Cancelling Leisure Centre Memberships

[Deleted User]

ballisticbrian wrote: »

I was hoping someone would come along with something pro-active like writing to the leisure centre concerned and explaining the treatment by the firm concerned and how it's alienated her from joining the leisure centre ever again.

I can't see you've been treated unfairly by this firm at all, but by all means write them a letter of complaint outlining your supposed grievances.

ballisticbrian

I'm sure that calling upstairs and then slapping a charge on for passing it to a debt recovery firm will probably be illegal one day.

Money_maker

Just one visit or telephone call could have prevented this. Maybe you could speak on her behalf and get it cancelled straight away before more debt builds up?

[Deleted User]

Money_maker wrote: »

Maybe you could speak on her behalf and get it cancelled straight away before more debt builds up?

The debt will no longer continue to build up unless the OP refuses to pay for the arrears and the formal notice period.

The thread has moved on from correct cancellation procedure, though, and the point of "contention" now appears to be only the additional debt recovery fee.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

ballisticbrian wrote: »

The cost was £200 in fines and fees and £80 in missed membership fees (3 months).

They can't fine you, pay the £80, cancel the membership and pay the membership fee until the contract ends.

Regarding the extra charges ask them for a breakdown of their costs and state you'll pay their actual loses.

If they refuse to provide them I wouldn't pay the extra and if they take you to court you'll be able to show you was willing to pay their losses which is all the court would award.

ballisticbrian

They can't fine you, pay the £80, cancel the membership and pay the membership fee until the contract ends.

Regarding the extra charges ask them for a breakdown of their costs and state you'll pay their actual loses.

If they refuse to provide them I wouldn't pay the extra and if they take you to court you'll be able to show you was willing to pay their losses which is all the court would award.

OK, well I've just paid the whole thing for her, and they knocked off 30 quid for me doing so, a sweetner I guess. If there's merit to what you say, I wish you'd been along earlier.

[Deleted User]

ballisticbrian wrote: »

If there's merit to what you say, I wish you'd been along earlier.

There is "merit" only if you were prepared to go to court over this. Certainly you could have offered to pay only the itemised costs incurred by the cancellation of the Direct Debit, but was the additional fee actually referred to as a "fine"?

As you've paid everything now you obviously can't withhold any payment but you could still write a letter of complaint. Personally, I think requesting a goodwill refund of the additional fee would be more likely to garner (some) success. Use honey rather than vinegar.