My experience with Énergie Fitness Thornton Heath has been extremely concerning and frustrating.

I initially signed up through their website for what was advertised as a free trial. Shortly after registering, I received an email stating that I had been placed on a £25 monthly membership. This was already confusing because this membership option does not appear anywhere on their website.

I attended the gym once but later decided it was not suitable for me. When I cancelled the direct debit, I was suddenly told that I was apparently locked into a 12-month contract and owed arrears. This was the first time I had ever been informed that a 12-month commitment even existed.

They later sent a supposed “contract” that I had never seen before, claiming it was agreed to during sign-up. At no stage during the registration process was it made clear that I was entering into a long-term contract.

Now they are threatening to send the matter to debt collectors over these alleged arrears.

Important contractual terms such as a 12-month commitment should be clearly explained before someone signs up. In this case the process felt extremely unclear and misleading.

I hope the gym improves transparency in its sign-up process so that other people do not find themselves in the same situation.