Can you keep a client that is just not interested anymore?

The question is relevant when you think of some business models that are focused on getting clients, and not so much on retaining them - like Holmes Place gyms. In those businesses, the customer signs a long term agreement, committing to stay in the gym for a number of months. The problem is when the customer is not interested in staying with you anymore - for several perfectly reasonable reasons, like job loss, disease, poor service from the company... If the company tries to keep the customer committed to the contract, it is just generating badwill and creating potential negative word-of-mouth - and would you like a former customer refering to your company as a "don't go there!" to his friends?

If you understand Portuguese, have a look at this great article - http://www.tudomudou.com/2012/01/26/o-modelo-de-negocios-do-holmes-place-esta-condenado/ .