Membership Cancellation

I want to cancel my Membership and now i'm being told i have to pay the remainder of the contract. this makes no sense, why would i pay for something i wouldnt be using? this is ripping people off badly. if i had known this before signing my contract i never could have joined virgin active. i was told i can cancel whenever i want or even suspend it. but when i tried to suspend my membership i was told i have to pay for the suspension, why would i pay and not go to the gym? and when i reverted to cancelling i was told i need to pay the rest of the 9 months outstanding on my membership