Skip to content
Emergency

Pausing or cancelling a gym due to illness: your rights

If an illness or injury prevents training, you do not necessarily have to keep paying. For a temporary impediment a suspension (contract pause) may be considered, and for lasting inability to train an extraordinary termination, in each case with medical proof.

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

Create a letter to the gym →

Your chances of getting your money back

For a temporary illness-related impediment many contracts provide for a suspension; the term is then extended accordingly. For lasting inability to train there may be a special right of termination for an important reason (§ 314 BGB).
What is decisive is a meaningful medical certificate confirming the (temporary or lasting) inability to train. With it, the pause or termination can be enforced.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Obtain a certificate

    Have it medically confirmed that and for how long you cannot train (temporarily or permanently).

  2. 2

    2. Choose a pause or termination

    For a temporary impediment, request a suspension; for lasting inability to train, terminate extraordinarily.

  3. 3

    3. Assert it in writing

    Submit the request or termination with the certificate in writing and set a date.

  4. 4

    4. Clarify payments

    For the period of a justified pause or after an effective termination you do not have to keep paying. Object to unauthorized debits.

How to spot the scam

  • The gym demands the full term despite a certified inability to train.
  • A suspension is refused without reason.
  • A very detailed certificate with a diagnosis is demanded (often not necessary).

Frequently asked questions

Can I pause the contract in the event of illness?

Often yes. Many contracts provide for a suspension in the event of a temporary illness-related impediment, during which the term is halted. You need a medical certificate on the inability to train.

When can I terminate extraordinarily?

If you can no longer train permanently, there may be a special right of termination for an important reason (§ 314 BGB). What is decisive is a medical certificate confirming the lasting inability to train.

Must the certificate contain a diagnosis?

As a rule the confirmation that and for how long you cannot train is sufficient: you usually do not have to disclose an exact diagnosis. If the gym demands more, that is often not justified.

Take action now

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

Create a letter to the gymCheck a suspicious message
More help: Emergency by phone · Act together · Right to a lawyer · All guides

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.