Very Distasteful ********* Business Practices

Just called and cancelled my membership. My options are I have to pay a 5 month Penalty fee equivalent to staying the 5 months.

I then tried to downgrade my national membership and I'm calling 8 days before month end but apparently because they have submitted their debit orders to the bank, it becomes my problem and I get penalized for November even though I'm giving notice to downgrade in advance. They wont return the money in December either.

Not sure how an internal business "rule" became a customer penalty unless it was designed this way. As members we are not made aware of these internal business rules and its probably not on our contracts nor legal business practice. I made perfect sense to the consultant who tried to help me, but no one can help fix this.

I also tried cancelling my black tag, but that needs a 2 month notice period. Seems there are no breaks here, the exit is designed to take as much money as possible.