Advice needed - gym membership cancelled

caraboo

We have been members of a health/gym club for several years.

After Christmas many machines broke and several exercise classes were cancelled. Machines were fixed. The hotel then decided to make exercise room into bedrooms. Exercise classes would be available only if other halls were not already booked.

We were not happy with this and cancelled our joint membership immediately sending a letter advising them of this. A months notice was not given as required.

We have just received a letter advising if we dont pay for that month they will pass to debt collection agency.


Any advice on dealing with this - should we pay or fight. We dont want to get blacklisted.

Many thanks in advance.

hankc35

That cant be right, do they have some clause in the contract that states you have to pay the last month even if they cant offer the gym service?

I have no idea about law, but I would be to pig headed to pay that.

Astaroth

So at present it sounds that you are both in breach of your contracts. They are in breach for not providing the facilities as described (though this would have to be argued as I doubt the contract actually states any form of service leve) and you are in breach for not having made the contractual payments.... unfortunately 2 wrongs dont make a right.

The problem with debt collectors now is that they can charge you, the debtor, for their costs rather than the old system where they had to charge the creditor (ie the gym).

In my opinion you need to sort this prior to it going to debt collectors as they will probably not be willing to waive their fees.

caraboo

The letter actually says that payment has to be made in 7 days or will be passed to debt collection agency.


If i send a letter saying standards had slipped and therefore feel they should take this into consideration and void the payment will the payment time change due to response being required????


thanks

hjb123

So a months notice wasnt given? I would have thought that in that case they have every right to recover their money - you broke the contract! Try fighting it but beware of maybe having to pay more!

piggeh

In my opinion the owners should be giving a month's notice to any change in facilities, to give people a chance to cancel. If they didnt then they shouldnt expect payment of a month's notice. If they did, then fair enough, and you should pay up.

If it was the former, I would pay up but say you are not happy and will be following it up, then go and get your money back. better than having a default and DCA on your records.