cancellation of contract with Holmes gym

Sports and Hobbies
1
I read this "gym cancellation" story in a few different versions, but not exactly the same as mines.. I have a 24 months contract with Holmes expiring at October 7,2013. I contacted them to make sure it won't be extended, but the answer was: I should have contacted 3 months in advance to cancel the contract.

The main reason of cancellation is; my work place changed and now I am working in Aarau. But my home address is still at Zurich. I commute everyday 2 hours and no time for gym.

What is the easiest way of getting out of contract??

Getting a letter from company that I work there?- but my home address is Zurich.. Or should 1 month be enough for cancelling?? But as I read in forum with Migros or Activgym, cancelling is not a big issue. How is it with Holmes?What are the experiences??

2
This seems to be a common type of contract with gyms, not just Holmes. Basically, if you didn't cancel at least three months before the end of your current contract you are legally obliged to pay for the following year.

I got caught with same thing with a different gym, in the UK. I cancelled due to ill health. I couldn't even get out of it, even with medical reports. The best they offered me were some free sessions with a personal trainer.

Good luck on finding a way round it but don't get your hopes up.

3
I had one such situation, with a boxing club, and I didn't even know I was supposed to cancel prior to ending my membership. I just stopped coming and thought that was it. Incidentally, I had appendicitis right after my contract ended (or so I thought), so I couldn't do any sports for a while anyway.

Instead of paying a 6-month membership fee, I sent them a letter I got from the hospital, with details of the surgery. They never asked me to pay again.

4
While researching gyms, I found that several actually advertise having "no auto-renew" memberships by default.

Now that there's going to open another "posh gym" near Sihlbrücke/Talacker, we can expect more of these distress calls

Though, when a homepage reads "Download informations about....", I really have to ask myself if it's an "all muscle and no brain"-operation.

5
maybe reading the contract would help..

6
Knowing the ins and outs of the contract wouldn't have helped the OP as their circumstances changed. I was in the same position and couldn't give the full notice required

7
It was written in the contract "cancellation must be announced 3 months in advance". That is true and I am not opposing this. My question was on "how to cancel it"

Actually in the end I extended it but I complaint enough so get a bit more discount. that was all I could do

8
How much do you pay? Maybe we could transfer the contract to me during the period of my stay, from january to juin, so 6 months.

9
You give notice now & it will cancel in 12/24 months as agreed in the contract.

10
Had the same issue myself with Fitnesscenter Baden. Six weeks written cancellation, to be sent by registered post. Otherwise, it auto-renews.

The amusing part about it is that I wrote the letter, took it to Baden post office and sent it to the gym. Which is in the same building as the post office (just one floor above)!

Why I couldn't just do it in person at the gym is beyond me.

I know many people here who forgot to cancel in time (including me, first time around). The gym must make a shed load of profit from this.

Solution? Sign up, and send the cancellation letter the same day.

11
Recently joined a gym in nearby France. Chose to pay a little more, and a registration fee, so I can cancel at the end of each month, without penalties. Same with a mobile phone- if you get a great phone for 1oCHF- expect to have huge penalties on cancellation, etc.

You pays your money, you takes your choice. No miracles- here, there or anywhere. It is not a Swiss specific concept at all.

12
Correct - the Gym and all the other orgnaisations who benefit from these contract laws that are weighted totally in favour of the supplier and not the customer. That`s the way it is here (and also Germany) and you have to accept it.

I never had a gym membership in the UK which was automatically extended - you always had to ask for a renewal.

It`s a sad world where everything has to be `proven` by registered post.

I recently moved appartment and sent out many standard change of address letters. Over 50% of the recipients claimed that they never received the letters (that were not registered). In any case - that is statistically just not possible. Cancelling a contract or changing a contract for sure has to be by registered post but just notification - come on. .

13
You can go in person I am sure and ask the manager to sign your cancellation letter with the date- instead of registered post, surely.