Unfair 40% cancellation fee

Virgin Active charges me 40% cancellation because I wanted to cancel my daughter's subscription. At now point did they told me I was in for 12 months and I would need to pay 40% cancellation fee. I phoned head office, was passed back to the Centurion club, which in effect told me: 'Sorry, we are going to charge 40% regardless of what you say, because it is in your contract'. This is borderline *********. They really suck.