Help With Gym Membership /Debt Collectors

ShaunArtis

Hi there, In October 2015 I signed up to Total Fitness Gym, I cancelled my membership as i could not afford it and I am sure it was just outside the 28 day period etc which doesnt help. I had a call in January 2016 from a debt collection agency (cant remember the name) saying that I owed near 400 pounds. I told her that I was a student and I was unable to pay any amount as I do not have a solid income at the moment , and I never heard anything from them since, fast forward to march 2017 I had a call this morning from a debt collection agency in Scotland called Tenron ( i know this was not same company that called me last year) she was quite rude on the phone , I said I don't know how I can pay the 400 pounds , she then offered to reduce the debt to £236 ( did not even know that was possible) i said my situation is still the same and im unable to pay anything as money is quite tight and she said well have a think about the situation and call us back . Now I am quite worried, can I be taken to court for this is it likely ? or what would be best to do next?
Thanks in advance for replies
Shaun

National_Debtline

Hi Shaun,


Debt collectors will have to write to you at some point to genuinely chase this debt, they cannot do much over the phone, except ask for the money. However, these situations can escalate into court action if it remains unpaid and there is no agreed arrangement to pay it back. Was the debt originally from Scotland or England/ Wales because the court process will vary depending on the origin of the debt (the location of the debt collector is irrelevant)?


I appreciate you are in a difficult situation to make a substantial offer to repay but you should try and make some kind of offer, based on a SOA, even if it is only £1 per month. If you are able to raise the funds to do the settlement that would also be an option, but if you are going to go down that route you will have to get all of the details/ terms of the settlement agreed in writing before you send any money. It is known as full and final settlement.


Laura
@natdebtline

another_casualty

£236 , was a good offer imho.
What usually happens in this situation , is the fees keep,increasing and before you know it, it could escalate into ccj/ bailiff etc

If there was a way that you could pay that off in instalments , then grab it .

ShaunArtis

Hi there thank you for your reply , the debt was in Wales , I'm just going to offer to pay 10-20pm I'm sure i can manage that , I think it is unfair that I have to pay the amount because I do feel I was missold this membership , the lady who sold it to me more or less rushed me into it and from what i remember she didn't even say it was a contract she was concentrating more on getting us signed up as quick as possible but it's my fault I should have been more cautious when signing.