their T's & dotted the I's.
Another shady alternative (besides the medical excuse) is that you're moving. Most contracts have an out for moving more than x miles away. The big chains tend to catch you because they have a facility near your new location. So do some homework to make sure that you're "moving" to a location that they don't have a facility or affilliate.
Many of us have been burned on gym contracts. But remember that most month-to-month facilities cost a lot more. There's a trade-off.
Debra
Another shady alternative (besides the medical excuse) is that you're moving. Most contracts have an out for moving more than x miles away. The big chains tend to catch you because they have a facility near your new location. So do some homework to make sure that you're "moving" to a location that they don't have a facility or affilliate.
Many of us have been burned on gym contracts. But remember that most month-to-month facilities cost a lot more. There's a trade-off.
Debra
Cheshire Cat
Cathlete
I was stuck in a gym contract but then I came up with an idea...
I got my employer to write a letter to say I would be seconded to a specified other country for a 2 year term at least and then I asked a travel agent to prepare a flight schedule to that country and I sent the whole lot off to the gym managers and got the contract stopped!!!! Naughty, huh :9
Like you, I couldn't afford it, they could!
I got my employer to write a letter to say I would be seconded to a specified other country for a 2 year term at least and then I asked a travel agent to prepare a flight schedule to that country and I sent the whole lot off to the gym managers and got the contract stopped!!!! Naughty, huh :9
Like you, I couldn't afford it, they could!
Aquajock
Cathlete
KimDW, you signed this contract of your own free will. Unless you can prove that you were misled about its terms (including the duration of it, which I'll bet you weren't), you have no honest cause to back out of it. Either go to the effort of getting someone to buy you out, try to get out of the contract by being honest with the gym's business affairs department, or honor your written word.
The other advice you've been given here has been pretty demoralizing, and bordering on fraud. Just because one is the individual consumer in this contract (vs. the Big Box Gym) doesn't give that person the right to reneg on his/her written word because s/he just doesn't feel like it anymore.
Let the flames begin.
A-Jock
The other advice you've been given here has been pretty demoralizing, and bordering on fraud. Just because one is the individual consumer in this contract (vs. the Big Box Gym) doesn't give that person the right to reneg on his/her written word because s/he just doesn't feel like it anymore.
Let the flames begin.
A-Jock
The club isn't a chain - fortunately. I've thought about the medical excuse and the moving idea also. I'm not sure if I could lie like that. I always think that things will come back to haunt me. I'm going to look over my copy of the contract I signed tonight. Otherwise I might just try to use it as much as possible and try to cut other things in my budget.
Kimbra
Kimbra
I'm don't want to quit going to the gym because I don't feel like it anymore but because I can't afford it anymore and my plan was that unless I can find someone to buy the 10 months from me, I'm going to stick it out. The reason I thought it was a 12 month term was because when I first joined it was a 12 month term not 24 and I wasn't charged a membership fee then either. I never planned to deceive the gym or do anything demoralizing. It's just frustrating when I thought of a way to cut my expenses and then I found out that I'd have to wait. Thanks for everyone's opinion.
Kimbra
Kimbra
C
Carol_is_fit
Guest
No flames from me, A-Jock! I agree with you. I was shocked at some of the unethical "solutions" presented here. Maybe I'm just naive.
Carol
Carol
starlight6
Cathlete
I understand completely the situation you're in...been there myself. I'm glad you're going to honor the contract though, I agree with A-Jock too.
One thing's for sure...if you gotta wait it out (sigh!) then you might as well get everything you can out of it. I'm sure it'll all work out for the best.
Take care,
Ruth
One thing's for sure...if you gotta wait it out (sigh!) then you might as well get everything you can out of it. I'm sure it'll all work out for the best.
Take care,
Ruth
T
trevor
Guest
Gotta go with A-Jock on this one. If you signed a contract you really have no choice but to ride it out or sell it if you can. The other ideas seem very dishonest to me.
There are many other ways to cut spending. Why not try to find another alternative if you cannot sell the membership?
T.
There are many other ways to cut spending. Why not try to find another alternative if you cannot sell the membership?
T.
nancy324
Cathlete
You just learned how important it is to actually read things carefully before you sign them. Next time you will be sure to read the fine print. Meanwhile, figure out where people who use the gym live or work and see if you can post that your membership is for sale on nearby bulletin boards, or at the gym itself. Good luck!
Uunfortunately fincancial situations change and not everyone can afford the moral high ground. All businesses need to understand that we live in insecure economic times and include let out clauses in their contracts for those who can no longer afford the services. The gym can afford it. I say, the gyms need to be crystal clear about exactly how many long months of economic servitude they are press ganging you in for. Most of them are quite shady in how they attract new customers and the "small print" is never quite clear. I don't blame the original poster at all.
If you can get out of it, I would, and did when I first arrived in the US and got press ganged by a gym in a similar way. I got a knee specialist to write a letter stating that I could not do hi impact work due to knee problems and according to the gym's contract itself, that was enough to get me out of it. They had no choice.
I breathed a huge sigh of relief and never went near another gym here in the US. Once bitten, twice shy.
Clare
If you can get out of it, I would, and did when I first arrived in the US and got press ganged by a gym in a similar way. I got a knee specialist to write a letter stating that I could not do hi impact work due to knee problems and according to the gym's contract itself, that was enough to get me out of it. They had no choice.
I breathed a huge sigh of relief and never went near another gym here in the US. Once bitten, twice shy.
Clare
T
trevor
Guest
Contracts are to protect people who run the gyms, remember that. Financial situations change for them too, just as they do for the members.
Clare, you got out of your contract for a legitimate injury, which is completely different from someone wanting to simply cut back expenses.
