Cancelling gym membership on medical grounds

Wallis73

Not sure if anyone would have any advice on the following....Will try to keep it short!

I cancelled my gym membership in Nov 2006 following a car crash where I received a back injury and was unable to exercise. Took a letter by hand to the gym with membership card and requested DD to be cancelled.

After several months realised they were still taking DD, so cancelled it direct with bank.

In Sept 2007 received a letter saying my DD was cancelled and needed to be reinstated. I ignored the letter (thought it was a mistake) but then received another in Nov 2007 saying the matter had been passed to a debt collecting agency and I needed to deal with them. I phoned the gym and was told I needed to supply a letter from my chiropractor stating my condition, which I did with a copy to the debt agency. I also phoned the debt agency, who said they had no record of me.

In Jan and March this year the gym wrote to me and asked if I wanted to rejoin - no way!!!

Then, at the end of March 2008 I received a letter about my DD again. I phoned and left a message for them to contact me, which they did not. Then today I receive two separate letters, one from the gym and another from the debt agency saying that I have to pay up or it will be passed to a solicitor.

Not sure what to do. It's been 20 months since I cancelled the membership. I thought that the matter was all closed.

What should I do?

Thanks

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

tell them to sling there hook.they are chancing it they will not bother taking you to court rtc not worth it

The_Jester

The name of the gym doesn't start with a 'B' does it? If so I've had similiar problems.

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

is it duncans ? if it is changed my mind pay it jol;l;y decent chap

olly300

1. Report them to trading standards - you can do it on the internet http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/consumers/consumers.cfm

2. Write them a letter to the gym which you should both hand deliver and sent by recorded delivery. (This will stop them claiming they never received your letter.) Give the letter the title "Letter Before Action" and state in the letter:
a. the basic facts of your case
b. they are chasing you for a debt you do not owe as a former customer and you have reported their tactics to Trading Standards
c. that due to their breach of contract and continual harassment if they do not cease in harassing you about this matter within 28 you will have no choice but to take them to court and they will be liable for all costs. (Put an amount in the letter for breach of contract.)
c. the letter has been sent by both recorded delivery and hand delivered

If they send you another debt letter after 28 days then start court action via money claimonline.

Use your notes on the fact that the debt collection agency hasn't heard of you etc. and if you make a court claim use these facts in your case.

Blacksheep1979

THE_LONE_RANGER wrote: »

tell them to sling there hook.they are chancing it they will not bother taking you to court rtc not worth it

I'd be careful how you word it - if you're still within a predifined contract period then they are only canceling it out of good will, no point in antagonising them as they'll just sell the debt to a collection agency who WILL take you to court.