Gym Memberships

[Seminole]

I am trying to advise someone on another forum who is having major problems over a historic gym membership.

 

Potted history: She and her sister in law signed up for a gym membership in 1999. They were sold a three year membership deal on the basis that "the price was about to go". The saleswoman also said that they could cancel at any time. They were both present at the time and can therefore support each other in this. Having signed up (without reading the contract) both decided that they didn't want to be members (one of them did this after making a couple of payments) and gave notice of cancellation. Since then they have been pursued for three years payments under the credit agreements they signed. Apparantly this was one of those now common deals where the client signs a loan agreement rather than just a membership agreement.

 

As far as I know neither of them ever used the gym and both gave notice of cancellation. One of the has a CCJ against her which the creditor is seeking to enforce through a charging order. The other has just received an N1 although in her case the debt may be statute barred.

 

The creditor is Belmont Finance who has form with the OFT for including unfair terms in its contracts.

 

Is anyone aware of any succesful challenges to this sort of loan agreement?

[Paul Burns]

Dear Seminole, In case you are not aware, The Office of Fair Trading was sufficiently concerned about leisure user contracts as to issue Guidance on Unfair Terms in Health and Fitness Club Agreements in March 2002. Following this, the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) published its Code of Practice in June 2004.

I hope these are of use to you.

 

If you haven't tried your Local Trading standards, they may also be interested.

 

 

Paul Burns

Leisure Connection Watch

[Seminole]

This topic was closed on 10 March 2019.

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