I wrote a week or two ago about how a simple and straightforward cancellation process makes it easier to acquire customers, not to mention leaving people with a feeling of goodwill. I suppose you could add that when companies have a reasonable cancellation policy then their customers also won’t post about their negative experience on blogs where hundreds or thousands of potential customers might read about it.
I called in a week or two ago to cancel my gym membership with 24-Hour Fitness. Aside from the hassle of them telling me I had to come in to the club to cancel (nothing but an excuse to try and sell me on not canceling), now I find out that although the guy I talked to said he would cancel my account, he didn’t. He “froze” my account, which doesn’t prevent my card from getting charged again. Not only that, but when my card got charged again and I called in today to figure out what was going on, they told me they have a 30-day cancellation policy, meaning that no matter when you cancel, you’re probably going to get charged one more time after you cancel.
Now I ask you, my good man, why a business would have a policy that says you have to give 30 days notice of cancellation? I can think of some reasons, such as when a business has to dedicate such resources to a customer that it makes sense to have such a requirement. For example, imagine that acquiring a customer means you have to hire 10 new employees to service that customer. That would be a situation where a long-term contract with a 30-day or longer cancellation policy would make sense. But when I cancel my membership at the gym it doesn’t affect their business at all. 100 cancellations might, but not 1.
The only reason they have this policy is because they know that most people don’t read the policy upon signing up, those that do will forget what it says, nobody will cancel until they’re ready to stop going to the gym, and so the gym will get one more month of revenue without having to provide any service. It’s a beautiful thing for the gym, but quite irksome for customers. And now that I am irked, I pass this information on to you. I would encourage you to not sign up at 24-Hour Fitness, but I bet every other gym does the same thing. So let’s stick it to them and remember to cancel 30-days before we’re really read to stop going. That’ll show them.
I had a similar experience with Xcel Fitness when I canceled my membership there. It was several months ago but I think they tried to get me to come in to sign something. I was able to talk them in to letting me email or fax a written statement in with my signature so I chose to email it but I seem to remember that they ended up being unable to actually receive email. I ended up having to fax my signed statement to them and finally got it taken care of. They also had a 30-day notification policy so I got billed once more after I gave them notice.
Maybe not the most ethical way to cancel, but I did the same as you. Then when I got hit with the next 30-days, I reversed the charges. No one caught it and the charge never showed up. If they can a little shady in their practices, so can I.
by the time they get the cancellation, it has to be processed to their bank, and then processed to your bank to stop the draft….if they had alot more people to process new memberships, freezing, cancelling, changing eft, calling past due, then you prob wouldn’t need 30 days….and remember, its banking so not open on certain days…i always tell people, 30 days before your bill date, and remember that you’re last month is already paid for…i actually have people read everything if they want and ask any queestions about any of the agreement…i think they use the 30 day policy as a buffer…at least they let you cancel…some places stick you on a 1 to 3 yr contract…
@ because
That still doesn’t make any damn sense considerig that the last month is included into customers initial fees. At least they let people cancel… let people? It’s a service business of course people should be able to cancle. Pffhh like thats some amazing grace that they LET people friggn leave.
After spending almost 15 minutes on hold because when you go to their site they make you call, I decided to send the e-mail through their system. Two different ways, and each time, I got error messages from their system. I’m right at 30 days (payment was autowithdrawn yesterday), so now I have to go to the club and listen to the BS just cancel. Can’t they be happy with the $22 a month I’ve paid the last year and haven’t gone (let alone all the years before that when I did)?
Regardless, can I cancel the autopayment through my bank today and then tell them I’m done effective 30 days from now?
Why not just tell your bank to stop payment immediately after you cancel your account?
Did the bank follow your instructions? I have cancelled bank accounts because they wouldn’t stop the charge. They told me the cancellation instruction had to come from the club!?
Hi Rita
Yes, that was the only way to stop it for me, was to close the accounts. Pretty sad that anyone can have that kind of control over your own bacnk accound isnt it?
I had heard horror stories of my friends trying to cancel their 24 memberships. when it came time for me to get rid of them, I simply called my bank and reported my debit card stolen and requested a replacement. the gym called me a few times and after several times of me telling them to… screw… themselves (censored of course) they left me alone.
I’m getting ready to talk to a person about
cancelling.are letting me have my son membership
I’m the one who pays for it.Il let you no my
incounter