Want to break a gym contract, can they still charge me? Need opinions PLEASE.?!
Question: I have a membership where they automatically charge the account for that months payment. I am wanting to break the contract for physical reasons. The gym told me before that I could not do it. I was wondering if I called the bank could they stop payments being made to them. The reason I want to quit going is because I was diagnosed with MRSA. The staff infection that several people have already gotten. I have been on antibiotics to get rid of it this time, I don't want to take a chance on getting it again. I am getting married in May and I do not want to go on my honeymoon with boils all over me. VERY PAINFUL. If you have any advice, please let me know.
Answers: I have a membership where they automatically charge the account for that months payment. I am wanting to break the contract for physical reasons. The gym told me before that I could not do it. I was wondering if I called the bank could they stop payments being made to them. The reason I want to quit going is because I was diagnosed with MRSA. The staff infection that several people have already gotten. I have been on antibiotics to get rid of it this time, I don't want to take a chance on getting it again. I am getting married in May and I do not want to go on my honeymoon with boils all over me. VERY PAINFUL. If you have any advice, please let me know.
I think you should look at your contract very carefully. There may be a way to cancel due to illness/injury, or at least postpone payments until you are healthy enough to work out again.
I expect that the gym also made you sign a liability waiver though, most gyms have them so you can't sue for any kind of illness or injury that happens in their facilities. However, MRSA has had a LOT of press lately. There are newer versions that are resistant to standard antibiotics, its possible to be a carrier without any symptoms, etc. I would think they would want to let you out of the contract just so they didn't have more outbreaks that could be traced back to their gym. Even if they can't get sued for it, it would be very bad press. Maybe try that tactic when you go in to talk to them. Also, if you think you got it from the gym, call the health department & see if they can do an inspection/investigation or something.
You may wind up having to pay for the entire contract though because those contracts are pretty well written with no exceptions for getting out of them. It just depends on whether this branch will make an exception for you and let you out of the contract. I guess you could try to call one of those local news problem lines as a last resort & see if they would do a story on you? That always seems to work.
you will still have to pay for the remaining portion of the membership. the best option would be to get permission from the manager to post a few fliers about your membership. you may get lucky and find a member whos membership is about to expire and they are needing to renew it soon. instead,they could take over yours. i hope that makes sense. anyway, talk to the managers about this idea because a lot of place are okay with it.
If you signed a contract, then there is no way you can legally cancel. I'm sure if you took a doctors diagnosis sheet to the gym manager, he would be willing to work something out with you. My gym wouldnt let me do that, but they will put a freeze on my contract so that I wouldnt have to pay/go for 3 months and then I would start going again...I guess that just depends on how nice the staff is at your particular gym. Hope this helps.
I'm not an attorney, but if you signed a contract then you need to read over what you signed. If it does not allow you to break the contract due to a medical reason then, no.
The infection may be a whole different issue. If this is something you may have contracted from the gym then you need to seek the advice of an attorney.
I would recommend keeping the issues separate. If you stop payment then they will just turn it over to collections. If you contracted the infection from them you may be entitled to damages, and the health department needs to look into that gym.
:-)
You can call bank and have them stop accepting the request for payment from the gym..however you will be responsible for either remaining time and buyout on contract.....Now if you got that horrible infection there, you should go to mgt and explain that while you are not suing for medical bills, you have decided to break contract duue to unsanitary condiiotn and contraction of MRSA and wish to be let out at no charge.....Some large chains will some not....you always could seek a personal injury lawyer and have lawyer send letter requesting they let you out of membership or you will move forward with public lawsuit....that may rattle the chain a bit and help you.....
A gym contract is like any other contract. There are consequences to breaching them. In your case I would suggest you go in or call the gym and let them know that you would like to get out of the contract and state the reason. If they give you a hard time you can tell them that they have the duty of care to provide a clean environment safe from diseases for their members. I am sure they will work something out. You could also tell them that you will call your bank and cancel the payments that are scheduled.
oh crap