… not get billed for an extra month or come in there to fill out a form. I just want to CANCEL it. Seems simple right? So a few months ago the Olympiad was closed and all of its members (myself included) were transferred to the Sports and Fitness Edge (aka Twin Oaks). We got the FULL MONTY membership, all locations, pools, classes, the works, for a mere 50$ a month. Which is about 20$ cheaper than a normal membership.
Well I was never very good about actually getting to the gym to begin with, so add to it that this one is overcrowded and further away… I was not impressed. The space is smaller and good luck getting a treadmill or through a weight routine without 7 people in front of you.
It is also Spring and I’d much rather take my exercises elsewhere… like the great outdoors. Add to that the fact that as a UVM alumni I can get a 6 mos membership for $44/mo or a year for about $33/mo, why would I stay!? The UVM gym also rocks.
So I finally decided that it is time to quit the Sports and Fitness edge and as an added bonus I can save some money over the summer (that I was clearly wasting anyway) . I set a reminder in my calendar prior to May 1st, to make sure I won’t forget. Monday, April 26th rolls around and I give them a call to cancel. Well they tell me that is fine, but they still have to bill me for May…
Excuse me?
Yeah, we bill 2 weeks in advance.
Well I want to cancel now and don’t plan on using the gym in May so is there someone I can speak to?
Yes, but you will have to call our other location and they MAY be able to credit you but I don’t think so.
So I call the location ask to speak to whoever is in charge of billing about canceling my membership automatic payments. Oh she’s not there, would you like to leave a message. Sure, thanks. Well that was Monday it is Thursday and I still have not heard from her.
I already decided Tuesday that it was best if I call and make sure to cancel my membership for May 1st, just to be safe.
Hi, I’d like to cancel my membership. I left a message Monday for the billing lady and haven’t heard, but I just wanted to cancel so you have it on record.
Oh you have to come in to for that.
Excuse me?
Yeah, I am pretty sure you have to come in. That seems silly would you like me to check?
Yes, please, because I mean the whole reason I am canceling is because I can’t get to the gym. So making me come in to cancel, seems a little ridiculous right?
Well fortunately the nice girl who answered the phone put me on with member services and the gentleman there was also nice enough to fill out the form for me. So one crisis averted. But I will still be charged for May and Deb still hasn’t called back to help me with my credit.
Here are my thoughts on this:
1. WTF can’t you stop a payment 5 days in advance of it going through?
2. WHO the hell made the policy that you have to go in to cancel your memebership. If I belong to a golf club do I have to go in to cancel, NO. If I have a subscription to a paper do I have to visit the offices to cancel, NO. Yes, I can see how this little annoying policy gets an extra month or two out of the lazy saps such as myself, but COME ON!
3. NO one ASKED me why I wanted to cancel… NOT ONE person. What kind of business model is that? They assume I am too lazy to get my ass over there. Yeah they might be right, but I also had some other thoughts that would probably improve the place for all their clients.
In summary, still no call from my buddy Deb in the billing department (she’s probably the same Deb that runs my Condo association, who can’t manage to cash our monthly checks more than 3 times a year or return emails or phone calls). I was able to cancel over the phone, but will be billed for May…. Or so they think. I cancelled the card they have on file, so take that.