I disagree with the characterizations of "shady" to describe "most" gyms and clubs. And the ones that are, are probably that way because they are aware of some of the "shady" things described here that people use to get out of their contracts without satisfying them. Hell, my club REDUCES rates for people who have been members for a long time. I pay HALF what the average member pays. That's 49 dollars a month for everything a club can offer, and every class they offer is FREE. And their class offerings are extensive and top-notch. So not all clubs are shady. You gotta do your homework before joining a club.
I feel badly for anyone who is in a contract and then finds they can no longer afford it. But unless he/she can either work with the club to deal with it or sell the membership, then I think they should suck it up and find another area of their budget to cut back expenses. Look at the gym as an investment in your future health. You are still going to get the best, most well-rounded workouts in a club, in my opinion.
In the end, everyone has to protect themselves when they go into a contract. The gym has their contract to protect themselves....and the potential member needs to weigh the risk of the monthly expense and read the contract thoroughly to protect themselves.
Lastly, I think Cathe herself is a club owner, or at least a partner, if I am not mistaken. I cannot imagine her being involved in a shady operation. So I guess that's two clubs in the U.S., mine and hers!! LOL!!
Good luck.
T.
Clare, you got out of your contract for a legitimate injury, which is completely different from someone wanting to simply cut back expenses.
I disagree with the characterizations of "shady" to describe "most" gyms and clubs. And the ones that are, are probably that way because they are aware of some of the "shady" things described here that people use to get out of their contracts without satisfying them. Hell, my club REDUCES rates for people who have been members for a long time. I pay HALF what the average member pays. That's 49 dollars a month for everything a club can offer, and every class they offer is FREE. And their class offerings are extensive and top-notch. So not all clubs are shady. You gotta do your homework before joining a club.
I feel badly for anyone who is in a contract and then finds they can no longer afford it. But unless he/she can either work with the club to deal with it or sell the membership, then I think they should suck it up and find another area of their budget to cut back expenses. Look at the gym as an investment in your future health. You are still going to get the best, most well-rounded workouts in a club, in my opinion.
In the end, everyone has to protect themselves when they go into a contract. The gym has their contract to protect themselves....and the potential member needs to weigh the risk of the monthly expense and read the contract thoroughly to protect themselves.
Lastly, I think Cathe herself is a club owner, or at least a partner, if I am not mistaken. I cannot imagine her being involved in a shady operation. So I guess that's two clubs in the U.S., mine and hers!! LOL!!
Good luck.
T.
I have to agree with the moral high ground. Your gym contract is the same as if you had a mortgage on your house. Can you imagine a bank being understanding about your not being able to make your house payment? I don't think so. You could kiss your credit goodbye.
Think of it this way. If someone were going to pay you a million dollars to figure out how to pay for your contract, you would be motivated to do it.
Be creative. Cut the corners on other expenses and ride out the contract.
As a last resort, i would contact the office and let them know your situation. They might be willing to have you make a lower monthly fee to fulfill your contract without breaking it.
Hang in thre.
Danna
Think of it this way. If someone were going to pay you a million dollars to figure out how to pay for your contract, you would be motivated to do it.
Be creative. Cut the corners on other expenses and ride out the contract.
As a last resort, i would contact the office and let them know your situation. They might be willing to have you make a lower monthly fee to fulfill your contract without breaking it.
Hang in thre.
Danna
Hi Kimbra,
Sorry to hear of the change in your financial situation. I think it is good that you are looking for ways to cut expenses and stay on top of things. I agree with your second post wholeheartedly.
I also agree with with the suggestions to:
*Look over your contract for any legitimate ways of cancellation.
*Explain your circumstances to the gym and see if there is a way to cut back on your payments.
*Look for someone to take over your contract. This might be a good way for someone to try out the gym for a short period of time.
*If all else fails, use your contract to the fullest.
I have to agree with A-jock. We all need to take personal responsibility. No flames from me.
Goodluck,
jordan
Sorry to hear of the change in your financial situation. I think it is good that you are looking for ways to cut expenses and stay on top of things. I agree with your second post wholeheartedly.
I also agree with with the suggestions to:
*Look over your contract for any legitimate ways of cancellation.
*Explain your circumstances to the gym and see if there is a way to cut back on your payments.
*Look for someone to take over your contract. This might be a good way for someone to try out the gym for a short period of time.
*If all else fails, use your contract to the fullest.
I have to agree with A-jock. We all need to take personal responsibility. No flames from me.
Goodluck,
jordan
Timber99
Cathlete
Grab a copy of the contract and read it really well. there may be somethign in there that to your surprise, apples to you! If not, try to post an ad at a local college or soemthing similar to sell your membership. Drop the price (take a little hit to attract someone) and see what happens! I'd buy someones contract out if I could save a few bucks!
I wouldn't lie about it though...god, wouldn't you die if they caught you!?
Good Luck!
Christine
I wouldn't lie about it though...god, wouldn't you die if they caught you!?
Good Luck!
Christine
Runcrazy
Cathlete
Kim, you should call and talk to an attorney about your state laws governing these kinds of contracts. In our state (and I can't remember the correct terminology)if you legitimately need to be released from the contract and have not purposely defaulted, you can write a letter stating reasons etc. they have to let you out. This happened to a friend of mine who belonged to a woman's gym, signed a 24 month contract and needed to be released after 13 months. In your state you may be bound, but it doesn't hurt to call someone and ask. The phone call is free!
Edited to add: Obviously this does not apply to contracts where you purchase a car or something, just these service type contracts.
Jo
Edited to add: Obviously this does not apply to contracts where you purchase a car or something, just these service type contracts.
Jo