Cancelling contract

I had a 1 year contract, things got tough for me when I lost my job and couldn't afford it anymore. When I called the consultant that signed me up to cancel, she said just pay the money. I explained to her that i do not have the money anymore and she said the only way is to freeze the account and pay 50% off the monthly value or contact the call centre and take it from there.

Nevertheless I contacted the call centre (head office) and they told me I can only freeze the account otherwise I have to pay a cancellation fee of R1000 ( bearing in mind I only have R200 in my account) I told them its impossible for me to do both. Surely there is an exception for an unemployed person? There response is: they will keep debiting and when the account is in arrears I can make payment arrangements. ??? Didnt they understand that I cannot simply even affort to put food on the table ? I asked what do you then do when a person passes away? Do you go to the grave and dig out their body to collect your money? They couldn't answer me.

My debit order bounced. I managed to get some money just before the 15th and low and behold on the 16th they debited my account.

Its appalling how they do not even try to understand or make an exception for an unemployed individual.

I will never again use virgin active personally and my advice to anyone joining a gym membership; please make sure before you sign anything (should anything happen like losing your job) you are able to get out of that contract hassle free because they couldn't care if your family is fed, as long as Richard Branson can keep filling his private jet with fuel- you are on your own !