UKA gym is refusing to let me cancel despite a cooling-off period. What are my rights?
You have a legal right to cancel most gym contracts within 14 days of signing or receiving the contract, and the gym must refund you in full if you cancel during this cooling-off period.
What the Law Says
The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 give you a clear legal right to cancel certain types of contracts — including gym memberships — within a fixed cooling-off period.
Most gym contracts sold off-premises (e.g., at home, at a sales event, or online) or distance contracts (e.g., over the phone or via a website) are covered by these regulations. That means you have 14 calendar days to change your mind — starting the day after you sign the contract or receive written confirmation of it, whichever is later.
During this time, you can cancel without giving a reason. The gym must refund all money paid — including any upfront fees or deposits — within 14 days of receiving your cancellation notice. They cannot charge you a fee for cancelling.
The gym must also give you clear, written information about your cancellation rights before you sign — including how to cancel and a model cancellation form. If they fail to do this, your cooling-off period may be extended to 12 months from the original deadline.
Statutory TextThe consumer has the right to cancel the contract within 14 days beginning with the day after the day on which the consumer receives the goods or the day on which the contract is concluded, as the case may be.
— Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, reg. 28(1) — Right to cancel
Statutory TextWhere the trader has not supplied the required information… the cancellation period is extended to 12 months from the end of the initial cancellation period.
— Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, reg. 31(2) — Extension of cancellation period
What to Do
Send a clear written cancellation notice to the gym (email or letter) stating you are cancelling under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 — include your name, membership number, and date of contract.
Keep a copy and proof of sending (e.g., email receipt or signed-for post).
If the gym refuses or delays your refund, contact your card provider for a chargeback (if you paid by debit/credit card) or report them to Citizens Advice or Trading Standards.
If unresolved, you can make a claim through the small claims court for your refund plus interest and court fees.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.