I'm not sure if we're about to start having trouble with them - has anyone else successfully cancelled a gym membership in Switzerland (we're in Zuerich)? Also does anyone know of any consumer rights agencies that exist to advise on this sort of issue?
We're trying to cancel my wife's gym membership with Holmes Place. The employee who set up the 24 month contract told us that we can cancel with three months notice on grounds of health or moving - and actually wrote this on the contract. We've sent them an Einschreiben notice letter and a doctor's note, a month ago, and we're trying to find out if they actually accepted it. We don't want to cancel the LSV first, as I understand unpaid debts are a bad idea in Switzerland.
Holmes place has gone downhill quite a bit over the last four years, too much focus on money and not enough on services. That being said, immediately go in and suspend her membership indefinately (my wife has suspended hers many times for trips os, have a baby ect) so she at least maintains what she has, while you sort out the cancellation. I think you can also transfer membership so maybe another EFer might take it off you hands. I think your chances are slim to get a refund on any fixed contract here, good luck.
Just wanted to update the thread - a month after we sent the letter we made a couple of follow up calls, they sent us a nice reply canceling the contract immediately, and they've stopped debiting the LSV. I'd recommend them on the basis of how fairly they've treated us.