The New Year is here and you might want to get tough, buff or just a bit healthier in 2019.
Gyms are a simple and practical way of shedding those extra festive pounds, but they have a reputation of locking users into long contracts which are a nightmare to get out of.
Using gym passes is an easy way to suss out if you want to join a gym or not, giving you a chance to gauge what the equipment, staff, opening hours and classes are like.
There are loads of gyms across the UK, with many offering trials to try to entice you to sign up, giving you the chance to save a few quid while getting fit.
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Do you even need a contract?
An increasing number of gyms don't have fixed-term contracts any more: you can cancel whenever you want and only pay until the end of that month.
That's good news for gym beginners and commitment-phobes.
These gyms can also be far cheaper than traditional gyms and tend to have the same weights and machinery, although they often lack luxuries like pools and saunas.
These new low-cost chains include Anytime Fitness, EasyGym, Pure Gym and The Gym.
Free trial passes
A lot of gyms offer trial passes to give you a flavour of what they offer. Some of them will be free, others will have a charge.
Anytime Fitness
As its name suggests, Anytime Fitness allows you to work out 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What’s more, you can get a free trial pass which lasts for one to three days, depending on location. You must use them at the same club on consecutive days.
Better
There are 243 Better leisure centres across the UK and they offer good value and no frills.
You can book a one-day guest pass, absolutely free.
Fitness First
Fitness First is currently offering free 3-day trials at all its branches. All you have to do is go to the website and use the pass within 14 days.
Pure Gym
Pure Gym has 230 gyms across the UK with most open 24-hours a day. You can get a free three-day pass to try out the facilities.
Nuffield Health
Get a free one-day gym pass at your nearest Nuffield gym. Just type in your postcode and it’ll tell you what facilities are available.
You’ll need to go to your local club to make an appointment and use your pass within seven days of filling out the form.
Total Fitness
Total Fitness has 17 gyms across northern England, offering a free one-day guest pass which offers unrestricted access to the facilities.
Xercise4Less
Xercise4Less, which has over 50 locations mainly in the north of England, claims it won’t only help you set gym goals but smash them too.
You can get a taster with a free day pass. Just fill out the online form and your local centre will give you a call to book in your free trial.
Cheap short-term passes
Still dithering over whether to join or not? A short term pass could be an option, although they tend to be relatively expensive compared to full monthly membership.
PayAsUgym
PayasUgym is essentially a comparison site for pay-as-you-go passes for more than 2,000 gyms across the UK. It also sells 5-visit and 10-visit packs.
It claims that passes are on average 20% cheaper than going direct to gyms but you should check to be sure.
Easy Gym
Like easyJet and easyHotel, easyGym offers a cheap, no-frills service. If you just want to try it out for a bit, day passes cost £6.99, except for the London Oxford Street and Fulham gyms which are £9.99.
The Gym
The Gym has over 100 60 branches around the UK and 1-day and 3-day passes going for anyone who wants one.
Passes start at £5.99 but can be as much as £10.99 for the 1-day option depending on which gym you use.
You can choose any day within a 14-day period to use it. There’s a simple one-click option so that you can repeat your day pass.
Simply Gym
Simply Gym offers non-member day gym passes for £6.
Pure Gym
If you’re still not sure after taking advantage of the free three-day trial, you can pay for a one-day short-term pass at Pure Gym, which starts from £6.99.
Outdoor bootcamps and classes
Work out in the great outdoors with free classes in parks across the UK.
British Military Fitness
Sign up for a free class from British Military Fitness for some ‘serious fun’.
One-hour classes take place in parks across the UK and include a warm-up, cardio and strength training, a cool-down and stretches.
Park Lives
Park Lives is a fitness initiative that offers free exercise classes for adults and children in 130 outdoor locations across the UK.
There are loads of classes to choose from including yoga, Pilates, Zumba and Tai Chi. Just enter your postode on the website to find out what’s going on near you.
Parkrun
Parkrun organises free weekly timed 5k runs at certain parks throughout the UK. Register online to find out what's available near you.
Going the distance
If you do decide that you want a full membership, be vigilant.
The most important thing to be aware of is the sales spiel. Make sure the salesperson backs up the claims that they make on the written contract itself and read it through carefully before you sign anything.
Check what sort of notice you have to give to cancel, what the policy is if your circumstances change, whether you can freeze your membership and what happens if your favourite service stops.
You should also enquire whether the contract automatically renews. Most gym memberships do but you should let them know if you don’t want this to happen.
Finally, don't forget to haggle! You could ask for a corporate discount (even if your employer doesn't offer one), for the joining fee to be waived, or a couple of free months at the start of your membership.
Staff have considerable room for manoeuvre so stick to your guns.
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Unexpected circumstances
If you get an injury, fall pregnant or are unable to pay because of redundancy or a lot of debt, you can get your gym membership cancelled.
You need proof of your new circumstances to show the gym. If the terms of your contract were just plain unfair, you should make a complaint.
You may also be able to end the contract if you move to a location where there aren't any branches of your gym, but check the conditions first.
If your gym membership just isn't working for you anymore, it's still worth trying to cancel or amend your contract. It might be easier than you think.
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How to make a complaint
Try sending a written complaint to the head office first as the delivery will be tracked and you’ll know they’ve received it.
When writing, you should follow these Citizens Advice guidelines.
If your contract started before 1 October 2015, you should say the following:
“The term in the contract that’s preventing me from cancelling is an “unfair term” under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. It should be removed from the contract, allowing me to cancel my membership.”
If your contract started on or after 1 October 2015, you should say the following:
“The term in the contract that’s preventing me from cancelling is an “unfair term” under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. It should be removed from the contract, allowing me to cancel my membership.”
Failing that, get in touch with UKactive which can give you advice and possibly contact the gym for you.
For further information, you can contact Citizens Advice on 03454 04 05 06 or use the online form.
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