Gym charges

Trudles

Hello,

I have a swim only gym membership. I cancelled the direct debit because I didn't want the 12 month minimum contract to roll into another year (I thought if it did I would be stuck for another 12 months. To be clear April would be month 13).

I received an email from harlands, the direct debit collection company, stating that as I'd cancelled my direct debit I'd have to pay a £20 fee as they couldn't collect the payment.

Now, my issue is this. The direct debit is not due to be collected until the 12th or 14th of the month.
If I reinstate the direct debit, why do I need to pay the £20 fee? They shouldn't have tried to collect the payment yet as its not time.

Either way it's only £20 to lose (plus the final month payment of £24 for the membership) but I think I may have a point?

I look forward to hearing what you all think.
(Removed by Forum Team)

knightstyle

Sounds as if you did NOT cancel the membership, only the payment so yes you owe them the money.

[Deleted User]

As knightstyle said you should have cancelled the membership first then the direct debit. Always best to let companies know if your going to cancel the direct debit! 

Trudles

Oh I know I didn't cancel the membership first and will take full responsibility.

My point and question however is why have rhey charged me when the direct debit collection date has not yet happened?
If I reinstate the direct debit, why do I need to pay the charges? We are before the charge date

Trudles

Essentially they're snooping at my ban account when they don't need to be. You don't try and take money a week beford

Grumpy_chap

OP - please redact personal information.

user1977

Trudles said:

Essentially they're snooping at my ban account when they don't need to be. You don't try and take money a week beford

No they're not "snooping at your bank account". Like they say in their letter, they've been told by your bank that you've cancelled the DD. That's normal practice.

And DD payments are set up in advance of the payment date (I'm not sure how far though), so it might be too late now to reinstate a DD payment for the 12th.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

If you don't cancel the membership then obviously you are due to pay any monthly fee, personally I'd ensure you pay anything owed for the gym membership but ignore the £20 charge.

I don't think they can charge you £20 either way, it's not the biggest admin fee but I can't see the cancelling of a DD actually costs them £20. Even if they could are they going to go to small claims for £20? Doubtful.

Trudles

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

If you don't cancel the membership then obviously you are due to pay any monthly fee, personally I'd ensure you pay anything owed for the gym membership but ignore the £20 charge.

I don't think they can charge you £20 either way, it's not the biggest admin fee but I can't see the cancelling of a DD actually costs them £20. Even if they could are they going to go to small claims for £20? Doubtful.

Thank you. You seem to be the only one listening when I say I will pay the actual membership costs. I have no issue with this. I don't really have issue with the fees because i know I'm at fault. I'm not looking for absolution here, just advice on the legitimacy of the charges. They can add more fees so I will pay the £20 either way because i don't want it to escalate. 

I wish people on here listened to the question at hand and not jump on people and blame them. I take full blame. I said this in my OP. I don't need people to continue to add blame

Trudles

user1977 said:

Trudles said:

Essentially they're snooping at my ban account when they don't need to be. You don't try and take money a week beford

No they're not "snooping at your bank account". Like they say in their letter, they've been told by your bank that you've cancelled the DD. That's normal practice.

And DD payments are set up in advance of the payment date (I'm not sure how far though), so it might be too late now to reinstate a DD payment for the 12th.

Thank you. I didn't realise they took the money this early I'm advance or that the bank would inform the company. This makes sense though.

Ath_Wat

Trudles said:

user1977 said:

Trudles said:

Essentially they're snooping at my ban account when they don't need to be. You don't try and take money a week beford

No they're not "snooping at your bank account". Like they say in their letter, they've been told by your bank that you've cancelled the DD. That's normal practice.

And DD payments are set up in advance of the payment date (I'm not sure how far though), so it might be too late now to reinstate a DD payment for the 12th.

Thank you. I didn't realise they took the money this early I'm advance or that the bank would inform the company. This makes sense though.

The letter you posted (now removed) said that they had been informed by your bank.