consumer credit letter

bluepete

Hi everyone, new poster so be gentle! Had a letter out of blue from company called empingham re fitness centre finance under consumer credit asking for amount due £285.45. Had a gym membership appx 3.5 years ago which I cancelled due to helath reasons backed up by doctors letter. I took this into gym and they accepted and that was that-until now! What can I do????? Thank you

GeorgeUK

Did you get a confirmation letter or anything from the gym to say your membership had been terminated?

McKneff

Accepted what, do you mean they accepted the decision or just accepted the letter at reception. Do you have anything in writing.

bluepete

No nothing in writing just an assurance from staff would be sorted (since left!) - this was about 3 years ago

Fire_Fox

Do you still have a copy of the contract? Different gym chains have different policies on how to cancel - some you need to write to head office. Did you cancel the DD or did the gym? Did you remain at the same address given to the gym when you joined and/ or keep the same phone number?

GeorgeUK

I would write to the DCA with the "prove it" letter available on the board.
If they are able to provide a copy of the original i would contact nationaldebtline t osee how to take this forward - if they can't prove the debt is owed, refuse to pay it until they can prove it.

Make sure you keep everything in writing and don't give them any details over the phone.

bluepete

I cancelled direct debit after not going to gym for around 6 months - thats when I went in with doctors letter (they even said id I cam back they would give me 6 mnths free!) where is letter (prove it) you refer to? latest is they have got mobile number from somewhere and left 2 messages - gettin worried now

Fire_Fox

You haven't answered my questions?

GeorgeUK

Here's the prove it letter.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11570893&postcount=2

I would also mention in the letter that you cancelled your membership after producing a doctor's letter.

bluepete

Do you still have a copy of the contract? No Different gym chains have different policies on how to cancel - some you need to write to head office. Did you cancel the DD or did the gym? I cancelled DD Did you remain at the same address given to the gym when you joined and/ or keep the same phone number? No diff address/same mobile number

Fire_Fox

bluepete wrote: »

Do you still have a copy of the contract? No Different gym chains have different policies on how to cancel - some you need to write to head office. Did you cancel the DD or did the gym? I cancelled DD Did you remain at the same address given to the gym when you joined and/ or keep the same phone number? No diff address/same mobile number

I'd be tempted to ring up and ask what the correct procedure is for cancelling your gym membership. If you followed it then you have a good case. Sadly if you didn't follow the correct procedure and the receptionist lost your cancellation you are going to have a hard time proving that. The fact that you cancelled your DD and moved house would probably have suggested to the gym that you had deliberately defaulted. It's VERY common unfortunately. Certainly have a go at the 'prove it' letter, and/ or send another copy of the doctor's letter.