Direct debit

Jamsi

Sorry if this is in the wrong place!!!

I signed my Son up for a martial arts school which was costing £39 a month on direct debit.
He went for a month then I had to cancel because he was no longer available on the day of the classes. I told the instructor he will no long be able to attend and he was ok with it.
I cancelled the direct debit at the bank, then I recieve a letter from the company collecting the direct debit on behalf of the martial arts school saying the DD has not been paid and charging me another £5 on top for late paymet. I emailed the company telling them I had personally cancelled the DD because son can no longer attend the classes but the emailed bounced back to me.
I have just found the DD form that I signed and it says that I have to give 90 days written notice to the company to cancel DD.. which means they will get nearly £120 out of me for services I am not using!

I wanted to know before I ring them if I have any chance of not having to give the 90 days notice and paying £120 for nothing?
Bearing in mind that I have not yet written so will still owe from last month so it'll be £160 by the time I send a letter!

Am I legally bound to pay this money?

Thanks

Mikeyorks

Jamsi wrote: »

Am I legally bound to pay this money?

Thanks

You have to read the contract you signed. If that's what you're quoting from (90days notice) ..... then I'm afraid that's what you've signed to.

Cancelling the mandate at the Bank .... doesn't cancel the liability. It doesn't sound (if the instructor is an employee) as if you checked with the Company beforehand?

Can't you make son 'available' for at least the the period of the notice?

Jamsi

It says on the form " The first payment will be advised to me on my receipt of notice direct debit payments ( which is 1st of month) and susequent payments monthly thereafter. The payments will automatically continue on a month-by-month basis until terminated by me on 90 days' prior written notice of canellation to debit finance collections plc."

I can't make my son available for the classes at all and if he were to continue with the classes I would be expected to pay a further £40 for every time he progresses to the next level.. the first time he progressed was only two weeks after he started so if he moves up through the gradings that quickly it will be another £80 a month which I can't afford anyway.

Thanks for your help

piglet39

Hiya Jamsi

It sounds to me like one of those (horrible) situations where you are liable. Memberships for gyms and similar are quite often the same. You are paying the organisation and the paperwork they get you to sign has it hidden in their small print.

Have you thought about explaining the circs and asking if they will agree (as a gesture of good will) to reduce the notice period?

Piglet