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Gym raising your fee? You do not simply have to pay that

Suddenly a higher fee appears on your bank statement or in a letter? A gym may not simply raise the price at will. Whether you have to pay depends on whether there is a valid basis for the increase.

Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:

Object to the increase

Your chances of getting your money back

A unilateral fee increase needs a clear, valid contractual basis (price adjustment clause), and non-transparent or unreasonable clauses are often invalid (§ 307 BGB).
If you do not agree to the increase, your previous fee is still owed in many cases. If the gym grants you a right of special termination upon an increase, you can terminate instead.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Check the contract

    Is there a price adjustment clause in the contract, and is it clear and comprehensible?

  2. 2

    2. Do not pay silently

    React actively: continuing to pay without objection can be seen as consent.

  3. 3

    3. Object

    Object to the increase in writing and continue to pay only the agreed fee (have the direct debit adjusted if necessary).

  4. 4

    4. Check special termination

    If you are offered a right of special termination with the increase, you can use it within the deadline.

Frequently asked questions

May the gym simply raise the fee?

Only on the basis of a valid price adjustment clause. If the clause is non-transparent or unreasonably disadvantages you, it is often invalid (§ 307 BGB), and the agreed fee remains. You should actively object to a unilateral increase rather than pay it silently.

Can I terminate because of the increase?

Often yes. Many gyms grant a right of special termination upon a fee increase, in which case you can terminate on time as of the effective date of the increase. Otherwise the previous fee remains if you validly object to the increase.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.