I have signed a 12-month contract with Leisure connection gym and am currently 6 months in. I'm paying £30 a month by direct debit, but I am just about to go to University, so will only be around for 2 of the next 6 months. They allow you to suspend your membership, but only
'provided it is due to illness, injury or pregnancy and is at the Manager's discretion'. I really want to cancel my membership if at all possible, but of course the T&C are pretty binding.
'In the case of early termination of Annual Memberships, we reserve the right to claim damages for an amount equal to the outstanding monehtly instalments for the unexpired period of the annual Membership'.
If the direct debit is returned unpaid,
'your Membership application form includes a request for your credit card details, your signature on the direct debit mandate is taken as unconditional and irrevocable authority to us to debit the account without further notice to you. If we are unable to contact you, or you are unable or unwilling to pay the sum unpaid by your bank we shll be entitled to obtain seperate payment from your credit card'. Is this legal?
So desperate am I not to pay the last £180 or so for 2 months use, I'm now thinking about cancelling the direct debit, closing that bank account, and cancelling the debit card I gave them when I applied. I don't really use the account much anyway, but my question is- how serious could it get if they cant get the money? Can/will they take me to court? I assume if they do, they'll win, and I'll have to pay the fees... I just thought I'd ask for some advice before I do anything too hasty! Thanks for your help
Advice cancelling gym membership 
