Gym Direct Debit - Can I be that lucky?

Deity

Hi guys. So 9 months ago I made a 1 year membership to a boxing club. I paid everything until now and only have 3 months remaining (it's 40 GBP per month), however, I am literally broke and can barely afford transport to university.

So I canceled my direct debit and got a letter today with the usual warning and 10 GBP fee on top, and when I looked in the left corner my surname was spelled with "O" at the end instead of "U". I checked the contract and it's the same there. Is there any way I can get out of this returning the letter and saying noone with this name lives here?

Thank you and really appreciate anyone taking the time to reply.

vuvuzela

Deity wrote: »

Hi guys. So 9 months ago I made a 1 year membership to a boxing club. I paid everything until now and only have 3 months remaining (it's 40 GBP per month), however, I am literally broke and can barely afford transport to university.

So I canceled my direct debit and got a letter today with the usual warning and 10 GBP fee on top, and when I looked in the left corner my surname was spelled with "O" at the end instead of "U". I checked the contract and it's the same there. Is there any way I can get out of this returning the letter and saying noone with this name lives here?

Thank you and really appreciate anyone taking the time to reply.

It is highly unlikely that a simple typo makes the contract unenforcable.

peachyprice

So you've used the gym facilities, and paid the DD for the last 9 months, fully accepting the contract in the name of the typo, now you want to say that isn't really you? Get real.

Deity

How can they pursue it or go down on my credit rating history if it's not my name?

InsideInsurance

Because they take you to court to get a CCJ against you. The miss spelling causes an administrative headache but ultimately doesnt change enforceability of the debt

bod1467

Cancelling a DD does not cancel the contract or the debt.

Deity

Ok, got it. How many letters do they send before taking any serious action? I want to stall these payments as much as possible, for around one month until maybe I can find a new job.

WTFH

You would be better to speak to the gym and ask them.
Explain your situation and see if they will work with you. If you just cancel a payment and not tell them, then they will go after you.

InsideInsurance

Deity wrote: »

Ok, got it. How many letters do they send before taking any serious action? I want to stall these payments as much as possible, for around one month until maybe I can find a new job.

Will vary by company. Some will send a lot of letters but never actually do anything, some will only actually do anything if the debt is over a certain value, some will send the minimum number of letters and then head straight to the courts irrespective of the amount.

Deity

Thank you guys. I did try to speak to the gym owner and ask him, however he was of no help and actually think he lied. Nothing I can do about it anyway.

This is what he said:

"You are currently within your 12 month contract period so unfortunately dfc (this is the direct debit company) will not allow you to cancel within this time period."

NiallB

Deity wrote: »

Hi guys. So 9 months ago I made a 1 year membership to a boxing club. I paid everything until now and only have 3 months remaining (it's 40 GBP per month), however, I am literally broke and can barely afford transport to university.

So I canceled my direct debit and got a letter today with the usual warning and 10 GBP fee on top, and when I looked in the left corner my surname was spelled with "O" at the end instead of "U". I checked the contract and it's the same there. Is there any way I can get out of this returning the letter and saying noone with this name lives here?

Thank you and really appreciate anyone taking the time to reply.

Frankly I despair sometimes.