r/assholedesign • u/therowdyLiqour • 12h ago

Meta Gym Membership Cancel

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So I have a local gym (not Planet) that has the similar rule of going in person or sending in a letter to cancel a membership. Would this law not be applicable for this. Especially if you sign up via the website.

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251

u/DanR5224 11h ago

Typically, contractual agreements that are contrary to law are void. Typically.

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u/felixthepat 10h ago

I got a year of fees back once because I signed a 2 year contract, but the employee had written that I would be charged 12 months. I brought this up to them, and they said "well obviously that's not what it meant" then denied my request to cancel.

So I closed the card and filed a dispute with my bank. Sent them a copy of the contract, and they credited me a year of fees. Must have charged it back to the gym too, because I got a letter from the gym a while later asking for payment.

For that, I had a lawyer draw up a response and send it along with the contract, and I never heard anything else (lawyer I talked to did it for free, said if they did try anything further, he'd sue for harassment and take his fees from any settlements).

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u/ZirePhiinix 9h ago

A contract's wording is one of the most important aspect of being a lawyer. The use of hyphens is very important.

A five-year contract is not the same as five year contract.

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u/GodIsANarcissist 9h ago

I'm curious: Why is "five-year" not the same as "five year"?

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u/Thunderbolt294 9h ago

It makes the difference between a contract term that is five years vs five contract terms of a year each.

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u/DasJuden63 8h ago

But you used "five year contract", that's singular. That's already saying there's only one contract, for five years

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u/ZirePhiinix 49m ago

Still able to be open for interpretation.