Cancelling Direct Debit Repercussions

Kim_13

If the notice period expires 3 days after the next DD, you should get a bill for those three days, pay that manually and cancel the Direct Debit (which may or may not be correctly adjusted by them to only collect payment for the required 3 days.)

saajan_12

danhenshy23 said:

Thanks all for the advice.

I should have been clearer in my initial post. My daughter is 6 and the membership is with a martial arts class.
No agreement was signed when taking out the membership, the 4 week cancellation period was mentioned in an email when the prices for the membership was given.

...

Does the fact that no agreement was signed change the situation at all?

No difference - there was a contract in place, albeit recorded via emails. They said "price is £x, cancellation policy is 4 weeks". You said "okay" and paid the money. That's a contract. 

So you do have to give 4 weeks notice, ie the membership terminates 4 weeks after you asked to cancel. 

However:

danhenshy23 said:

4 weeks from the date I cancelled will be 3 days after the next direct debit is taken, so I begrudge paying another months membership fee if it can be avoided.

What period does that final payment cover? You don't just automatically have to pay any DDs that go out during the membership period.
- If its paying in arrears ie it covers the prior month, then you'd still owe that (plus an extra 3 days). 
- If its paying in advance ie it covers the month ahead, then you'd only owe part of the payment. I'd suggest cancel, ask them how much for the 3 days, and just pay that manually. 
- If its paying mid month, then depends. 

boingy

I'd cancel it, tell them that I've cancelled it and tell them that I never signed any contract and I don't believe the notice period is enforceable but point out that I had given them 3.5 weeks of notice (or whatever). If they write to you with a demand then consider paying it but they'll most likely just write it off and move on.

born_again

boingy said:

I'd cancel it, tell them that I've cancelled it and tell them that I never signed any contract and I don't believe the notice period is enforceable but point out that I had given them 3.5 weeks of notice (or whatever). If they write to you with a demand then consider paying it but they'll most likely just write it off and move on.

Contracts DO NOT have to be signed to be legal.