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So you’ve decided you’re ready for a change, compared the prices of fitness gyms around the area, signed up for a contract at a gym that works for you and now, for whatever reason, you’ve decided you want to cancel your gym membership contract in Germany. Is it possible?
Well, the quick and easy answer is no, likely not.
In most cases, you will have to ride out the duration of the contract before you have an opportunity to cancel your gym membership (see below for tips on how/when to cancel).
Sadly, moving cities/states/countries does not apply as a valid reason to leave a contract, though depending on your gym club, they may be a bit more lenient in this case. It doesn’t hurt to try. Not having the monetary funds to continue paying for the contract is also not a valid reason to leave a contract. If you refuse to pay your gym membership, this could affect your SCHUFA score which may then cause you bigger issues later on.
You may be able to cancel your gym membership within 14 days if…
If you’ve signed up for a contract and after 14 days you decide that the gym is not for you, well there are a few scenarios where a 14-day cancellation policy is granted. You may be able to cancel your gym membership within 14 days of signing the contract if the contract was signed:
- Online
- Per fax
- By telephone
- By post
- On the street (perhaps at a fair or carnival for example)
If you signed over the contract in person at the gym location, sadly, you are not entitled to the 14-day cancellation policy.
The “special cases” of getting out of a gym membership in Germany
If you signed the contract over in person and/or the 14-day period is long gone, well your next potential opportunity to cancel lies within the “special cases” of canceling a gym membership. In principle, a gym membership can always be canceled if there are issues with the contractual relationship (this refers to the contract and not simply because you don’t like their gym facilities). Contractual issues can include the following 4 situations:
1 – You are pregnant
Regardless of whether your pregnancy was planned or not, it is a valid and legal reason to terminate your gym contract prematurely. If your gym declines this as a valid excuse, you can receive a doctor’s note from your gynecologist and submit it to the gym. If you have any issues terminating the contract, there are many English speaking lawyers in Düsseldorf who you may consult. You can also search for a lawyer in your area who speaks your language using Anwalt.de.
2 – You have a medical condition
While many gyms may disagree, having a valid medical condition gives you the full right to cancel your gym contract prematurely. An immediate cancellation is possible as long as you receive a doctor’s note/confirmation that you are no longer able to engage in physical activities like working out at a fitness gym. The doctor’s note can come from your family doctor or from a specialist.
*Note: the inability to engage in physical activity must last at least until your contract is supposed to run out. That means if you receive a doctor’s note that says you’re sick for 1-month and your contract ends in 6-months, then the gym has every right to decline your cancellation request.
3 – The price of the gym membership has increased
If the price of your gym membership has increased since you signed up and you do not believe that you agreed to this increase, chances are you didn’t. Check the contract just to be sure, but if the contract is a bilateral agreement between you and the gym that you are required to pay a fixed rate (with no additional increases), then you have the right to return to paying your original monthly rate. You should always give the gym a reasonable amount of time to adhere to your request. If they do not comply within the timeframe provided, you have a right to cancel your contract immediately.
4 – The hours of operation of the gym have changed
We often purchase specific gym memberships because they work with our work/family/school schedules. If the gym changes their hours of operation and this affects your normal use of the gym, you have the right to cancel your contract immediately (given they do not change their opening hours back to the original times).
Doesn’t look like you have a way out? You’ll have to wait until the end of the contract to cancel your membership, however, don’t forget…
Most fitness memberships are automatically renewed
Most gym memberships are on a 6, 12 or 24-month contract. This contract is often automatically renewed which means just waiting it out until the end of your contract is not the solution. Most gyms require you to provide a formal notice of cancellation well in advance – check this out with your gym. If the gym follows the standard policy, then you are required to submit written notice to your gym up to 3 months in advance before your contract expires.
How to write your cancellation letter
If you are wondering how to write your cancellation notice, aboalarm.de does all the work for you. You just need to select what contract you would like to cancel and they will pre-formulate the letter with all the necessary details for you and also send it off for you as well.
If you still find that you are unable to exit your gym membership prematurely and would like additional advice, I would recommend contacting a lawyer. There are some great English speaking lawyers in Düsseldorf that may also be able to help you, you can also narrow your specifications, language, and location down to find a suitable lawyer on Anwalt.de.
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