Help!

Heather88

Hi all,

I'm just after some advise my partner and i have nearly cleared our £3000.00 debts with only around £600 left to clear, but today i have received a letter from Harlands in regards to my gym membership i cancelled telling me that as i did not reply to the first letter they sent (i never received a first letter), that the total i now have to pay is £78.00 and if i don't contact them by the 24/09/10 then my balance will increase to £211.00 and will be passed to a debt collector and will the increase from there.

I'm just a little confused as when i called my gym in June to cancel my membership they said it was fine to do - clearly it was not! Now obviously i worried sick about this as i had no idea i was awaiting a letter demanding money i have not got (not only are we paying off above debt, we have a 2 year old to look after and a wedding to save for).

So really i was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction as i don't believe i should have to pay his amount as when cancelling my membership i was never advised of this.

Thanks in advance

mr.ton

Are Harlands the people you had the membership with - thats not clear in your post?
Whoever you had the original membership with - i would go through their complaints proceedures.
A DCA will have no legal authority to any money off you - only a county court does.
Report them to the OFT & trading standards if a DCA does start harassing you.

Heather88

No, my gym membership was with Lifestyle Fitness - im not too sure who Harlands are.

So should i get in contact with Lifestyle Fitness and talk to them about it?

Thanks

saltnvinegar

Hi

First off well done on clearing so much of your debt already! It must feel great to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Send them a simple letter (recorded delivery) stating that you are confused as to their demands because you canceled your membership and was told that it was fine to do so and no further monies would be outstanding.

Ask them to correct their administrative error, look forward to their confirmation your membership is cancelled, and that you consider the matter closed.

If your membership was for something like a 12 month period then be prepared for a riposte that you owe them the full 12 month period, but try the above first.

SnV