How to cancel your gym membership

Questioner

Hello, I have a question about a gym membership. I had a 1.5 year membership. It expired in August, so I thought it would automatically end, like a magazine subscription for example. Well, a month later I suddenly saw via internet banking that money had been withdrawn by the gym, so I went to the branch to inquire how and what. I was then told that it does not expire automatically, but that I have to report it myself after the subscription has expired. The woman behind the counter got someone from the sales department (the same woman with whom I signed the contract) and she made quite a fuss about canceling my subscription. He told me that I could only cancel my subscription by letter, so I asked whether I had to send it or whether I could also deliver it personally, and what information had to be included in it (only name, membership number and month of cancellation). So I saw a pen and paper on the counter, so I asked if I could have a pen and paper to write it down. And the sales woman said that she would not help me cancel my subscription, and that I should do it at home. She said 'it would be rather strange if I were to help you cancel your subscription', I did not think so. Since customer friendliness is not exactly something strange. And my health insurance will not make it difficult if I want to switch, and neither will my internet provider, so I do not see why it is 'strange' to expect it from a gym. Anyway, I handed in the letter the next day, so I assumed it was settled. And then I went straight to the bank to block their account, so they couldn't withdraw any more money. And a month later I got a letter, that I have to pay money, because they could not withdraw it from my account. And that I am denied access to the building, until I transfer the money. So I ignored the letter. But a few weeks ago I received another letter saying that I had to pay for another month, and if I didn't pay, they would call in a debt collection agency. So what steps can I take now, should I just pay it. And send it by certified mail so I have proof? Because now it's my word against theirs. But the contract literally states that I can also cancel it via the customer advisor, but the customer advisor is the woman with whom I signed the contract, right? And if she refuses to process my cancellation, then she is the one to blame, right? After all, she cannot force me to remain a member PS: I will quote some sentences from the small print of the contract, regarding cancelling a subscription. '(name of gym) applies a cancellation period of 1 calendar month after the end of the chosen subscription, which means that a subscription that is cancelled before the end of a calendar month will be extended by the following calendar month, whereby the term/duration of the subscription taken out must always be taken into account' '(name of gym) subscriptions will be extended for a period of 1 month without timely cancellation. This will remain in effect until cancellation takes place. Cancellation must be made to the customer advisor or by registered letter.'

Lawyer

If you can register via a website or verbally at the counter, you should also be able to cancel the current subscription the other way around. It is unreasonable how they have behaved. There is probably a condition that states that you must cancel by registered letter? That condition is unreasonably onerous if you can register in other ways. Please look in the conditions at the way in which the subscription must be cancelled.

Questioner

I only quoted the information in the contract at the bottom of my question (in brackets), nothing more. And I had personally gone there to sign up, and the woman I signed the contract with, she was also the one I had spoken to at the counter to end it. And most gyms do indeed require that this be done by registered letter, but the regulations of the gym where I worked out state that it can also be done by the customer advisor. I assume that the person with whom I signed the contract is the customer advisor?

Lawyer

In that case, I advise you to send a registered letter explaining the content of the conversation and adhering to the first cancellation date.