How To Cancel Premier Passport Membership?

Won't let me cancel gym membership?

• I want to cancel my gym membership. I made a one year contract with Ramona Fitness Center (locally owned in Greenville, South Carolina). But I got a job offer at different state so I moved. Of course, before moving, I emailed the owner several times asking the owner, Ramona, to cancel the membership. However, I didn't get any reply back. I assumed that she understood and cancelled it. Recently, I got an email from eFIT Financial that they need to update my CC so the appropriate billing can happen. Conveniently my card is expiring this month (May) so I didn't update for the Fitness center since I wanted to cancel. I was surprise that they still wanted to charge me for membership. So I called the owner, who didn't respond so I left voice message to cancel my membership. She replied with email today that the contract is for one year and there is no option for cancellation. I would have to continually pay until my year is up. My contract start date is February so I need to keep paying until Feb 2013. The monthly fee is ~$46. I don't want to pay these as I live ~2000 mi away from gym now. There is just no way. Also, the whole business was little crooked. The owner promised a gate key to the gym for 24 hour access, but never did. I was unable to use the gym whenever that door was locked, even if I had passcode for main door. I asked several times for the key using email/phone and txt messages but I never got it. So after normal business hours, I was unable to access the gym even if she said 24 hour access. Also the passcode for the main door was not given to me promptly. I had to ask her several times using email before getting it. So I was unable to use the gym during first few days of each month. Not only that, I never got an actual contract paper when I signed up. The reason why I signed up was to work out with my co-worker. My co-worker recommended me this gym and I liked to work out with co-worker so I quickly contacted owner. She just emailed me asking for my CC info. I asked about membership fee and she explained about one year contract with monthly fee of ~$46. She didn't explain to me about problems with cancellation. I gave her CC info and got the passcode for the main door to the gym. All membership sign up happened through email. She just asked for my CC info and signed me up for the membership. I didn't do any kind of electronic signature or signed any paper. She didn't provide me any contract paper either. I didn't get a physical copy or a hard copy at all. I am wondering there is some kind peaceful resolution can happen? Perhaps I can ask for nominal exit fee? I am currently paying ~$46 per month. I am hoping to get out quickly and peacefully. If someone knows about gym membership business, especially about small gyms, please advice. Thank you for reading!

• Answer:

  If you signed the contract, in the civilized world, that means that you have promised to uphold whatever was written on there and that they will provide the service as noted. So no, even with minor issues you have stated, unless it is writeen in the contract that those minor issues can be cause for breach of contract, you will need to fulfill its terms and conditions. If you didn't sign anything, then you can call you CC company.