Esporta Health Clubs Review

Overall Rating

I was a member of Esporta Gym and had a terrible time when I had to cancel my membership. However, I did manage to resolve it in the end. I had been a member for 12 months when I found out I pregnant. I was very ill and had to be admitted to hospital twice during the first few months. At the same time I found out that my mother had breast cancer that had spread to the lymph nodes and my father-in -law was termianlly ill with cancer. As you can imagine keeping up a gym membership was just not possible. I cancelled my direct debit with Esporta and wrote a letter to explain the situation. I had phone call from them advising that I needed to give three months notice. As far as I was concerned I had completed my 12 months contract that I had signed with them. I wrote another letter and also provided a letter from doctor as evidence. This made no difference and they immediately got a Debt Collection Agency on to me without even bothering to respond to my letters. I wrote further letters to Esporta and also telephoned the manager of my local club. When I spoke with the manager he just kept referring me to the terms and conditions in my contract and basically saying that I had to pay. I then referred him to a section in the terms and conditions whereby, at the discretion of Esporta, they can terminate the contract immediately on medical grounds - but he just wasn't interested. I explained my situation and the stress that this was causing me - that there was no way I could use the gym, but all they cared about was getting my money . I advised that I had completed my 12 months membership that I had signed up for - why should I pay another 3 months? Just didn't want to know just kept referring me to my terms and conditions. My membership was at a discounted rate through work and advised that I would be reporting my case to the liason point at work. The manger accused me of using bully tactics? And sending debt collectors and not responding to my letters - what is that classed as? I contacted my local trading standards, sending copies of my letters to Esporta, my contract with them and letters from the Debt Collection Agency. My main points were that I felt the 3 months notice period was unfair (if you search the internet you will find references to this and Unfair Contract Terms in respect of Esporta) and that I felt that Esporta should consider the terms and conditions that allowed my membership to be cancelled on medical grounds. I also spoke with Trading Standards and they were very helpful and provided advice. I also copied Esporta in to my correspondence. Just doing this resolved the issue immediately, I no longer needed to give the 3 months notice period and my membership was cancelled. I let Trading Standards know the outcome. They advised that my complaint will be kept on file and is useful if they have other complaints about the same company as it can build up a picture of what is going on. My advice is read your Terms and Conditions carfeully. These must be fair and not place either the customer or the company at an unfair advantage. There has to be element of reasonableness - if you have to cancel your membership for a genuine reason - look out for this to be covered in the Terms and Conditions, as with my example and the medical condition, it was there they just didn't want to know at first. Put your cancellation in writing to Esporta and the reason for it. Make sure you get receipt for delivery of the letter. Contact your local Trading Standards for advice. I also found the Debt Collection Agency quite reasonable when I spoke to them and advised them that I was appealing against these charges with Esporta.