So, I've been with this one gym near my home for a year now (contract) and while I went pretty regularly up to the wedding, I stopped right after and have only been a handful of times since. But, I had to wait until my contract was up to cancel. This was February.
So, in February, I went in and told them I wanted to cancel my membership. I signed a form. The dude told me that since I paid for February I could still use the gym until the end of the month. I didn't, but anyways. Today, I look at my bank account and they charged me for March! I am fuming. Unfortunately, I am working OT tonight and tomorrow so I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to get this sorted out.
I was going to put a stop payment on them but it costs like $12.50 at my bank and they don't necessarily work all the time because this gym tends to change the date it takes money out of my account.
I want this money back as I hadn't budgeted for it to be leaving my account (don't worry, I'm not going into overdraft or anything, its $37) but I am paying for a new gym now closer to work and I wanted to sign up for aquafit this week.
Anyone else have this kind of experience with a gym or anywhere else that kept charging you even after your contract ended? How did you handle it?
Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.
TTFN,
Morgaine
Ugh that really sucks! I hate having automatic payments anywhere, I feel that it always leads to a mistake.
ReplyDeleteI'm notorious for forgetting to make regular payments and budgeting for them if they aren't auto payments, so I generally like them. With this particular gym, I probably should have given them post-dated cheques like T did after they double-charged him 3 months, even after he had brought it to their attention. Lesson learned.
DeleteI've dealt with an unscrupulous gym, but I haven't had them continue taking payments (even though i hear that's common). If I were you I would dispute the unauthorized charge at the bank and file a BBB complaint. It's not a lot, but it's a start.
ReplyDeleteI read that post, so I'm hoping that we can get it settled without having to resort to anymore fees (and the refund of this one, of course). I stayed the "mandatory" one year as per my contract - even though I hadn't been there in months. So, I kept up my end of the bargain. I'm just not sure when I'll be able to get there to settle it.
DeleteI seriously had like the exact same thing happen to me! Basically when I saw the extra charge I went back in and told them they were wrong, and luckily kept the receipt they game me that I signed saying my contract was not to be renewed and we were done. Of course they were total idiots and couldn't find my name in their system (because they misspelled my name). I think I got my money back, but it's the reason I'll never sign a contract for a gym ever again.
ReplyDeleteI called them, they gave me some BS about how I had to have cancelled 30 days before the billing cycle day (so 30 days before March 15th). I had cancelled on February 28th. But, when I went in to cancel in January, they told me that I had to cancel in February because that's when my contract was up, they didn't tell me that I had to do it by February 12th in order to not be charged in March. I'm going to check my contract (if I can find it) to make sure this is the case, if there's nothing on there or the receipt from when I cancelled, I will go back. Otherwise, I've decided to suck it up. I know that's probably what they bank on, but for $37 it isn't worth it.
DeleteUnless they charge me again in April. Then, all hell will break loose!
Unfortunately contracts are everywhere, gym, cell phones, cable tv. We're just too complacent here in Canada, and I suppose I'm not helping :(
I don't think you should suck it up. They should've had a 13 month contract then. Or let you cancel in January with a February cancellation date. Its their error, not yours.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Michelle - I will not sign up for automatic withdrawal with any company! It has only led to trouble in the past. And don't even get me started on my Steve Nash Fitness World nightmare. I feel your pain girl.
ReplyDeleteGyms are notorious for this - I would fight it. They make SO much extra money due to complacency - don't give in.
ReplyDelete