Xcercise4Less contract/minimum term dispute

dekaspace

Similar issues to person in this thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5336679

Difference being I cancelled within first 2 weeks which they claimed to never recieved, but they have a strange cancellation system, you need to contact the manager (though website seems to now have a option to do so there) but the only way to contact is speak to secretary plus I was given no terms/contract to begin with and led to believe it was free taster sessions at which point if you didn't want to join your details would be removed, if you did stay there was no obligation, I was shown no forms just given a badly printed piece of paper that asked for name address, bank details and phone number and signature(just a scrap of paper realy)

2 months after I cancelled I was contacted by a debt collector wanting £290 for a membership that should be £110 for a year claiming "admin fees"

I was told to speak to manager at the gym again as he can waive this and cancel contract, and spoke to secretary again who said "leave it with her, this will be sorted sorry for problems"

After that no contact till 7 months later and get contacted today by "solicitiors" saying I owe the £290 debt but could dispute it but must give information.

Whats best way to word it? such as mentioning I was led to believe it was monthly contract, no obligation, free taster sessions and I contacted the gym when I was told by previous debt collector to contact gym again which I did and was told they would deal with it (under the impression that it won't go further) and also (which I forgot to mention) at the time I said to the gym and original debt collector that if need be I would use the membership and pay monthly if they didn't cancel it.

I mean why pay for a years gym membership when they don't let you go to the gym.