12 month gym contract but need to cancel it.

[katemcc1989]

Hi, I am a 19 year old single parent who is about to go to university and is signed on and working 8 hours a week who has (stupidly) signed up to a gym costing around �30 a month, thinking that i could afford it. Now it has been about 3 months and I realllly cannot afford it and I haven't been going because I just don't have the time! Is there any way i can cancel it? it says in the terms and conditions that 12 months has to be fulfilled but i just cannot afford it whatsoever. I really need someones help as i haven't got a clue what to do! The gym seemed a lot better than it actually is, im guessing thats how they get you to sign up, obviously!

Thanks, Kate

[bednobs]

there is no gettng out of it, that's why it's called a contract. You pay them the money and they give you use of their facilities. Just because you don't avail yourself of the facilities dosen't mean you don't pay. If they have directly misled you by promising facilities that they don't have you may have a chance, if not, if you refuse to pay they will get a judgement against you. maybe you can negotiate to pay the remaining �270 of your contract over a longer time?

[fiesata]

You can appeal to their better nature by stating your current financial difficulties but as already said you are party to this contract - good luck!

[kira000]

As the previous posters have said, you have unfortunately signed a contract, which is a binding agreement. So they are entitled to enforce payment. You probably have a few options;

1- Eat humble pie, show them a breakdown of your finances to demonstrate you really cant afford it, and ask them to let you off entirely.

2-If they won't do that, ask if there is a cheaper membership plan they can switch you to.

3- Ask if they will let you buy out of the contract at for a reduced fee, or pay off the amount over a longer period.

4- Ask if they will let you find someone else to take over your contract, which some places will do- but they onus is on you to find someone.

5- If you have good reason to think you will be better off in say 6 or 9 months, ask them if they would consider putting your membership on hold for a period, and then picking it up and starting paying for it again when that period expires.

Above all, be polite, and accept that at the end of the day this was your fault, not theirs, and make sure you are seen to be making very effort to come to a satisfactory resolution.
It would be worth putting your various offers in writing, even if you discuss them in person. That way, if you fail to come to agreement, and default, you will have something to show the court that you have tried to work through it if they try small claims or such avenues.