January is traditionally the time of year when gyms try to lure new members with a rash of special offers, writes Rebecca Smithers. But for me, the new year is a depressing reminder that I really must review – or possibly terminate – my 15-year membership. My inertia means that I'm now paying £55 for my monthly dip in the pool – or a whopping £660 a year. Stupid, or what?
It's not that I don't want to use the Virgin Active gym in central London and its state-of-the-art equipment, which includes the sought-after power plates favoured by Madonna. Every week, I vow to try and squeeze in a visit. But since my daughter has moved to a new school and my office has relocated, the location of the gym – once on my morning school run – is no longer as convenient as it once was.
Of course, it's not just about convenience. After all, I could switch to a branch of the same group closer to home and work.
The problem is that, with the exception of a few sessions with a scary personal trainer last year (and with a very scary price tag attached), I tend to neglect the gym facilities in favour of the swimming pool and little else. So, with my pathetic record of a dip in the pool once a month, it's costing me £55 a swim. Every time I've come to close to cancelling I've decided to have one last push at using the facilities. But now it is definitely time for a review.
My original membership was a gift from my husband, who generously paid the joining fee. Gyms rely on apathy and once the direct debit arrangements are in place the cost of monthly membership soon adds up, whether you are using the facilities or not.
And, of course, wriggling out of an arrangement can also prove costly because of hidden terms and conditions in the small print which can include the requirement to give notice or pay a further month's fees.
We regularly receive high volumes of letters from readers to our Capital Letters section on the hefty financial penalties of terminating memberships.
The Office of Fair Trading last year hauled a number of companies over the coals for unscrupulous tactics in trying to snare new members, while it is also known to be concerned about the unnecessarily complicated contracts, which obscure important terms and conditions.
In a potential further complication, my own gym has changed ownership – it was originally Holmes Place which was acquired by Virgin Active.
My new year's resolution is to try to negotiate a cheaper deal or, failing that, to terminate it completely.
Action plan
Don't put your head in the sand if you are waivering. Work out how many times you visited in recent months and calculate how much each visit costs you.
Check terms and conditions of membership on the company's website for details of notice required. Put your cancellation in writing to the gym, but ask whether there are cheaper options – off-peak membership rather than peak, for example? See how prepared they are to lose you completely.
Check out alternatives. In my case, it will be vastly cheaper to swim at the local authority swimming pool, and I suspect there may be cheaper gyms.
Even when other gyms quote you their official prices, don't be embarrassed to ask for a discount. Even if they don't agree, you may be offered free guest passes or a free personal training session instead.
