Gym "admin fees" keep racking up!

Inwitari

I was a member of a gym before Covid hit, but it went bankrupt. It was bought over and reopened. They started charging me without telling me that the direct debit was going to start again, or that the gym was reopening. So I was paying for a service I didn't even know I could access. I complained, but got no response, though there was a general apology email sent to all members a few weeks later. I went back once after that and was appalled at how dirty it was, lack of social distancing, cleaning and sanitisation facilities. I didn't feel safe so I resolved to cancel my membership.

I informed them via email in June and received an automated response saying they were short staffed due to covid but would get to my issue shortly. Nearly 3 weeks later there was no response, and it was getting close to the time for the fees to be paid again, so I cancelled the direct debit. Now they are hounding me for £50, putting admin fee after admin fee on the correspondence because I haven't paid my membership fee... but I got no response from them to my complaint or my cancellation... Is there anything I can do?

Aylesbury_Duck

Cancelling the direct debit doesn't cancel the membership, it simply means you default on payments.  With hindsight, it would have been better to continue to pay and then sue them for the amounts if they didn't refund you. 

What's the notice period on the membership?  Did you give sufficient notice?  Were you paying in arrears, meaning you cancelled the DD too early?

Inwitari

It's one month. I did give them enough notice, I was paying on the 20th of the month in advance for the following month and didn't have any arrears on the account.

Aylesbury_Duck

In which case, write to them with evidence of your cancellation by email, giving the required notice, proving you owe them nothing.

Inwitari

I think I panicked because they hadn't properly acknowledged it, only an automated email. Thought they would probably come back with something about me sending it to the wrong place and would have to start the notice period all over again.

pbartlett

write them a letter, attach a printed copy of your email and the auto response and say as far as you are concerned your membership is cancelled