Help - Need advice on Debt Collection company

Ms.StellaB

Hi

Firstly, I am sorry if this is not the right place to post this message.

Basically, I joined a gym a little under a year ago and I paid for a monthly membership. The membership type was such that you did not have to sign up for a year, it was flexible such that when ever you wanted to leave, you just needed to give one month notice.

I moved into rental accomodation into a new area as I had broken up with my boyfriend and just wanted to join a gym and get fit, I thought this was a good opportunity to also meet new people as I was new to the area.

However, I lost my job after 4 months and had to move back with my parents. I was paying £40 a month for gym membeship and I gave a letter by hand before the next monthly installment was due and I also posted a copy of my letter to the gym in question.

I then stopped all direct debits.

Fast track to almost a year now down the line. I have now been traced by a debt collection agency who inform me the debt outstanding is £200 !!! They said that the original amount outstanding was £40 - because the gym didnt receive my letter in time (even though I gave it to them in person!!) . They also say that the gym is claiming damages for administration charges as it costs them to keep contacting the debt collection agency.

I have no idea what to do. What are my legal rights ? I gave the gym sufficient notice but I do not have any proof of this - I didnt pay for recorded delivery nor do I get anything signed when I gave my letter by hand to to the gym reception.

The debt collection company are now saying that they will come to my house and collection furnishings worth the outstanding amount or force me to go to court and that I will have to pay the legal costs.

All of this is worrying and stressing me and I just need advice what I can do now.

Can anyone please help??

Stella.

pinkshoes

£160 administration charge is ridiculous. You do owe the £40 though, as you have to give a full month notice.

Personally I would just send the gym a £40 cheque, sending recorded delivery, stating that as they made no effort to contact you, (did you give them your parents address?), you were unaware that £40 was still owed, so you now consider your debt with them paid.

neilmcl

I don't think a debt collection agency can do anything other than demand you pay the outstanding debt. They cannot come to your home without prior arrangement and they definitely cannot take goods, only a bailiff can do this and then only following a preceding CCJ default. A debt collector is not a bailiff.

McKneff

Good advice above, you would do well to heed it.

As Neilmcl says bailiffs can only act after a county court judgement.

If youre going to be a regular poster (and welcome to the boards, by the way) please dont mess with the fonts.
It is much easier to read and understand if its in normal mode.