Many companies lure people into buying goods or services from them by tempting “free” or “money off” offers.

While you can get some good deals this way it is important to be sure that you are not signing up to a subscription for something you don’t want.

This isn’t always obvious as the advertisement will refer to a free trial or limited offer.

However, if a company asks for your bank account details it’s usually so they can set up a direct debit that allows them to take money from your account on a regular basis.

We quite often get complaints about gym club membership and the difficulty in cancelling a contract early. Do your homework before signing up by reading the terms and conditions to find out what you’ll pay and for how long, what you’ll get for your money and, most importantly, if they’ll charge you after the offer ends.

Normally you will have to pay the full cost for any term you sign up for however if you are unable to afford the payments because of a significant change to your finances such as losing your job, the gym should agree to cancelling.

Write to the gym manager asking to cancel the contract and giving the reason. If they refuse, instruct your bank to cancel the direct debit and inform the gym that the Competition and Markets Authority have advised it is unfair to refuse cancellation of membership if you can no longer afford it. We can help with negotiating with the gym if required.

For further advice on this or any other subject visit us at 1 Acland Rd Dorchester, call 0344 2451291, go to citizensadvice.org.uk or our local website westdorsetca.org.uk

ANN PURVIS

CITIZENS ADVICE