Can I get out of my gym contract?
December 18, 2008 11:59 PM Subscribe
How do you weasel your way out of a LA Fitness/Pro Results membership without having to pay the fee?
I'm told you can get out of it if you're moving somewhere, but you have to show them proof of you're moving... Any truth to that?
I'm told you can get out of it if you're moving somewhere, but you have to show them proof of you're moving... Any truth to that?
Depends on what state you're in and what your contract states. But at least some fitness clubs will release you from your agreement if you show them you have moved, or give a doctor's note saying that you are unable to use the facilities for a medical reason. You can call them up and ask if you want to do it non-confrontationally.
posted by bluejayk at 12:43 AM on December 19, 2008
posted by bluejayk at 12:43 AM on December 19, 2008
you could always be kicked out. Think George Constanza using the drain as a toilet.
posted by Rolandkorn at 2:16 AM on December 19, 2008
posted by Rolandkorn at 2:16 AM on December 19, 2008
If you say you are moving, tell them it is to a town that has no affiliated club.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:45 AM on December 19, 2008
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:45 AM on December 19, 2008
My friend had me send them a letter he'd written from my city that had no affiliated club so it had the postmark. I had put his name on the little card inside my mailbox for a while in case they wrote back to him but never did. He was released and lived happily ever after. That was several years ago so I don't know if the "out of town postmark" trick works anymore.
posted by birdherder at 4:10 AM on December 19, 2008
posted by birdherder at 4:10 AM on December 19, 2008
If you say you are moving, tell them it is to a town that has no affiliated club.
And depending on the contract, make sure it's a town that doesn't have one within 50 miles or something ridiculous.
posted by inigo2 at 4:38 AM on December 19, 2008
And depending on the contract, make sure it's a town that doesn't have one within 50 miles or something ridiculous.
posted by inigo2 at 4:38 AM on December 19, 2008
Read your contract first. I have experience with litigation with Bally's contracts and they are amazing things to behold, very cleverly drafted, more like lending agreements than contract for a club. Make sure you understand the terms, most of these places are REALLY REALLY good at dodging attempts to terminate contracts.
posted by Ponderance at 8:27 AM on December 19, 2008
posted by Ponderance at 8:27 AM on December 19, 2008
I don't think that flat early termination fees are legal (contractual fees are supposed to have some relationship to actual costs incurred by the company charging the fees), but fighting it would require lawyering-up most likely. Research the subject of "liquidated damages" if you're interested in that approach at all. . . This is where I think many of the suits involving wireless phone companies are going.
posted by BrandonAbell at 3:14 PM on December 19, 2008
posted by BrandonAbell at 3:14 PM on December 19, 2008
Usually the way it works is that you purchase a "membership", and then pay monthly maintenance fees. And usually that membership is pro-rated across the course of the contract.
In simple terms, for example- a lifetime membership is $1000. Monthly fees are $20. Your contract is two years @ $61 a month. You can stop paying the monthly fee and stop going to the gym, but you bought the membership on installment. You already got the membership, and so you owe them the balance of that $1000 that you haven't paid yet.
Cell phone contracts are the same way- you got a free/subsidized phone in return for promising to use their service for two years. You are free to pay full retail for the phone and not have a contract, but nobody ever does because cell phones are expensive.
posted by gjc at 5:52 PM on December 19, 2008
In simple terms, for example- a lifetime membership is $1000. Monthly fees are $20. Your contract is two years @ $61 a month. You can stop paying the monthly fee and stop going to the gym, but you bought the membership on installment. You already got the membership, and so you owe them the balance of that $1000 that you haven't paid yet.
Cell phone contracts are the same way- you got a free/subsidized phone in return for promising to use their service for two years. You are free to pay full retail for the phone and not have a contract, but nobody ever does because cell phones are expensive.
posted by gjc at 5:52 PM on December 19, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by limon at 12:16 AM on December 19, 2008