Virgin Active have passed my debt on to a collecting agency!

Pippa7393

I cancelled my Virgin Active gym membership after joining a local gym though when I cancelled they told me I would need to pay a further months membership as I cancelled after the 17th of the month (which is apparently the cut off point). Obviously I felt angry as I felt I gave them plenty of notice before the next payment came out and my contract was on a rolling one month as I had been there over 12 months so I went in to the bank and cancelled the direct debit.

A month down the line I received a letter from Virgin telling me I owe them £45 and they will keep following this up until they pass it on to a debt collecting agency. Sure enough a few months later I received a letter from ARCEUROPE saying that I need to urgently pay them £75 (they added on £30 as I didn't pay) otherwise they will contact their solicitors.

Now, my question is, is there any way I can get out of this payment as I feel it's unjust - and if not would I somehow be able to pay of little amounts each month?

Thanks

ValHaller

Did you or did you not cancel in accordance with the T&C's? I have the feeling that this question is best dealt with in the Consumer Rights forum

Pippa7393

Well supposedly, in their T&C it's stated that if you cancel after the 17th of the month you need to continue for another month. (so the lady said, not that I've actually read)

R_P_W

What does it say in the T&C on the agreement you signed when you joined the gym? Whether you feel the charge is 'unjust' isn't relevant.

Just pay it before the charges increase and your credit file is damaged further.

ValHaller

Pippa7393 wrote: »

Well supposedly, in their T&C it's stated that if you cancel after the 17th of the month you need to continue for another month. (so the lady said, not that I've actually read)

The lady may spout any rubbish. I was not asking about what she said, because it does not help your problem. What matters is the T&C's of your contract

happycamel_2

So if you cancel after the 17th you'd only be giving them two week's notice? It seems reasonable to me that you'd have had to pay an extra month. You need to pay it or you'll have a default on your file that will haunt you for 6 years. It could affect anything from applying for a mortgage to getting a monthly mobile contract, it just isn't worth it.

The_Boss

I'm half detecting a troll here...

harveybobbles

Send an email to Dewi Fox (used to be high up at Freds)

[EMAIL="dewi.fox@arceuropeltd.co.uk"]dewi.fox@arceuropeltd.co.uk[/EMAIL]