Help regarding debt collection letter

doodah

Hi everyone. Ok here goes...

I signed up for gym membership in August, unfortunately I signed a 12 month contract. I paid the first month up front, but since then I haven't even been to the gym, and they haven't set up my direct debit. I've had no contact from them until now. On Saturday I received a letter saying the sum of £418 is now due within 7 days, it was on the gym's headed paper but it had the name of a debt collection agency on it as well. So, my question is, can they just demand all that money without even contacting me to sort something out first??

file_wizzard

In short yes, you have entered a legally binding contract with them, the best you can do is;

a) negotiate a reduced settlement figure
b) pay the full amount owed over a defined period
c) attempt to revert to the original agreement and use the gym.


Also depending on where the agreement was made you may have had a cooling off period, however it sounds as if this period has now been exceeded