BUT you may want to check this with a real lawyer.

I can imagine how frustrating it may be for you!

Nir Ofek, Dec 12, 2007 @ 01:56

I think you get bitten once like this...shame its for such a lot of money. Just think how many Lapin Kulta you could have bought with that.
Too late for you i think but at Silhouette when you first sign up its better to mark the form no renewal...there is a clause on the back of the form. Cross it out and make them sign it.
Most important though is that you write to them cancelling your membership with a registered letter....or they will catch you again!
You may have a point though if the equipment you want to use is never working. Nothing to lose in arguing i guess. Good Luck.
doublegin, Dec 12, 2007 @ 10:13

if you can find that information and explain the situation. Ask nicely for an exception to be made for you to get out of the contract. Sometimes that works. Also tell them that you are sending a copy of the letter to the Federation Consummateurs Romande. You might also check with Monsieur Prix -- I think it's part of the government's consumer protection arm. Just google the term Monsieur Prix, it should come up... Good luck...
Translator, Dec 12, 2007 @ 11:40

the info, I will try to contact them.
Speaking to Silhouette does not work at all. I told them that I was going to leave the country and they promised me that the company they work with for collecting the debts will find me all over the planet. They do not make exceptions. Seems that they earn a big part of their income this way. Many people signing these contracts do not speak french at all. And there are many expats in Geneva who stay only one year. Thats the only chance for Silhouette to get some more money out of these people as noone leaving the country would renew his contract. Since last week I found 3 other people who had the same problem (not on the internet).
lapin_kulta, Dec 12, 2007 @ 12:10

Yes, they renew the contracts automatically unless you mention otherwise but you have to do that before signing the contract. I know someone who was in a similar situation in Silhouette but she was lucky to have sold the remaining months of the contract to me at a discounted rate. If you want, you can do the same thing, offer the remaining months of your contract to somebody else at a discounted price.
CeeBee, Dec 12, 2007 @ 15:20

this is not an option for me anymore as my contract expired more than 2 months ago and I just heard from them last week.
lapin_kulta, Dec 12, 2007 @ 15:32

in Switzerland, at least in Geneva, you always have to write. Make your letter as detailed as possible. You might be able to get out of your contract if you have a "medical" condition, say, "stress" that prevents you from using the gym. Which in this case, given your experience with Silhouette, does not appear to be fabricated.

However, I will say that I have seen this kind of "contract" in the States as well. Many gyms use this default option to lock people into contracts for a couple of years.

As for their collection agency finding you all over the world, that is a laugh. What are they going to do if you live in another country and don't pay. It will cost them more than your contract to engage in international debt collection.
Translator, Dec 12, 2007 @ 18:21

yes, I also laughed at her when she said that. Just think that their behavior is not the behaviour of a civilized company.
lapin_kulta, Dec 12, 2007 @ 18:34

If every member would attend the fitness clubs they have a contract for, the places would be 400% overbooked. All the business model is based on the fact that, in average, members are lazy, and usually drop from their new good resolutions after a couple of weeks or months.

All you could do, I guess, is to sell it to someone else (if transmitable), or ask for a partial refund due to partial non delivery of expected services (running mills not working)
Hobbes, Dec 13, 2007 @ 11:59

i received yesterday a letter from them telling me my contract was about to expire, and that it would be nice if i contacted my silhouette gym for renewal.... which i will happily do because i go to classes and if you find a good teacher classes are really good for you !!
addaxnat, Dec 13, 2007 @ 12:12

well thats what I did as well. paid for a year and went there for 2 months. but I do not complain about that. happend before as well at other places.
whats different now is that I do not have any intentions to go there at all and still have to pay.
I guess I will try to get a refund if I really have to pay. I know people who go there so I will ask them to tell me every time they see a broken machine.
lapin_kulta, Dec 13, 2007 @ 13:01

I got the letter too - but don't be fooled ... they've already signed you up for a year, and that nice polite letter is just them trying to get you to come in to pay the bill! ;-)

When I signed my (ex) girlfriend up, I only paid on condition that they made her contract non-recurring (because she was only here for 1 year and I knew I'd forget). So it is possible, despite what they say (it took some arguing on my part though).
moyse, Dec 19, 2007 @ 15:16

if you move more than 30 kms or move out of the canton or have a dr's note saying you are unable for medical reasons to continue at the fitness club, you have a valid reason
to terminate your contract. this is standard text in the small print. if it's not there, than maybe the whole contract does not conform to the swiss contract law. check it out.
epicure, Dec 21, 2007 @ 00:58