Ridiculous....charge to downgrade membership

Yesterday, I called the Virgin Active call centre and explained to the lady that I would like to change my contract from a national club membership to a single club membership. Whilst she was pleasant enough, I have to question the logic of Virgin Active's charge for this. the call centre agent explained: If the call centre assists me with the downgrade, they will charge me a once off R175. If I downgrade myself on the Virgin Active website, they will charge me a once off R150.

She further mentioned that these costs are part of the contract that you sign when you join the gym. However, if I were to cancel my contract, I have to give them a month's notice, during which I can still enjoy the privilege of using the gym.

It thus seems that they would rather you cancel your contract at no cost rather than to downgrade a person and still keep a member. I have to question this because my reason for downgrading is due to the tough economic climate and the need to curtail unnecessary expenses. Oddly enough they do not charge you when you want upgrade your membership....sounds like a bunch of sharks....does it not?

My challenge to Virgin Active is to justify the stupidity of this downgrade fee.