Misguiding staff to fool you for money

<p>I went into Craighall Park Planet Fitness centre for membership of 1 year. One of the joining staff member (wish I remembered the name) explained me all the process and escorted me to the gym areas. Upon making my mind to join the gym, he said there are currently no such membership plans, although I can sign up for 2 years membership of which I must pay 1 year's fee upfront in a discounted rate of R199pm and second year onwards R499pm; I can then cancel the membership, and there won't be any cancellation charges if I do it within the completion of first year, Planet Fitness will refund the amount on pro-rata basis. I thought that should be fine in such case. While I was going through the terms and conditions, he said you can read it later, it contains all the information that I just said. I specifically asked about cancellation thing, because gyms are rip-off in such cases I knew, but he kept insisting on sigining the membership as the T&Cs are all what he said was. Also he did not mention there will be a maintenance fee to be charged, upon enquiry they said it's in T&C.</p> <p> </p> <p>Now that I am travelling back to my home country for good, I requested cancellation to the gym staff, they said I must call customer care. I tried calling, but the care line was all time busy, so did via email. After a week later, I got a call and was told that my membership is auto renewal (I didn't knew there was such option while signing, I wasn't told by that guy), then there will be cancellation fee of the entire contract to be paid minus 30%. Which is clearly a rip-off, I have a genuine reason to cancel the membership.</p>