Fitness Last

Sicktothebackteeth

Hi there,

I'm on a plan with Stepchange, yet there is an outstanding debt that I've not had put into the plan yet.

I'd been having trouble with Fitness First. Around May 2015, I was invited in through my employer for a free trial, and offered corporate membership, signed off, was then informed that I was ineligible as I hadn't been with the company long enough. I reluctantly agreed to take normal membership, for a few months, then they said they'd switch it to corporate rate. Lost the job in June, had to cancel the direct debit as I was unemployed.

Received a single text message from FF, giving a number on which to call them. Called them in September about 20 times, and no one answered. Then started receiving calls from a rude debt collection company called C.A.R.S. (Evasive, wouldn't even say even once my 'identification' had been verified what C.A.R.S. Means), they were rude with me, I was in no rush to sort them out as they were obstructive and non-forthcoming with information. I asked several times through C.A.R.S. For FF to contact me, and eventually t my request they did in December 2015. I explained the situation that I'd been in, they asked for proof, then said they'd cancel the membership early, etc and I seem to remember that the chap had said they may be able to go back and cancel the contract, sometime after loosing the job. He did say he only had one record of a missed call from my mobile. I may have called using family land lines.

I sent them the info in December, which was written letter of contract termination from my employer, I forwarded the HR person's email with the letter attached.

Somehow, I've missed their response on December that said it must be on letterheaded paper, or they will not accept it. I thought they hadn't replied. I've just recently got ADHD diagnosed and they were sorting tablets out, the medication helps, but writing to people like this wipes me out.

I realized last month that I really do have to get this included in the Stepchange plan, and even thought they've been utter horrors, it still needs resolving. so, I went to email them and found their response regarding the letterhead termination of contract. I immediately wrote to my former employer requesting this, I copied them in and drafted a HUGE complaint, which I thought I'd already sent them, but is sat in draft still I've just found out.

As I copied them into the email to the former employer, and forwarded the letterhead version of the letter as soon as received, I got a response back from FF that said it is now too late to do anything about it, and I have to pay them the full years membership, at the full rate.

Is there anything that I can do about this? They want another £480 (they've had some payment alread) for effectively a membership I do feel that I was missold, then they've been uncontactable, their debt collection company has been rude as hell, I've then missed one email having sent them the info they requested, that just said we need this on letter-headed paper. I freely acknowledge, I should've chased them through the gates of hell when I thought they hadn't responded. Es, that was my fault, and as soon as I saw their email last month, it was provided within 48hrs on letterheaded paper.

I really don't want to pay them all that money, they've been quite unreasonable at various points. I'd appreciate any advice that anyone may have.

Thank you for reading.

J

National_Debtline

Hi there and welcome to MSE,


This does sound like a difficult situation and really all you can do is complain and escalate the complaint, or wait and see if they will sue you for this money and then argue the matter in court. If it did go this far you would need some legal advice. You could try speaking to the Citizen's Advice Consumer Helpline before putting your complaint together - 0345 404 0506.


You can complain to the debt collector about their service and to the gym the way the contract was sold to you. Ask them to write off some/ all of the debt and wait and see how they respond to you in writing. If they refuse then you can escalate the matter to Trading Standards but beyond that you may find this quite difficult because, if the contract was signed, for 12 months then you can be held liable for the full term of the agreement.


Ask for a breakdown of the agreement if you think the balance is wrong. If you do end up having to make payments to this debt then just remember it should be done at a rate you can afford, even if that is just £1per month, good luck.


Laura
@natdebtline

sourcrates

Ignore the morons, the DCA is only acting for the gym company, they can do nothing to you.

If you get contacted again about the debt, by someone else, just write back saying its in dispute.
These contracts are notoriously troublesome, and cause a lot of hassle for people.

The correct way to cancel would of been in writing, cancelling the DD dosent cancel the agreement, depends if you want to fight them or not, if not, just add to your DMP, personally I'd fight then tooth an nail, but that's just me !!

Ian011

National_Debtline wrote: »

You could try speaking to the Citizen's Advice Consumer Helpline before putting your complaint together - 0845 404 0506.

The Citizen's Advice national Consumer Helpline stopped using a premium rate 0845 number more than two years ago.

Since 12 June 2014 the number has been 0345 404 0506. Calls to 03 numbers are inclusive from landlines and mobiles else charged at 'geographic rate' - the same as calling 01 and 02 numbers.

Sicktothebackteeth

Both companies have taken the proverbial.

Thank you both for your advice and encouragement.

I will fight them.

:-)

X

National_Debtline

Ian011 is absolutely right - thank you for spotting this and correcting it for me. I have edited my post so there is no confusion in the future.


Laura
@natdebtline

Ian011

@natdebtline This may be useful ... tiny^url.com/ChangedNumbers4